Chosen: How Christ Sent Twenty-Three Surprised Converts to Replant His Vineyard

by Donna Steichen

The twenty-three men and women who tell their conversion stories in these pages were not drawn to the Church by sound evangelization programs, beautiful buildings and liturgies, or saintly witnesses among the clergy. On the contrary, many of them were attracted to Catholicism in spite of a now decades-long stretch of deficient catechesis, mediocre Masses, and uninspiring leadership. Christ himself led these souls to his Church, concludes editor Donna Steichen, who compiled this consoling collection, and it is the Lord who set them to work replanting his devastated vineyard. ''Despite their marked differences in origin, education, and field of service,'' writes Steichen, ''each one makes it clear that it is Christ who did the choosing. They testify that Christ touched their hearts and intervened in their lives in unexpected, sometimes even miraculous, ways.''
''These conversions in the midst of the post-Vatican II crisis of faith seem particularly pure and often entertainingly improbable, bearing testimony to the central truth... That the Church is not a man-made institution, but a divine one a perpetual repository of truth and grace so powerful that not even the darkness of scandal can overshadow it.''
from the Foreword by George Neumayr, editor of Catholic World Report

Genres: Catholic

493 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What great inspiration you can pull from this book. I felt a calling to be great and to better my spiritual life as a Catholic. There are many times that I think cradle Catholics slip into the dangerous territory of slacking on their faith and not entirely reconnecting during mass. The importance of the Eucharist is paramount in our lives. What joy and wonder the Eucharist brings to me after receiving it. These testimonies to the faith have helped me see what I am taking for granted and hopefully I can strengthen my relationship with Jesus and His Church with more motivation and enthusiasm.

[António · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um inventário de 23 conversões contadas na primeira pessoa. Gente que vem dos mais diversos percursos - o ateísmo marxista, as seitas neopentecostais, a magia Wicca, a Nova Era, o racismo e o militantismo de extrema-direita, o protestantismo, a experiência da prisão - e a quem Cristo bateu à porta. É impossível ler este livro e não ficar comovido com a acção de Jesus. Um bálsamo para um tempo de crise. E a certeza de que o Senhor tem razão: «Sem Mim, nada podeis fazer» (Jo 15, 5).

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. What incredibly powerful conversion stories. I used the audio book version of this wonderful collection - there were many moments when I laughed out loud and many parts that a silent tear or two would escape. It's always striking to me about so many individuals who search long and hard, (think years and years while trying out many, many different faiths for where they belong), that convert to Catholicism. Great book.

[Jacqueline Muehlstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of conversions to Catholicism. Quite inspirational.

[Antonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to read as the mood strikes you and in no particular order. I haven’t read all the conversion stories within the book, but those that I did were excellent.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love conversion stories so I loved this book x23!