Why are some people more prone to conversion, as happened in my case, unlike others?

Hello,

What makes one person more willing to convert than another?

I realize that when I got closer to the Church I did it in a much more “voluntary” way, compared to others who sometimes just cannot accept it and look for reasons to say that God does not exist.

I highly doubt that’s because of me.

So why did the Lord give me this great gift and not others?

Another great gift is that I have never deliberately blasphemed in my life. As a child, I was tormented when some blasphemy appeared in my mind. What is it?

Thank you and have a good day.

Matteo

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The Priest’s answer

Dear Matthew,

1. The remark you made is true. Some are more inclined to conversion and when the Lord calls them they make no effort to go after him, as happened in your case.

Others, however, feel an inner struggle: on the one hand they want to be converted, but on the other they resist the call, as happened to Saint Paul so much that the Lord took him and told him:”Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad” (Acts 26:14).

2. You rightly acknowledge that you have no higher merits than those who come to conversion after a true inner travail.

What is this all about?

The Lord himself gave us the answer in Sacred Scripture when he said: “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one – to each according to his ability” (Mt 25:14-15).

And again: “But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph 4:7) and “one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes“(1 Cor 12:11).

3. As you see, the Lord distributes his grace in different degrees, according to two criteria: the first is the measure of his approval. He can do with his gifts what he wants and he can give more to some.

The second refers to the capabilities of each. Capabilities are not the merits of individuals, but the dispositions that God gives to individuals so that they welcome him in adequately.

4. One may ask why he gives his talents in a different way: to some five, to others two and to others only one.

We don’t know that.

However, we are certain that God does no wrong to anyone, because no one has the right to be like Our Lady, like Saint Joseph or like the Apostles.

We will understand the reason why God does so only beyond.

This is why Saint Augustine said: “Do not desire to judge, if you desire not to err” (Commentary on the Gospel of John, Homily 26,2).

Everyone has already sufficient reasons to thank the Lord infinitely for having created him and made him Christian by grace.

5. Of another thing we are still certain: in the judgment the Lord will ask for an account of the gifts received and how much we have exploited them.

Everyone will be judged by merit.

So it could happen that the one who received the grace of conversion in a less strong way than another exploited it better than the latter and therefore in paradise he has a greater glory.

With the wish that you can always respond with the utmost simplicity and with the perfect totality to every call of the Lord, I bless you and I remember you in prayer.

Padre Angelo

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