Lately we're hearing that many, especially younger people, are converting to Catholicism. Many are leaving behind previous New Age or other practices and embracing Christianity, more particularly Catholicism. I saw this short clip on YouTube and thought it was a good example of this. Maybe we could use this thread to post other examples you might have seen or heard of, as a kind of resource if people were looking for something to show to or discuss with others about these things, should the need arise. Edit: It doesn't necessarily have to be in connection with younger people or very recent. There are some wonderful stories of conversion that I've seen over the years. I'll try and recall some and post them. https://youtube.com/shorts/Mty4u8qSGeI?si=RHE-PkQSzI3grBEE
I’m of the age of many of these new converts and am one my self. One thing I will say is that most Catholics at my university are actually practicing Catholics who believe what the Church teaches. That may not sound like much, but I know of very few millennial/gen-x “Catholics” who even attend Mass on Sunday, much less pray the Rosary frequently or have any sort of task within their parish, like many of my friends do. It’s definitely a sign that Our Lady is raising up her little army, as St. Louis de Montfort predicted.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/episod...urce=weekly-icymi-2026-02-07&utm_medium=email Here's a modern day "Saul of Tarsus" conversion that will have a marvelous impact on his 20's generation! Our prayers on this Forum might never be showcased, but the young generation of Trads, no matter their particular nuance, is changing the world and they need our prayers!
When one finally discovers that what one believed amounts to No-Thing, the only option left is the Thing.
Padraig posted this on the Saint of the Day thread, a few days ago. It looks at the story of Catholicism in Japan and conversions among younger people there.
Just to mention that I edited the opening post to add: "It doesn't necessarily have to be in connection with younger people or very recent. There are some wonderful stories of conversion that I've seen over the years. I'll try and recall some and post them."
The number wouldn't surprise me. I think it is inevitable that many lapsed Catholics eventually quietly and very bashfully and shamefacedly return, as well. I think it's a number that is more likely to be underestimated than overestimated. Catholicism is not 'cool' or fashionable (or profitable) and those joining or rejoining are very likely to be doing so without fanfare and in a spirit of humility. If they're coming from Islam (which, it is said, many are), they also risk life and limb.
Yes, I think it's wonderful Gen Z want to be more Holy & devout. Lots of conversions, no matter the age. I just want to raise some awareness with this as well. I'm not trying to be a debbie downer. There are a lot of younger & some older Catholic influencers/content creators whose Faith is performative. It's like Catholicism & the TLM has become a 'trend.' A lot of young Catholics & some of the older influencers are pressuring other Catholics to 'Marry young, have lots of children.' This may not be God's will for everyone's life. It's like the message is that being married is the Holier vocation, the larger the family, the Holier one is. I was discussing this with a young Catholic guy who will stop his Catholic content because he said young ones are being influenced by others, when some things aren't reality. We both agreed no one talks about abstaining in marriage also, that God may call ppl to marry young or whatever age. The reality of what's going on on social media is Catholics should be exclusive to the TLM, have lots of kids, homestead, homeschool, be in their 20s & married. Another young girl of 25 was already accused of being too old & infertile. She's 25!! And if you don't do those things, that are 'trending' on Catholic social media, then you're chopped liver lol. I joke, but I just want to make it known what is also happening... There are accounts dedicated to 'Do these things so you don't end up single in your 60s' Written by a young Catholic, married woman. I had to call her out on it, God is in control of one's life. And what's wrong with being single in ones 60s or single in general? It's become the plague amongst younger Catholics. When the message should be that ppl should obey God, trust in His will & not marry the next person to come around. No one wants an unequally yoked marriage or a marriage like King Herod's. There were a lot of Saints who never married.
Thanks for pointing that out JMJF, that's a good insight into what's happening in the strange world of social media. To be honest, I don't know that much about it. Apart from visiting the forum here and some thing's on Fb and YouTube, I don't really go there. I think your right about that type of pressure being unnecessary and possibly harmful. There are so many pressures on young people already, these days. They don't need more. Hopefully they will find their way to the Blessed Mother and she will safely guide them.
Global Catholic population The global Catholic population increased by 1.15% between 2022 and 2023, rising from approximately 1.39 billion to 1.406 billion, a percentage very similar to that of the previous biennium. The distribution of baptized Catholics varies in the various geographic areas, in accordance with the different demographics of each continent. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatic...arbook-2025-priests-religious-statistics.html
You're welcome! Unfortunately, a lot of young single Catholics are idolising marriage. They seem to think being a nun, priest or married person is what makes someone Holy. They have forgotten that Jesus Himself didn't marry, neither did some ppl in the Bible & some Saints. There's even a Catholic dating site/matchmaking service that limits the ages of singles - women to 18–39 and men to 18–55. So, these are all the pressures single Catholics are facing now, esp young Catholics. Yes, God does want more Holy & Sacramental marriages & children in this world - but what happens if it's not His will? Is it going to be the end of the world for someone? But the attitude of some young Catholics is 'It could never be me.' Women have no power to pursue & shouldn't pursue. Is a woman supposed to chase after a man just so she can marry?? That's a major ick for me lol.
I was always taught that the single life was also a vocation. Not everyone desires a partner. They are meant to be out in the world as examples to lead by example. And yes, the challenges of being coersed into marriage have been here forever it seems.
This beautiful memoir was very helpful early on (as was the life of St. Pio) in allowing me to see that Catholic Christianity wasn't just another "belief system" among the many religions of the world but rather a Living Mystery through which the action of Grace and the Holy Spirit can operate in our lives and the world. Mother Veronica was born in France to young and fiercely anti-clerical parents in 1922. Her mother was unwell after the birth, so the newborn was sent to her Grandparents to be cared for until her mother recovered. They had her secretly baptised and Mother Veronica attributes the many other graces in her life to that initial one. When her parents found out what happened, they decided to move to Morocco so that she wouldn't hear any more about God or other "superstitious" nonsense. That plan obviously didn't work, thank God. Here's an excerpt from the Foreword: "This autobiography was written at the more than earnest request of the African abbess in Lusaka as being the only gift she desired for the celebration of her silver jubilee several years ago. It was intended to be a private gift reserved to the community in Lusaka. I entered the scene when Mother Veronica Namoyo, one of my dearest friends, entrusted the manuscript to me for some editing. A native Frenchwoman who has had limited opportunities to exercise her writing and speaking of English these many years past in Africa, she felt the writing needed perhaps some grammatical surveillance. When I realized what a treasure was in my hands, what a dazzling exposition of God’s amazing work, I joined forces with Mother Josefa, the young African abbess in Lusaka, to persuade Mother Veronica Namoyo to allow me to submit it for publication. Mother Veronica Namoyo fought a very good initial fight against this proposal. Part of my own service as federal abbess of the United States of America Federation of Mary Immaculate was to invite some British Poor Clare abbesses, two of them officers of the Association of Poor Clares in England, as guests to our federation chapter held in Roswell in 1987. Permission was readily obtained from higher authority to make this enriching exchange and interchange possible. The invitation was also extended to the English-speaking abbess president of the Poor Clare Federation in Africa (who was unable to accept it) and to the first federal councilor there, who, happily for us, was able to accept it. This was Mother Veronica Namoyo. One afternoon during the chapter days in Roswell, I sat alone with Mother Veronica in our modest office room to engage in a serious debate. Long one in spirit, heart and ideal, and usually in opinions also, we now found ourselves at direct odds. I felt that this autobiography entrusted to me in a special way could not be withheld from a wide reading public. Mother Veronica would have none of this. It was private. It was not for distribution. It was assuredly not for publication. We sat for a while in a confrontational silence, words dropping away before a direct, if silent, slamming of two disparate ideas, the one against the other. Then, finally, I spoke again. Mother Veronica Namoyo has long been very kind in her assessments of my own poetry, rejoicing my heart with her understanding of whatever it is I have tried to express. I thanked her again for this and recalled to her that, if one is going to write anything even resembling true poetry, one must agree to be very poor. Poetry reveals the inmost soul and heart of the singer, if it is poetry at all. If one writes poetry, one must give oneself away. I reminded Mother Veronica Namoyo, too, of the great attraction God had long since given her to profound poverty. Having long and faithfully responded to this attraction of grace in ways made clear in this autobiography, I asked by what right before God she could keep this manuscript for herself and a few. I inquired how she would justify keeping secret such wondrous works of God as could draw many souls to fall down in adoration before the wonder of his ways. I saw what she had written as an evident channel of grace for many and asked her to relinquish any ownership of the works of God in her life. I suggested that this might be the epitome of poverty to which God had invited her—to abdicate that last holding. Mother Veronica bent her head. After a few moments she said, “I trust you absolutely. I will do it.” I hold that moment as among the most cherished of my life. So, here is the relinquishing of her privacy in a truly marvelous tale of God’s grace. We would doubtless prefer that it not end at the enclosure doors of a Poor Clare monastery in Africa. We would like to know all about the ongoing wonders of grace in her life as a cloistered contemplative Poor Clare nun. Yet on this I would never debate nor even attempt to persuade. Perhaps when her earthly course is run, some others will write of her Poor Clare life. After her insistence on leaving the service of abbess in favor of a native African Poor Clare for some years, the native Africans insisted on reclaiming their first spiritual mother. Once again abbess in Lusaka, Mother Veronica Namoyo goes on doing what she has always done since first struck down by grace when she was three years old: worshipping God and inviting with irresistible sincerity and love others to do the same. Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C." “He makes us remember his wonders. . . .” Psalm 111
It's absolutely horrible now with Gen Z Catholic social media, they are absolutely idolising marriage. The young influencers & even some of the Millennials are using Jesus as their 'brand'. I know no one is perfect, but there doesn't seem to be much discernment on what they post. And they are 'influencing' ppl in the wrong way. Marriage isn't a Tik Tok trend, it comes with great suffering. I'm sure some of them make a lot of money from social media. I often think it's what the Protestants do - use Jesus' name to make money & show off a flashy car etc. It doesn't align with our Catholic Faith where some priests & nuns take vows of poverty etc. A lot have been caught out, too. Like the Voice of Reason scandal last year. Alex would talk about chastity, but he was using his internet fame to sleep with women. There are many young Catholics who genuinely want to be on fire for the Faith, but we're also being fooled & not everyone is called to be on social media discussing their Faith. Jesus is not a brand ppl can just make money off.
Influencers are paid to get a certain message out...it is so confusing.. Many are set up in social media for a reason...first they speak the truth we want to hear and then it changes..that's how politicians work. These days celibacy and the single life is laughed at... it is very sad.
