Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism

I love conversion stories and have always enjoyed listening to Dr Scott Hahn, a famous convert, who brings complex theological issues down to a level that even *I* can understand so I thought the book by he and his wife, Kimberly, Rome Sweet Home, would be a happy story.

Well, it didn’t start out that way! I knew they had a happy ending because both they and their children made it into the Catholic Church many years ago but the book covered the whole process of their discovery of the fullness of Truth of the Catholic Church. First Kimberly made the discovery that the Church was correct about contraception (this book was written in the early 1990s by the way). Then Scott questioned one tenet of Protestantism, sola fide, and for him, show more that started unraveling the whole ball of yarn. He fought his conversion every step of the way, at least in the beginning and Kimberly, while being a supportive wife, fought the idea and prayed and read books and prayed some more.

It was a real page-turner for me and made me respect the Hahns’ struggles to get to where they are today. show less

I love conversion stories and have always enjoyed listening to Dr Scott Hahn, a famous convert, who brings complex theological issues down to a level that even *I* can understand so I thought the book by he and his wife, Kimberly, Rome Sweet Home, would be a happy story.

Well, it didn’t start out that way! I knew they had a happy ending because both they and their children made it into the Catholic Church many years ago but the book covered the whole process of their discovery of the fullness of Truth of the Catholic Church. First Kimberly made the discovery that the Church was correct about contraception (this book was written in the early 1990s by the way). Then Scott questioned one tenet of Protestantism, sola fide, and for him, show more that started unraveling the whole ball of yarn. He fought his conversion every step of the way, at least in the beginning and Kimberly, while being a supportive wife, fought the idea and prayed and read books and prayed some more.

It was a real page-turner for me and made me respect the Hahns’ struggles to get to where they are today. show less

Interesting and a quick read. Documents how Hahn and his wife Kimberly both went from being Protestants (Lutheran and Calvinists) to gradually becoming Roman Catholics. A matter of fact book with little in actual description of spiritual discernment. Hahn's mistakes to being converted were (i) buying a dead catholic priest's old theology/scripture library, (ii) reading preVatican II Catholic Theologians Pieper, Danielou, Dawson, Scheeben, von Balthasar, Garrigou-Lagrange, (iii) going to Mass on his own. Although the Virgin Mary was an emotional stumbling block for Kimberly Hahn, it was not so for Mr. Hahn. He says Germain Grisez sent him a relic of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton which he didn't know what it was until after inquiring. In the show more old days you could get relics much easier than now. Kimberly Hahn wonders if praying for the Virgin Mary's intercession is necromancy. That's funny that she formulated it that way. It's not necromancy unless Mary isn't really resurrected in glory already. Catholics believe she is. On page 140 of the book there is a crucial "misunderstanding" about the Eucharist and the words of institution which doesn't need to be gone into now. But this error will pop up again in another work of Hahn's later in The Lamb's Supper. Not a real full length memoir but it is a good summary of his transition to accepting the Catholic faith on terms he and his wife Kimberly felt were heart-felt, authentic, and consistent. show less

I heard about Scott Hahn through Rosary Army so when I came across this book at St Patrick's, prior to its closing, I knew I was going to add it to my list of "Spiritual Must Reads". Just recently I listened to a "The Catholics Next Door" podcast that had Scott Hahn on. When I realized it was Advent and I could/should/always do focus on my spiritual growth at that time, I immediately picked up this book. And now that I've finished reading it in two days I can't remember *what* made me pick it up.

There was so much in this short book that spoke to me. The beginning half -- what I read yesterday -- I enjoyed for the Scriptural connections to how TRUE the Catholic Faith/Church is. As it is amazing to Scott Hahn it is equally amazing to me, show more how the Catholic Church is the SAME EXACT Church that Christ developed 2000 years ago. I love reading books that show you those connections and draw them out for it. Love it. It's so beautiful to me -- but I absolutely love the Catholic Church so maybe that's it : ).

Then, today, in the second half, I felt the story was more about Kimberly's spiritual development into the Catholic Church and I did not know that was in there ... This aspect of the book spoke to me today. Today I finally got together with my best friend to discuss where our friendship was going after we had had a disagreement / misunderstanding regarding the Catholic Mass. When Kimberly was talking about the loneliness and the pain she felt while Scott continued his growth in the Catholic Church and how she herself just *could not* ... I could relate to that! I could also relate to her love for Scott and her love for Christ/God ... She couldn't push either of them away -- I loved that : ) They trusted in God, solely, and worked it out. They didn't have to chose one over the other ... They trusted in God. I liked that. I love that Kimberly trusted in God and it is so clear that she has a great, great relationship with Him. I have had those same experiences, where you are a small child in the presence of God.

I will be keeping this book ... and passing it around to, um, EVERYONE I know : )
Adrianne show less

Great book: It argues the essentials of Christian orthodoxy, salvation and sanctification based on a husband and wife’s story of their journey from the Protestant Church to the Roman Catholic Church. It's a very exciting and a short book. It not only chronicles the events of the authors' journey but their personal trauma and difficulty in being open to and guided by the one truth and following where it would lead them. It’s inspiring because it gives insight into the human side of being surrendered to God, albeit not without pain, and ultimately finding the great prize.

I found the switching back and forth between Scott's and Kim's POVs to be an interesting twist. I'd like to see a more in-depth researched opinion presented in a larger book, but for skimming the surface, the Hahns present Catholicism fairly accurately.

A wonderful account of the "coming home" of the Hahn family. Scott Hahn, now a well-known Catholic theologian and speaker, was originally a Protestant. This book is a very compelling account of how Scott found Catholicism and perfectly described the trials and tribulations he and his family endured while converting. If anyone needs a spiritual shot in their arm, this book is the perfect remedy.