Julia, soon to be baptized, used to be anti-Catholic

“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” These are the words that thousands of catechumens around the world are preparing to hear on Easter night when they are baptized. Throughout Lent, Aleteia is sharing with you the stories of some of these men and women, who are happy to become children of God. Read all of the testimonies here. 

“I was brought up completely oblivious to anything religious; or rather, (I was raised) contrary to it, with a special hatred of the Catholic Church,” confesses Julia. Since then, this young Spaniard has traveled a long path to the faith.

Since she was a child, she was emotionally moved by the Holy Week processions that are so popular in Spain, despite not understanding them. However, during that stage of her life she was completely closed to Catholicism.

“I was radically anti-Catholic, but after certain complicated episodes in my life I realized that Someone (I still didn't know who) loved me and wanted me to live.”

Now, at the age of 21, Julia Álvarez will be baptized during the Easter Vigil in Spain.

“It wasn’t an easy road, since my concerns about the possible existence of God didn’t lead me directly to the Catholic Church. Rather it took several years of trying things out, studying, and experimenting with different spiritualities and religions until I reached Christianity,” Julia explains. 

“And after that came a long and not easy road until I came to accept the Catholic denomination. It wasn't easy and I even lost friends, because of the circles I come from. But I couldn't continue to deny the Truth,” explains the young woman, a law student.

But, without a doubt, she says that the greatest help in this process of conversion came from the Blessed Virgin Mary. “She’s the one who led me to Jesus both at first and whenever I had doubts afterwards. Led by her hand, I always find Jesus even in the moments when I’m not looking for him.”

Julia points out that the catechesis she received in preparation has been much deeper than that received by children.

“I was taught by the deacon in my parish, who is very well prepared and charming. In addition to that, I joined a group with other people my age in my parish, so I actively participate in the celebrations. We also have adoration every Thursday, and I usually go to the holy hour with the Hakuna group.”

Through the grace of God, Julia has gone from hating the Catholic Church to basing her life on the saints. She even admits to having devotion to several saints.

“There are several who inspire me: St. Catherine of Siena, whom I took as my patron saint because she was so intelligent and had so much faith; Saint Joan of Arc, for her courage in following the will of God, despite it being something that was far from what would be expected of her in her time; St. Augustine and St. Paul, for having been great sinners turned into great saints; Carlo Acutis, for being an example of holiness in our era.”

Julia, full of conviction, invites other people who might be considering baptism with a simple phrase: “come home.” “There’s no better exhortation than that: come home, to the Body of Christ.”

“I got rid of my prejudices about Catholicism thanks to other people—especially two, who never said a bad word to me about my former positions and welcomed me with open arms. The Lord worked through them to guide me, I'm sure.”