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About Philip Turgati
My name is Philip Turgati.
I was born November 20, 1951.
Growing up in "The Bronx", I attended Catholic schools (Holy Rosary - Grammer School; All Hallows - High School; St. John's University).
My family lived in the northeast section of the Bronx which years ago contained woods, swamps, creeks, rivers and even some small farms. We lived on Mickle Avenue. The Bronx back then was very different from how people experience it today. We still had dirt roads in some areas!
I remember during summer catching tadpoles in the swamp down "Old man's hill", winter sleigh riding on 'old man's hill' with the pillars of the train trestle at the bottom to 'help' you stop! Walking to the cookie factory to buy broken cookies at next to nothing.
I was fortunate to have loving parents who were always there for their family. A big brother that was probably the bravest person I ever knew. I had plenty of friends also. In fact the Turgati front porch was the neighborhood hang out for most of my childhood and teen years.
I moved to Florida when my father died in 1991.
Both my parents were of Italian descent. They were both Catholic also, so they brought their children up to be Catholic.
One time I had a conversation with a good man that I know. He said that what religion we follow or don't, is due to how we were brought up. I agreed. But I said that when we reach adulthood we need to figure out what God would want us to do.
Taking this thought further, we need to form our conscience to the best of our abilities and decide between right and wrong. That may mean changing our whole attitude towards how we live, worship and think! *
Many years ago I had a 'metanoia' experience, a 'life changing' experience. I had a nervous breakdown and decided to turn my life over to Jesus. This happened in my childhood parish of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, in the Bronx, New York. From that time on I walk with God. I attend daily Mass, prayer group, bible study, conferences and retreats on a regular basis, in an attempt to deepen my relationship with God.
When I moved to Florida I met many people who were not Catholic and yet loved the Lord. One day in a conversation I was having with God, I asked Him which 'church', meaning Christian denomination; was right (was teaching the truth)? Or could they all be teaching the truth, even though on some points they conflict with each other. I felt as though God speaking to my heart said that there was only 'ONE Truth'.
'ONE Truth'. . . what did that mean?
He answered 'Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life'. I said, 'I know that, but I want to know which church to follow'. Again, not in an audible voice, but in my heart he said, 'The church founded by Jesus is the only church that has the complete truth'. I knew that the Catholic Church was started by Jesus because it says in Scripture; Mat 16:18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
And only the Catholic Church can trace, in an unbroken line, it's bishops back to the apostles. Also, in secular as well as most Christian history the Catholic Church is listed as the original church started by Jesus.
I was relieved to have the answer and challenged to help answer Christ's prayer for 'unity' among the believers! John 17:20 "I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
John 17:21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
With God's Grace I hope to bring about greater 'Unity' by learning about the 'Faith' taught by Jesus and then sharing this information with others.
The subject of "Catholic apologetics" is an avocation of mine. I am not a scholar and cannot read any ancient languages. There is some original insight here, but for the most part, I have freely copied from professional theologians.
* Dignitatis Humanae reaffirm's man's moral obligation to seek truth, stating: "All men should be at once impelled by nature and also bound by a moral obligation to seek truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth, once it is known, and to order their whole lives in accord with the demands of the truth." vi |
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