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Lead, Kindly Light: My Journey to Rome
Through his prolific and highly regarded writings, Thomas Howard's name is familiar to Protestants and Catholics alike. With grace, charm, and wit, Dr. Howard describes his journey from Evangelicalism to Anglicanism, and finally, to the Church of Rome. In a world saturated with fashionable unbelief, Howard's testimony inspires and informs. This is the personal story of a man's search for spiritual fulfillment that includes a detailed explanation of the factors that led him to his ultimate destination. It is a testimony to the difficulty faced by a life-long, well-known Protestant in taking that final step across the threshold to Catholicism. Howard clearly explains the challenges of learning and accepting some doctrines that were completely new to him, and the reactions one might face from friends and family.
105 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
9 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Howard
56 books76 followersThomas Howard (b. 1935) is a highly acclaimed writer and scholar.
He was raised in a prominent Evangelical home (his sister is well-known author and former missionary Elisabeth Elliot), became Episcopalian in his mid-twenties, then entered the Catholic Church in 1985, at the age of fifty. At the time, his conversion shocked many in evangelical circles, and was the subject of a feature article in the leading evangelical periodical Christianity Today.
Dave Armstrong writes of Howard: "He cites the influence of great Catholic writers such as Newman, Knox, Chesterton, Guardini, Ratzinger, Karl Adam, Louis Bouyer, and St. Augustine on his final decision. Howard's always stylistically-excellent prose is especially noteworthy for its emphasis on the sacramental, incarnational and ‘transcendent’ aspects of Christianity."
Like C.S. Lewis, who he greatly admires and has written about often, Howard is an English professor (recently retired, after nearly forty years of teaching), who taught at Gordon College and then at St. John's Seminary. He is a highly acclaimed writer and scholar, noted for his studies of Inklings C.S. Lewis Narnia Beyond: A Guide to the Fiction of C.S. Lewis (2006, 1987) and Charles Williams The Novels of Charles Williams (1991), as well as books including Christ the Tiger (1967), Chance or the Dance (1969), Hallowed be This House (1976), Evangelical is Not Enough (1984), If Your Mind Wanders at Mass (1995), On Being Catholic (1997), and The Secret of New York Revealed.
He was raised in a prominent Evangelical home (his sister is well-known author and former missionary Elisabeth Elliot), became Episcopalian in his mid-twenties, then entered the Catholic Church in 1985, at the age of fifty. At the time, his conversion shocked many in evangelical circles, and was the subject of a feature article in the leading evangelical periodical Christianity Today.
Dave Armstrong writes of Howard: "He cites the influence of great Catholic writers such as Newman, Knox, Chesterton, Guardini, Ratzinger, Karl Adam, Louis Bouyer, and St. Augustine on his final decision. Howard's always stylistically-excellent prose is especially noteworthy for its emphasis on the sacramental, incarnational and ‘transcendent’ aspects of Christianity."
Like C.S. Lewis, who he greatly admires and has written about often, Howard is an English professor (recently retired, after nearly forty years of teaching), who taught at Gordon College and then at St. John's Seminary. He is a highly acclaimed writer and scholar, noted for his studies of Inklings C.S. Lewis Narnia Beyond: A Guide to the Fiction of C.S. Lewis (2006, 1987) and Charles Williams The Novels of Charles Williams (1991), as well as books including Christ the Tiger (1967), Chance or the Dance (1969), Hallowed be This House (1976), Evangelical is Not Enough (1984), If Your Mind Wanders at Mass (1995), On Being Catholic (1997), and The Secret of New York Revealed.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 15, 2018
Excellent book. I am always blessed by conversion stories. Tom Howard was at first an Evangelical, then an Anglican, then came home to the capital C Catholic Church. This book is also a teaching book. He gave lucid, concise, reasons for his conversion that enlightened and gratified this cradle Catholic. I especially liked the numbered points section.
Two paraphrased quotes:
In reference to why the Church gives Christian Burial to a Mafia Don. “Only God knows what seedling of Faith might be alive in the burley deceased. The Church shares God’s seeking of the lost not His Office as judge.”
In reference to scandal, bad Pope’s etc.
“......Catholics may have profound sympathy with any number of protests about the corruption, worldliness, falsehoods, and sin in the Catholic Church. (But) St. Augustine would teach us to say as he did “ Alas your criticism is too true. There may be wounds, and bruises and putrefying sores from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet but we can not dismember and hack to pieces the Body of Christ!”
Sadly this is exactly what has happened in last 500 years.
Two paraphrased quotes:
In reference to why the Church gives Christian Burial to a Mafia Don. “Only God knows what seedling of Faith might be alive in the burley deceased. The Church shares God’s seeking of the lost not His Office as judge.”
In reference to scandal, bad Pope’s etc.
“......Catholics may have profound sympathy with any number of protests about the corruption, worldliness, falsehoods, and sin in the Catholic Church. (But) St. Augustine would teach us to say as he did “ Alas your criticism is too true. There may be wounds, and bruises and putrefying sores from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet but we can not dismember and hack to pieces the Body of Christ!”
Sadly this is exactly what has happened in last 500 years.
May 30, 2015
One thing aside from his personal journey toward the Catholic faith that stood out for me was his use of the English language, brilliant! Mr. Howard didn't make his decision in months but in years which makes it even more remarkable to me since he became a Catholic in his fifties.
March 29, 2024
Howard is the brother of Elizabeth Elliot, long time literature professor at Gordon Conwell, author and a former Evangelical. Many intellectuals have turned to Catholicism in recent decades. Two of my favorites, Michael Egnor and Peter Kreeft, amongst them. I am interested in this journey to enlighten me on his reasons and how they may inform on others.
The most helpful portion of the book is Howard's point that protestants have disembodied much of worship, making worship a spiritual, inward practice only. I have always wished for an outlet that included external physical expressions of worship. I think he makes a good point here.
His arguments for the authority of the Catholic Church, Early Church practice, though at times moving, are not convincing as truth-- which is the standard he required for moving from the Episcopal church to the Catholicism. I disagree with his assessment of Protestants and their lack of an authoritative voice for answers. I definitely disagree with his assessment of Sola Scriptura. In my view Sola Scriptura is the only voice defensible on matters of faith and practice.
It is hard to give 3 stars to an author who is simply telling his story. From that standpoint I give it a 5. Did he demonstrate through his story the standard of "truth"? I give that a 3.
The most helpful portion of the book is Howard's point that protestants have disembodied much of worship, making worship a spiritual, inward practice only. I have always wished for an outlet that included external physical expressions of worship. I think he makes a good point here.
His arguments for the authority of the Catholic Church, Early Church practice, though at times moving, are not convincing as truth-- which is the standard he required for moving from the Episcopal church to the Catholicism. I disagree with his assessment of Protestants and their lack of an authoritative voice for answers. I definitely disagree with his assessment of Sola Scriptura. In my view Sola Scriptura is the only voice defensible on matters of faith and practice.
It is hard to give 3 stars to an author who is simply telling his story. From that standpoint I give it a 5. Did he demonstrate through his story the standard of "truth"? I give that a 3.
January 6, 2016
Excellent little book! Thomas Howard is clear and concise as always.
One small complaint I do have is that he says nothing whatsoever about his transition from Protestant Fundamentalism to Anglicanism, which is about halfway to Roman Catholicism. This is probably because the book mainly discusses his belief in apostolic succession as being manifested in the Catholic Church which is obviously rejected by Anglicans, but some comment would have been nice.
Highly recommend!
One small complaint I do have is that he says nothing whatsoever about his transition from Protestant Fundamentalism to Anglicanism, which is about halfway to Roman Catholicism. This is probably because the book mainly discusses his belief in apostolic succession as being manifested in the Catholic Church which is obviously rejected by Anglicans, but some comment would have been nice.
Highly recommend!
March 30, 2009
I read this awhile back- but a gracious memoir of sorts about Howard's conversion to Catholicism. Sister to "popular" evangelical Elizabeth Eliot- I really resonated with his evangelical background and also his longing for the historical church. A thoughtfully written account, gracious, and humble.
November 28, 2019
If I were able to write with anything like the eloquence of Thomas Howard I might very well have written a book very much like this one. Like Howard I was raised in a fundamentalist church. Like Howard I felt that I was missing something very important in that setting and I moved to a liturgical church where I too spent almost twenty-five years. Like Howard I still felt that something was missing and the more I studied, the more I prayed and the more I reflected, the more I felt the call to come home to Christ's Church. And finally, like Howard I finally answered that call and am now more at peace and closer to God than I have ever been.
There is very little in the way of doctrinal discussion to be found in this book but where such issues are discussed they are handled in a very forthright and clear manner. The author makes it very clear that part of what led him to the Catholic Church is that this is the Church founded by the Apostles of Christ and that they or those who were taught by them set up the structure of both the Church itself and the Mass based on the first person teachings of Jesus. Basically he says that the Catholic Church is the only Church with a true Apostolic succession and an actual commission from Christ himself to act as a guardian of orthodoxy. I couldn't possibly agree more.
The basic argument about the authority of the Church is not the major theme of this book however for this book is the very personal story of the author's spiritual journey that led him home to the Catholic Church. This is the story of a man's search for spiritual fulfillment that includes a detailed but not at all dull explanation of the factors that led him to his ultimate destination. This is also a testimony to the difficulty faced by a life-long active Protestant in taking that final step across the threshold to Catholicism. Howard clearly explains the difficulties that include both trying to learn about doctrines that are completely new to the former Protestant and the reaction one will face from friends and family. The author makes no attempt to sugar coat the fact that this journey is sometimes a scary one but also a joyful one.
Having taken this same journey I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling the same call that Thomas Howard and I have felt. There is no doubt in my mind that my own journey would have been aided a great deal if I had found this book earlier. For those who are already Catholic, either cradle or convert, this book can not only clear up some common misconceptions but can also clearly remind us of the glorious heritage and faithful teachings that we share with the Apostles, Saints, and great teachers of the Church. It is indeed comforting to realize that St. Andrew or St. Paul would clearly recognize the Mass that we celebrate today as being the same Mass that they celebrated almost two-thousand years ago and until I read this book I just never thought of that.
There is very little in the way of doctrinal discussion to be found in this book but where such issues are discussed they are handled in a very forthright and clear manner. The author makes it very clear that part of what led him to the Catholic Church is that this is the Church founded by the Apostles of Christ and that they or those who were taught by them set up the structure of both the Church itself and the Mass based on the first person teachings of Jesus. Basically he says that the Catholic Church is the only Church with a true Apostolic succession and an actual commission from Christ himself to act as a guardian of orthodoxy. I couldn't possibly agree more.
The basic argument about the authority of the Church is not the major theme of this book however for this book is the very personal story of the author's spiritual journey that led him home to the Catholic Church. This is the story of a man's search for spiritual fulfillment that includes a detailed but not at all dull explanation of the factors that led him to his ultimate destination. This is also a testimony to the difficulty faced by a life-long active Protestant in taking that final step across the threshold to Catholicism. Howard clearly explains the difficulties that include both trying to learn about doctrines that are completely new to the former Protestant and the reaction one will face from friends and family. The author makes no attempt to sugar coat the fact that this journey is sometimes a scary one but also a joyful one.
Having taken this same journey I highly recommend this book to anyone who is feeling the same call that Thomas Howard and I have felt. There is no doubt in my mind that my own journey would have been aided a great deal if I had found this book earlier. For those who are already Catholic, either cradle or convert, this book can not only clear up some common misconceptions but can also clearly remind us of the glorious heritage and faithful teachings that we share with the Apostles, Saints, and great teachers of the Church. It is indeed comforting to realize that St. Andrew or St. Paul would clearly recognize the Mass that we celebrate today as being the same Mass that they celebrated almost two-thousand years ago and until I read this book I just never thought of that.
November 8, 2021
Wow, super similar to my own story so kind of neat to read (though I’ll note I was not invited to lunch with my Archbishop the day of the Easter vigil, lol!), he’s articulated it so well and said many of the things I’ve said to people as well trying to explain the draw. Lovely.
January 7, 2022
An Encouraging Story
To read such a journey is inspiring. It resonated with many of my own experiences.
Sadly he is no longer with us to inspire and encourage. May he receive his Eternal Reward.
To read such a journey is inspiring. It resonated with many of my own experiences.
Sadly he is no longer with us to inspire and encourage. May he receive his Eternal Reward.
September 13, 2024
HOWARD'S SPIRITUAL JOURNEY CONCLUDES WITH HIS CONVERSION TO CATHOLICISM
Thomas Howard is a professor of English at St. John's Seminary; he has also written books such as 'Evangelical is Not Enough: Worship of God in Liturgy and Sacrament' (describing his original conversion to Anglicanism), 'On Being Catholic,' 'Chance or the Dance: A Critique of Modern Secularism,' etc.
He notes early in this 1994 book about his Fundamentalist background, "The believers in my world were certainly drawn from the 'not many mighty' of this world; and good taste, when it came to melodies and sentiments that turned up in the hymnody, and the general manner of speaking of things divine, was scarcely one of its strong points." (Pg. 3-4)
He adds, "Christians in our quarter really did not swear in those days, and the lush profanity of our Catholic friends made us feel that they were not Christians at all. Christians didn't swear. We also did not dance or smoke or go to the cinema or drink wine or gamble. Our Catholic friends indulged in every single one of these activities with the greatest insouciance: they could not possibly have been Christians." (Pg. 5-6)
He explains, "It was, therefore, a discovery to me to find that from time immemorial the Christian Church has followed a rich and disciplined sequence in her yearly calendar, beginning with Advent and concluding with the long season of Pentecost. which brings the faithful around to Advent once again." (Pg. 17) He adds, "whether we acknowledged it or not, our 'orthodox' understanding of the Bible had been articulated for us by the Church." (Pg. 25-26)
He asks rhetorically, "Who will arbitrate for us all between Luther and Calvin on the weighty matters that lie between those two teachers? And who will tell us whether to believe Luther or Zwingli when it comes to the Lord's Supper... And who will arbitrate for us between George Whitefield and John Wesley... each preaching a doctrine of salvation that excludes the other's teaching... And who will decide for us laity between the Dispensationalists... and the Calvinists...?" (Pg. 27-28)
He states, "The trouble here, for me, what that what these wrong-headed men [the Church Fathers] wrote... was so titanic, and so rich and so luminous, that their error seemed infinitely truer and more glorious than my truth. I gradually felt that it was I, not they, who was under surveillance... The Church is here, in all of its antiquity, judging me." (Pg. 32-33)
He admits, "In the Catholic Church there occurs this same error and false teaching, often loudly taught in high theological quarters. But everyone---both in the world and the Church---knows that there is a desk on which the buck stops, so to speak, and that when Rome has spoken on the issue, it is concluded. Oh, to be sure, Father C. or Father F. over here can keep on burbling---Rome cannot stop that. But Rome can say and does say to the Church and the world, 'This which you hear Fathers C. and F. teaching is not Catholic teaching. It is not in accord with the Faith once for all delivered to us by the apostles.'" (Pg. 84-85)
This book will be of interest not just to Catholics, but to anyone interested in Catholic/Protestant dialogue, or religious biographies.
Thomas Howard is a professor of English at St. John's Seminary; he has also written books such as 'Evangelical is Not Enough: Worship of God in Liturgy and Sacrament' (describing his original conversion to Anglicanism), 'On Being Catholic,' 'Chance or the Dance: A Critique of Modern Secularism,' etc.
He notes early in this 1994 book about his Fundamentalist background, "The believers in my world were certainly drawn from the 'not many mighty' of this world; and good taste, when it came to melodies and sentiments that turned up in the hymnody, and the general manner of speaking of things divine, was scarcely one of its strong points." (Pg. 3-4)
He adds, "Christians in our quarter really did not swear in those days, and the lush profanity of our Catholic friends made us feel that they were not Christians at all. Christians didn't swear. We also did not dance or smoke or go to the cinema or drink wine or gamble. Our Catholic friends indulged in every single one of these activities with the greatest insouciance: they could not possibly have been Christians." (Pg. 5-6)
He explains, "It was, therefore, a discovery to me to find that from time immemorial the Christian Church has followed a rich and disciplined sequence in her yearly calendar, beginning with Advent and concluding with the long season of Pentecost. which brings the faithful around to Advent once again." (Pg. 17) He adds, "whether we acknowledged it or not, our 'orthodox' understanding of the Bible had been articulated for us by the Church." (Pg. 25-26)
He asks rhetorically, "Who will arbitrate for us all between Luther and Calvin on the weighty matters that lie between those two teachers? And who will tell us whether to believe Luther or Zwingli when it comes to the Lord's Supper... And who will arbitrate for us between George Whitefield and John Wesley... each preaching a doctrine of salvation that excludes the other's teaching... And who will decide for us laity between the Dispensationalists... and the Calvinists...?" (Pg. 27-28)
He states, "The trouble here, for me, what that what these wrong-headed men [the Church Fathers] wrote... was so titanic, and so rich and so luminous, that their error seemed infinitely truer and more glorious than my truth. I gradually felt that it was I, not they, who was under surveillance... The Church is here, in all of its antiquity, judging me." (Pg. 32-33)
He admits, "In the Catholic Church there occurs this same error and false teaching, often loudly taught in high theological quarters. But everyone---both in the world and the Church---knows that there is a desk on which the buck stops, so to speak, and that when Rome has spoken on the issue, it is concluded. Oh, to be sure, Father C. or Father F. over here can keep on burbling---Rome cannot stop that. But Rome can say and does say to the Church and the world, 'This which you hear Fathers C. and F. teaching is not Catholic teaching. It is not in accord with the Faith once for all delivered to us by the apostles.'" (Pg. 84-85)
This book will be of interest not just to Catholics, but to anyone interested in Catholic/Protestant dialogue, or religious biographies.
December 17, 2021
This book is a spiritual autobiography, of a man who grew up as a fundamentalist, and then became a Catholic, by way of Anglicanism. He has a beautiful writing style, and provides some insightful comment, particularly early on in the book. However, I found his arguments somewhat formulaic. Many of the leading Catholics, who led him to the faith, have later been exposed for their involvement in child abuse. This doesn't necessarily make their teaching untrue, but it is a bit discouraging, and calls his judgment somewhat into question.
June 26, 2020
I really enjoyed reading Thomas Howard’s journey into the Catholic faith. He lays out a his path of understanding and the struggles he had along the way. It was an intelligent read...meaning I had to keep a dictionary handy. Since he is an English professor, there were many words that I had to look up.
December 1, 2019
An interesting look at Mr Howard's journey to the Catholic Church. Born into a solid fundamentalist family( he is the brother of Elisabeth Elliot) it was not an easy journey but one that he took with much prayer and study.
March 8, 2025
In beautifully written prose the author gives voice to the experience of “crossing the Tiber”. I found it a most beneficial experience reading this account of conversion to Catholicism as it articulated many facets of my own journey. Will read again.
December 26, 2023
I love a good conversion story, especially by a thoughtful intelligent person.
March 18, 2024
A Beautiful Book
I’m very Protestant but I was deeply moved by Mr. Howard’s writing and his journey to Roman Catholicism. I think this is one book I’ll read again and again.
I’m very Protestant but I was deeply moved by Mr. Howard’s writing and his journey to Roman Catholicism. I think this is one book I’ll read again and again.
January 1, 2025
Surprisingly timely. The story of one man's conversion and some thoughts on the church of today.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews