A Catholic Priest's Journey To Islam with Said Abdul Latif (Father Hilarion Heagy): Bogging Theology Interview by Paul Williams 3/20/23

YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/llRITjZqO3Y?si=uSNhtNACb2Y9YCoJ

Father Hilarion Heagy ( Said Abdul Latif's Blog)

Medium: Notes from the journey of an American Priest to Islam

https://medium.com/@SaidAbdulLatif

The ' Muslim Priest' An Introduction by Said Abdul Latif Part 1,2,3,4 -(Biography) Part 1:"My discovery of Sufism was not my first encounter with Islam, however. Aside from reading about the central tenets and pillars of Islam as a teen, 9/11 was my first real encounter — as it was for many Americans… and American converts to Islam. After the terrorists attacks, in October of 2001, the local Islamic Center held an open house which I attended. I ate with the Muslim men there. I prayed with them. Listened to them. Attended lectures and speeches about what it is to be Muslim. My interest piqued. I signed up for courses on Islam in college. In a course on Islamic Civilization, I listened to the Quran beautifully recited for the very first time. I was deeply moved. I was inexplicably drawn to it. But my interest, then, was still mostly political and academic in a post-9/11 America. Rumi, however was the gateway. He provided the missing key. By 2003. I yearned to become Muslim. I saw the beauty of it. The depth. The truth of it.I spoke with Imam about conversion. I hung out at the local Islamic Center.I made Muslim friends.It was a beautiful and joyful moment."

Source: https://medium.com/@themuslimpriest/introduction-part-i-1c7fd73069d

Part 2: " I witnessed the phenomenon of Western converts to Islam who, after seeing a loss of prayer, a loss of reverence, and a loss of true religious conviction in their Catholic and Christian peers, turn to Islam as a sure faith, a solid bedrock, and a counter-cultural force directed towards God. One particular article struck me about an American Catholic college girl who embraced Islam by simply observing Muslims that she knew. The saw how they dressed. How they treated each other. How they ate. How they prayed five times a day — often in public. What she saw as honorable, admirable, and pious in her Muslim friends she could not identify (at least outwardly) in her Catholics peers. How many Christians make it an effort to pray five times a day? Even in public among ridicule? How many Christians regularly fast? And in what practical way does faith shape the day-to-day life of the average Christian? This student convert found a true faith and a true piety — as well as a true spiritual home — in Islam and in the Ummah (the global Muslim community). Testimonies like this impressed me deeply."

Source Full Article: https://medium.com/@themuslimpriest/the-muslim-priest-an-introduction-part-2-fb6cc0f13564

Part 3: "It wasn’t simply that I had more time during this period to read about my “hidden” love — Islam. Even more than this, I began to envy a spiritual life like Islam which was not so tied to a priestly class and corrupt hierarchy. Here was born, in the desert, a nomadic faith — bare forehead and face touching the ground before a magnificent monotheistic God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh, Muḥammadur-rasūlu-llāh.The pull to Islam was stronger than ever. And I think, for me — as a monk — my experiences were drawn mostly from prayer. From a sort of poetic intuitiveness. Reading rational arguments for Islam was helpful. Theology is, of course, indispensable. The historical case for Islam was also something that occupied my intention. All of this was very helpful in building an intellectual case for Islam, but only as a sort of foundation. A launching point. At the end of the day, God is met in prayer. Forehead touching the ground. It was this love that drew me. There was no mediator. There was no sacrament save the Word. Lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāh, Muḥammadur-rasūlu-llāh. The voice of the Divine calling out through the Quran. The call to prayer. Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem."

Source, Full Article:https://medium.com/@SaidAbdulLatif/the-muslim-priest-an-introductio
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The Christian Post: Eastern Catholic Monk,Priest renounces Christianity for Islam: https://www.christianpost.com/news/eastern-catholic-monk-priest-renounces-christianity-for-islam.html