Anonymous asked this question on 4/28/2000:

I am in the process of converting to Catholicism. In order to do so, I must write a narrative of my life, so that I may obtain a nullity for a previous marriage. I was extremely neglected, abused both physically and mentally and witnessed many traumatic events in my life such as seeing my mother raped repeatedly, my stepfather shooting himself in front of me etc... I have been diagnosed with Post Truamatic Stress Disoder and am on medication. I am currently in pyschotherapy. My question for you is where do I start? How do I begin writing a narrative of my life when it seems there are so many things that have happened to me! Where and how do I begin?

nemesis2 gave this response on 4/28/2000:

I wonder if the narrative has to be anything other than what you feel like writing.

Could it be that it is more about writing WHAT and WHO you are, HOW you have come to this point in your life. How you came to choose christianity and catholicism, what it means to you to become a catholic.

Your history has been a big part in shaping your identity, it may have something to do with your spirituality. If so, you can add these thoughts and reflections to your narrative.

A narrative is YOUR story, so you get to write what's important to you. What you have witnessed is just SOME of your life's experiences, there is room for including them in your narrative but to also put them in perspective - against other aspects of yourself that are just, if not more important. Like your ability to overcome great adversity, to still love and be loved, to have faith, to be couragous etc.

Good luck and best wishes (from a spiritual but non-practicing catholic) tracey

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