I now know how cradle Catholics feel in losing that 'honeymoon' feeling of our faith. It's because we have SUCH an abundance of blessing, we are completely unable to grasp it...so much so...sometimes we nearly shut down. It literally baffles us how magnificent it is. I wrote this months ago..but re-read it again tonight. I think we should read it again and try..with all our might to fall in love again...
I am finding in so many of my conversations these days the topic comes up, "So what made you decide to become Catholic?!" And I always have the urge to hand them this list of all the things that made me fall madly in love with the Catholic Church. Yet, I haven't made a concrete list. So it's going to be messy...and it might not even make much sense to some, but this is what captured me:
Warning: It will probably be LONG!!!
* Apostolic Traditions (2,000 years old and counting..)- With a capital "T" mind you! The traditions and practices of the apostles have been carefully preserved as closely as possible throughout the generations of the Church. I love knowing that when I am celebrating in the Mass with my Brothers and Sisters all throughout the world, these are the same practices of those early Christians 2,000 years ago. My heart seems to have known them all along, and in learning and going deeper in the Mass, a little something awakens inside of me in recognition.
* Sacraments- The 7 most beautiful gifts God has given us to celebrate and take part in. Real, Holy gifts, that we are blessed and whole-heartedly welcomed to share in, not by our own merits of course, but by Christ's. These are not just physical blessings, nor are they merely spiritual blessings, they are both! These are instituted by Christ, Himself, therefore, they are full!!! Each are marked by the physical transformation as well as spiritual.
* The Universal Church- the Catholic Church is the same no matter which you walk into anywhere in the world. I love knowing that when I go to celebrate Mass in Rome, I may not know the native language, but I know what I am celebrating. When I hear the readings at mass here in my home parish on Sundays, they are the same ones being read aloud all over the world. We are truly united in every element of our worship of the Lord!! How cool is that?!?!
* Incense- I love walking into a church I've never been in before and even though I know it's Catholic before I walk in because of the sign hanging out on the front lawn, I walk in..and smell it and KNOW. The sweet aromas of incense fill me and let me know I am at home in God's House.
* Peace be with you- I fall 7 times 77 times a day, and even though that's a lot...I still feel the urge to try and make it right. Peace be with you allows us to settle the quarrels and remember that we are family... NO MATTER WHAT.
* Fathers- Spiritual directors who know your name, your face, your smile, your faults, your joys, your pains, and your directions. And they care as if you were their very own flesh and blood. You are their child and there isn't much they wouldn't stop at to help you and your walk. What beautiful, precious souls! And my, what dedication!!!
* Scott Hahn- enough said. Google him if you don't know him.
* Mass- the most peaceful, happy, joyous, loving, reflective time of my week. If I could put a sleeping bag out in the lobby and camp out forever, I would. I'm hoping this is somewhat what heaven will be like.
* Alcohol- I can break the ice with any Catholic I know in making a joke out of the fact that, yes, we like our wine, and if you're German and Catholic..we like our beer! =0P
* Spirit-Filledness- I have never met so many on fire for God people in my life...who really meant it! They are full of the joys from God's sacraments and they are not shy about letting their joy spill out onto others!
* Theology- ahhh. There is no bottom on the bucket...I can study and search and grow my whole life and still...there will be so much I was never able to grasp. But it's there for the grasping!
* Augustine- My sweet St. Auggy, I was just born 800 years late. What I'd give to sit and have lunch with the man who did it all, tried it all, and found by trial and error (and a lot of prayer on his mother's behalf) that there is no better, nor sweeter life than that lived with Christ. When I feel like giving up, I draw on his conversion and I know there is always still hope.
* Saints!- =0P We have people from ages past who we are able to draw on for comfort and strength! (Like Auggy!)
* Mary- I thought I was blessed to have a mother like I do here on earth, but Mary is the ultimate 'Mommy.' She does for us, everything she ever did for Christ. She picks us up off the ground and kisses our wound when we scrap our knees, she holds us when we are scared, she pleads with our Dad when we have special requests. She provides us with a beautiful model as the first Christian to always say "yes" to Christ and His plan for us.
* Popple- what a rocking bunch of Christian Brothers.
* The Pope- The man taking charge, making sure our faith isn't swayed by new ideas.
* The Creed- what a profound feeling declaring boldly what we believe every week with a booming number of voices along side of me declaring it just as loudly as I am! Now THAT gets me excited and riled up to live my life for Christ!
* St. Vincent de Paul- what a plain honest and tremendous effort to serve others in Christ's name. I hope someday I'll be blessed enough to serve along side!
* Stations of the Cross- the simplest way to remind myself that I'm unworthy. The tears that I cry throughout remembering what Christ suffered for us are the only two-fold tears I know: joy and sadness. Joyous, for the love that He showers upon us all, Sadness for the evil that I have committed that nailed Him to the Cross.
* Mysteries- we can't know it all, that's why we call them "mysteries!" =0P The instances where God's beauty completely blinds us from any reasoning or thought. We can't contain or understand matters too great for us. Christ coming into the muck and mire of this world as a sweet, precious newborn, only to be our Living Sacrifice -- that's a mystery.
* Holy Water and Oil and the Sign of the Cross- I don't fear evil or the devil anymore, I have the sign of Christ emblazoned on my forehead, my ears, my lips, my chest, my shoulders, my arms, my legs, my feet. While the water and oil wash off, Satan must see a glaringly bright cross that lets him know..."this one's His." Sends chills up my spine to read Revelations now.
* Confession- the cure to my constant fallings. I don't waste my time in anger and frustration at myself over the fact that I'm unworthy and impure. Christ knows that and He doesn't want a pity party in the mud with me telling myself 'I can't do anything right.' That's what He gave us Confession. What a new person I am and how wonderful and light I feel after being absolved and given a new perspective. The thing about it though, YOU HAVE TO GO.
* Can we say, Eucharist!?- The closest I can get to my Christian siblings around the world and Christ all at once. The most empowering physical gift Christ has given us. Our beautiful New Paschal Lamb!
* Kneelers- I have recently chucked the fact that my church doesn't have any and kneel anyway. We do in our Adoration Chapel, but not in the Sanctuary. I've always bowed, but now I kneel and I'm happy to blister and bruise my knees and I thank God especially for the times I am already bruised when I go to show Him honor.
* Suffering- ...what I was just describing. I am HAPPY and JOYOUS to suffer, it only draws me closer to Christ and allows me to glimpse even more of His beauty. I can't earn it, but I can show my sincerity.
* Neophytes and RCIA and Sponsors- I never fear of there not being a familiar hand to hold in the event that I am weak and I lose my way. These Catholics are extremely dedicated to making sure you know you aren't ever expected to brave it out on your own. Plus, now I have two families. =0)
* Middle-aged Married Catholic couples- I've noticed something. I'm catching onto a trend. There are these couples who have been married at least 20 years, you can always pick them out in mass. They have weathered every storm imaginable, from falling in and out of love with each other to one not believing quite like the other one does, to losing their physical abilities, and yet while life hasn't been all that they dreamed of or quite how they planned it out, they look at each other with this adoring look. They serve regularly together in ministries like RCIA or Parish Council and even when everyone else around the place is in a heated discussion, they're calm and collected. They are completely content with life. It's such a joy to be around these couples, I often want to go up and spill all this out on them. They are what I aspire to be and what I can only hope my husband and I can be someday. A living testament that Love conquers all.
* The Body of Christ- the Church family isn't only comprised of those in my time, its everyone. I love feeling that extra special jolt when I think about all the Christians that have gone before me are joining in prayer with me.
* Liturgy- the specific way of worship!
* Symbolism- Before I was Catholic, I never walked into a Church and went, "hah! four speakers, they must be symbolic of the Gospels." What I love about the buildings themselves, is that they are crafted to be radiant of their purpose. There is one altar, four candles, 7 seating areas, and one big round circle...none of those are accidents. Even the main entrance has 3 different doors, the main sections have 3 separate areas, and there are two buildings. Ahh, One God, One Table, Four Gospels, 7-Fold Spirit, One Faith, Christ's Divinity and Christ's Humanity are all symbolized in the very structure of my parish. Ah, melt me.
I'm going to have to keep adding to this list. It may be a tad crazy to everyone else, but I don't care. I'm in love and I have to let it out somewhere!! =0)
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