Back in the grind
Well, the high from my acceptance lasted till about Thursday, which was the day I got a set of CD's I ordered from the Mary Foundation, among them a CD of the rosary and divine mercy chaplet. Istarted praying those on friday, and I still feel really, secure is a good word for it.
I felt a little like I did before my wedding, while I was waiting for Father to let us into the church last Sunday. I was so nervous that forget having butterflies in the stomach, I had frogs hopping around in there. It was being nervous in the same way as before my wedding, as well. In both cases I knew that there was no rejection ahead of me; the nervousness came for the magnitude of the commitment I was making. In the case of my wedding, the vows I took on that day sealed me for life to the man of my dreams, for better or worse. At my Acceptance, I made a first commitment to the Catholic Church, also for better (I hope) or for worse.
And as with my marriage, the passing days and weeks and years pass, I find that I know more about my husband, and I learn each day to love him more deeply. In the same way, as the days pass, and I continue my searching of Church teaching with an eye toward conversion, I find morea nd more of my doubts and reservations falling away and leaving me with a greater love for God and His Church.
Yesterday evening was our first dismissal after our orientation one, last Sunday, and it was a bit less lively. Only three of us were there, but we really got into our study of the first part of the Mass, and even got to talking a bit about sacramentals and their value. God then worked what I consider to be a great miracle. Our session ran a bit late and I was worried that my husband would be upset that I was out a bit later than I said I would be. However, when I got home, I found that he was where I had left him: at his parent's house a few miles away, not even worried! (This is huge because my dear Husband is not so thrilled about my exploring Catholicism.) Praise be to God!
It is also encouraging to get commnets related to this blog! Please feel free to comment anytime,
One other thing. I did say that as I got more into the dismissal and being a candidate that I would be doing a bit more of a comparison with my background as opposed to what I am now learning, so here are a few observations. For many years I have acknowledged that faith (and believing and asking Jesus into your heart) are important, but baptism is needed for true salvation. However, as I am learning more about how one converts to Catholicism, I have to say that I think fewer people would drift from their faith, or have a poor knowledge of the faith they profess if they had to attend trianing like RCIA before being given the Sacraments. I think this is even true of cradle Catholics, who seem to take their rich faith heritage for granted, something that is very hard to do during RCIA, where one enters into deep study of the faith set before him, and must make a decision about it, and publically show that decision before a community of faithful.
I also think that fewer people would call themselves Christian if to do so, they had to publically participate in such things as a Rite of Acceptance, or the coming Rite of Sending, and if they had to have another person, one already initiated, so to speak, stand with them and take responsibility for their spiritual growth, and observe it regularly, as happens during RCIA. WOuld there be fewer "Christians"? Yes, but with the grace of God, perhaps those that would call themselves Christians would also look more like Christ.
Till next time may God bless you richly.
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