Sometimes I think I might be losing my mind. This Sunday was one of those times.
After Mass everyone gathered for a potluck. As we stood in line to get our food I glanced up and noticed a young man ahead of us. He immediately caught my eye because he appeared to be wearing super thick black eyeliner. How odd, I thought to myself. A strange, uncomfortable sensation settled inside me but I didn't think much of it. I thought I was just getting sick from not eating properly or something.
We took our seat and I glanced down the table to see the same young man from earlier... only now his eyes weren't lined with black.
I stared and stared and stared because it just felt like something was seriously wrong.
I don't know, I passed by him a little later and that sensation of wrongness intensified. Boy was I relieved when it was time to leave the building!
So really, what the heck is up with that? Am I going crazy? Was I just imagining things (although that 'eyeliner' was pretty intense and I have a hard time thinking what trick of the eye could have caused that effect)? I imagine the sensation of wrongness could just be a reaction to the startling visual differences between first glance and second?
I just don't know, but I do know I'll be saying a little prayer for that one.
He made me think of my cousin... who used to be a Satanist. I remember the last time we met and he inspired the same reaction in me (a general sense that something is wrong).
I am finally meeting with the Father to validate my baptism. He said as soon as my Baptism is validated I can go to confession anytime... I'm really excited about that!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Why the Catholic Church?
I had another one of those; "Why bother with the Catholic Church then?" moments at RCIA last night again. It seems to me these people are so concerned with ecumenism that they have no real joy in their own church... or at least that's how they're coming across.
It seems to me they're so concerned with Christian unity that they've completely lost sight of what makes the Catholic Church special, and unique. Last night we heard about how we're all the same, and all worshiping the same God...
Well, it's true that we worship the same God, it's not true that we're the same. If we were then explain to me why my Baptist friends are working so hard to save me from the clutches of the Catholic Church? I can tell you for SURE that other churches do NOT see the Catholic Church as 'the same'. Maybe a few do, but in my experience the majority of Protestant denominations see the Catholic Church as lacking salvation and quite frankly now I'm thinking they lack the fullness of truth (not salvation, just truth).
Anyway, I'm so on fire for the Church right now that this 'oh, all the churches are the same and if you decide not to join the Catholic Church and instead go to the Baptist then that's fine!' attitude of the people in RCIA is annoying me. She even told us a story about someone who had done just that and praised the woman for leaving! I was pretty blown away.
We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves, Christians that is, but neither should we be compromising what we know is truth just to bring other Christians into communion with us. There is a fine line between Charity and Love and becoming Canada (compromising our own traditions to suit the needs of new immigrants - and yes, surprisingly Canada DOES have it's own traditions - maybe not the best analogy but for me it works :) ).
Ugh. Just needed a rant there guys.
It seems to me they're so concerned with Christian unity that they've completely lost sight of what makes the Catholic Church special, and unique. Last night we heard about how we're all the same, and all worshiping the same God...
Well, it's true that we worship the same God, it's not true that we're the same. If we were then explain to me why my Baptist friends are working so hard to save me from the clutches of the Catholic Church? I can tell you for SURE that other churches do NOT see the Catholic Church as 'the same'. Maybe a few do, but in my experience the majority of Protestant denominations see the Catholic Church as lacking salvation and quite frankly now I'm thinking they lack the fullness of truth (not salvation, just truth).
Anyway, I'm so on fire for the Church right now that this 'oh, all the churches are the same and if you decide not to join the Catholic Church and instead go to the Baptist then that's fine!' attitude of the people in RCIA is annoying me. She even told us a story about someone who had done just that and praised the woman for leaving! I was pretty blown away.
We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves, Christians that is, but neither should we be compromising what we know is truth just to bring other Christians into communion with us. There is a fine line between Charity and Love and becoming Canada (compromising our own traditions to suit the needs of new immigrants - and yes, surprisingly Canada DOES have it's own traditions - maybe not the best analogy but for me it works :) ).
Ugh. Just needed a rant there guys.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Difficulty Breathing
Christmas is over. I loved Midnight Mass even though I was a bit silly and forgot if it starts at midnight that means it ends around 1AM! Haha. I am NOT a late night/early morning kind of person. Still, it was beautiful. They had a full choir, a trumpet, and the low lighting created this awesome mood. It was just... yeah, awesome.
I would like to take this moment to complain a little bit, if that's all right? I'm getting a little bit frustrated.
For the past few months I've been struggling at Mass with some pretty odd physical symptoms. My family suspects it's allergies but I've never had allergies act this way so I just don't know.
When I come to Mass I usually feel all right. Then when Mass begins I start to develop a headache, which is followed by dizziness and then finally when we kneel for the preparation of the Host I have difficult breathing. The headache and dizziness persist throughout but the heavy breathing only occurs when I kneel. It's really annoying, because I love kneeling at Mass. It's probably my favorite part, just being in prayer in God's house...
The headache and dizziness are symptoms that distract me from the homily BUT they are symptoms that only occur at Mass. The heavy breathing however happens whenever I try to kneel and pray (even at home).
So, anyway, I'm not quite sure what to think or what to do but I just keep pushing through and I stay kneeling as long as I can, then take a break, then kneel some more. Which means a pretty interrupted and distracted prayer period but I really pray best when I'm on my knees so I'm determined to press on through.
Right, now that I'm done complaining... haha, maybe I should just try taking some allergy meds before Mass? I suppose that would be the first step to diagnosis!
Have a fantastic day!
I would like to take this moment to complain a little bit, if that's all right? I'm getting a little bit frustrated.
For the past few months I've been struggling at Mass with some pretty odd physical symptoms. My family suspects it's allergies but I've never had allergies act this way so I just don't know.
When I come to Mass I usually feel all right. Then when Mass begins I start to develop a headache, which is followed by dizziness and then finally when we kneel for the preparation of the Host I have difficult breathing. The headache and dizziness persist throughout but the heavy breathing only occurs when I kneel. It's really annoying, because I love kneeling at Mass. It's probably my favorite part, just being in prayer in God's house...
The headache and dizziness are symptoms that distract me from the homily BUT they are symptoms that only occur at Mass. The heavy breathing however happens whenever I try to kneel and pray (even at home).
So, anyway, I'm not quite sure what to think or what to do but I just keep pushing through and I stay kneeling as long as I can, then take a break, then kneel some more. Which means a pretty interrupted and distracted prayer period but I really pray best when I'm on my knees so I'm determined to press on through.
Right, now that I'm done complaining... haha, maybe I should just try taking some allergy meds before Mass? I suppose that would be the first step to diagnosis!
Have a fantastic day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)