I had a thought a while ago that I would like to meet at least some of the people who have made an impact on my life, this side of heaven, rather than only thank them once we are all united under Christ, in Glory. Obviously friends, my husband, and my family are making daily contributions to who I am and who I am becoming, and I can thank them face to face, whenever I please. But there are always those, who, from afar, and with whom I have no personal relationship, by their dedication to the Lord, through their teachings, writings, and devotion, have reached all the way to my living room couch, and into my heart.
Fr. John Riccardo, of Our Lady of Good Council, in Plymouth, Michigan, is one of those people. I was first recommended to view his conferences he has held with a local Evangelical Church near his parish. They have been published online, and for a convert, the very fact that he has been to, and calls himself friends with, his Evangelical neighbors, is a breath of fresh air. Like many Protestants who know very little, if at all any Truth about what happens within the walls of a Catholic Parish, many Catholics know nothing of the wonderful happenings within an Evangelical Church, either. The two are sadly divided by a deep canyon that, if ever crossed, is very unlikely to contain a bridge of open communication between the converting members. This is a huge reason why converts express deep sorrow and even depression during such a conversion process. It is lonely. And neither side seems to understand you.
So when we came across Father Riccardo, and his understanding of this dilemma, we soon found ourselves soaking in anything and everything he had preached. Thank goodness for iTunes and the internet. It seems some things online can still be sacred. This priest has allowed me to grasp concepts of Catholicism that were hard to accept, he explains the deeper reason (there always is one) to why they do what they do, and he simply reveals Jesus to the listener. If any non Catholic ever questioned if Catholics can have a personal love for Jesus like we Evangelicals do... this man will quench that worry.
So I emailed him. A long time ago, just to say thanks. And didn't think I would get a response. He's sort of big time around here, on the radio a lot, seems to be good pals with huge influencers in the Catholic world, and frankly, just busy with his own Parish. When I received an email back, along with a direct contact number, I was excited. And that was when my dream of meeting at least a few people this side of heaven took place.
A few months passed, and we continued on with our journey. We continued to listen, pray, and process many books, podcasts, and Catholic thought. And then our anniversary approached, and we were planning how to celebrate. Last year, we celebrated with a trip, a fight, and a diamond ring. Ten years was rough, because we were selfish. Year 11 brought in the most difficult life change we've ever known, yet it was the best year of our married life. So the only appropriate thing to do, in my opinion, was to celebrate an anniversary dinner, with a priest; my favorite priest. But it was a dream, so I began to pray for divine intervention, and Kevin left a message with Fr. Riccardo's office.
A day I will always remember was my answer to prayer. It was an ordinary Wednesday, I was listening to a anti-Catholic talk recommended to me by my Dad. If I want to be able to speak to my family on why I am becoming Catholic, I have to listen to their views on why I shouldn't. So as I listened, becoming more frustrated with every attack, I finally paused it to ready myself for preschool pick up.
There are events in my life when I look back, and I know without a doubt that the hand of God was moving something in that exact moment. A specific answered prayer, a turn of events, or something that was not possible without his direct intervention. I believe he is always with me, but many times it is a walk of faithful obedience rather than a direct voice in the cloud like the Israelites experienced. Yet those moments where He speaks so clearly are etched in my mind as a remembrance of his vast love and care for my life. Such was this Wednesday morning.
In my depressed state, I walked upstairs, unaware of how to deal with my Catholic leanings in view of the recent talk. In an instant, in a way I cannot explain, everything changed. I felt encouraged, happy, joyful, and a steadfast peace that I did not have moments before. I didn't know what it meant, but I knew I would be Catholic. And I knew it was the Lord when Kevin called me minutes later. He had been on the phone with Father Riccardo. That very moment I had become joyful. We were one, we were connected, and I am sure the Holy Spirit was breathing on us both in that moment. Father John had suggested to Kevin we meet him for dinner. He had suggested it. We were meeting Father John this side of heaven. For our anniversary. For the year that has meant and been, it all. I was crying, the Lord was moving, and for a moment, I was sure Heaven was singing, just for me.
I met Father John last night. Kevin and I attended Mass at his parish and then shard a bottle of wine with him at his favorite Italian restaurant in Plymouth, Michigan. We talked about a lot of things, from conversion to contraception and sterilization. He prayed for us, and encouraged us. I'm sure I will remember it far longer than he will. I'm sure he deals with converts like us all of the time. I am still processing much of what he told us, too much now to write about it. But a lot to think about in terms of my role should I enter the Church, and what he longs for among the Catholic faithful.
Meeting father Riccardo was a gift from the Lord. For me, it was the Lord telling me that He has been watching, He is moving before us, behind us, and with us, even when we are lonely. And He has placed His voice within obedient leaders to help form His body of believers. Father Riccardo is inspirational to all... but only if he points me to Jesus. If I stop at him, I have lost it all, and gained nothing. As I stared at the crucifix last night during Mass, at my Lord hanging there, all for me, I remembered. It's not about Fr. John, and it's not about me. We all have stories, and words of wisdom. But they are only effective if they point me to HIM. Because He, is the most exciting one to meet, both here on earth, and in his Dwelling Place.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Every knee shall bow
Whoever decided to take the kneelers out of the mainline Protestant churches has done one of the greatest disservices to the Christ follower. I remember attending my Grandmother's Catholic church as a child, and because of misinformation, or no information at all on why they were there and the sheer unfamiliarity with those odd little knee benches, I was horrified by them. I was equally embarrassed 20 years later attending my husbands Grandfather's Catholic funeral as a Protestant, secretly hoping that we wouldn't have to pull out those dang kneelers at any point in the service. We protestants don't do that. Sure, we claim to kneel before the foot of our beds, in secret, alone. I even practiced that sparsely in my personal prayer life. But kneeling in church, in my nice pants, in front of everyone else? Well that was too much to ask.
Somehow, on the walk to the Catholic Church, those kneelers have become not a hindrance or obstacle to "deal" with. They have been one of the key factors (besides my desire for the Eucharist), that has me more and more eager every Sunday to get to Mass. When we realize that the very consecrated body of Jesus is before us, in the Tabernacle, and the image of the crucified Jesus is ever before us beside the alter, there is nothing to do, but kneel.
I need to add a side note of the issue many non Catholic's have with Jesus remaining on the cross in every Catholic Church. It is used as a major criticism, claiming that Catholics only focus on the death, widely forgetting about the power of the resurrection, much like the Sadducees of Jesus's day. But Jesus himself said, "Greater Love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends." (Jn 15:13). Paul later, said, "Jews demand signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block for Jews, and foolishness for Gentiles. (1 Cor. 1:22-23).
Jesus on the cross is the very display of the vast love of the Father. It was the difference that our Savior had over every other god of the early pagan cultures. Our God, the one True God, died, for us. That is why Paul used that fact so adamantly in all of his preaching. Without the cross, and without him bearing my sin and that of the whole world, I would still be lost in my sins, and would be without hope. Therefore Jesus is not on the cross in Catholic Churches around the world to forget his powerful resurrection, but rather to demonstrate to all kneeling before him, of how great is the Father's love.
Catholics are frequently criticized for their obsession with ritual over relationship. They are accused of having all of the right movements, but none of the correct heart tugs. So naturally, a non Catholic, uninformed of the why behind the what of Catholic practice, see the Mass as ritualistic versus the "Spirit Led" familiarity of Evangelical services. But worship can be defined as so much more than a heartfelt song, with hands lifted high. Catholics worship. They worship by standing, sitting, standing, then kneeling. They worship by song, by congregational responses, and by Eucharistic adoration. The Catholic Mass has all the "Why" behind it. Not to mention History. The "Whys" are placed there to lead the Catholic faithful into a reverence for the person of Jesus Christ, in whom they will partake at the Eucharistic table. The amount of prayer alone, that happens at Mass should be some indicator to the non Catholic that what happens at Mass is reverent, and sincere.
It is through these rituals that a Catholic builds a relationship with the Lord. They can, obviously, miss the relationship and only focus on the ritual. The same way, however, that an Evangelical can miss the reverence and only focus on the relationship. In either camp, sin and misinformation can abound. But I have found, in the Catholic Mass... the practice of kneeling, as a body of believers, in front of our Lord, is the most effective way to remember my place as a Christ follower. It is on my knees, at the foot of the cross, confessing continually that he is the Lamb of God, that takes away my sins, and the sins of the world.
Somehow, on the walk to the Catholic Church, those kneelers have become not a hindrance or obstacle to "deal" with. They have been one of the key factors (besides my desire for the Eucharist), that has me more and more eager every Sunday to get to Mass. When we realize that the very consecrated body of Jesus is before us, in the Tabernacle, and the image of the crucified Jesus is ever before us beside the alter, there is nothing to do, but kneel.
I need to add a side note of the issue many non Catholic's have with Jesus remaining on the cross in every Catholic Church. It is used as a major criticism, claiming that Catholics only focus on the death, widely forgetting about the power of the resurrection, much like the Sadducees of Jesus's day. But Jesus himself said, "Greater Love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends." (Jn 15:13). Paul later, said, "Jews demand signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block for Jews, and foolishness for Gentiles. (1 Cor. 1:22-23).
Jesus on the cross is the very display of the vast love of the Father. It was the difference that our Savior had over every other god of the early pagan cultures. Our God, the one True God, died, for us. That is why Paul used that fact so adamantly in all of his preaching. Without the cross, and without him bearing my sin and that of the whole world, I would still be lost in my sins, and would be without hope. Therefore Jesus is not on the cross in Catholic Churches around the world to forget his powerful resurrection, but rather to demonstrate to all kneeling before him, of how great is the Father's love.
Catholics are frequently criticized for their obsession with ritual over relationship. They are accused of having all of the right movements, but none of the correct heart tugs. So naturally, a non Catholic, uninformed of the why behind the what of Catholic practice, see the Mass as ritualistic versus the "Spirit Led" familiarity of Evangelical services. But worship can be defined as so much more than a heartfelt song, with hands lifted high. Catholics worship. They worship by standing, sitting, standing, then kneeling. They worship by song, by congregational responses, and by Eucharistic adoration. The Catholic Mass has all the "Why" behind it. Not to mention History. The "Whys" are placed there to lead the Catholic faithful into a reverence for the person of Jesus Christ, in whom they will partake at the Eucharistic table. The amount of prayer alone, that happens at Mass should be some indicator to the non Catholic that what happens at Mass is reverent, and sincere.
It is through these rituals that a Catholic builds a relationship with the Lord. They can, obviously, miss the relationship and only focus on the ritual. The same way, however, that an Evangelical can miss the reverence and only focus on the relationship. In either camp, sin and misinformation can abound. But I have found, in the Catholic Mass... the practice of kneeling, as a body of believers, in front of our Lord, is the most effective way to remember my place as a Christ follower. It is on my knees, at the foot of the cross, confessing continually that he is the Lamb of God, that takes away my sins, and the sins of the world.
Adoration
Catholics have their own terminology similar to Evangelical speak, only it is Catholic. The difference is, I knew all of the Evangelical buzz lines, "Once saved, always saved," "Born Again," "Word from the Lord," ect, the Catholic buzz was completely new.
When I found myself in Mass Sunday after Sunday, I began to realize the strange reality that there is indeed, another culture of Christianity, claiming the same Savior as I held to, but with a completely different set of definitions. It was, and continues to be, a learning curve, and a confusing process. On the one hand I am falling in love with the culture, on the other, I am disturbed to the core how vastly different Christianity can be from Church to Church. How are we claiming the same Lord yet not at all speaking the same language. If God is all Truth, how can that Truth be so varied?
This was pushed to the forefront as I would hear the Priest continually praise the practice of "Adoration." Not knowing what it was, or where this specific prayer discipline took place, or what one should "do" while "adoring" was enough to make me avoid at all costs. Avoid, that is, until I saw it's fruit; in my husband.
He is much bolder in newer things than I have ever been. Much because he has to, meeting new people for work, for cases, and for uncomfortable smoozing conferences. Even so, I was slightly shocked when he told me he had, every once in a while, stopped by Adoration before work, to pray. And because of his prayer life, I have noticed a change in him. He seems to have had encounters with the Peace that passes all Understanding, even though our world is busy, stressful, and full of good and bad. He prays for me, for our kids, for our families. He prays forgiveness for sins, has admitted when he is convicted, and has turned from those things. It is an amazing thing to have a husband who prays. On his knees, in front of the Lord.
Adoration, to the Catholic, is time set aside for praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The consecrated hosts left over from the recent Mass are placed within a small tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (a small chapel usually located away from the larger Church). Because the Catholic believes in the Real Presence of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the bread, he therefore prays in the Presence of the Lord when he prays in front of the Tabernacle.
As a Protestant, I thought it was crazy. I could get on my knees by my couch and pray. And I still do. But, after I found myself without kids one random morning.. I could not escape the quiet calling of the Lord to come to him, there, in Adoration. So I drove to Church, nervous as all get out, and unsure of how to act. There are cradle Catholics there, and I was not wanting to stick out like a sore convert thumb.
Yet when I went in, got on my knees, and just prayed, in the silence of the room, in the beauty of the stained glass, and in the Presence of the Lord, I began to believe that Adoration was true. Nothing earth shattering happened. I remained on earth and I did not hear the Lord speaking as though a Man next to me. But I had Peace. I had peace for my day, for my kids, for my marriage, and for my faith. I walked out the same woman who had gone in, but quietly filled with peace.
The true sense to me that the Lord was present there in that chapel was my longing to go the next day. It was as if He was whispering from the Chapel as I drove past. Come, come to me and talk to me. I love you, please come. He was calling, and I went. I prayed, I spent time looking at the Tabernacle, and time in awe of the other dedicated Catholics who, although varied in their stages of life and I'm sure backgrounds, were there to honor the Lord as I was.
I long to go back, and I know that if our journey ends in the Church, Adoration will become a practice for my life. I urge you that He is there. He is speaking, and He wants you to meet him there. He will meet you on your couch too... but his presence, as Moses found, is more radiant the closer you are to his body. And his body is there, maybe we should spend more time adoring it.
PS. Matt Maher has a song "Adoration" taken greatly from Thomas Aquinas's Hymn Adoro te devote, "I Adore Thee"... It is a great one to listen to on the way to pray.
When I found myself in Mass Sunday after Sunday, I began to realize the strange reality that there is indeed, another culture of Christianity, claiming the same Savior as I held to, but with a completely different set of definitions. It was, and continues to be, a learning curve, and a confusing process. On the one hand I am falling in love with the culture, on the other, I am disturbed to the core how vastly different Christianity can be from Church to Church. How are we claiming the same Lord yet not at all speaking the same language. If God is all Truth, how can that Truth be so varied?
This was pushed to the forefront as I would hear the Priest continually praise the practice of "Adoration." Not knowing what it was, or where this specific prayer discipline took place, or what one should "do" while "adoring" was enough to make me avoid at all costs. Avoid, that is, until I saw it's fruit; in my husband.
He is much bolder in newer things than I have ever been. Much because he has to, meeting new people for work, for cases, and for uncomfortable smoozing conferences. Even so, I was slightly shocked when he told me he had, every once in a while, stopped by Adoration before work, to pray. And because of his prayer life, I have noticed a change in him. He seems to have had encounters with the Peace that passes all Understanding, even though our world is busy, stressful, and full of good and bad. He prays for me, for our kids, for our families. He prays forgiveness for sins, has admitted when he is convicted, and has turned from those things. It is an amazing thing to have a husband who prays. On his knees, in front of the Lord.
Adoration, to the Catholic, is time set aside for praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. The consecrated hosts left over from the recent Mass are placed within a small tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (a small chapel usually located away from the larger Church). Because the Catholic believes in the Real Presence of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the bread, he therefore prays in the Presence of the Lord when he prays in front of the Tabernacle.
As a Protestant, I thought it was crazy. I could get on my knees by my couch and pray. And I still do. But, after I found myself without kids one random morning.. I could not escape the quiet calling of the Lord to come to him, there, in Adoration. So I drove to Church, nervous as all get out, and unsure of how to act. There are cradle Catholics there, and I was not wanting to stick out like a sore convert thumb.
Yet when I went in, got on my knees, and just prayed, in the silence of the room, in the beauty of the stained glass, and in the Presence of the Lord, I began to believe that Adoration was true. Nothing earth shattering happened. I remained on earth and I did not hear the Lord speaking as though a Man next to me. But I had Peace. I had peace for my day, for my kids, for my marriage, and for my faith. I walked out the same woman who had gone in, but quietly filled with peace.
The true sense to me that the Lord was present there in that chapel was my longing to go the next day. It was as if He was whispering from the Chapel as I drove past. Come, come to me and talk to me. I love you, please come. He was calling, and I went. I prayed, I spent time looking at the Tabernacle, and time in awe of the other dedicated Catholics who, although varied in their stages of life and I'm sure backgrounds, were there to honor the Lord as I was.
I long to go back, and I know that if our journey ends in the Church, Adoration will become a practice for my life. I urge you that He is there. He is speaking, and He wants you to meet him there. He will meet you on your couch too... but his presence, as Moses found, is more radiant the closer you are to his body. And his body is there, maybe we should spend more time adoring it.
PS. Matt Maher has a song "Adoration" taken greatly from Thomas Aquinas's Hymn Adoro te devote, "I Adore Thee"... It is a great one to listen to on the way to pray.
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