Why confess when you can just go straight to God?

My daughter will this spring, around Easter, be having her first Communion and Sacrament of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. OK, ok....I meant to say Reconcilliation, just making sure I had your attention. For those that don't know what it means, its confession of your sins to God, so to be forgiven. The Priest stands in for God, it's not the Priest that is God. One mistake is going, only as an obligation or duty. It is more than that. This is done with a contrite heart, a heart of pain or sorrow for sins or offenses. When you really give yourself to God and love him with all your being it is does hurt to offend Him. You want to make amends not because of the fear of "fire and brimstone", but because of love. But, I had to ask God into my heart first, and invite him to help me grow in love for Him. He, of course answered me, but waited like a gentleman for me to decide first.The Holy Spirit did the rest.

Back to this great Sacrament (a formal religious ceremony conferring a specific grace on those who receive it). It was at the age of reason, age 7, when I had my first Sacrament of Reconciliation. Though we were taught about it at Sunday school, I was more interested in the boy sitting in front of me than what the teacher said. I am teaching my children all that I can, so they will not grow up someday and leave the Church because they did not have all the facts and truths. I could have fallen away easily, there are so many alluring churches to choose from. I feel some Catholics would stay in the Church if they understood this Sacrament. These are not empty or stupid rituals. This is not the case at all. Anyways, God had other plans for me. I asked Him to give me wisdom and discernment about this Church of my youth. He has provided much information. I think most of us as adults get more serious about our faith, then we may have as children. I now know why we confess to the Priest and not just straight to God. It took me 25 years to get back to  confession, remember, I just did not get it. I was sobbing when I left the confessional. I felt so high and freed of so much bondage it was incredible as God's grace and blessing was upon me. Lucky the Church didn't burn down-ha.The poor Priest. I love this Sacrament-Whoda thunk, that years ago, I would say that. The video and below it explain why we as Catholics go to confession (hopefully many times a year-nudge nudge to my Catholic friends and yours truly).

Why go? Because that's the way God wants us to do it. As quoted from Catholic apologist, John Martignoni "In James 5:16, God, through Sacred Scripture, commands us to "confess our sins to one another." Notice, Scripture does not say confess your sins straight to God and only to God...it says confess your sins to one another.

In Matthew, chapter 9, verse 6, Jesus tells us that He was given authority on earth to forgive sins. And then Scripture proceeds to tell us, in verse 8, that this authority was given to "men"...plural.

In John 20, verses 21-23, what is the 1st thing Jesus says to the gathered disciples on the night of His resurrection? "Jesus said to them, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.'" How did the Father send Jesus? Well, we just saw in Mt 9 that the Father sent Jesus with the authority on earth to forgive sins. Now, Jesus sends out His disciples as the Father has sent Him...so, what authority must Jesus be sending His disciples out with? The authority on earth to forgive sins. And, just in case they didn't get it, verses 22-23 say this, "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'"

Why would Jesus give the Apostles the power to forgive or to retain sins if He wasn't expecting folks to confess their sins to them? And how could they forgive or retain sins if no one was confessing their sins to them?

The Bible tells us to confess our sins to one another. It also tells us that God gave men the authority on Earth to forgive sins. Jesus sends out His disciples with the authority on earth to forgive sins. When Catholics confess our sins to a priest, we are simply following the plan laid down by Jesus Christ. He forgives sins through the priest...it is God's power, but He exercises that power through the ministry of the priest." -works for me, I must confess!

Unwavering love

Today at Mass, our Sunday reading was about the Beatitudes/The Sermon on the Mount. Where Jesus is up on a hill giving a sermon  that starts with "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God...", a very well known scripture passage.A little difficult to understand at first glance. Matt Maher, a Catholic artist explains so well, his thoughts on the Beatitudes, that I had to share the video below! He wrote the song Unwavering, based upon this Sermon and his recollection of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
I remember, about 5 years ago, my husband going down to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, with other workers from GM. He blessed many with his gifts, from carpentry to electrical. But, the people there blessed him also. They opened his eyes and ours when he came home and told us stories about these happy people. People you would expect to be miserable and angry. They were poor, in regards to having nothing left- they were truly dead to the promises of the world, for they were stripped of all material possessions. But, turns out they had much, for they had  their faith to uphold them. That granted them the Glory of God in a very low time in their lives. We can be financially rich and spiritually poor or financially poor and not leaning on that, but, on God, to become spiritually rich.
We who have so much, take for granted what we have at times. We are so a part of the world- and if we only let go of the pleasures and riches and wealth, even a wee bit, we might start to get a glimpse of the wonderful other world that promises much more. I believe this, and I know this. I am still apart of the world, most definitely, but by embracing my faith and surrendering my life to God with my husband and kids, we have been blessed beyond measure.We have received a peek of the Kingdom and are humbled by that gift. Life is much better than before. This is "a good thing" and we are thankful for God's unwavering love through the journey we continue to take in this life.

Knuckleheads Anonymous

Reporting in, the "Cradle Catholic" (raised Catholic since birth), that knew so little about the faith and the Church. Oh, I acted like I knew everything when I went to Church twice a year.I understood about loving Jesus but not what He taught about tradition and worship.So, during Mass, I  moved my lips while everyone else used actual words to praise God. I sat at the back so I could imitate everyone when they'd kneel, sit or stand. I knew nothing at all of the Church, but could easily criticize it with my mouth or at the very least, hate going. It took about 38 years until I started seeking answers, because I wondered what the heck am I doing here?? Is this really important?? I didn't hate the Church but I was not particularly fond of it. I just had my Catholic Club card, so to speak. I have come across people that do hate the Church. This leads to my blog entry today...but first watch this video, and learn some +ve truths that are not shared in the media today about the Catholic Church!

"There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church — which is, of course, quite a different thing."Bishop Fulton Sheen

Millions of people can't be blamed for hating the Catholic Church because we adore statues, we put Mary at the same level as God, we pay money to have our sins forgiven. If we taught or believed any of these things we should be hated. But we don't! This hatred is directed against error and not truth. If these things were true we would hate the Catholic Church a thousand times more than they do. These thoughts all from a brilliant man, Bishop Fulton Sheen.

He says further, that if you are not Catholic you need to look for the Church in our times that is most hated, as Jesus was back in the day. Look for a Church that is behind the times, as our Lord was accused of being ignorant. Look for a Church that men sneer at because men sneered at Jesus of Nazareth. Look for the Church being accused of having the Devil, because Jesus was accused of being possessed by the Prince of Devils. Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims itself infallible because Jesus was the Truth and the Way. Well, let the innocent man cast the first stone.     

             

Many people (including me in the past), speak of many terrible things that happened in the history of the Catholic Church. Inquisitions to sex scandals. Not to downplay these atrocities, but, just as all churches, clubs, organizations, schools, families, etc. are made up of man , so do they have skeletons in their closets. If the CC didn't have any over it's 2,000 years, I would be shocked! There were times as a Catholic, that  I couldn't help but hang my head in shame. Due to what I or others neglected to do as a Church and community. What we did do that caused harm. Apologies have been made with great sincerity.Has anyone really heard them? Is there that forgiveness that Jesus spoke of?

I could be a sheep just following the herd, but, I needed to know and found out why I am a part of this Church, why I am a Catholic/Christian? After all these years learning about my faith, I get restless. But, I think that unrest is important as it stirs up productivity and does not allow complacency in. Have you been complacent or angry at the Church? Ignorant of the Church? Well, you're invited to dive in because the water here is fabulous! Tear down the wall of prejudice and error by seeking answers. Dare I say, don't be knucklehead like I was. Oh, maybe I still am, but, I am a better educated resigning knucklehead learning about this voluminous Christian faith called Catholicism. A great place to get answers is by going to this website:  http://www.catholic.com/     

“There is no stupid question! Except, possibly, a question not asked.” --Christer Romson

Were they playing telephone or is the writing on the papyrus?

"repeat after me"

So how did the message get to us today about Jesus?

Yes, many wrote about Him. Thanks to St. Jerome (a great man and Early Church Father-just love these guys) he spent most of his time translating these ancient scripts written from so long ago into the entire Bible, completed in 405 AD.  From the original languages, into Latin, the language of the former Empire.The Old Testament and New Testament make up the Bible-73 books in total.

But how sure can we be that what we read in the Bible today is what the original authors wrote? I mean hand copying these writings,over centuries could have caused error in transmission (no printing presses then).Oral traditions may not be trustworthy but like playing the child's game telephone? Yikes! Well, we can be confident about what these authors wrote and that hand copying and oral tradition came through:

• There are far more copies of the New Testament documents than of any other comparable ancient document
• The manuscripts go back closer in time to the originals than for any other ancient documents
• The manuscripts are consistent - there are no major or significant changes
• No other ancient Greek books are known from such a wide range of copies, written so close to the times when their authors composed  them.

The evidence for the New Testament documents is much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical authors whose authenticity no one questions. There are 5,309 Greek manuscripts, 10,000 Latin manuscripts, 9,300 other manuscripts, as well as over 36,000 citings in the writings of the Early Church Fathers (dating back to the early second century). No one in history has so many writings written about a person from that era, no one!

 The Old Testament (written before Christ was born) fulfills and supports the claim that Jesus is God.

•  No one else in the history of the human race has had a whole collection of books written about him before he was born. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies written in the Old Testament (all written over at least 400 years-some even thousands of years-before the time of Jesus) There were prophecies regarding His forerunner (John the Baptist), His identify, His birthplace, how He would be born,what He would do, the purpose of His life and death, and even the details of how He would die.

When we look at The New Testament (when Jesus was on earth) someone might say, maybe He tried to live His life to fulfill these prophecies deliberately to show that He was the Messiah, the Christ foretold in the Old Testament. The problem with this suggestion is that:1) The sheer number of prophecies would make it extremely difficult to fulfill 2) There were prophecies that He could not control like when he was born, the exact manner of His death and where he would be buried, etc.

Historical proof is so substantial and  I have only skimmed the surface. There was no email, or postal service and there are too many writings out there about Him that coincide with each other. It is not by faith alone that I believe, but also by substantial proof as well. No children games here, it was written *smile* I actually saw some of the authentic writings on papyrus this past summer at the Royal Ontario Art Museum when some of the the Dead Sea Scrolls (the original texts) were on display.

So glad I stayed with this Church of strength, that upholds the truth, teachings and writings these past 2,000 years. Continuing to transfer this ancient but important message to the ends of the earth that Jesus is God and Saviour over the whole earth-Amen!

As my child prepares for Communion this Spring

My child is preparing for Communion. The white dress and sash and  the gloves all ready. A day viewed by my husband and I, and I hope she as well, as special a day as her Wedding , because this is a very special day approaching. As part of the Catholic Church we are able to partake in an incredible event every Sunday. I remember when my husband came into the Church and how sacred that day was for him. Until he became Catholic, he could not partake, as he was not in communion with the Church and needed to understand what this Eucharist as pictured below truly is. Soon my entire family will partake together. So thrilled are we, that our nephew too, will partake in this blessing and Sacrament from Christ himself.  Some thoughts to reflect upon below..............

“If I am asked how bread is changed into the Body of Christ, I answer: “The Holy Ghost overshadows the priest and operates in the same manner in the elements which He effected in the womb of the Virgin Mary.” – St. John of Damascus

           The command was “take and eat” not “take and understand.” – C. S. Lewis

• The Eucharist is not a symbol.
• The Eucharist is the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.
• God is forever present, in the flesh, to His people.
• Each and every time we go to Mass, Christ invites us to offer our bodies back to Him. “This is my body, given up for you” we hear. What is our response back to our God? Do we offer Him back our bodies for His will and His glory or for our own?
• Eucharist literally means “thanksgiving”. Do we really give thanks for His real presence?
• God did not come down to earth to dwell alone in a golden box, but for us, to worship Him and never be alone.
• The Eucharist is God’s grace within us.
• The Mass is the wedding feast, when we consume Christ, we consummate our sacramental union as the bride (Church) to the groom (Christ).
• You are what you eat. The word "eat" in it's original context when Jesus was alive meant "to Chew".The only time in the bible when His followers left Him. Why is that?

Devastating news today

As I walked with my dogs today to give them their exercise I bumped into an acquaintance. I asked how her son was enjoying a class that  he takes with my son of the same age, 11. She explained that due to a medical reason he would not be attending for a while. I blurted out “why what is wrong?” and then just as quickly apologized for inquiring. She did not mind and explained he has cancer. Well, my stomach lurched and I felt my mind jolt like it had just gotten slammed by a Mac truck from the shock of this terrible news. He looked so healthy a few weeks before, when I saw him. This caused me to have a good cry during the rest of my walk. Such a lovely family and a sweet boy.....why, I asked, why?

I will pray and ask you to also. I pray he will regain full health .I pray he will be strong and have little pain. My heart breaks. Everyday, I do thank God, for healthy children and I pray they be covered in the Precious Blood of Jesus. How quick life can take a turn. This has happened in my own family. The devastation that hits, the anger, the hopelessness felt, the cruel and evil pain that pervades your senses. Never mind what my close family members felt that were the closest to the battle of agony raging. But, as I watched those with faith handle these events, that rip your world out from underneath you, I saw peace in their faces. Compared to those that had no faith, that were in a place called Hell. Hanging onto the cross and trusting in God’s will makes the situation, appear in a much different light. What blessings occur when you allow God in that way.

It brings to mind in all this, that we need faith. We need God! Standing firm in faith has helped me to trust and surrender my worries. Not always easily, and at times I forget where I need to put this kind of horrendous stuff.  But I am made stronger and I have bigger shoulders than I would normally have without faith. There is something tangible in the spiritual realm. A sense of peace that does surpass all understanding.  How blessed to have the knowledge of Christianity in it’s true essence. The belief in one God. Thanks to God and all his Saints that have done his will throughout all these ages. I am so sad right now but I am at peace. I will pray and God will do whatever is in the divine plan that he can only understand. Who are we to even try to think we know why things are the way they are. Only he does, we can’t put him in a box. We are arrogant and full of pride to think that we know better  and that we know what is best. I surrender all.

Father knows best.

My misunderstood faith family

Tonight I was at prayer group. It is a Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. Definitely not a well understood gathering, by many people I know, including other Catholics. This is sad, but, I can't blame them. I didn't understand at one time either. A group of people that love God and worship God as Christians are called to do. To many people's dismay, we don't drink poison and roll around on the floor. That always makes me giggle. We just love God so much and we feel so blessed and happy to commune with Him. We are under continual conversion and we grow each and every day by God's grace and love. I may have to write a page on this alone in the future.

We had 3 Bible readings after praise and worship. They all spoke the same message which was Jesus wearing the crown as King, love being the fiber that holds all virtues together, being wise and mindful of good conduct and loving God with worship and praise. These readings edified us and brought us in to a good discussion. We realized that we were so blessed to be able to worship God and feel his presence amongst us. I spoke of Ignatius and Polycarp and their great courage and example. So much I have learned as I make posts in this blog about them. Thank God for my faith family. 

These Prayer Groups started for me back about 7 years ago and it was the cause of a great turn around for me in  my faith. We all experience things differently and this was what I needed. This "doubting Thomas" got a 2 X 4 over the head. I was awakened and had been asleep for a very long time. Then the Early Church Fathers that really painted the Catholic Church in all it's glory and teachings sealed the deal. Makes me smile to reflect that this journey has bared many fruits. Thank you Jesus and those that came after you!

I would name my next child after this man

Ignatius would be the name of my next child if I were to have one. He is another reason why I understand my Catholic faith more. Brave and elderly, was he, as he took a long torturous walk to his death. Not wanting anyone to stop him from being chewed up and grinded like bread by the lions jaws that awaited him in the Colosseum in Rome in 108 AD. He was willing and happy to die for Christ. As a Bishop he wrote 6 letters written on his way there (one to Bishop Polycarp).

The Bible contains letters to the Romans and the Ephesians and Ignatius writes to these people too.
He writes -avoid heresies and to follow the priests and bishops of the early Church.

He speaks of the value of the Eucharist (bread), to the Ephesians:
" you come together man by man in common through grace, individually, in one faith, and in Jesus Christ,...so that you obey the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote to prevent us from dying, but [which causes] that we should live for ever in Jesus Christ."

He also is the first to mention the word "Catholic" ' in his writings to the Smyrnaeans:
"Wherever the bishop appears, there let the people be; as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful to baptize or give communion without the consent of the bishop. On the other hand, whatever has his approval is pleasing to God. Thus, whatever is done will be safe and valid"

I just love the fact that he was taught by John the Apostle, who was taught by Jesus himself and that he taught many what he had learned. I am unable to have another child,but, maybe one day one of my children will pick the name Ignatius for a Confirmation name. As this is the name of a man with a  fervent desire for truth and love for God and his people!
Something to meditate on : Do you have courage like this holy bishop?

I want to learn about being Roman Catholic

If you want to learn about anything to do with the Catholic Church, these are resources that will blow your mind! Well......will e-x-p-a-n-d your mind. These were the links I encountered that helped me decide if I was staying Catholic or going elsewhere. Many views, many hours, and much learned. Also, parenting and kids links too:)

Hear our brothers and sisters in Christ from Non-Denominational, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Baptist, Episcopal to Atheists. Why did they change their point of views? Why might you if you are not Catholic. With respect, non-Catholic viewers, I am not discounting your faith or your Spirit filled church. You decide if the fullness of the faith is in the Catholic Church. It's only a click away. If you are Catholic, discover what might be taken for granted of be enriched with new knowledge. 2,000 years is a lot of information. This makes it easy!

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what needs to be revealed and with an open heart and mind you may be enlightened. My favourite is EWTN-The Journey Home. This show examines why so many people, including fallen away Catholics and individuals from other denominations, are being drawn home to the Catholic Church.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/tv/live/journeyhome.asp#ixzz1BGOpUoep

Ah this is a great quote I came across today

Read this once or maybe twice like I did and ponder- “It is impossible to be just to the Catholic Church. The moment men cease to pull against it they feel a tug towards it. The moment they cease to shout it down they begin to listen to it with pleasure. The moment they try to be fair to it they begin to be fond of it. But when that affection has passed a certain point it begins to take on the tragic and menacing grandeur of a great love affair.” – G. K. Chesterton

POLYCARP: Teacher, Bishop, Defender of the Faith, Martyr

Polycarp: A man, that in our time, would be looked upon as mad, had we seen him die so willingly for what he believed. I assume back then around 155 AD many thought him insane, and others stood in awe. The writings of his martyrdom and his personal writings demonstrates how much he believed and loved God. He walked his faith with courage. He would not deny Christ. The story of his martyrdom will follow momentarily for you to decide if he was mad or in love. I was impressed that he sat at the foot of St. John the Apostle as his study. I never really thought about who took over, after the apostles left the scene.


He fought heresies with his tongue (untruths, wrongful teachings), taught moral values, stressed perseverance in all things when it came to serving Christ. He was a Bishop of Smyrna (modern day Turkey) and wrote incredible Epistles (letters). He quoted teachings from our New Testament with such accuracy, before a Bible was even written in the 400s. Baptized as a baby, he grew up as a Christian and was one of the first to teach the people of the Church our traditions. He told the Church to respect and follow the bishops and priests teachings. This struck me as an interesting revelation.


His martyrdom is what also strikes me as miraculous, Gods love in motion. When they tried to burn him alive, the flames would not touch him, but go around him, eyewitnesses attested. His skin rather then melt, looked like gold or silver and the smell that filled the air was not rancid. Instead it was fragrant like incense, Frankincense. They had to pierce him with a sword so that he would die. He however only died in the flesh, his ultimate reward was to live, in heaven.


As quoted from the letter THE MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP ..... But when they were about also to fix him with nails, he said, Leave me as I am; for He that gives me strength to endure the fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to remain without moving in the pile.
They did not nail him then, but simply bound him. And he, placing his hands behind him, and being bound like a distinguished ram [taken] out of a great flock for sacrifice, and prepared to be an acceptable burnt-offering unto God, looked up to heaven, and said,
O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of You, the God of angels and powers, and of every creature, and of the whole race of the righteous who live before you, I give You thanks that You have counted me, worthy of this day and this hour, that I should have a part in the number of Your martyrs , in the cup of your Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body, through the incorruption [imparted] by the Holy Ghost. Among whom may I be accepted this day before You as a fat and acceptable sacrifice, according as You, the ever-truthful God, have foreordained, have revealed beforehand to me, and now have fulfilled. Wherefore also I praise You for all things, I bless You, I glorify You, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, with whom, to You, and the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and to all coming ages. Amen.


His devotion and example is extraordinary. His letters, though not the Holy scripture, compliment very well what is written. See for yourself his writings, and compare if you are familiar with the Bible. If you aren't, maybe you could start reading today. May I suggest reading John first from an American Standard bible revised version-one of the many bible versions closest to the original scripture interpretations.


My question for you today- Would you die for what you believe in? St.Polycarp pray for us!

Should I stay or should I go now-original February 2009 post

Well, its Saturday and I am hoping to get to reconciliation (confessing my sins to a priest) today. My friend found it odd that I did not go up for Mass. She told me to go up and receive our Lord...because we "all" sin. Yes, I agreed that this is true, we all do sin. I, however, felt I had something very important to confess that was serious enough to postpone consuming and receiving the Lord on my tongue. I will cut to the chase, this explains my thinking -"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthily manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died." (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)

 “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.”    (1 Corinthians 11:26)
This teaching about the Eucharist is not always acknowledged these days. Catholics are not to receive the Eucharist if they are conscious of having committed any serious sins which they have not confessed in the sacrament of reconciliation. To receive the Eucharist in such a state of sin is, itself, a serious sin.
Protestants are not the only ones who ought not receive the Eucharist at Mass (that can be covered if asked). There are, in all likelihood, several Catholics eating and drinking judgment upon themselves at most Masses by receiving the Eucharist in an unworthily manner. I have, unfortunately, often been one of them in the past.  I have of course since repented and now go by the teaching of the Church and first and foremost Jesus' teachings. Receiving the Eucharist is such a blessing from above. It is heaven kissing the earth.
Have a great day and God Bless, Karen

House+Home at the Apostolic Palace

I always thought it annoying and irrelevant that there was this man called a Pope. The people that were so excited to see him nauseated me. I didn't get it.  How did "he" fit into my life as a Catholic, a lapsed Catholic?? I found out that this was my title during the time I  regarded this man in white of very little importance. He is just an average man, right? Well, so I thought. Just some guy that stands at a window waving at people and living in luxury. I was wrong and that just may be a future post. Meanwhile, how awesome that the Apostolic succession exists since Christ died through to today-the Pope, my Pope.. All the men before this great man that paved the way and kept Christianity alive. Thank you to this man that the faith is kept alive and growing due to his dedication and wisdom  as guided by the Holy Spirit.  Church Fathers to the Pope, I get it now:)

Church Fathers.....where to begin?

Who are the Apostolic Fathers??? I don't know, you might say?! Well, some of these guys hung with the apostles and or were about teaching and passing along the traditions taught to them.They were in a  close time line of Christ and the apostles. I call them official torch bearers. These great men put me back in line with the Church. First, after reading different material, I removed the goose pimples from my arms and put my hanging jaw back in place. What was this I was reading? No one told me about these guys!!!!! The Ante-Nicene Fathers that lived and taught before the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. Then the post-Nicene Fathers that also spread the teachings of Christ. The man St. Augustine is a well known example.  It is truly unbelievable what they have to say about the Catholic Church, Eucharist, Traditions, Mary, the Pope, blah blah blah.


I will start with Polycarp an Apostolic Father. His name means "many fish"....no, "many fruits". And fruits he produced. He was around in the year 69-155 AD. He was a pupil of John the apostle. This man sat at John's feet- wow!


I will be back to fill you in more very soon. I think you may be astounded as I was. Atleast go in with an open mind and see what is revealed to you. If you are ready to really discover what history unfolds, standby. This was my start back to the Church. Whodha thunk!?

This is appearing to be a more widespread hate crime

In the city of Anaheim, California (Orange County) at St. Boniface Church graffiti on the wall says "KILL THE CATHLICS". It leaves an impression on me that I would like to ignore. But, they won at least for a minute to offend me. Then I got to thinking about the quote from a great man Bishop Fulton Sheen. He said

“There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church— which is, of course, quite a different thing.”

That statement rings true to me. If it is the media bashing Catholics, or a misinformed preacher, a neighbor or family member that is Catholic and does not really know their faith. Catholic by name but not by faith. I was one of those. I do understand how there can be many misconceptions. I realized, that the Church, I was a member of had a history so rich and so impressive. The same Mass we celebrate today as back in the 100's and so so much more. But, this only happened after a ton of research. I mean, I had to teach myself so much. Not to blame my Sunday school teacher or priest back when I was a child. They tried but I just was not listening. My mom (God bless her) took me and my siblings when we were little by the hand to church but she did not have enough knowledge herself to educate us. She just felt it was the right thing to do. My dad was just not interested-he was Anglican and had his own views on the Catholic Church. How could I love something I was not familiar with? How could I embrace something that I could not grasp in knowledge. In my home you didn't talk about God except maybe to say a bedtime prayer of speak about because someone had died. I suppose, I did learn something though. I did know that there was a God and that he loved us. I also all my days would send up a little prayer about my fears and try and talk to this deity in the sky as best I could. But that is for another day. I digressed and need to get back on topic.

I think it best, to not criticize or have hate in your heart for something that is not fully understood. I say "fully" because to really get what Catholicism is all about there is a lot to learn. I hope in doing this blog that I can help educate as simply as I can in bits and pieces to bring awareness that this is really God's true Church. I am open to dialogue and questions. I will do my best to answer them. I don't look at questions about the Church as stupid but as being intelligent because knowledge is being pursued.That type of seeking is to be commended.  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matt 7:7 "one thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."John 9:25 Maybe I don't see perfectly as I am only a mere human, but, I am very comfortable in what has been revealed to me and I am solid in my faith of Catholicism/Christianity. I was going to leave the Church and go to the fun church. A church with great children programs and that is very well intended and yes...that loves God. But, trying to find ways to leave, led me to reasons to stay. I could go on, but that is it for now.

Bless the man or women that wrote those words on that wall. They know not what they do Lord. I was there too in my lack of understanding and I must remember that they are just as important as me. May they grow to know the truth.I am no better then them, I am not perfect, still a sinner, but I am trying to be the best I can for God, myself, my family and humanity. God is love. +Shalom

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