All-Comers Catholic chat - Support Only - Page 3

[Trigger]

How is everyone, as we wind down to the Blessed day?

[chfriend]

I was asked to edit my original post and I finally had a chance to do that. (The search function wasn't working for me; my dear beautiful talented loving heart of my family father died; my older child made her first reconciliation; I left my professional position to start a new business with my beloved partner.)

I posted for a supportive place to share advent during a difficult time.

I'm asking, for the love of God (and I mean that literally), could we please make a supportive place for Catholics that define themselves as Catholics regardless of where they fall on the "faithful to the Magisterium" test. I feel welcoming toward all Catholics regardless of his or her position relative to the Vatican's teachings. We are united in prayer and can always hope for greater unity. In the meantime, how about we share this space together without a need to debate one another's beliefs, sharing what has been nurturing and supportive to us on our journeys.

My understanding is that Vatican II recognized the right to dissent unless under an order of silence from a bishop. So we may freely talk about our opinions and desires as long as we do not foment division or misrepresent the teachings.

The Church is my Tradition as well. I have no need or desire to change or comment on anyone else's practice. I keep those sisters and brothers who disagree with me in my prayers, as I'm sure they do me.

It's Kings Day, the 12th Day of Christmas. My heart is broken with the grief of the loss of my father who I will not see until we are all with the Lord in the world to come. May the gifts of the Magi be with us today as the Divinity is recognized and worshipped.  Amen.

Edited by chfriend - 1/5/11 at 8:13am

[Trigger]

chfriend, I am deeply sorry for the loss of your beloved father.  I hope that the holidays were not too difficult for you and your family.

I too would like to see this thread be a place for all Catholics who desire respectful dialogue and support.  I will do my best to uphold this ideal.

Best wishes to you and your partner in your business venture, chfriend.  I would love to start my own business (a co-op of locally handcrafted items, or a consignment, or a combination of both) - that has been my dream for a long time, but I would have no idea where to start.

[rhianna813]

Hello,

I have a thread in this forum call “Family Circle – Imbolc/Brighid – All are welcome”. It is open all people but focuses on seasonal celebrations and rituals for families.

Looking at the upcoming early spring festivals, they include Imbolc, Brigid’s feast day and I also included St Bridget’s Day, Candlemas and Feast of the Virgin. The last 3 being specific to the Catholic faith. Unfortunately, I am not sure if they are same the holiday or separate – they all reference Feb 2^nd I believe. I have had friends mention them to me from their childhood – blessing candles, processions, etc…

If anyone within this thread is open to visiting my thread and adding some information about these holidays – I’d be very appreciative J Especially information on how families may celebrate, including rituals or activities (food, crafts) with small children.

Thanks and blessings,

Rhianna

[lavatea]

Originally Posted by chfriend 

I was asked to edit my original post and I finally had a chance to do that. (The search function wasn't working for me; my dear beautiful talented loving heart of my family father died; my older child made her first reconciliation; I left my professional position to start a new business with my beloved partner.)

I posted for a supportive place to share advent during a difficult time.

I'm asking, for the love of God (and I mean that literally), could we please make a supportive place for Catholics that define themselves as Catholics regardless of where they fall on the "faithful to the Magisterium" test. I feel welcoming toward all Catholics regardless of his or her position relative to the Vatican's teachings. We are united in prayer and can always hope for greater unity. In the meantime, how about we share this space together without a need to debate one another's beliefs, sharing what has been nurturing and supportive to us on our journeys.

My understanding is that Vatican II recognized the right to dissent unless under an order of silence from a bishop. So we may freely talk about our opinions and desires as long as we do not foment division or misrepresent the teachings.

The Church is my Tradition as well. I have no need or desire to change or comment on anyone else's practice. I keep those sisters and brothers who disagree with me in my prayers, as I'm sure they do me.

It's Kings Day, the 12th Day of Christmas. My heart is broken with the grief of the loss of my father who I will not see until we are all with the Lord in the world to come. May the gifts of the Magi be with us today as the Divinity is recognized and worshipped.  Amen.

Sorry to hear about your father. I will pray for him and your family.

[chfriend]

My sweet Catholic friends on the journey, thank you for your love and prayers. I feel them holding me up in painful time.

Our business is a brick and mortar store selling new and consigned items that make learning fun. It's a blessing to be providing a space for that in my community.

riahanna, We have dedicated the store to St. Brigid! Her feast day is Feb 2...although, for some reason I think my family celebrated on Feb 1. I'm still looking for a cow butter mold if anyone knows where to get one!!

Today is my older daughter's baptism day. She's listening to Hannah Montana on the living room stereo, quietly do some craft or other across from me. The little one is upstairs going to sleep with my partner. Awesome to remember holding her in my arms as an infant in the most incredible baptism I've experience with a deeply spiritual priest, a Franciscan name Father John, so sincerely sharing God's love to our gathered family and friends.

We've all had a terrible stomach thing with week and we have huge Grand Opening party planned on Saturday. If God wasn't real, there's no way I could be sitting here with at peace and in love with these beautiful blessings in my life.

Anyone else celebrate St. Brigid's day? What other things make this deep winter time special at your house?

[Trigger]

I'm struggling with deep winter, and could use something to celebrate.  I'm on my own again for the first time in 20+ years - the snow, the cold, and everything that comes with that in upstate NY makes me anxious.  My 110-year old house is drafty & chilly, and I'm going through fuel oil like crazy.

However, I have prayed on this again and again, and God has assured me that this is where He wants me to be for the time being.  He has assured me that He will provide for our safety and well-being, and so I must trust in that.

chfriend - Would a candy mold work? http://www.sugarcraft.com/catalog/candymolds/M-animals/90-11241.jpg

[chfriend]

Trigger,

Remembering the light in the dark time is alway such a challenge! Candlemas, the blessing of the candles, is coming up on Feb 2. The Feast of St. Brigid is such a comfort (celebrating the new milk which will keep us from starving until the new plants of spring)....We're still in the Christmas season, so the smells and sounds of Christmas are still with us. The gold, frankencinse and myrrh of Kings Day....burning frankencinse makes the house smell glorious.

What about making ice lanterns?

More on Candlemas:

http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterepiphany3.html

St. Brigid's Day: http://www.fisheaters.com/customstimeafterepiphany2a.html 

Here's a traditional Catholic prayer for Brigid that I love:

Saint Brigid
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen 

[Attila the Honey]

Can anyone recommend any good Catholic blogs?  :)

bumpity bump

[Arduinna]

Originally Posted by Attila the Honey 

Can anyone recommend any good Catholic blogs?  :)

bumpity bump

Father Z's blog is really good

[lavatea]

Originally Posted by Arduinna 

Originally Posted by Attila the Honey 

Can anyone recommend any good Catholic blogs?  :)

bumpity bump

Father Z's blog is really good

I second that! I also like Catholic Minority Report.

Holy Card Heaven is good Catholic eye candy.

The Crescat is a witty Catholic single mom. Love her!

And then there's Fr. Finigan's blog, The Hermeneutic of Continuity.

I also follow several Catholic mom's blogs, but they're more of the day-to-day variety.

[PatienceAndLove]

i third Fr. Z!

[Trigger]

The Progressive Catholic Voice

[PatienceAndLove]

Deleted

[RosemaryS-F]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this thread; I am a Catholic who converted from protestantism 10 years ago, right at the height of the abuse scandal. For some reason, I never engaged in the process of grieving for the church about that issue. Possibly because I was more focused upon becoming Catholic than on how to reform the church, I don't know. I was confirmed in CA but am from New England and moved back here to the archdiocese of Boston about a year after confirmation. Interestingly, it was quite easy to forget about the crisis in my archdiocese, mainly because I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times it was mentioned at mass.

This week, a list of priests who were accused or found guilty or settled with victims was made public here by a secular lawyer representing victims; he released it because B. Shaun O'Malley hasn't done it yet. Well, I was disgusted enough by this when it occurred, but on Sunday, I found out at Mass that one of the priests never before mentioned was moved to my parish and was priest there for 25+ years, and yes, he was guilty and had made a settlement. I am completely spun around by this, and am not sure if I can stay in the church any more. My faith personally has dwindled to pretty much nothing in the last 10 years, so much so that I sometimes am jolted awake with the thought that I am dying and don't believe in God. :(

I don't want to hijack the thread, but I really want support of intelligent women in the church, the women who I read in the posts on this thread, who are different and yet somehow can still identify as Catholic. Need your help.

My DH seemed nonplussed by this. I think my crisis has riled him up somewhat, but he's nowhere near as angry, hurt, and yes, ashamed. I need someone to talk to!

[Trigger]

Originally Posted by RosemaryS-F 

...on Sunday, I found out at Mass that one of the priests never before mentioned was moved to my parish and was priest there for 25+ years, and yes, he was guilty and had made a settlement. I am completely spun around by this, and am not sure if I can stay in the church any more. My faith personally has dwindled to pretty much nothing in the last 10 years, so much so that I sometimes am jolted awake with the thought that I am dying and don't believe in God. :(

I am so deeply sorry for the pain this revelation must cause you.  I realize that your relationship with the Church has suffered, and rightly so; but please do not allow your relationship with Our Father to suffer as well.  He will be faithful to us, even when our own church is not!

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.  It is the leadership of our church, and anyone else who had a hand in covering it up, that is responsible for this crisis and its aftermath.

If your faith has dwindled away so much since your move to Catholicism, it strikes me that perhaps you are not being properly fed.  Can you shop around in other Catholic parishes, see if there might be a better fit for you elsewhere?

I wish you were in my diocese ... we have just implemented a 3-year program created for Catholics just like you.

Amazing God

[PatienceAndLove]

I am sorry that your faith has been shaken in such a way, but I have to ask- what have YOU done to be fed?  What resources have you sought, outside your parish, to ensure that you are fed?

If I, or anyone, always relied on their parish priest to ensure he/she was throughly fed, we would all be in terrible shape.

I supplement what I hear at Mass with talks by Dr. Hahn and Fr. Larry Richards, along with shows on EWTN and EWTN Radio (both of which stream online, as well as of Ave Maria Radio)

What are you doing to seek God, to be closer to Him, and to love His Church (regardless of what the ppl in it are doing).

[JMJ]

Rosemary, I'm so sorry to hear that.  I'm sure that makes the whole scandal really hit home.  Our faith is bigger than the sinful people that make up the Church.  Please do find someone you trust to talk to in person about how you are feeling, maybe another priest, a nun, or another faithful Catholic who you can trust to help you process what is going on.  It's natural to feel betrayed, but don't let the feelings of betrayal take away what you know to be true.  People are sinful.  We do horrible things sometimes, but God is bigger than that.  If you need to, find another parish and do some reading or listening on your own to connect you to the greater Church at large.  Things are bad where you are, but it's not like that everywhere.  There are good priests too.

[RosemaryS-F]

Thank you for the replies. I realize that there are good priests. But can't you understand the betrayal when you thought the one that they moved to your parish was a good priest, and he died in 2007 and the whole time they knew this about him but didn't admit to it until a lawyer tattled? And everyone is completely shocked because he was such a good priest?

Anyway, our parish has a meeting like the one another poster mentioned, that I have hosted at my house, called Arise. It meets for three 6-week sessions a year and we are in our third year (it is a three year program). It's about Catholics getting in touch with our faith again "after the crisis". Well, my crisis is just beginning.

I do have a friend who is a wonderful person to talk to, but she moved across the state last spring, so we are currently trying to get a time when we can meet up. I realize all the things you are saying are true: real people to contact, real involvement at church, real spirituality of my own. So thank you.

[JMJ]

I would feel crushed and betrayed as well.  People aren't all black and white, bad or good.  We all sin, but we do good as well.  You wanted to believe that this priest was a good man and a good priest, and now that you know more, you feel like he was a horrible man and should never have been made a priest.  There's a disconnect between what you know on one hand and what you know on the other.  It calls into question the truth of everything that he taught.  How could somebody who could do something so terrible get anything right ever?  It's OK to feel that way.  Eventually, you find that both are true.  He had good qualities even though he had some rotten sins.  In short, he was human.  I pray that he found reconciliation and healing.  May God have mercy on his soul.  Even more, I pray for healing and peace for his victim(s).