.png)
I've posted this picture before, but I've been thinking about it--I think about it a lot actually--and so you all get to see it again today. Up near Calvary inside the Holy Sepulcher off to the left side, if facing the Calvary altar, there is a very dark area where you can light candles for prayers. When I went to place my lighted candle in the sand, I could sort of see the area beyond the candlelight. It is a dark, almost empty abyss which feels utterly mysterious. Since being there, my mind has drifted so many times to the moment I stood there with my lighted candle. There I was, with my light of faith, standing in darkness and unable to fully see the big picture. For many, many months now, I have been praying for certain things, certain outcomes and not a single one has been answered the way I have begged God to answer it. Each prayer hasn't been for me, but for others. Each prayer has been offered with the intention to align my will and my prayers with what I think God would want, but that doesn't seem to be the case. This has happened before and sometimes I have been able to clearly see the reason why God didn't answer as I requested. He gave me an even better answer. And sometimes, I see the outcome and it's not necessarily what I would consider a better answer back. It's okay, but there's still pain. It's not the utopia I had hoped for. Then, there are prayers where the outcome is completely confusing and heartbreaking and I don't understand. When this happens, I think of standing there with my little light, little Amy with my little light, near the place where Christ died on the Cross. There's darkness all around, I can barely see five feet in front of me and it all boils down to faith and trust. Christ at Calvary was the darkest of times and, yet, those that loved Christ didn't yet know of the glory that was soon to come. I must always remember that I only see what is right in front of me and even when times seem dark, I must trust that through it all, God has a plan. One that I may not fully understand even in this life. Have a blessed day, Catholic Pilgrims, and keep your little light shining.
Continue ReadingMy sophomore year or college, I was still doing the hypocrite thing where I called myself a Christian, but there was really not one thing in my life that would have pointed towards that. One of my roommates ended up having to leave our house because of some poor choices she made and the day she told me and our other roommates, I went absolutely nuclear on her. I screamed at her. Cussed at her. Called her names. Pointed out all her failings. All I wanted to do was make her feel small and terrible, because she was leaving us in a bind. So, "in the name of Jesus," I stood on my comically high soapbox and berated her for being a bad Christian. I just destroyed her. It is a high form of blasphemy to try to destroy people like that "in the name of Jesus." Truth be told, I was more angry with myself because the sins that led her to leave the house were sins that I was committing. However, I just needed to make myself feel better--to feel more righteous. It was not my shining moment. I have since apologized and asked forgiveness from her. But, I say all this because, here on the internet, I see that same behavior in many Catholic/Christian "influencers. If you follow someone who yells, cusses all the time, and who spends more time bashing others all in the "name of Jesus," you are following someone that has lost their way. Side note: Beware those that believe everything is a conspiracy, too. They may have kernels of truth in some things they say, but their hearts are not full of Christ. Instead they are filled with bitterness and I know because I used to be that way. I see my old self in them. It is important to speak truth, but it must be done well. It is important to spread the Gospel, but it must be done joyfully. It is important to call out evil, but we can't be evil ourselves when calling it out. Instead of these "influencers" and, heck, instead of me, read the Bible. Listen to podcasts where the Bible is read. Read the Saints. Or--shameless plug--listen to podcasts like mine where I read the Saints' works. Be influenced by those that were/are filled with joy, love, and hope and show us how to really do things in the name of Jesus and do it well. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Tuesday, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingI was sitting at Mass yesterday thinking about the Saints in Heaven and how important so many of them are to me now. When I need help with forgiveness, I ask my patron saint, St. Maria Goretti, for prayers. When I need help with pride and vanity, I ask for prayers from St. Teresa of Avila. Throughout the day, I think on Venerable Fulton Sheen, St. Faustina, St. Frances Cabrini, St. Francis de Sales. Now that I've read their works, I feel like they are dear friends. St. Joseph has been involved in my life so much lately and, of course, beloved Mary. As I was sitting in church, I thought, "How curious that all Christians understand that we, as sinful, limited humans, here on earth can reach across the veil from natural to supernatural to make contact with Heaven through our prayers, yet, many Christians think that the Saints in Heaven cannot reach across that that veil anymore to receive our requests for prayers. In Heaven, the Saints, who are purified, made perfect, and are no longer limited by space, time, or physical bodies, are seen as having less impact or abilities than those of us here on earth." Most understand that Angels can cross that veil. I least I hope they do, as we see it everywhere in Scripture. Saints, though, for many, are seen as just dead people that have zero influence anymore. People will often say that they can't hear our requests for intercessory prayers because they aren't God. That's right, they aren't God, but is God not capable of giving them that ability? It all comes down to this: It is a misunderstanding of how Catholics view things. I think for so many, they think we see the Saints and Angels as having powers that come from themselves. What so many don't understand is that Catholics are taught that any abilities or special gifts and graces given to Saints and Angels all come from the power of God. He is glorified in them. We are grateful to God for the gift of the Communion of Saints, because it is only by God's power that we have the ability to have the communion in the first place. Everything good points to God's blessings and grace, Catholic Pilgrims. Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Monday.
Continue Reading.png)
.png)
.png)