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I’m reading the book “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway and I gotta tell you, it’s a tough one to hang with.
The book follows some expatriates living in Paris not long after WWI. The reason it is hard to hang with is because the lives of these expatriates are so boring.
They are constantly eating, getting drunk, sullenly sitting around, or just trying to amuse themselves with whatever. There is no direction to life, no sustained verve, no growth.
The characters literally get up and go get a drink, then go eat, then go get a drink, then work a tad, then eat, then meet up for a drink, then irritate each other, go bathe, then drink, then eat, go dance, then get drunk, and then go to sleep.
I think the point is to show the dissolutionment of the “Lost Generation,” but my goodness, what mind-numbing boredom.
As I’m reading it, I keep thinking, “Where are you people going??!! What is the point of your lives??!!”
I’m not finished, yet, so maybe I’ll see some growth in the characters (don’t tell me how it turns out). Or maybe the point is to show the vapidness of life without purpose and direction. I shall see.
Today, in our Gospel reading, Jesus says, “Not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’”
I think it’s a good question to ask ourselves: “Where am I going?”
Are we living our lives for Heaven? Do we have our sights set on that goal?
If it is, are we growing? Are we living as though it is a reality? Are we pursuing it with all our minds, hearts, and souls?
If we are, we will grow as a person and our lives will feel full and purposeful.
If instead, we don’t know where we are going, like the characters in the book, we will become listless, selfish, and simply move from one external worldly pleasure to another, never satisfied or interested in much.
It’s a good question to ask, Catholic Pilgrims: “Where am I going?” The way you feel about life will be reflected in how you answer that question.
Live the Faith boldly and travel well.
Day Nine of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Today's Location: US NAVAL ACADEMY I've realized that I'm a mid-sized town gal and Annapolis definitely appealed to me. Annapolis is home to the Naval Academy, which I got to visit in 2022. We have two Catholic connections. 1. This gate that you see here is named after Commodore John Barry who was a devout Irish Catholic. He died long before the Academy came around, but he was personally chosen by George Washington to be the very first commissioned officer and first flag officer of the permanent U.S. Navy. 2. If you visit the Naval Academy Chapel there is a basement where you will find a Blessed Sacrament room. It is in honor of Servant of God Father Capodonna, the "Grunt" padre that was killed in Vietnam on September 4, 1967. Every September there is a Mass said in his honor in the chapel. Even though my hubby is an Airman, I am the granddaughter of a WWII Navy vet. While my grandfather did not attend here, it was still special for me to visit. I highly recommend Annapolis, Catholic Pilgrims, and if you are able to be cleared onto the Academy, I would encourage you visit. The grounds are beautiful. Live the Faith boldly and travel well!
Continue ReadingDay Seven of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Our feature for today: NIAGRA FALLS Anybody wanna hop back and forth between borders? The Falls are nearly almost divided in half between Canada and the US. Now, I've never been, so this isn't my photo, but I'm guessing this was taken from the Canadian side. Maybe? But what, Amy, is the Catholic connection, you ask? Well, these Falls were first documented in the 17th century by a Belgium monk named Father Louis Hennepin. He was a Franciscan missionary and his documentation really was his claim to fame. He explored lots of other territory in what would become the United States, but he often embellished his stories and this got him into some trouble. However, he did make an "engraving of the Falls of Niagara. It is out of proportion, but its general features give an accurate idea of the appearance of the Falls at his time." I do hope to go to the Falls someday and apparently in the surrounding area, both in Canada and Buffalo, NY, there are some excellent Catholic Churches to visit. Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims!
Continue ReadingDay Five of US landmarks and Catholic connections in our lead up to America's 250th Birthday. Today's landmark: CENTRAL PARK Why does my picture from 2005 look ancient? In 2005 my family visited NY after attending a graduation for my husband's cousin in Connecticut. This is me with my oldest (now 24 years old) at the famous Bethesda Terrace with the Angel of the Waters Fountain. The Pool of Bethesda, if you'll recall from the Bible, was a famous healing site in Jerusalem. The Jews believed that an angel stirred up the water and when it was stirred up, whoever got in first would be healed. So, we have a Biblical connection here. Another one is that Pope John Paul II said Mass on the Great Lawn on October 7th, 1995 for a crowd of over 125,000. Also, one of our most visited Catholic Churches sits just south of Central Park and that is, you guessed it, St. Patrick's Cathedral. Archbishop John Hughes (1797–1864), was one of the most famous Catholics in NY history. He was around when Central Park was being created. He was the first archbishop of NY, when it became elevated to an archdiocese. So, there's your Monday morning Catholic history lesson! Live the Faith boldly and travel well, Catholic Pilgrims.
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