9/28/2014 0 Comments The Bible, LiterallyI was prompted to write this post after watching a video from Father Barron, in which he covers a recent Bill Maher episode. In the episode he debates a Christian (surprise, surprise) and makes him look foolish. In the interview, Maher questions the rationality of his guest because of his faith. I want to address the question Father Barron raises, which is, "Do we take the Bible literally?"
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When I first heard somebody utter the phrase, "The family that prays together, stays together," I thought it was another hokey motivational quote. I could only relate it to my family history; and my family wasn't one to pray together very often. We sometimes said the Lord's Prayer together, or grace at meals, or even rosaries at funerals, and we always prayed at mass. As a cradle Catholic, the idea of praying together, made sense, but I didn't have anything to connect it to. There wasn't a long familial history that I could refer to to make sense of the quote. Instead, the best that I could say, is "the family that knows how to pray, stays relatively close."
9/13/2014 0 Comments Tale Of A Cradle CatholicI remember my first communion vividly. Well, I mostly remember being disappointed at the presents that I received. I loved being the center of attention for my family and any day they celebrated me was a dream come true. So, you can imagine my excitement when I found out that I got cake AND presents just for going up and eating a wafer; something I wanted to do anyway.
I can't remember whether I really understood that I was receiving Christ body, soul, and divinity on that day or any other day after that. I can't say whether I understood the true implications of such an act. But I can tell you that I was so happy to be getting presents. And presents I did receive. What a disappointment! Now, I understand how ridiculous and callus I sound. I know that the significance of the act was lost on me the moment that I opened a cross with some blonde, white kid kneeling on it and felt ungrateful. I know that the religious articles that have long since passed from my possession were better spent on somebody else. But I also know how amazing it is that I can remember that day, because there are few other days that I can recall as vividly. While I do feel dissatisfaction with the fact that I know I wasn't ready for the sacrament I received that day. I don't know if it was for lack of explanation or maybe a lack of belief. I can't say whether I should have spoken with my father more about it or counselled with my catechism teacher. Yet, I can say that when I was ready for the eucharist, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that God had allowed me to partake in it for most of my life; that he granted me access at such a young age. It blows my mind that such a beautiful act is available for so many. As my family gets older and my children begin to receive the host, I pray that they remember that day as well as I do. I hope that they really understand the fact that they are receiving our Lord when they go up for communion. But most importantly, I hope they aren't disappointed with their presents. |