D
duneman
Guest
welcome home !!!
- Status
S
Stavros
Guest
Thank you. That’s the one thing that keeps me going - If this is what I’m supposed to be doing, well I guess I’m doing it. So everything else will happen when it happens. Lord, give me patience, and healing.
M
Marie5890
Guest
I know exactly what you mean. Exactly.
T
tundramom
Guest
Hi Stavros! Welcome Home! I, too went through what you are describing and I still do sometimes.
I think it is a matter of authority. A false authority based on a false system was drilled into us for a long time. Accepting true authority which is a loving protection rather than a drillmaster is hard, but know that you will get through it!
I know I’ve shared this story before, but I’ll do it again.
Two incidences stick out in my mind of my childhood and how God was leading me, even then, to a relationship with Him through the Catholic church.
When I was a pre-teen, our neighborhood got cable. I remember the petitions going around that no one wanted it and that we were supposed to sign it because it would poison our minds. yada yada yada. Nevertheless, my Mom got us hooked up and we even had HBO. There was a movie on called “The Song of Bernadette” which intrigued me. I watched it one afternoon, but my Mom came in and told me to “turn off that filth” and wouldn’t let me finish it. Being the good little obedient mormon girl that I was, I waited until Mom went to bed and then sat in front of the TV with a blanket around me and the sound turned way down to watch it. I didn’t have a clue who the “lady” was, I didn’t know half of what they were talking about, but I found it absolutely beautiful.
I grew up in Orem, and our doctor’s office was in Provo. To get there, we had to pass between the rectory and the old St. Francis church on 5th South… My Mom used to make us kids hide on the floorboards of the car so the monks wouldn’t put a hex on us. (whatever that meant!) I was sooooo afraid of those Franciscans and their brown robes.
Now that I am Catholic, which is a long and wonderful story of my own faith journey, I am drawn to both Bernadette and the Franciscans. I don’t think it was just a coincidence.
It’s been over a decade now since I became Catholic. I still get those little mormon thoughts that swirl and I have to really dig in the Bible and the Catechism to get them out. I am grateful for that!!! What an incredible opportunity!
Last week our Priest gave a homily about Thomas and how he earned the nickname of the doubter. He put a twist on it that really made me happy. Thomas wouldn’t take another’s word for it, but wanted personally to know the truth of the resurrection. I think that is much like me. I mistrust anyone else’s opinions, but I am so grateful for the magesterium and the trust I can place in knowing that Jesus would never leave His church.
Steph
I think it is a matter of authority. A false authority based on a false system was drilled into us for a long time. Accepting true authority which is a loving protection rather than a drillmaster is hard, but know that you will get through it!
I know I’ve shared this story before, but I’ll do it again.
Two incidences stick out in my mind of my childhood and how God was leading me, even then, to a relationship with Him through the Catholic church.
When I was a pre-teen, our neighborhood got cable. I remember the petitions going around that no one wanted it and that we were supposed to sign it because it would poison our minds. yada yada yada. Nevertheless, my Mom got us hooked up and we even had HBO. There was a movie on called “The Song of Bernadette” which intrigued me. I watched it one afternoon, but my Mom came in and told me to “turn off that filth” and wouldn’t let me finish it. Being the good little obedient mormon girl that I was, I waited until Mom went to bed and then sat in front of the TV with a blanket around me and the sound turned way down to watch it. I didn’t have a clue who the “lady” was, I didn’t know half of what they were talking about, but I found it absolutely beautiful.
I grew up in Orem, and our doctor’s office was in Provo. To get there, we had to pass between the rectory and the old St. Francis church on 5th South… My Mom used to make us kids hide on the floorboards of the car so the monks wouldn’t put a hex on us. (whatever that meant!) I was sooooo afraid of those Franciscans and their brown robes.
Now that I am Catholic, which is a long and wonderful story of my own faith journey, I am drawn to both Bernadette and the Franciscans. I don’t think it was just a coincidence.
It’s been over a decade now since I became Catholic. I still get those little mormon thoughts that swirl and I have to really dig in the Bible and the Catechism to get them out. I am grateful for that!!! What an incredible opportunity!
Last week our Priest gave a homily about Thomas and how he earned the nickname of the doubter. He put a twist on it that really made me happy.
Thomas wouldn’t take another’s word for it, but wanted personally to know the truth of the resurrection. I think that is much like me. I mistrust anyone else’s opinions, but I am so grateful for the magesterium and the trust I can place in knowing that Jesus would never leave His church.Steph
K
KathleenGee
Guest
Thank you Stavros, and my empathy for you as well, Marie…
I was betrayed in the Catholic Church by some…who I trusted.
A priest told me never to put a priest on a pedastal…another, an outstanding pastor, and very human – cantankerous – but with the heart of a 10 year old, told me never to look at him and what he does, but to listen to what he teaches. He was very Roman Catholic who could not stand praying in Latin…the hierarchy making him feel that as an English speaker, he wasn’t good enough.
See…?..separate yourself from facing that monolith entity called church. It is a false idol in the mind.
The Catholic Church does not exist for itself. We cannot find salvation in the Catholic Church. What I share with the papacy, the bishops, the priests, the laity is the belief in Christ’s Words, and His body, soul, divinity, and blood.
Forgive yourself for being a fool as you call yourself…forgive your own humanity.
Forgive yourself.
Forgive them…because the two are related.
Keep stepping out to Christ. When a priest, lay, pope sins, they are not in the Catholic church. Understand? Only the sacrament of penance can restore a person to Christ.
The Catholic Church provides us Christ in the sacraments, and nurtures our faith.
Christ lives in you as He lives in me…You are an extension of Christ Himself to me…
Being part of Christ is not exclusive to the hierarchy, but to all of us, we all given the same Lord. What is important is that we work always closer to union with Christ. He subsequently connects us with those around us. Know that the clergy needs us as much as we need them…
The best model of the Catholic Church is family. We are working it out to be more familial to each other, after a period of clericalism, formality, and our own type of guilt. For this, we are all growing in the universal church to be more Christlike.
And our walk in Christ is always in two’s and three’s,…‘where two or three of you are gathered, I am there.’ Fellowship is a great help.
But don’t mix up the Catholic Church – it is a human institution with God Himself.
I worked with Italian priests in the missions and they were my brothers…every day normal…and they wanted me to get all my issues out…all of them for us to be one big family. Very wholesome.
The American Church has had its issues with clericalism, more a reflection of particular ethnic groups who immigrated to our country. You can go to different countries and see Catholics all relate in their own charisms to Christ and His church…very wholesome result.
Seek to be wholesome with the Lord and with all. I will pray you get into some genuine Christ centered relationships where you can open up and share with those who have their heads on right, not lead you to scrupulosity, etc. but to solid and real fellowship…
Love to both of you,
Kathleen
I was betrayed in the Catholic Church by some…who I trusted.
A priest told me never to put a priest on a pedastal…another, an outstanding pastor, and very human – cantankerous – but with the heart of a 10 year old, told me never to look at him and what he does, but to listen to what he teaches. He was very Roman Catholic who could not stand praying in Latin…the hierarchy making him feel that as an English speaker, he wasn’t good enough.
See…?..separate yourself from facing that monolith entity called church. It is a false idol in the mind.
The Catholic Church does not exist for itself. We cannot find salvation in the Catholic Church. What I share with the papacy, the bishops, the priests, the laity is the belief in Christ’s Words, and His body, soul, divinity, and blood.
Forgive yourself for being a fool as you call yourself…forgive your own humanity.
Forgive yourself.
Forgive them…because the two are related.
Keep stepping out to Christ. When a priest, lay, pope sins, they are not in the Catholic church. Understand? Only the sacrament of penance can restore a person to Christ.
The Catholic Church provides us Christ in the sacraments, and nurtures our faith.
Christ lives in you as He lives in me…You are an extension of Christ Himself to me…
Being part of Christ is not exclusive to the hierarchy, but to all of us, we all given the same Lord. What is important is that we work always closer to union with Christ. He subsequently connects us with those around us. Know that the clergy needs us as much as we need them…
The best model of the Catholic Church is family. We are working it out to be more familial to each other, after a period of clericalism, formality, and our own type of guilt. For this, we are all growing in the universal church to be more Christlike.
And our walk in Christ is always in two’s and three’s,…‘where two or three of you are gathered, I am there.’ Fellowship is a great help.
But don’t mix up the Catholic Church – it is a human institution with God Himself.
I worked with Italian priests in the missions and they were my brothers…every day normal…and they wanted me to get all my issues out…all of them for us to be one big family. Very wholesome.
The American Church has had its issues with clericalism, more a reflection of particular ethnic groups who immigrated to our country. You can go to different countries and see Catholics all relate in their own charisms to Christ and His church…very wholesome result.
Seek to be wholesome with the Lord and with all. I will pray you get into some genuine Christ centered relationships where you can open up and share with those who have their heads on right, not lead you to scrupulosity, etc. but to solid and real fellowship…
Love to both of you,
Kathleen
T
tundramom
Guest
LOL Stavros! I understand completely where you are coming from! When I take my holy hour, which I purposely take in the middle of the night, I just love to sit on the floor in front of the Tabernacle and be with Him. I have spent many an hour there and always love that time spent alone with Him!! AND-- I haven’t prayed “Dear Heavenly Father” for ages. Nor do I cross my arms and bow my head. Sometimes I raise my hands in open enthusiasm, but not usually when others are around.
My husband and I visited Israel in 2001 and we were staying in Haifa right on the Sea. One evening he was out with his co-workers and I was with their wives and families. The sun was setting and one of the little girls got up and ran towards her Dad when they arrived. I saw them silhouetted against the sky as she ran to him crying, “Abba! Abba!” and he picked her up in his arms and twirled her around and they both had nothing but pure JOY in seeing each other again. Of course, I was reminded of St. Paul’s words about approaching God and I have not forgotten that picture. THAT is how the Father wants us to approach Him. i love it!
Steph
S
Stavros
Guest
My father worked at a hospital ran by Benedictine nuns for my entire childhood, until the hospital shut down. Guess what the first sacramental metal I bought was?Now that I am Catholic, which is a long and wonderful story of my own faith journey, I am drawn to both Bernadette and the Franciscans. I don’t think it was just a coincidence.
Also, I have quickly discovered that Dominicans, Carmelite and FSSP priests all give the same exasperated sigh of “oh, great” when you hand them a St. Benedict metal sacramental to be blessed. And yes, I know this by experience.
S
Stavros
Guest
I was thinking about this earlier today, that I needed to forgive those in the Mormon church who deceived me and treated me poorly. But it didn’t occur to me to forgive myself for being human and for believing the lies. This is definitely going to be a two-fold process. Thank you for this perspective, it’s the kind of thing I was hoping to find.
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
Yes, “Love thy neighbor as thyself”…don’t forget the “as thyself”, which says, you are loving yourself. Not in a prideful way, but in the way that understands how precious you are in the sight of God. Love what God has created: YOU.
Peace.
K
KathleenGee
Guest
stavros,
I just came back from a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for you and the Catholics here as well as the Mormon people.
So you forgive yourself, and now no more ‘foolery’…you are God’s gift…no priest, no one can give you that awareness, that value of yourself.
We find our self-esteem in the reality that Jesus Christ loves us.
Ask the Lord now to come in and let ‘the old man’ go…that can be taken at different levels…pun intended. You are a new creation. Ask the Lord Jesus now to be the answer to all the questions, all the missives and fears in your life. Let the Lord Jesus now stand in your heart in the place where everything needs Him…
I just came back from a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for you and the Catholics here as well as the Mormon people.
So you forgive yourself, and now no more ‘foolery’…you are God’s gift…no priest, no one can give you that awareness, that value of yourself.
We find our self-esteem in the reality that Jesus Christ loves us.
Ask the Lord now to come in and let ‘the old man’ go…that can be taken at different levels…pun intended. You are a new creation. Ask the Lord Jesus now to be the answer to all the questions, all the missives and fears in your life. Let the Lord Jesus now stand in your heart in the place where everything needs Him…
S
Stavros
Guest
Today at my evening mass, I offered up my pains and hurts, and asked for them to be healed and replaced with God’s love. And I managed to say Hello to the scary priest. And he smiled at me. Couldn’t get much more out than that one word, but I feel it was a big step. I felt good about it.
J
jesuspsr
Guest
C
convert999
Guest
Just want to say that I’ve been deeply moved by this thread, and that you have inspired me to add Mormons and Mormon converts to my Rosary intentions. God bless you.
S
Stavros
Guest
That’s very kind, I’m really feeling the graces this week from all of the prayers. I know that there are a lot of damaged people in the Catholic church, and ex-Mormons are only a small part. But keeping Mormons in your prayers, for their protection and healing, is an amazingly kind thing to do. I will do the same.
K
KathleenGee
Guest
So much here on this thread repeats the reality that we are made in the image of God…that is our very first essence.
And when our image of God and ourselves has a block put up before us–whether we are being misinformed or we are damaged in faith experiences, --destroying a person’s faith in God is in essence destroying the person. Sexual abuse, believing falsehoods when you are doing God’s will, misleading you to in fact separation from the One, True God…and subsequently yourself…destroys the person.
Destroying a person’s faith and trust in God through wolves in sheep’s clothing destroys the person. That is why so many of the abused victims and their families lost faith in God and the church. That is why the Lord said those cause scandal to the little ones— you can be adult and have a child’s faith in God – should have a rope tied around their neck and dropped into the deepest ocean.
Misrepresenting God through falsehood and bondage to an innocent is the very worst offense.
These past months, I have experienced the Lord calling me to ministry again. I have been going through all sorts of my own demons and anxiety…but I keep going forward. I signed up for a Lenten series facilitating. When the names and groups went up, it put down I was a 2nd facilitator…and read into it…I found out it was a mistake…but it still shook me up.
I went in as facilitator and came out with a good and positive response, and some want to continue with me, others in the parish want to see what I want to do. But I am still struggling. Last week I got hit with alot of spiritual stuff, even wanting to pass out from this world…because of a family conflict. I could really see myself in spiritual oppression.
I finally opened up about my injury. I was hit by a highly unusual person who said all sorts of things about me to a number of priests in this diocese where I was new…I had to stay low for 7 years,…go to Mass and go home, just visit Bible study group with old friends. I was removed in 4 groups due to malignment. Each time a priest exonerated me.
So in a certain sense I do not trust human beings any more. Including priests. My priest told me he works on detachment…attaching only to God and His will and His love, but expecting anything…even from those you trust or call friends.
I came on to CAF to share and come out of my shell, and try to express myself again.
About Stavros’ priest, I think he didn’t do anything at the time because he knew she had to come out of herself more…giving him a smile…he saw change and growth!
You have to find this spiritual balance…you trust in priests’ words that conform with the Holy Father…hearing the same story…and we can sense when there is a change in the story…
Being in Adoration, listening, reflecting, growing and being involved in fellowship with apostolic Catholics, not dissenters, helps one grow more independent of human beings…
We are to trust in God alone and to love.
Another thought came to me this morning…with false teachers and events come demons…
Pray to be released from any bad spirits in the Holy Name of Jesus, and the Blessed Mother, the enemy of Satan.
BTW, I think Rebecca is on to something, sharing a ‘flower’ of St. Francis. I love those writings and they have made me laugh.
The happy, familial priests I worked with were Francisan Capuchins…direct from Padre Pio’s province!!! Apuglia…they tell me the changes in faith in the rest of Italy, and its subsequent impact on society, has bypassed them.
Stavros–you should get a copy of St. Francis’ ‘Flowers of St. Francis’…it contains all these wonderful stories of the first Franciscans…
And when our image of God and ourselves has a block put up before us–whether we are being misinformed or we are damaged in faith experiences, --destroying a person’s faith in God is in essence destroying the person. Sexual abuse, believing falsehoods when you are doing God’s will, misleading you to in fact separation from the One, True God…and subsequently yourself…destroys the person.
Destroying a person’s faith and trust in God through wolves in sheep’s clothing destroys the person. That is why so many of the abused victims and their families lost faith in God and the church. That is why the Lord said those cause scandal to the little ones— you can be adult and have a child’s faith in God – should have a rope tied around their neck and dropped into the deepest ocean.
Misrepresenting God through falsehood and bondage to an innocent is the very worst offense.
These past months, I have experienced the Lord calling me to ministry again. I have been going through all sorts of my own demons and anxiety…but I keep going forward. I signed up for a Lenten series facilitating. When the names and groups went up, it put down I was a 2nd facilitator…and read into it…I found out it was a mistake…but it still shook me up.
I went in as facilitator and came out with a good and positive response, and some want to continue with me, others in the parish want to see what I want to do. But I am still struggling. Last week I got hit with alot of spiritual stuff, even wanting to pass out from this world…because of a family conflict. I could really see myself in spiritual oppression.
I finally opened up about my injury. I was hit by a highly unusual person who said all sorts of things about me to a number of priests in this diocese where I was new…I had to stay low for 7 years,…go to Mass and go home, just visit Bible study group with old friends. I was removed in 4 groups due to malignment. Each time a priest exonerated me.
So in a certain sense I do not trust human beings any more. Including priests. My priest told me he works on detachment…attaching only to God and His will and His love, but expecting anything…even from those you trust or call friends.
I came on to CAF to share and come out of my shell, and try to express myself again.
About Stavros’ priest, I think he didn’t do anything at the time because he knew she had to come out of herself more…giving him a smile…he saw change and growth!
You have to find this spiritual balance…you trust in priests’ words that conform with the Holy Father…hearing the same story…and we can sense when there is a change in the story…
Being in Adoration, listening, reflecting, growing and being involved in fellowship with apostolic Catholics, not dissenters, helps one grow more independent of human beings…
We are to trust in God alone and to love.
Another thought came to me this morning…with false teachers and events come demons…
Pray to be released from any bad spirits in the Holy Name of Jesus, and the Blessed Mother, the enemy of Satan.
BTW, I think Rebecca is on to something, sharing a ‘flower’ of St. Francis. I love those writings and they have made me laugh.
The happy, familial priests I worked with were Francisan Capuchins…direct from Padre Pio’s province!!! Apuglia…they tell me the changes in faith in the rest of Italy, and its subsequent impact on society, has bypassed them.
Stavros–you should get a copy of St. Francis’ ‘Flowers of St. Francis’…it contains all these wonderful stories of the first Franciscans…
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
Kathleen,
My journey into the Catholic Church brought me one day to a Mass during Easter. At the time, the liturgical calendar and all that goes with it was completely foreign to me. I had been going to Mass, avoiding the priest, who always stood outside the door greeting everyone as they leave. I went out another door. So at this Easter season Mass, the priest left his usual spot and went around the church sprinkling water on everyone and I was freaking out! “What in the world is he doing out here, get back up front where you belong!”, were my thoughts.
That was about four years ago, since that time, I have had more personal interactions, all very brief, but not the usual sort of thing for my life, previous to becoming Catholic.
Then, this past Triduum I was asked to participate in the Mandatum Rite, I said yes, because I felt honored to be asked, and then I spent the next week ringing my hands and thinking about backing out. At our parish, it is the Bishop who performs this rite, and I was having second thoughts every minute of the day. But I did it, and something at that moment, where our Bp. said “God bless you, Amen.” clicked.
Certainly, I don’t trust as a child does, and don’t think I ever could. Our clergy are human, and make mistakes, sin, and all the rest that is a part of being US, the human race. But that night, I saw something I had never seen before. A servant of God.
Less than two weeks later I was invited to a party celebrating the baptism of a friend, and the pastor of one of our parishes was invited. He arrived with two more priests, who were visiting from a Franciscan monastery in the Midwest.
I never in my life imagined having dinner with a priest, let alone three. lol. Four years ago, I would have not been able to do it. But, I had good conversations with all of them, who were genuinely interested in the people of Utah.
When I left, one of the Franciscans gave me an impromptu blessing as I was walking out the door. It floored me, really, the kindness of it, and the unfamiliarity. I wasn’t freaked out, I was touched, and felt nothing but joy. One thing I learned about these three particular priests, is that atheism is for foreign to them. They can’t fathom never knowing God, and I find that very endearing, the fact that such people exist in the world.
In one of these conversations, I was being asked about what it was like to be an atheist. What a question that is, that I don’t know how to answer. But it was a provoking question, one that caused me to think on a few things, and sort of bounce off a mentor. It was difficult to realize just how evil that life was before, and it is very troubling to me. A line from the confiteor stands out, “through my own fault”…so much in my life I have trying to make the fault of someone else, when all along, it was me. In my atheism, I couldn’t see it, but now it is very clear.
I have been seeking out our Madeleine Delbrel, who ministered to atheists in France…she saw in atheism a poverty, as very real and needing of charitable acts as material poverty…
“…our Christian life is a pathway between two abysses. One is the measurable abyss of the world’s rejections of God. The other is the unfathomable abyss of the mysteries of God. We will come to see that we are walking the adjoining line where these two abysses intersect. And we will thus understand how we are mediators and why we are mediators.”
I think it is also a good metaphor for those walking the path between the measurable abyss that is Mormonism and the unfathomable abyss of God. Those who walk this path, some who are writing in this thread, will come to understand how and why they mediate between the two worlds.
Peace.
My journey into the Catholic Church brought me one day to a Mass during Easter. At the time, the liturgical calendar and all that goes with it was completely foreign to me. I had been going to Mass, avoiding the priest, who always stood outside the door greeting everyone as they leave. I went out another door. So at this Easter season Mass, the priest left his usual spot and went around the church sprinkling water on everyone and I was freaking out! “What in the world is he doing out here, get back up front where you belong!”, were my thoughts.
That was about four years ago, since that time, I have had more personal interactions, all very brief, but not the usual sort of thing for my life, previous to becoming Catholic.
Then, this past Triduum I was asked to participate in the Mandatum Rite, I said yes, because I felt honored to be asked, and then I spent the next week ringing my hands and thinking about backing out. At our parish, it is the Bishop who performs this rite, and I was having second thoughts every minute of the day. But I did it, and something at that moment, where our Bp. said “God bless you, Amen.” clicked.
Certainly, I don’t trust as a child does, and don’t think I ever could. Our clergy are human, and make mistakes, sin, and all the rest that is a part of being US, the human race. But that night, I saw something I had never seen before. A servant of God.
Less than two weeks later I was invited to a party celebrating the baptism of a friend, and the pastor of one of our parishes was invited. He arrived with two more priests, who were visiting from a Franciscan monastery in the Midwest.
I never in my life imagined having dinner with a priest, let alone three. lol. Four years ago, I would have not been able to do it. But, I had good conversations with all of them, who were genuinely interested in the people of Utah.
When I left, one of the Franciscans gave me an impromptu blessing as I was walking out the door. It floored me, really, the kindness of it, and the unfamiliarity. I wasn’t freaked out, I was touched, and felt nothing but joy. One thing I learned about these three particular priests, is that atheism is for foreign to them. They can’t fathom never knowing God, and I find that very endearing, the fact that such people exist in the world.
In one of these conversations, I was being asked about what it was like to be an atheist. What a question that is, that I don’t know how to answer. But it was a provoking question, one that caused me to think on a few things, and sort of bounce off a mentor. It was difficult to realize just how evil that life was before, and it is very troubling to me. A line from the confiteor stands out, “through my own fault”…so much in my life I have trying to make the fault of someone else, when all along, it was me. In my atheism, I couldn’t see it, but now it is very clear.
I have been seeking out our Madeleine Delbrel, who ministered to atheists in France…she saw in atheism a poverty, as very real and needing of charitable acts as material poverty…
“…our Christian life is a pathway between two abysses. One is the measurable abyss of the world’s rejections of God. The other is the unfathomable abyss of the mysteries of God. We will come to see that we are walking the adjoining line where these two abysses intersect. And we will thus understand how we are mediators and why we are mediators.”
I think it is also a good metaphor for those walking the path between the measurable abyss that is Mormonism and the unfathomable abyss of God. Those who walk this path, some who are writing in this thread, will come to understand how and why they mediate between the two worlds.
Peace.
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
Stavros, one more thing to add. 
Something I have come to realize over the last couple of weeks. It is on the subject of being content.
In Mormonism, when you are not feeling content about something in your life, it is an indication that something between you and God is wrong. If you google LDS.org, you’ll find many talks on how it is that one should be content.
I learned a new concept the past couple of weeks, and that is, that a Christian is never content. Happy, yes, content no. Contentment is a vice, not a virtue.
A priest has provoked you, perhaps disturbing a contentment that you were trying to maintain or achieve.These sort of provocations are the kind that come from God, who doesn’t want us to be content. God wants us to come to Him, and very often we must first be disturbed out of our slumber…out of our contentment.
So, we have a different view of suffering and struggles. They aren’t there because God has abandoned us. We must discern how God is using our suffering and struggles, for His Good.
Always remember, Jesus said many times, “Peace be with you.” He wasn’t talking about being content! He is the One from Who all things flow, including our Peace and Hope.
May the Hope and Peace of Jesus Christ be with you.
Something I have come to realize over the last couple of weeks. It is on the subject of being content.In Mormonism, when you are not feeling content about something in your life, it is an indication that something between you and God is wrong. If you google LDS.org, you’ll find many talks on how it is that one should be content.
I learned a new concept the past couple of weeks, and that is, that a Christian is never content. Happy, yes, content no. Contentment is a vice, not a virtue.
A priest has provoked you, perhaps disturbing a contentment that you were trying to maintain or achieve.These sort of provocations are the kind that come from God, who doesn’t want us to be content. God wants us to come to Him, and very often we must first be disturbed out of our slumber…out of our contentment.
So, we have a different view of suffering and struggles. They aren’t there because God has abandoned us. We must discern how God is using our suffering and struggles, for His Good.
Always remember, Jesus said many times, “Peace be with you.” He wasn’t talking about being content! He is the One from Who all things flow, including our Peace and Hope.
May the Hope and Peace of Jesus Christ be with you.
K
KathleenGee
Guest
Beautiful sharing, Rebecca…
And I want to add, the Lord led me here to this place…it was the tribulation of my life, something I intuitively was preparing for my whole life…that before coming here while in prayer, I saw that it would be a valley of tears…
My premonitions came true. I told my pastor I have pretty much out of my tribulation, and he laughed and said it was great!
I want to say now that throughout my life, in spite of politics and betrayals and misguidance, the Catholic priesthood are the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. They operate on super natural power…
But their power is not about control…but bringing Christ’s presence into the world, by having supernatural strength to forget themselves, and share and give themselves to mankind 24 hours a day.
Seeing my young director/pastor in the mission, getting up at night to settle disturbances at the tavern across the street made me cry…all sorts of things he endured, all those he served…and my pastor back home…I had dinner at the rectory that night with a layman, and we returned up stairs…I stepped out to see my pastor come in from the evening work and go to the Blessed Sacrament and he get on his knees with head bent down in prayer as a servant to Jesus…Sweet Jesus…
Yes, Rebecca, you have encountered the sacrament of Holy Orders…
We can have friends, and we can have a balanced and detached trust based on the Lord for our priests and Church…it is just not forgetting our own self-worth and self -esteem…always keeping that balance and always discerning…it is a learned thing…
So many Catholics had problems with entrustment of Holy Orders…and putting too much on the priests.
My pastor, who is the archdiocesan therapist for the clergy abuse victims, thinks the Church paid dearly for its clericalism…
We are now coming out of our Church’s tribulation. It has been purified.
I shared with my pastor and group that night the experience I had with the Capuchins of Bari…that the Church model is the family…we are just to be wholesome, just ourselves and our humanity, together with Christ as brothers and sisters, clerics, religiuos and lay.
Yes, we are mediators to everyone around us…Thanks, Rebecca!
And I want to add, the Lord led me here to this place…it was the tribulation of my life, something I intuitively was preparing for my whole life…that before coming here while in prayer, I saw that it would be a valley of tears…
My premonitions came true. I told my pastor I have pretty much out of my tribulation, and he laughed and said it was great!
I want to say now that throughout my life, in spite of politics and betrayals and misguidance, the Catholic priesthood are the nicest people I have ever met in my entire life. They operate on super natural power…
But their power is not about control…but bringing Christ’s presence into the world, by having supernatural strength to forget themselves, and share and give themselves to mankind 24 hours a day.
Seeing my young director/pastor in the mission, getting up at night to settle disturbances at the tavern across the street made me cry…all sorts of things he endured, all those he served…and my pastor back home…I had dinner at the rectory that night with a layman, and we returned up stairs…I stepped out to see my pastor come in from the evening work and go to the Blessed Sacrament and he get on his knees with head bent down in prayer as a servant to Jesus…Sweet Jesus…
Yes, Rebecca, you have encountered the sacrament of Holy Orders…
We can have friends, and we can have a balanced and detached trust based on the Lord for our priests and Church…it is just not forgetting our own self-worth and self -esteem…always keeping that balance and always discerning…it is a learned thing…
So many Catholics had problems with entrustment of Holy Orders…and putting too much on the priests.
My pastor, who is the archdiocesan therapist for the clergy abuse victims, thinks the Church paid dearly for its clericalism…
We are now coming out of our Church’s tribulation. It has been purified.
I shared with my pastor and group that night the experience I had with the Capuchins of Bari…that the Church model is the family…we are just to be wholesome, just ourselves and our humanity, together with Christ as brothers and sisters, clerics, religiuos and lay.
Yes, we are mediators to everyone around us…Thanks, Rebecca!
R
RebeccaJ
Guest
Yes, I encountered Holy Orders, but more to the point, I encountered Jesus Christ.
Peace.
Peace.
- Status