Do what's good for you...live inside your Faith.

5/2/2015

With the New Evangelization movement there has been much use of the words conversion and reversion. But I think of the word aspersion instead. Aspersion, the act of sprinkling water after renewing baptismal promises, applies appropriately to my life of Faith. For baptism has left an indelible spiritual mark of belonging to Christ on my soul. Because of this I have been graced by Him to have the good sense to keep Him close.

However, I must admit I have done with my Faith what I have often done throughout my life regarding my physical well-being…. Like prescribed vitamin bottles, Faith hung around rarely opened. I believe in God. I believe that supplements work, yet I often forgot both of them.

I attended Sunday Mass; I took my occasional multi-vitamin…I thought I was doing enough. Distracted, I never got around to establishing a healthy routine. I clearly understood what was necessary to obtain optimal health, still the bottles of A, D, K & C collected dust on the counter just as my rosary and Bible waited for me on my dresser. They were ornaments that gave me a false sense of well being. False, because when tragedy struck in “losing” my daughter to drugs, I found that only through living my Faith would I survive.

God’s mercy permits the inconceivable to happen…it is never too late with God. There is never irreversible damage, there are just new beginnings. And just as in baptism, through water poured over an upturned face, He restores one’s soul to Newness of Life as soon as we return to have our Faith / our hearts cracked open.

6 Comments

jackie white

5/2/2015 04:34:36 am

New Beginnings........A good way to start.......for me....beyond the the sacraments of initiation...first the call to follow Christ more closely.. ..the positive answer...YES,,,,then accepting grace to act in such a way that tells the Christ that you really mean it. Really
really mean it, really, really, and really mean it. That happened for me over seven years ago. When you are serious about something you will do whatever it takes to make it work. What I needed to begin my spiritual journey in earnest was a retreat. My director suggested a weekend away where in the silence God would speak to me. Yes, inspiration to lead a more meaningful life of prayer was the way it all began. Spent some daily prayer time and checked out some ways I could help out in church. The church ministry fair was a good place to begin. I signed up for the prayer line. Somehow it started things rolling for me.

When you love someone you don't want to hurt them. As my love for Christ became stronger, I wanted to spend more time in prayer and look for more opportunities for service. Also, there were things in my life that needed to change so frequent confession to Christ in the person of my director/confessor helped me make many changes to help me on the striving for holiness road. From a three day retreat to a seven day silent retreat became a yearly practice to becoming a very close friend of my Christ. In 2011, I needed director approval to go on a thirty day silent retreat called the Ignatian Spritual Exercises. My director wrote the letter I needed to make that change of life retreat. Conversions are happening all the while. The biggest change in my life since that time has been to retire from my job and to dedicate the rest of my life to prayer and service to God's people. Each time He calls and gives me the grace I act for His greater honor and glory. My prayer life includes Mass during the week as often as possible, an hour of adoration daily and preferably in front of the Blessed Sacrament, the priestly Office of the Hours, spiritual reading, the rosary , the stations of the Cross during lent. Once a month for the past seven years, I meet with my director/ confessor. That helps me to stay on the straight and narrow path.

Prayer leads to serving God's people. The ministries I am presently involved in are the following for His greater honor and glory and not mine: Pastoral care minister for my parish, the hospital and the nursing home. 'On call' chaplain for the hospital and that is for all denominations. Bringing Christ in the Eucharist to the hospital to all the Catholics of the three church cluster once a month. Will return to jail ministry next week. I am in remission for leukemia and had recent issues with my eyes. I left the jail ministry then and now I will return.

I am a member of the Pastoral Council and very involved in the liturgy during the week and on weekends.

Age has nothing to do with it. At 77 years old today, I am more active in the church than I have ever been. I recommend it to anyone who is finding life not very fulfilling. When you think of others instead of self, it is far from boring. If you have not tried it yet, start slowly, work with a mentor and before you know it you will be the happiest person around. I know. I am there.

Lay people are needed as pray-ers and as ministers. We are ALL the Church as our new bishop recently told us.

I invite you all to the happiness I have today. There is nothing like it.
Try it and you will like it. This is my story and I am not changing it.

jackie white

5/2/2015 04:38:53 am

Evelyn Augusto link

5/2/2015 05:34:05 am

You have offered all of us a wonderful road map. You are a great source of inspiration! Thanks for writing.

Ellen Mary Moran

5/13/2015 04:29:44 am

Thank You ,Lord !

Elisha

5/20/2015 04:04:07 am

Very thought provoking,courage is the key.

Evelyn Augusto link

5/20/2015 04:45:00 am

So glad you were able to discern the message. Hope you shared this link with three people who need to read it.

LET IT aLL sTART hERE
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