Rediscovering Catholicism

What books to read? I often have questions with regards to the Catholic faith and I have several books that I have gathered over the years, either in theology courses, at conferences, or as a result of my curiosity. So, what books should one read?

I am attracted to books that answer my questions, but at the same time, I feel that the ones I have read cover to cover have been ones that have attracted my heart as well as my head.

In November, there was a team of Redemptorists that came to our parish and conducted a retreat at the church. They brought a book, entitled "Rediscovering Catholicism" by Matthew Kelly. The book began with a fictional story about a 'flu that was killing people all over the world. There was a child discovered that had blood that would save the world and the parents had to decide if they would allow their son to save the world at the cost of his own life. Well, immediately, my heart and my head were engaged.

This is the type of book that I prefer to read, cover to cover. I will be making some comments with regards to this book as I read it. In the meantime, I still have Karl Keating's book on the shelf for when I want to find the answer to misconceptions about the Catholic faith.

Mass - to go or not to go

As you can see by my previous post, I have been doing some reading on the subject of the Catholic mass. I am trying to grow and develop spiritually as well as mentally and physically and socially, etc.

While cleaning up my office, I rediscovered several books on Catholicism, including What Catholics Really Believe by Karl Keating. It is a question and answer book that seeks to address common misconceptions about the Catholic Faith. I try to do some reading in this area on Sundays and to reflect on those readings for two reasons: I need reminding and uplifting, and I wish to convey my principles to my children. They do read my blog from time to time. I would hope that they would ask me questions or make comments when there is something they wish to discuss further.

Another misconception regarding the mass and the Sacraments - Vatican II emphasized the spirit instead of the letter of the law, so we are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass anymore. Not so - one of the six precepts of the Church is that Catholics must attend Mass on Sundays and holy days, unless a proportionate reason, such as illness, prevents their attendance.

Keating says that the Church made this rule because we are creatures with free will. All our sins arise from an abuse of free will and if we didn't have this rule, we would not see the importance of getting to church. Keating says that going to church honours God, gives us the opportunity to be with like minded believers. He also says that we should want to be obedient to the Church because we love God, not because we could get into trouble if we do not follow the law.

This is the way with a lot of rules. I tell my students that they should follow the rules even when no one is looking. That is what being responsible is all about.

That said, there are some rules made by man with regards to the church. Which rules do you think are man-made? And not God inspired? Please comment.

Communion - what do Catholics believe?

According to Karl Keating (1992), who uses church documents, Vatican publications, the Catholic Catechism, and the Bible, in his book, What Catholics Really Believe, "only baptized Catholics in a state of grace can receive communion at mass.

"Being in a state of grace means that in order to be disposed properly to receive Communion, communicants should not be conscious of grave sin, have fasted for an hour, and seek to live in charity and love with their neighbors.

"Grave sin is the same thing as a serious sin or a mortal sin. We call such a sin mortal because it mortally wounds the soul by driving out sanctifying grace. A person guilty of a mortal sin is disqualified from heaven and is said to lose justification. Mortal sins include any serious infractions of the "Seven Deadlies" (pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth). The most popular sins in our culture are among those which disqualify one from receiving Communion: abortion, contraception, adultery, fornication. A mortal sin is any sin which fulfills three conditions: 1) it involves a serious matter, 2) you give your full consent to it, and 3) you have time for sufficient reflection on its seriousness--even a few seconds may be enough. If any of these conditions is absent, your act is either a venial sin or no sin at all."

Confession is the way to receive absolution of one's sins.

Going to communion is the main reason I go to church. I seek to be in communion with God and with my fellow believers. That said, I am not the judge of others who come to church. I do not worry over whether or not they are in a state of grace. That is between them and God. I only pray that I can take the grace God gives me in Communion and use it for His purpose until I can again receive that nourishment. Amen.

Goals Short List

I usually keep my goals a secret. That way, if I don't make it, no one else knows but me. Isn't that silly?!

I think I read some where or maybe it's just common sense. If I put it out there among my family and friends, I might be motivated enough to accomplish these goals. Or if it fails, acknowledge it, change the goal and move on.

Anyway, here goes:

Short term goal (next few weeks) - get organized to include balance in my life: mental, spiritual, physical, and social. Mostly - clean my office and my work out room so I can feel comfortable in there again. :-)

Mid range goal (next year or 2) - get healthy again: eat right and get an exercise routine going again.

Long range goal (by the time I'm 60) - have a book ready to go to publisher (bet you didn't see that one coming :-).

That wasn't so hard. I just thought of something else: if I don't have anything else to write about - I can always update this blog on how I'm coming along with my goals. :-)

Goals vs Resolutions

I've decided to review my short term, mid range and long term goals instead of coming up with new year's resolutions. I find that this lends focus to what I'm doing and it feels better to accomplish a goal than it is to stick to a resolution. :-)

When reviewing my goals, I usually dig out my copy of Steven Covey's First Things First as I appreciate this way of thinking. I'd rather be living and working in Quadrant II than anywhere else, that is, doing what is important vs doing what is emergent or wasting time. I also go back to an old Guidance Book entitled, Holistic Learning: Success in the Classroom and in Life. It has a section on goal setting that employs a technique whereby a person uses three sheets of paper, brainstorming short term, mid-range, and long term goals, leaving them for a day or two, going back and short-listing the goals to three each. After that, you short list your goals to three. Once you arrive at your final three goals, you do something each day that will advance you towards your goals. Now these goals can be reviewed and changed periodically as goals are met and/or things change, but it is important to remain focused on what is important to you.

Steven Covey also cautions us that we need to meet our physical, social, mental and spiritual needs, not forgetting our mission as human beings: to live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy. I think I need to go back and add a few goals to my lists before doing any short listing. :-)

Happy New Year!

A new year - 2011! It seems different somehow to be writing a new year again. The time seems to slip by so fast.

My colleagues and I were discussing this very topic in the staff room some weeks back. I told them that I had found a way to make the days, weeks, hours slow down somewhat. Intrigued they listened, but I could tell there was some skepticism in the room. :-)

"It's like this," I said, "I live in the present, in the now, that is how I do it. I try to be present to those around me, and not to dwell on the next deadline or the next big date on the calendar."

Well, we all went about our business when the bell rang to call the students back to class. However, I meant it. I also acknowledge that this is very hard to do. Sometimes impossible.

What do you think? Can it be done?