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Many Blessings

Greetings fellow pilgrim - Linda, it's wonderful news that you and your family will be taking a further step in your walk of faith by deciding to come into the Roman Catholic Church. The treasures of the church await your exploration in your ongoing journey along the highway of holiness. Be sure to carry one of the five great sacramentals of the church (Crucifix, Rosary, Brown Scapular, Miraculous Medal, Benedict Jubilee Medal). Any sacramental must be blessed by a Catholic priest including your wedding ring (which is also a sacramental). In my line of work, I have had to make split second decisions, whether a person lives or dies. Without my Catholic faith, I would have been crushed by the sights that I have had to witness and would have long ago lost my mind dwelling on things that should never be dwelled on (Muslim beheading). The writings of the Church Fathers, the Doctors of the Church, the Company of Saints and much more await your perusal. Tan Books (Charlotte, NC) are an excellent resource site for American Catholics interested in developing their faith through good spiritual reading. There are two series of books which offer an excellent introduction to the major saints of the church for people aged 10 to 100. Firstly, the Vision Series (www.ignatius.com) and secondly, the Windeatt Series (www.tanbooks.com). Amongst Catholics, there are three books which have stood the test of time: The Gospel Book, The Imitation of Christ, and The Rule of St Benedict. Each night I read a page of the Imitation of Christ to feed and cleanse my mind so that I am able to sleep soundly. Work and personal commitments permitting, I like to have three hallmarks stamped on each day: Holy Mass, Holy Hour & Holy Rosary. On Fridays, I will omit the Holy Hour for the Holy Walk (Stations of the Cross). During Holy Hour (Adoration, Exposition, Benediction), I like to spend the first 20 minutes in absolute silence; the next 20 minutes reading one of the Gospels; and the last 20 minutes praying for anyone in need of prayer. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) undertaken once a week / a month is a wonderful way of cleansing the soul - what the bath is for the body, confession is for the soul. It‘s always wise to keep our Guardian Angel’s notebook full and the Devil’s notebook empty! The Roman Catholic Church is one big hospital. We are all broken people; some obvious, some not so obvious. In Hebrews 13:2, you will find the Greek word being used for hospitality (philoxenias). This word can be further broken down to the root meaning “stranger love / phileo xenos”. One year in London, I visited the Brompton Oratory before it closed on Christmas Day. The light was fading fast in the vast expanse. As I walked around the empty church; I lit long candles, short candles, bowed candles, broken candles and discarded candles. When I had finished lighting the many unlit candles, the church was lit with a glorious golden light! A tall father and a small child entered the oratory for a final visit to the life size crib. The small child’s eyes shone in the golden light. The condition of those unlit candles reflects the lives of so many Catholics. However, the light is the same irrespective of the condition of the candle, if we are prepared to shine for Jesus. The greatest and simplest prayer is the Sign of the Cross; and doubly so, when undertaken with Holy Water. Whenever you enter the local church (your home) or depart the domestic church (your home from home) always sign yourself with Holy Water. For those who are materially rich and time poor, Jesus succinctly summed up all the Law and the Prophets: Love God / Love Neighbour. Linda, your Catholic faith will help you to live well and to die well, RC.