While saying our 54 Day Novena for the U.S. Elections the other morning, it occurred to me that almost all of these married, faithful friends have one spouse who is a convert to Catholicism. Four out of the five families of which we are the closest find passion and the driving force behind their family Catholic faith through the newest members to our faith.
That is both a blessing to us and a sad reflection of what is lost on cradle Catholics. As one U.S. Bishop said recently, we have to stop looking at Catholicism as a family tradition and realize what it truly is, a faith. So many people are Catholics because their parents were and their grandparents were, etc., but the true beauty of the faith has been lost over the generations.
So, we're left with pews full of people attending mass out of obligation instead of inspiration. They find mass a duty instead of a divine opportunity.They miss the big picture of which they are surrounded each and every Sunday... unfortunately they are unaware and, therefore, unable to see it.
Just as new citizens of this great country appreciate how good we have it, so do converts to the faith. And from them I find my own faith reinvigorated and, myself, spiritually challenged to join them in their study, their faith formation and their adherence to the doctrines of this wonderfully rich, divinely inspired institution called the Roman Catholic Church.
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1 comment:
That's why we cradle Catholics need to attend Bible studies offered in our parishes. It is amazing how one can listen to homily after homily and not really put 2 and 2 together until we attend classes. I have often thought, "Oh, now I understand what Fr. was saying". Or pay more attention to what the Priest is saying. I know I have learned a lot and at 82 I still have a lot to learn.
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