Archbishop Pilarczyk states, “The only way to be in touch with the Resurrection of Jesus is to be in touch with the realm of God through faith, to have handed ourselves over to God’s realities, to have offered ourselves to play our part in God’s story...” What difference does the Resurrection of Jesus make in what you believe? In how you live your life?
The Resurrection gives us the hope that in the end we ourselves will be resurrected and join Jesus in heaven. But you cannot hope without faith -- faith in God’s plan for us for our souls and eventually our bodies. It is because of Jesus’ Resurrection that I have both the faith and the hope in joining Him in His kingdom. Having that hope is an amazing gift. I start every day knowing that how I choose to live my life will determine where I will spend eternity. It is the hope of heaven that makes tough choices easier.
Showing posts with label Catholic Beliefs Class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catholic Beliefs Class. Show all posts
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Catholic Beliefs Class (Faith)
What is faith? What challenges your faith? When have questions or confusion about your faith led to personal growth?
A catechism I once read defined faith as “the virtue by which we firmly believe all the truths God has revealed, on the word of God revealing them.” But faith is more than that. Faith is also believing in God’s plan for our lives, every part of it. We must give our complete trust to Him, and being able to do that is having faith.
Living in a world of family, friends, and co-workers who do not share the same faith is always challenging. The greater challenges however come from those who have no real faith at all and as a result usually have no moral code by which to live. In today’s world your faith must be strong to stand up to those challenges the world presents.
My conversion to the Catholic Faith has been the greatest experience of personal growth I’ve ever known. The faith I have today has not always been as strong as it is now, and it didn’t come overnight either. I found the most difficult thing for me to have faith in was being worthy enough to receive God’s love. Once I overcame that dilemma the answers to my questions were easier to understand and much less confusing.
A catechism I once read defined faith as “the virtue by which we firmly believe all the truths God has revealed, on the word of God revealing them.” But faith is more than that. Faith is also believing in God’s plan for our lives, every part of it. We must give our complete trust to Him, and being able to do that is having faith.
Living in a world of family, friends, and co-workers who do not share the same faith is always challenging. The greater challenges however come from those who have no real faith at all and as a result usually have no moral code by which to live. In today’s world your faith must be strong to stand up to those challenges the world presents.
My conversion to the Catholic Faith has been the greatest experience of personal growth I’ve ever known. The faith I have today has not always been as strong as it is now, and it didn’t come overnight either. I found the most difficult thing for me to have faith in was being worthy enough to receive God’s love. Once I overcame that dilemma the answers to my questions were easier to understand and much less confusing.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Catholic Beliefs
Today is the first day of an online course I signed up for. The course is the same as the title of this post. Part of the course involves posting a reflection I think once a week on the questions or statements which they provide.
I will be posting both the questions and my reflection for all of you to read, and please add your own if you wish. I would love to hear what you have to say.
Here you go!!
What is your earliest memory of realizing that you were Catholic? What did that mean to you? What in our culture makes it difficult to be a believer?
My mom was raised Catholic and although I was always fascinated by the Catholic faith I still knew nothing. I also never asked any questions, I never knew what questions to ask. Once I met Paul (my husband) and saw how true to his faith & what an awesomely good person he is, (long before we started dating) I started asking & learning. It wasn't long before I was serious about converting to the Catholic faith. I was baptized in July of 2007. I received the Sacraments from an FSSP Priest in Sacramento and I was immediately drawn to the Traditional Latin Mass and since then we have been attending the TLM. Since my Baptism I have felt a sense of peace and strength in my soul that I can’t quite explain.
I don’t find that it is difficult to “believe” as much as is it difficult to stay true to what we believe. For me it is often very difficult. There are only 3 other members of my family that are Catholic but I am the only one that is practicing. It is difficult for most to understand why I will not participate in certain celebrations/activities and I know it will only get worse once we have children because we will not allow them to be exposed to anything that might injure their souls.
I will be posting both the questions and my reflection for all of you to read, and please add your own if you wish. I would love to hear what you have to say.
Here you go!!
What is your earliest memory of realizing that you were Catholic? What did that mean to you? What in our culture makes it difficult to be a believer?
My mom was raised Catholic and although I was always fascinated by the Catholic faith I still knew nothing. I also never asked any questions, I never knew what questions to ask. Once I met Paul (my husband) and saw how true to his faith & what an awesomely good person he is, (long before we started dating) I started asking & learning. It wasn't long before I was serious about converting to the Catholic faith. I was baptized in July of 2007. I received the Sacraments from an FSSP Priest in Sacramento and I was immediately drawn to the Traditional Latin Mass and since then we have been attending the TLM. Since my Baptism I have felt a sense of peace and strength in my soul that I can’t quite explain.
I don’t find that it is difficult to “believe” as much as is it difficult to stay true to what we believe. For me it is often very difficult. There are only 3 other members of my family that are Catholic but I am the only one that is practicing. It is difficult for most to understand why I will not participate in certain celebrations/activities and I know it will only get worse once we have children because we will not allow them to be exposed to anything that might injure their souls.
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