These are important questions

Its the third week of Lent - the big show (the easter vigil) is... what 3 or 4 weeks away? Yeah there are some things that are yet to be discussed. For example - how does one DO pennance? Does one have to say anything (this questioner actually asked if he had to recited the apostles creed) before being baptized? How are you supposed to recieve the body and blood of Christ during communion? Do you chew or just swallow it down whole? These are some of the questions that were asked last night of our Catechists and mostly all we got was "we will go through that later" ummm... what? The Easter vigil is close and I know that I want to have a good understanding of the details of the process BEFORE it happens. I don't want something as major as my baptism, confirmation and first eurachrist to be explained to be at worst, the day/morning of.

To be honest, these classes just feel like a bible study group. Not that studying the word of God isn't good - I feel that it just isn't the time to be doing it, if catechumens were being dismissed from the Mass after the homily THAT is the time to be doing what we have been doing. I feel R.C.I.A should be based on the catechism and not the lectionary. I may consider writing my own one to be honest. I think it would be useful because I would have gone through the complete cycle - i.e. I wasn't a candidate. I would do 2 parts; one for catechumens who don't know Christ at all, and one for both catechumens and candidates about Catholic Christianity.

"Do not fear for I have redeemed you; have summond you by name - and you are mine" Isaiah 43:1

Todays Rite of Election was, amazing. I'm now part of the elect - those whom the sacraments of inition will be conferred apon at Easter. I feel very chosen now. I truly do feel like God has called summoned me out of darkness and intends on making me his. Part of his people and his church.

I'm doing a lot of prayer and study around baptism now actually. Every time I think about it, I see myself dying and rising. Like St. Paul wrote in his letters to the Romans; "[3] Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:3-4).

I hate a quiet moment just before the start of Mass thinking about what its like see others as Christ sees them, and how full of love he must be when he sees us.

It's Lent and I'm excited

I'm totally going to be involved in the Rite of the Elect on Sunday! I'm getting iniated at Easter! YEAH BABY!

Almost Ash Wednesday

I'm meeting with Kate (catechist) & Margaret (my sponser) to see if its apporiate to continue on the first Sunday of Lent for the Enrollment of Names and the sacraments of  initiation at Easter. I'm actually quite nervous that they're going to say I'm not ready. I would really, really, really like to be officially Catholic after Easter. If they don't think I'm "ready" I'm not sure what I'd do, because this has been such a long road for me (5+ years), deciding to R.C.I.A. to me, was like the final chapter and my final yes to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit and a public delcaration and discision to join the Church. If I had to wait another year I'm not sure I could do it. Plus, it's not very fun when everyone goes up to recieve communion and I'm just sitting there praying to God about the day when I can recieve him too.