ANOTHER BUSY WEEK IN THE JOURNEY

Yes, I can say that I have been quite busy. We're nearing the end of our pre-catechumanate period, with only class to go. It's hard to believe that only ten or so weeks ago we were strangers, and now are ready to embark on the next stage of our journey.

This week we discussed the Nicene and Apostle's Creeds. Those were things that came easily to me when I started studying Catholicism earlier this year. In fact, their contents were what helped to start at chipping away at my scepticism about the Church. I started to see that I had some common ground with Catholics, and once I could grasp that fact, the rest started to fall into place, albeit slowly in some places.

On Thursday, I had experienced my second Holy Day of Obligation, the Immaculate Conception. For some reason, the idea of Mary is getting easier to digest, the longer I am involved with the Church. I struggled with her for so long, and now feel that I've arrived at a point where I have a certain amount of comfort with her. Go figure.

Then, today, I experienced my first Penance service. There really wasn't much to it, and I only got to experience part of it, since I can't have confession yet. But all in all, it was interesting, and makes me want to have more. (The Eucharist is the other biggie, or should I say, big sore spot, for me. I go through moments of dispair just thinking I can't experience it. I just have to sit there and watch everybody go through it. It's quite sad for me, really.)