NET and Ignite

Hello! It has been far too long! Sorry about the gap between posts, I've been ridiculously busy.

Okay, what's happening at the moment?

Firstly, I've applied for NET Ministries, which is missionary aimed at young people. On a NET team I will be sent off to a parish to organise youth activities. It's a Charismatic organisation, which was a little worrying for me because I'm pretty traditional in my approach to my relationship with God. I expressed this in my interview with them so they asked me to wait a few more weeks for the Ignite Conference I was attending in Brisbane.

Well, I've came back from that yesterday.....hmmm.

I did like some of the workshops we did but it was a very intense environment. It was a Charismatic conference so we had singing and Emmanual Worship rocking out. It was a very big conference too, about 700 people came, including speakers such as Jonathon and Karen Doyle and Fr Chris Ryan who were just great, and inspiring. But there were others who just went on and on and on about not much.

Mass was a little disappointing, I felt like that would have been a good time for some quiet reflection but they just kept it up (I know our Bishop would have had a heart attack if he'd seen it). Also, I was prayed over in tounges, which I really didn't like. I feel that it is such a rare gift but every one there seemed to be able to do it, which honestly cheapened a very special (and rare) gift from the Holy Spirit.

I also feel a little ambivelant about the Emmanual Community, which really gives off a clique-y vibe. Although, there were some very kind and compassionate people I met from there.

Overall, I don't regret going, I have been able to experience another side of the Church, but I think I might just stay in the traditional Church ;)

I just thought I'd share a really beautiful song with you, this was played during Adoration and you might recognise it ^_^ >>>> Link

Bumming around Sydney

Sorry about the lack of posting (again!) I've being visiting my Dad and friends in Sydney and so I haven't had much time. I just realised how fast this week has gone by! I should be back posting regularyl in a week or so.

Interesting Week

Sorry I haven't posted all week, I've had a busy week and my life is very annoying and unorganised at the moment.

I've finally finished my exams! Yay! Freedom! I'm going down to Sydney for a couple of weeks on Tuesday to see my Dad and my friends.

Well, this week has been interesting, I got serve at my first actual Mass. It was interesting, and a little nerve racking, but I had a very experienced Acolyte with me (apparently he used to serve during the Latin Masses as a child :O). I was a little hesitant when ringing the bell to call the Holy Spirit, but, being Pentecost, I'm sure he heard it loud and clear ;)

On Wednesday I served during my first ordinary time Mass. We had a special Mass for the centenary of Bishop Doyle's death, who was our first Bishop and responsible for building our beautiful Cathedral. He used to ride his horse all over the region collecting money from the poor settlers and built it brick by brick. He died at 59 years old just before the bells arrived from Ireland (where he was born) so at the end of the Mass they were rung for him. They sounded so joyful!

Since it was ordinary time, I had to hold my candle next to the Gospel while our Deacon held it up. I tried not to remember all of the worst case scenarios I had thought up before Mass so I just tried to stare at the candle. It's pretty scary being up in front of the whole congregation (a lot of them important people! And it was being filmed because it was such a special Mass) with their attention divided between just myself, the Deacon and the other candle bearer lol! But I didn't shake too much. We have such a friendly, supportive culture amongst the servers and it was so lovely to have so many of our priests there (about 10-15). I had lots of fun!

And more Mass tomorrow :D

Bleh, I'd better get to bed.

God Bless,

Beth

Pentecost

A couple of nights ago I was lucky enough to be an altar server at the Confirmation service for the local children. Having only just received the Sacrament myself I was able to compare my own experience. Although, I don't what I wore was quite as lovely as some of the dresses the little girls wore, they were all wearing beautiful, long, white dresses, some more tradition than others. I sat there giggling (silently ;P) over it with one of the Acolytes.

However, when the Bishop stood and asked them all to profess their faith, using terms such as "the Communion of saints", "reject Satan" etc I had to wonder whether the children really understood what was being said. The children in our diocese are confirmed at about 10 years old. The Acolyte I was sitting with said "they have no idea what he's saying, but it is beautiful". I spoke to Mum about it later she said that they would have been taught what it means overall and they would be so excited to start taking Communion with their family. Fair point I think.

The Bishop's homily was, also, very interesting. He gave two ways in which to grow spiritually (and he is "completely convinced these work"); frequent involvement in the sacraments and prayer, especially as a family. I'm glad I was there to hear this because I was going to be a little slack about going to confession yesterday, but I was inspired to go, and as usual, it turned out to be a very good experience (even if I forgot to mention a few sins :P).

Although I do pray every night before going to sleep and thank God 95% of time for good things that happen, I find it hard to pray in my family as no one else is a practicing Catholic. It can be kind of lonely because there is no one to talk to about my faith in my family. Having someone to go to church with would be really good as well sometimes. I do feel sad that I am so alone in my faith.

However, this is a bit of blessing because I'm so eager to be involved in my community and I treat them as more of my family. I get to develop friendships with young Catholics through our youth groups and young adult nights. I get to help our priests at mass through my serving. Also, I'm beginning to get to know our seminarians (I actually had dinner with them between services the other night) which is great because almost all interactions between the sexes at my age are based on who we would be willing to go out with. But, with the seminarians, it is completely non-sexual and on a higher, more intellectual level.

So all-in-all life could be worse, we have such a great, close-knit community here that it's much like a secondary family, all of whom are Catholic :)

Have a lovely Pentacost and here's a Prayer to the Holy Spirit*

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations.

Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

God Bless,

Beth

*http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/qt/Come_HS_Prayer.htm

About the lack of posting....

Sorry, inbetween power-blackout due to the extreme weather (they refuse to call it a cyclone due to insurance reasons) and assignments/studying for a week of exams this week I haven't had much time. I'll be back soonish :)

God Bless,

Beth

The Beautitudes

I just found a really good site that describes the 8 Beautitudes and how we can apply them to our lives (link) It also gives the practical works of ministry. Everytime I heard the Corporal works I always wondered how I could clothe the naked or comfort the imprisoned...of course I had taken it too literally ;)

Angels and Demons

I went to the movies last night with a few friends and saw Angels and Demons.

Okay, I know everyone thinks it's anti-Catholic, but it isn't! It treats the Church with such a deep respect and gentleness. Even though some of it is incredibly violent, and the dialogue was terrible, and some of the characters weren't developed very well...I know how that sounds, one of the actors had this to say:

""I think Dan Brown is a terribly bad writer, but he has cliffhangers after every chapter which makes you continue reading," Skarsgard told Swedish broadcaster SVT.

"It's like eating peanuts at a bar. You don't like them, but you keep on eating them anyway," he said."*

He seems to be a better storyteller than writer though, it was a pretty intense thriller.

I felt so disappointed in some of the members of the Church, in particular William Donohue of the Catholic League, who were such wowsers about this film. I feel that I actually appreciated it as a Catholic, the best characters were Cardinal Strauss and Camerlengo McKenna. I was terrified for the Cardinals that were kidnapped because, after all, they are Princes of the Church. It also provided a fascinating look at the relationship between religion and science, at the beauty of Rome and the Vatican and the history of the Church.

I would suggest you see it, it's obvious Ron Howard put a lot of effort into not insulting the Church, regardless of his personal beliefs.

(Although, he was a little silly by saying that the Vatican infered with filming (link), I suspect it was a publicity stunt.)

God Bless,

Beth

*http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/14/angels-demons-actor-dan-b_n_203651.html

My birthday tomorrow

I'm currently watching the last sunset of my 18th year. How time flies!

It's been an interesting year, I went from mildly Catholic to Jesus freak lol! I never would have seen myself like this a year ago.

I saw our wonderful Pope Benedict in the flesh at WYD. Even though I was sick with the "pope flu", I had so much fun and I grew so much spiritually. WYD was where I got to know my soon-to-be Godfather.

I'm finally baptised and now I can enjoy all of the graces and sacraments of God, especially the Eucharist.

I've been driving by myself for a year now. I've only dented my car....4 times ;)

I feel like I'm getting older and I have to leave my childhood behind forever, and it scares me a little. But I know God is there for me so I rest all of my worries in his hands, and best of all he wants me to. I can only hope I'll grow more in my faith.

God Bless,

Beth

Litany of Humility

I found this prayer a couple of days ago:

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…*

----Cardinal Merry del Val(1865-1930),
Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X

Ouch! That's heart-breaking isn't it? It's a great prayer, but it hurts to give up those desires and fears. But that's part of purity, purgatory is a painful passage to purity, and so is this.

I was speaking a couple of posts ago about hoarding material possessions and the damage it does to the love, but hoarding love is the same isn't it? Our pursuit of love can severely damage other people, and in the end we don't have it, it dissappears, and is replaced completely by God's love and physical presence.

However, we have to be careful with humility, I found this aswell:

"Still, let’s be careful that this is done in a psychologically healthy manner.

First, it’s good when our work is recognized and appreciated; the spiritual point is that we shouldn’t crave this admiration as an aspect of a personal identity, but that we endeavor to accept all benefits of our work in praise of Christ, who emptied Himself for our sake, who suffered for us, who died on a cross for us, and in whose service we do our work. But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).

Second, we all feel hurt when someone insults us; still, the spiritual point is that we don’t need to build up psychological defenses [sic] to protect ourselves from the pain of being insulted if only, even in our deepest hurt, we always endeavor to trust in Christ, who alone will protect us from all danger. Be not afraid, as Jesus says repetitively throughout the Gospels.

Finally, although “placing others first” runs counter to natural self-preservation, the spiritual point is that, if we really trust in God, not only can we stop competing with others to satisfy our pride but also we can endeavor to notice the needs of others, looking on others with compassion, in the hope that they might be saved from damnation because of their own desperate obsession with self-preservation. Nevertheless, our concern for others must not take on a form of masochism or self-defilement; in all of our charity to others we must never relinquish the responsibility of developing our talents to the fullest, so that we can serve Christ effectively and joyfully, in pure love."**

In the end, we need love from others, like we need some material possessions, it does sustain us, and I've heard people say "we see God's love come through others love". But in moderation, without "craving" it and letting it become the central motivation of our lives.

You know, I think I wrote this mostly for myself ;P

But seriously, take time to say the litany, it's beautiful.

God Bless,

Beth

*http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/humility.htm
**http://www.chastitysf.com/humility.htm

The 8th and 9th Commandment

Every Wednesday we have our Young Adults Discussion night. We get together and discuss issues we pull out of a jar, or the NET Team (we're currently hosting) decide on.

Tonight, as I'm sure you gathered, was about:

#8 Thou shalt not steal

and

#9 Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

The young men and women we have there never cease to amaze me! Watching the way each of them approach it is fascinating.

One questioned whether survival is good reason. If you steal that loaf of bread to survive, is it really wrong? Another said: but what about that escalation? You steal lollies one day and are able to justify that, but doesn't that mean you're able steal gradually more valuable things and are able to continue to justify that? Another said: It's hard to say "I've done the wrong thing" but easy to say "It's only a 10c lolly". It's easy to justify your actions, but so hard to forgive yourself for those actions.

In the end we turned to our priest, Father Peter, his answer was; there are degrees of how sinful it is, but in the end it is a simple, clear and direct sentence: You shall not steal. Whether it's a 10c lolly or a car, it's defined as stealing.

Next, we looked at bearing false witness. It became a conversation about witnessing the faith, mainly by example, through our lifestyles. A few said we should answer questions when they arise, but do little more than that. I put in my two cents and said some views are irreconcilable e.g. abortion. However, someone said we should take others opinions into account, because Jesus taught us to love and by respecting others opinions we are loving them. However, someone else said, but we have to back off if our opinion is going to start a fight, and talk about it another time.

It's been a very interesting night.

Oh, by the way, On Monday I'll be going to Mass at the Carmelite Nun's convent with our NET Team, it should be interesting. They only have 45 minutes interaction with the public, how intense is that?

Great News!

I've been accepted as an Altar Server!

I'm so happy! I'm starting training next week.

In the mean time, I'll have to brush up on the prayers of mass, I still don't know them off by heart :P

Ah! Tosca...

I'm just loving this at the moment - Link

I watched this production of Tosca on the ABC a couple of months ago and just loved the Church imagery. After all this part is set during the Te Deum. Although, the production shots ruined the mood for me :P

But how creepy is Scarpia? Beautiful voice though :)

God Bless,

Beth

Interesting Pictures

My lovely Mother sent me this link a couple of days ago. It's of these interesting (and very unusual!) pictures from the Vatican. Enjoy!

God bless,

Beth

As the sun is rising....

Here is a morning prayer I found. It's really quite beautiful;

O Jesus,
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works,
joys and sufferings
of this day for all the intentions
of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my relatives and friends,
and in particular
for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

*footnote: this prayer is from http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/morning2.htm

Ooooo I've got this song stuck in my head...

"What am I suppose to do when the best part of me was always you?
What am I suppose to say when I'm all choked up and you're OK?
I'm falling to pIIIEEECC-eess, yeah
I'm falling to pIIIIEEEE-eces"

Depressing song, but still like it :)

Here's the link if you're interested http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2omyqxbsKw

I should be singing something more religious

"Shine Jesus shine!
Fill this land with the fathers glory!"

Hehe...
You should hear my Godfather sing that. He has the best voice and he always sings the loudest. You can hear him from wherever you're standing in the Cathedral. It always makes me smile :)

Okay, what was I here for........Oh right

I was just reading the Day Bible Verse on the side of my page >>>>>>>

It says;

"For the fashion of this world passeth away,- 1 Corinthians vii. 31. "

Interesting quote, it really gave me pause. I thought about it in the context of all the things I hoard. Of course, at the time we're not really thinking about it, but we really, REALLY won't have that stuff after we're gone. Although, it's not really a loss, because we'll have heaven instead :) But we really have to think about this: for everything we hoard, what are we taking away from future generations? The people that are left? Although I feel like this could easily go in loops :P Because what will they take away from the generations after them?

I'm getting dizzy.

Just a little prayer I'd like to share...

Lord help me
to remember
that nothing
is going to happen
to me today
that You and I
together can't handle.

Amen

*Footnote: from http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/short.htm

Hello!

Hi there,

I'm finally adding my first entry after signing up about....oh let me see... two months ago.

I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Beth, I'm a Business student in a little country town on the East coast of Australia. I'm 18, turning 19 on Saturday, and I'm a new-born Catholic. I was just Baptised and Confirmed this Easter after completing the RCIA program in our Parish...okay, I'm lying we aren't completely finished, but one more session and we will be :D

Okay I suppose I'd better state my reasons for being here ;)

First of all I love to write! I do short stories occasionally but I'd like to do a little bit of independent journalism here...if you can call writing about my life journalism :P

Secondly, I'd want to share my experiences of being a young Catholic in this big crazy world. Trying to avoid temptations and embrace Jesus and our Church, without becoming a fully-fledged Nun (even though Nuns are very awesome people!) Also, I want to share my experiences in our Church, e.g. I run a youth group so you'll hear lots about that.

Lastly, I want to do/share apologetics online.

So I hope you enjoy this, I'll try to update at least once a week so do drop in often, and leave comments, I love comments!

God Bless,

Beth