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