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

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?

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.

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