Musings of a Catholic Convert

I hear nightmare stories from friends about struggling parishes.  In some dioceses it seems to be difficult to find a thriving and active community.  A caller asked me about that when I appeared on The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi.  Why aren't Catholics more energized about their faith?  I'm fortunate enough to have a strong group of Über Catholics by my side and in my diocese.  Still, I come to Mass every week and face people who look like they don't want to be there.  They would be more enthusiastic at a ball game.  They would rather be entertained.  They would rather sip coffee and discuss current events.  Anything but humble themselves and worship God in spirit and truth.  Can I see their hearts?  Nope, but I sure as shootin' can see their gestures.  They sigh and grumble when there is an announcement.  They take their purse with them to communion because their plan is to exit before Mass ends.  They fidget in their seats.  They play with their cell phones (silently).  They read the bulletin.  They sleep.  Do I need to point out more evidence?  Is it any wonder, then, why their children don't want to be there?  Is there any wonder why these kids will likely leave the Church when they are out of the house?  They have NO CLUE about what they possess as Catholics?  

Listen, Cradle Catholic, what you take for granted is that your Creator, JESUS CHRIST, is humbling himself to be with you in a way He does NOWHERE ELSE.  He wants to give to you the same resurrection life that raised him from the dead on the 3rd day.  He wants to have intimate union with you at the deepest levels.  And you would rather be somewhere else?  Are you insane?  Ask a Catholic convert if they would leave the Eucharist.  Ask if there is anything out there more exciting than to commune with God.  Ask if they would rather be some place with different music and a coffee bar instead of Mass.  You know what their answer is.  You know that in many cases they have fled these places in order to receive the Eucharist.  You know they have realized that the only true fulfillment in life is communion with God.  The Catholic convert is not perfect, but he or she does know where to go for help.  Christ in the Sacraments make all the difference in the world.  

I know several men and women who left careers, lost friends, lost family, sometimes more, just to be part of the Catholic Faith.  I think of the men who served as ministers in Protestant congregations who left not just a job, but a true ministry as leaders, their entire education and professional training, in order to become Catholic and serve God as laypersons.  Why make that sort of sacrifice unless there was something to make it all worthwhile?   

Being friends with men and women (both Catholic converts and cradle Catholics) who truly love their faith, as evidenced by their 24/7 365 life, is a great blessing.  Serving and worshipping with them in a growing and thriving parish is super.  Stepping back and looking at what God is doing among His faithful followers is nothing short of amazing.  It is truly a work of God's grace the renewal spreading throughout the Church.  If you are in a remote parish that seems to be going nowhere, remember this:  even in the coldest parish, Christ is still present in the Eucharist.  He still wants to communion with you.  He is there for you.  You are not alone.  The same sacramental grace Christ pours out in the "exciting" parishes, He has made available for all.  And when we commune with God, we commune with each other.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 7:16 am and is filed under Family / Chlann, conversion stories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.