Welcome Home

It has been an Easter to remember for so many reasons. I am not the best wordsmith in the world, so my blog posts tend to be few and far between, I hope to do justice to the events of the last four days.

But the last four days are the culmination of a journey that started back in January 2006. In fact, it was only just January 06, as the moment I can pinpoint when I felt the pull of Christ. In the early hours of the morning of Jan 1st, a couple of hours after the midnight celebrations of New Year's Eve, I had my conversion moment. One day I will attempt to describe exactly what happened back then, but I doubt I would be able to adequately define the events that led to where I am today.

I'm waffling, lets move on. After that special moment, I had no doubts in my mind where I was being called to. It was just obvious it was the Catholic Church, no other option even entered my mind. Not knowing anyone who went to Church, I wasn't sure what to do next. Obviously, I needed to start going to Church, but it didn't seem that simple. Was I just supposed to turn up, and start praying? How were you supposed to pray? What would happen in Church? I was sure everyone would notice me straight away, that I would stand out from the crowd, and I really find that uncomfortable. I hadn't had much religious thought in my life, I was unsure what to do. And after all, maybe this feeling would go away. But it didn't. After a few days, I decided to get a book to help me understand what I might be getting into. A quick browse around Amazon, I found "Catholicism for Dummies" and I thought that would be a nice easy introduction, and that's how it turned out. A nice simple explanation to what Catholics believe, and why.

From the book, I found at that for a Catholic to miss Sunday Mass without valid reason, could be considered a Mortal Sin. That's the push I needed, I just knew if I was going to go the full way into 'becoming Catholic' I *had* to go to Mass. The very next Sunday I went to my first Mass, and have done every week since. I don't remember much about my first Mass, I just recall sitting in a pew tucked away in the corner, watching everyone else, standing up when they did, sitting, kneeling, and trying to follow what was happening in the Missal. Which wasn't that easy, as it goes, after the readings I soon lost my place once we went to the Eucharistic prayers. I was too self conscious to make the sign of the cross, to say the prayers out loud, to make the responses after the readings, I thought I would be in a community where everyone knew each other and I would stand out like the stranger in those films who walks into the quiet country pub and everyone stops talking to watch what they do.

After Mass, I had a feeling of confusion, not really understanding what had happened, but underlying it all a feeling that it was the right thing to do. After a couple of months I noticed something in the newsletter. It said something along the lines of "If you are thinking of becoming a Catholic, call this number" I wished there was an email address, but there was not. The notice was in the newsletter for a couple of weeks, but I hadn't plucked up the courage to call. Then it disappeared, I guess to make way for other notices, but a few weeks later it was back. I had to make the call. I had been going to Mass every week for about three months now, I knew I wanted to get more understanding of what to do at Mass, I thought that is what I would get from the advertised RCIA, I wouldn't get much further trying to work things out on my own, so I made the call. The voice at the end of the phone was a joy. So calm, so nice and relaxed, so welcoming. I stumbled and stuttered an explanation of what I thought I was looking for, and I was invited to join the next session, which would be held in the Church, on a Thursday evening.

The RCIA group was around 6 or 7 people as I recall, Father was there, and a few others who seemed to know each other quite well. I just sat there, trying to understand what was happening. It all went over my head, and for the whole session I never said a word, until near the end, after one of the Catechists had given a fairly lengthy explanation or some such, somebody said "I don't get what you mean" I breathed a deep sigh of relief and said my only words of the night "me neither!". Of course, just the point was being talked about, I was talking about the whole group session thing! It didn't make sense to me at all. Where I had thought it would be a group that explained to wannabe Catholics why we did what we did in Mass, it was a discussion about something else, I don't even recall what.

But I went back the following week, where some others were there who had not been at the first session, including someone who had joined just a few weeks before me. What a relief, to find I wasn't the only newbie there. After a few weeks I started to recall people's names, and the group settled down into a regular bunch of people I started to feel comfortable with, but I was still saying very little. In fact, throughout my whole time in RCIA I haven't said much, really, even on occasions when I have had something relevant to add. The words would stick in my mouth, with the thought in my mind "Better to keep quiet and let people think you are stupid than open your mouth and confirm it". An old saying but one I took to heart. I knew little about the Bible, even less about the Catholic Faith, I didn't feel able to pass comment initially, and that is pretty much how I stayed, even as I started to learn and understand more.

Over the weeks and months, I found I was developing a real thirst for knowledge and understanding, I wanted to learn more, to know more, to understand more. My enthusiasm was high, and my hunger for the Word of God was insatiable. I searched the internet and found a whole world of resource, information and explanation on a variety of websites. I'm a bit of a phone geek, and I soon found software that lets me have the Bible on my phone, and I started to download 100's of podcasts and MP3 files that detailed so many different aspects of the Faith. Finally, I was in my element. I stored loads of MP3 files and podcasts to my phone to listen to on the move, I burned loads of CD's and kept them in my car, eventually I purchased an iPod for the extra storage and put everything I had there. On the way to work, and on the way home, which is around an hour each way, I listened to what I had downloaded. Of everything I have ever used, five people are top of the MP3 list for the help I have received on understanding the Faith. First, there is Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Then, there is Father John Corapi. Next, is Scott Hahn, then Michael Voris, and finally Father Robert Baron. Each person listed here is passionate about the Faith, each teaches what the Church teaches, not what they *think* the Church should teach and each has the ability to take a sometimes difficult subject and explain it in a way that makes it easy to understand without taking away from the fullness of the teaching. A wonderful gift indeed. If you've never listened to any of these people, I'd suggest you give it a try.

I subsequently found, on the satellite system I have for Italian TV, EWTN. I'd heard of EWTN on Catholic Forums, but as far as I knew, it was an American based station. To find it transmitting on Satellite, to find Catholic programming I could watch anytime I wanted was just amazing. In the UK, I am not aware of any transmission of Catholic programming, either radio or TV, so finding EWTN was a real bonus. A few weeks later I discovered EWTN transmits on SKY TV, hidden amongst other religious channels. A gem in a sea of trash, it really is.

And that is how I progressed, with podcasts, internet forums, TV, radio, all supplementing my study at RCIA, leading me into a love for the Word of God, feeding my desire for more, never satisfying it, the more I got, the more I understood the more I wanted. I still do. I started buying more books from Amazon; I've bought more books in the last 18 months than I have in the last 10 years, easily.

All of this helped. As I learned the importance of the Mass, learned the teachings of the Church, it felt more and more like something I wanted. I wanted to be a full member of the Church. The more I learned, the more I accepted everything the Church teaches. Often, I wouldn't fully understand straight away but accepted fully the teachings of the Church. I am very straight in my understanding, there is little room for grey areas, I'm very black and white on my understanding of the Church teachings. I don't think I have blind Faith, where I will accept anything just because the Church says so, but I have yet to hear something that I can't accept.

And that became my weekly ritual, and has been for the last year and a half. My journey to completing the first step of the rest of my life. And that brings me, finally, to Easter 2008. Everything I've looked for over the last two years has led me to this point. To the Easter Vigil, to full membership of the Church, to be in communion with the Church, to be able to partake in the Eucharist, the ultimate objective, the thing I came to desire more than anything else. I'd already been christened when I was young, but not for religious reasons. It was just the done thing, when you had a child back then, you got christened. As I was christened in the Church of England, it is recognised as valid by the Catholic Church, so Easter Vigil meant for me, confirmation and first communion. The person who was on the RCIA program just a few weeks before I joined, and who I've shared many wonderful moments with over the last two years, also joined the Church this Easter, and she was baptised, as well as receiving confirmation and first communion. It has been good to have someone to share the journey with.

So the Easter Vigil. Only the third I've ever attended in all my life, a moving Mass, so emotional and meaningful for so many reasons. The Church, in darkness, the lighting of the candle, the passing of the light through the Church, the readings, the incense, the choir hitting form at just the right moment, the congregation giving it their all as they join in the hymns, it is a wonderful experience, to share the fellowship with everyone around. After the homily, my friend and I were called up front. She was baptised, and we were confirmed. Now, for my confirmation name, I was sure it would be Joseph. I truly love St Joseph, for so many reasons, and I feel a strong connection with him, but eventually, my confirmation name was Augustine.

We had Lent study groups this year, based on the theme "Who is my Neighbour". All parishioners who want to share time together sign up for the groups, and we are divided into groups and assigned a day when we can meet up and talk about one of the Sunday readings and how that relates to the Who is my Neighbour theme. At our very first group at some point during the session, one of the participants made a throw away remark about "that wretched man Augustine". It wasn't nasty, or mean, but I was shocked at how that phrase came out. It prompted me to do some browsing around the net, I also recalled that our Holy Father Pope Benedict had given a series on St Augustine at back in Early January. Over the Lent period, as we studied the excellent readings from the Gospel of John, for both RCIA and the Lent group, it seemed everywhere I looked I was finding St Augustine. I found some new website I had not used before, readings from the Church Fathers on the Gospel of St John, and the one that stood out time and again was St Augustine, I found some stuff on the New Advent website on the Gospel, all from St Augustine. I listened to Fr Baron's homilies during Lent, and he kept on quoting St Augustine. I purchased a book, the Confessions of St Augustine. I looked around the Biblia Clerus site for study, and St Augustine was prominent, everywhere I looked. I had a feeling in my mind that maybe Augustine would be my confirmation name, but I dismissed it, I had already decided to take St Joseph. Until, in conversation with my fellow RCIA colleague, when I was again going on about the wonderful writings I had found from St Augustine, she said "You know, you should take Augustine as your confirmation name, you seem to be connecting so much with him recently". It just clarified the thought I'd had before. I prayed, and made the choice, and Augustine is the name I took. It was a strange experience as I received confirmation, to hear the Priest call me Augustine.

After that, my friend and I sat down, we had the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and because we were sitting at the front, we waited as everyone filed past until finally, it was our moment. Of everything, this for me was THE moment I had longed for, for the last two years. Finally, finally, I could take Holy Communion. No longer would I have to sit there in my pew as everyone else filed past. It was torturous, the wait has been sometimes so long, but every single second I had to wait was worth it. I went up to Father, and as well as I could, I opened my mouth and took communion. It seemed like that moment lasted forever, as if it was suspended, I could sense nothing else other than what I was doing right in that moment, I couldn't hear the choir, nor was I aware of anyone around me, all I knew in that second was just an overwhelming sensation. It means so much, there, right before me IS Jesus Christ, and I am sharing in something so huge, I am not ashamed to admit I don't fully understand, but that doesn't matter, it really doesn't. The finer points of how, why, are important, of course, but in that moment it is just me and my Lord. It means everything, it IS everything, it was really painful waiting for this moment, at every Mass when I couldn't take communion, but I would never change one thing. At that moment, it was just Jesus Christ, and me. And that is something so special, I will never be able to find words to do the experience credit, never.

After Mass, some special people who've made a real contribution to the journey gave us some nice gifts, and some cards with wonderful heartfelt messages inside. One of the cards had a message inside, with a heading "Welcome Home". And I know I am home.

I've gone on a bit. If you've just read all that, well done. This would be the moment, where I thank Alan who was my sponsor, where I thank Adrian, Angela, Janet, Joyce and Walter for giving their time in RCIA, where I thank John and Sandra who joined RCIA in the last few months, where I thank Caroline who has shared the journey, and given so much, and where I thank Catherine, my fellow new Catholic. Also Monsignor Turner, Father Robert, and David, who have all made a huge impact on my journey over the last two years. There are many other people who have made an impact on me, people who have shared my enthusiasm for the Faith and people who have challenged me in how I view the Faith, who I won't name here, but I will make sure they know how grateful I am.

I'm just going to finish by saying for everyone who ever reads this and is not Catholic, but is thinking about joining the Church, just do it. If anything is holding you back, work it out, and get to the Church. It is worth it. Anyone who is currently going through RCIA, stick with it. However long your journey is, it will be worth it. And even when you become a full member of the Church, there is still so much more to come. And anyone who is Catholic, keep in mind just how fantastic, how amazing, how great it is, to be Catholic.

He is Risen!

Descent

La Pieta

Crucifixion

Carrying the Cross

Crowning with Thorns

The Scourging

The Trial

The Betrayal

The Agony in the Garden

The Last Supper

Solemnity of St Joseph

We don't know much about St Joseph. But what we do know is pretty much all we need to know. St Joseph was a just man, a righteous man. He was humble, hard working, and the man chosen to be a father figure to the Lord Jesus, and spouse to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

For my confirmation, I get to choose a Saint who inspires me, a role model whose values and virtues I can try to live by. There are many wonderful Saints, but over time I have become close to St Joseph. I am a Dad, to two wonderful children, in difficult circumstances. A remnant of the way my life used to be, a painful reminder of the mistakes I made. I draw inspiration from St Joseph, as a Father, and if I could be just a tenth of the man St Joseph is, I would be fortunate indeed.

Lenten Prayer Groups

In our Parish during Lent, we have been holding Lenten prayer groups, where members of the Parish have got together to talk over the previous Sunday's readings, and to consider them in the light of a particular theme. This year the theme is "Who is my neighbour?"

As a new Catholic (I'm officially a member of the Church next weekend, when I have my confirmation at the Easter Vigil) I find these groups fascinating. For the last two years I have been going through the process of RCIA, and have made some good friends along the way. We are blessed with a knowledgeable group leader and some excellent Catechists, and the whole journey has helped root me into the Faith. I've enjoyed it so much I don't want to leave, and even feel inspired to take on study to become a Catechist in time. But that's for another day. The difference with the Lent prayer groups is we get to experience the Faith as others see it, and sometimes that can be very eye-opening, but on the whole it is very beneficial.

At tonight's Lent group, the usual leader of the session was away on holiday. She let us know last week, and asked for a volunteer to lead the session. I immediately suggested my friend who has been going through RCIA with me the last two years and myself as co-leaders, and tonight we took the group! Now, on the face of it, it isn't much, but to us, newbie/wannabe Catholics still green behind the ears it was just fantastic! The group of people we met with were kind and considerate and we had an excellent discussion on the Gospel of John from last Sunday and reflected on the Who is my neighbour theme. My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and it meant so much to us to be able to share this.

During our first session of these Lent prayer groups, a comment was made about St Augustine, which provoked me into looking more into his teachings, and that was a fortuitous moment, because I have learnt so much from reading his works, and it really helped me to get a better understanding of the Gospel readings.

Overall it has been a worthwhile Lenten exercise and has set me up for Holy Week and my pending confirmation and first Communion.

The Motto of the Traditional Catholic

I saw this post on the blog A Quiet Catholic, and it contained the following motto:

The Traditional Catholic's Motto

We are what you once were.
We believe what you once believed.
We worship as you once worshipped.
If you were right then, we are right now.
If we are wrong now, you were wrong then.

I started to wonder, who is it aimed at? Is it aimed at Catholics who have left the Faith? Is it aimed at the Protestants? Who are we trying to deliver this message to?

Pictures from Rome

Although I wasn't able to blog from Rome, I did take lots of pictures and a few video clips. All taken from a Nokia N95 on standard settings. So, here are a few pictures from my trip to Rome, and to start a brief video from St Peter's Square:

A day in Rome

So, the 'moblogging' didn't work out (stupid Vodafone - no matter what I tried I couldn't get a data connection. Tech support were worse than useless) but that apart, and a bit of drizzle early on, it's been a great day. My feet ache so much, I've walked miles and miles. All the way from Termini station to the Vatican and all the way back again!

My first stop this morning was Santa Maria Maggiore. As I recall, this is the biggest Church dedicated to Our Lady. Afterwards, I walked down the road and stopped in at St Pietro in Vincoli. It is said the chains on show inside the Church are the same ones that held St Peter when he was prisoner in Rome. I'm never too sure about these stories but also there's no reason to think that there isn't some truth in them.

From there I walked down the road to the Colosseum, and then up Via del Corso. From there I deviated to the Trevi fountain and onwards to Piazza Spagna. Then I walked down Via del Babuino which is apparently twinned with Madison Avenue. After passing through Piazza del Popolo, I walked along Via Cola di Rienzo up to the Vatican.

Going to St Peter's is always the highlight of a stop in Rome. I always see something new, every time. I was there for about an hour and a half, which included half hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament in a beautiful quiet side chapel.

Then I headed back. It was my intention to attend the Vigil Mass in Santa Maria Maggiore tonight but my return transport didn't leave time. I've been to Mass there before, but I'd have liked to do so again. Slightly disappointing but it can't detract from a great, if very tiring day.

On my walk back I popped in to a few bookshops and managed to find a reasonable looking Italian Bible. I found it surprising that a) A Bible was so hard to find and b) there were hardly any options to choose from! But the one I have will do for now. I'm hoping translation into Italian will be closer to Latin and help throw a bit more light on understanding Scripture that you can't always get from the English translations.

So, in all, a well spent, if very tiring day. My poor feet! I will sure sleep well tonight. I will post a few more pictures tomorrow along with a video clip I took outside St Peter's.