Understanding the liturgical calendar is important. I think that it better prepares us for an amazing faith filled journey! We as Catholic's, were meant to experience a personal relationship with Christ. Some may not have been shown the proper examples in their youth, nor have they received an explanation detailing the history of the catholic faith. Others, may have only gone through the motions of attending mass, never realizing the importance of studying holy scripture and the readings for the following day. Living as long as I have, I now know better. I know the importance of preparing myself for the mass. Arriving early is a must! This helps greatly in shutting down the noise of the world outside, so I can then collect my thoughts, examine my conscience, and just be in a silent atmosphere with my Lord. At night, before going to sleep, evening prayer is a priority, and I open up my Divine Office, my liturgy of the hours prepare me with good thoughts for the day and I do look forward to listening daily to every word written by our Lord through his people teaching us how to live a life that is honest and true and holy.
Preparation is key. We as Catholics never stop educating ourselves and we never stop praying. The devout faithful recite the holy rosary, read daily the Divine Office, both morning and evening prayers. This gives us a better idea about the readings being offered by a lector and a psalm being sung by a cantor. Both greatly help us to meditate and reflect more when the gospel is read during the mass by priest following his homily.
His interpretation of the reading is the message we are suppose to take into our minds and learn from what is being shared and said to us. And then leaving the church, we take with us the messages we were given by God himself through the priest. We are given this wonderful opportunity to do something extraordinary as faith filled Christians. Yet to be determined, because God himself will personally engage in this process in the hours, days, weeks, months, and years ahead.
It takes a lifetime to establish a great and holy life in God. It is do able as long as the example is shown to us through our very first teachers and mentors, our very parents whose examples leave a very indelible impression on our life as young children. My mother along with my great grandmother lived a saintly and holy life. She had two twin cousins who were nuns. I met them only once while going on a Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown Pennsylvania, over fifty years ago. I saw their love for God through their obedience to him and their devotion to having a prayerful life. I was caught in Jesus net, I became a Fisherwoman! Desiring everything good and holy and wanting to capture more fish in God's net.
I have been inspired to personally promote retreat weekends for women in Palm Beach 2008-20015, and one out of state Eucharistic Retreat Weekend guided and given to us by Father John Paul Mary of EWTN in Alabama. We were meant to be instruments of peace for God, bringing back his people to the church, to the truth, to everlasting life.
I have studied within two lay orders. The Secular Franciscan Order 2011-2016 , and the Lay Dominican Order 2021-Present. I believe God wants more for us and out of us. He wants to see a continual progression of growth within all of His children of light. He wants the light to burn bright in all the hearts of men and women. We all have a purpose. It is important to find out specifically, what ours is! And when we do, we set the world on fire with the love of God.
"Are Not Our Hearts Burning Within Us"?
