What the Funk

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. For the past few months I have been in a funk over my mother's death. The holidays without her really did a job on me. But I am coming out of it now, having forced myself to start going back to church starting on Ash Wednesday. Until then, I would keep my mind occupied at work so I wouldn't have to think about it. I would go home each evening and just sit, watching TV and eating. I didn't even leave the house on the weekends. But, after much prayer and internal effort, I am coming out of it and trying to get things back on track. I am reading through the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church each evening and praying the rosary daily. I am also reading a couple of books by Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the pastor for the pontifical household in Rome, who spoke at the Beeson Lectures here at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore. The book I like the most so far is titled Poverty. It was hard to read because it struck something deep inside me that made each page feel like I was trudging through knee-deep mud. But in the end, it was well worth it and I plan to buy it to read again.


Another change, is that I did my first confession on Friday, March 2, and my first communion on Sunday, March 4. I am now officially a member of the Roman Catholic Church. The ceremony was simple enough, but going up to receive our Blessed Lord's body for the first time had my nerves tied in a bundle. After that first partaking of the Eucharist, I knew that what the last nine years had been leading me to was our Lord's body and blood at His table. Now that I am official, I will take some time to study things, pray, and decide if I want to pursue a vocation, such as Third Order (Secular) Franciscans, or maybe even a first order vocation. So, I am back and Pax et Bonum to you all.