Practicing Catholic

Goofing off a little too much yesterday, I ended up missing confession at my parish, and had to head over to the National Shrine (as it is usually available until 6). I admit that for a long time I liked the anonymity of the Shrine versus my own parish, until the Holy Spirit gave me a gentle nudge towards face to face with my own priest (not judging anyone, but in my case I had worn too many masks in life, and felt the confession curtain was partly allowing another).

The interesting thing about reconciliation at the Basilica is that I don't think I've ever had the same confessor twice, as they are often students, or even just visiting religious. The fact that it was such a beautiful day, had made the chapel rather empty, and so my enthusiastic confessor gave me a very lengthy council (it was awesome, but I wish I could've taken notes).

Part of my council was due to the fact I was told to say the Divine Mercy chaplet as my penance, and I admitted that while I knew off it (actually have the image sitting above my PC), I had never said it. He explained it's history, and also helped me delve more in to devotion to Mary, to greater understanding of the consequences of sin, and the truly Divine nature of God's mercy (he even joked that "yes, there will be a test later").

As he suggested a few books, I couldn't help but chuckle later as I was paying for them in the Shrine bookstore , at how my confessor was also a rather good salesman (takes one to know one). I also bought a "Roamin' Catholic" coffee mug, which he did not suggest (O:

Back at the home, I remembered that I had an audio version of the Chaplet, promptly popped it in my Sony discman, and went for a long walk in the park (I had used the Rosary part of the recording in the same way, as an aid to learn that prayer). I admit that I had never been fond of this prayer, except in the musical version, as it seemed shorter and more repetitive than the Holy Rosary (remember, ex-Protestant, so still trying to shake out my prideful "feelings"). I also didn't exactly know what to meditate on while I was saying the prayer, so I first started by thinking about Christ's "sorrowful passion".

As it was a rather long walk, and I repeated the just over six minute prayer, about a dozen times, with me moving from meditating on His passion, slowly to our Lady's tears at the foot of the cross, to the price my owns sins cost them both, and to what our lives would be like without His divine Mercy. As I was finishing, I also started picturing the faces of people I may not have forgiven fully in my life, as I said "have mercy on us and on the whole world".

So yes, I have now fallen in love with the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, as of course you knew I would, as it's hard not to love anything that draws you closer to the only True Love, our Wonderful Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Yes, still a baby Catholic, and still a "practicing" one, with me learning something new almost daily, and thank the Holy Spirit for His constant willingness to instruct this sometimes (O.K.,usually) lazy student.

Jesus, I Trust In You!

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