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| Keeping the Faith; What inspires people to do that? | |
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| Topic Started: Saturday, 14. February 2009, 13:53 (106 Views) | |
| John Sweeney | Saturday, 14. February 2009, 13:53 Post #1 |
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I went to a Valentine's dinner last night in support of Macmillan Nurses. The event had been organised by one of our parishioners and was held in our hall so there was a large proportion of our parishioners in the attendees. It went very well and as I looked round there were many happily chatting groups of friends many of whom I have known for many years. Without thinking to hard, I saw that very many of these people had been affected by events which could have extinguished their Faith. I am sure this would be true of any other group of Catholics across the world and it got me to thinking why such people seem to keep the Faith while others lose it over comparative trifles. The couples last night had nearly all had to deal with blows like sudden devastating untimely family deaths or the cruel long hard grind of family disability from birth or as the result of serious illness. I came to no conclusion because on the surface I could see no common thread. They have different family set-ups, come originally from all over the UK and beyond, some single, some married. Some regarded as ultra-devout , others with a seemingly light touch to their religion. Just set me wondering that's all and I left with a renewed admiration for them as people. On a lighter note, Cecilia on my left was regaling me with the recent family history of mutual acquaintances. In a rare intervention I asked her " Is Jeffrey married? " No" , she said, " he's a paramedic". She then said later " Of course, I've known them both since before they were born" In a strange way, I knew what she meant in both statements! John |
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| OsullivanB | Saturday, 14. February 2009, 14:00 Post #2 |
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To the extent that I have kept mine, I can only attribute the fact to unbounded undeserved grace. |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 14. February 2009, 17:47 Post #3 |
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My parents raised nine children. We faced a devastating untimely death, when we were aged from 10 to 24. Add to that two of the sisters faced the long hard grind of family disability (though not from birth). Between us we ave known spells of unemployment and poverty, and one marriage ended in divorce One member of the family has had serious mental illness for decades. Only one has left the Church. I put it down to the prayerfulness and example of our parents, fellow parishioners and most of the priests we knew in our childhood. Add to all that, the parishes in our area were close, supportive communities, nobody was made to feel left out, or a spare part. If I were to leave the Church now, I would feel as though I had let them all down and thrown their example in their faces. |
  Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| John Sweeney | Saturday, 14. February 2009, 21:09 Post #4 |
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Yes I think your last sentence points up a powerful reason why we stay faithful Rose. I suppose the only worry is that if true then this means we stay because Catholicism is part of our cultural identity rather than a strong personal belief . I am NOT suggesting this applies to you but I do recognise it as a strong motivation for me and others. . John |
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 14. February 2009, 22:46 Post #5 |
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John, to some extent it does apply to me. Catholicism is in my very veins. Without my faith, I wouldn't be "me". |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| pat | Sunday, 15. February 2009, 00:48 Post #6 |
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I've only been a Catholic for 10 years, and I wonder why it took me so long. I cannot imagine life without my faith now. It is everything to me. |
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| JRJ | Sunday, 15. February 2009, 23:27 Post #7 |
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Ditto. Undeserved grace. Absolute mystery. |
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Jennifer hubby's dinosaur blog | |
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| pete | Thursday, 5. November 2009, 15:52 Post #8 |
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Pat this is what our faith is all about:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6qZd_xP1w&feature=related |
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8:01 PM Nov 24