A Letter from 2015

Jet lag or new routine adjustment or plain exhaustion somehow found me awake at four in the morning. So now I'm curled up in a cozy corner of the living room with blankets and pillows, toast and homemade hot chocolate, looking at the Christmas tree lights and listening to Haley Stewart's Christmas playlist, thinking about the last twelve months. This year has been one of the best and most exciting years of my life.

In January, I started a new job at a tutoring center, where I discovered that children are hilarious, teaching is very enjoyable and Korean is fun to learn. I gained more confidence with teaching and with kids because of this job and will always be thankful for that.

In May, I truly began to freak out about my ability to be a decent wife, and at the end of the month I GOT MARRIED (?!). Our wedding was a beautiful and practically perfect day. I loved our Nuptial Mass, which we celebrated in the old rite with an amazing priest, incense we got to design ourselves (with orange and rose. I wish I had a perfume like that incense), a gorgeous choir and our family and friends. We topped off the celebration at an Irish pub with whiskey, poor dancing and many flavors of cake. I am more in love with and thankful for the husband God gifted me with every day.

In July, Christopher and I went to Washington DC as a mini honeymoon. We got to see so many sites, my favorite of which was the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. It is a massive church with great, colorful mosaics splashed everywhere. It was nice to be a tourist there at the 4th of July.

In August, we visited my family in Illinois where my mother put on a reception for family who were unable to travel to the wedding. It was so good seeing people I hadn't seen for over a year. It was also good to see my little monkey of a cousin. I'm hoping she becomes a pianist. I became incredibly nostalgic when I realized I was going off to start my own life.

In the same month, we made the move to Texas where Christopher is continuing his PhD. Texas has been immensely friendly and welcoming. I've made friends that I think I'll keep all my life, joined an editing business and entered into one of the happiest times of my life. I truly think I could become a southern girl and I don't terribly mind the 70 degrees in December either. ;)

In December, we traveled to Rome and Venice for two weeks as a belated honeymoon. ROME and VENICE! TWO WEEKS! Even though we've been back for a couple of days, I still have trouble believing it happened. I count myself incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to travel to Italy, which has been my number one destination for years. Given my conversion, my experience in Rome was so much more meaningful than I anticipated. A post (or a few) on the adventure is forthcoming and I'll share all the details there. You can catch a few glimpses on my instagram, siriuscomet2, in the meantime.

All these things considered, 2015 has not been without negativity. I have had difficult work experiences. An old friend and family member died this year. Multiple moves have been stressful. Self-doubt has entered the picture several times. I'm trying to focus less on the negatives, because I notice that when I do, everything becomes that much worse.

But no matter what, there is forgiveness in the sacrament of Confession. There is beauty in the Mass. There is incomparable joy in the Eucharist. No matter what happens in my life, God holds everything together. He has been present in each high and each low. He has guided me to this point in my life.

I am reminded of Pope Benedict XVI's words to the youth in Madrid:

"Dear friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your own weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world."

May God bless you in the new year!

When Catholicism is "Unrealistic"

At this point, this news from the Synod has been discussed hundreds of times. Go me for being late to the game (or: not paying as close attention as I should have in the moment). I was prompted to think of the Synod again this week when I saw an article about a priest's parents who lived as brother and sister (that is, they did not have sexual relations). Why would a couple choose to do such a thing? The father of the priest (...the Father's father...get it??) had previously been married, divorced the first wife, and married the mother of the priest. Their son came home from school one day concerned that his parents were sinning by not going to Mass. The family went to Mass the next Sunday and continued to do so. They desired to receive Holy Communion but could not, as they were committing the mortal sin of adultery. Their parish priest said that they could petition the Church to see if the first marriage could be annulled or they could abstain from sexual relations, confess their sins, and return to the Sacrament. So they took the priest's second option and remained in such a relationship for the rest of their lives.

While I find this story to be a beautiful testament to the Faith, others would find it preposterous. It is too harsh, some say, to tell people that they cannot participate in receiving the Body of Christ. As if the Blessed Sacrament is a participation trophy. The Blessed Sacrament is not free merchandise distributed at an event. The Blessed Sacrament is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. When we treat the Blessed Sacrament a car that Oprah gives away ("You all get one!"), we have truly disgraced Our Lord. Receiving the Eucharist, which means thanksgiving, while living in a state of unrepentant mortal sin is a poor way to thank Christ for His most generous and incomparable gift.*

At the Synod last month, the topic of admitting the divorced and remarried (that is, people committing adultery, a mortal sin) to Communion was discussed. Cardinal Marx said, "The advice to refrain from sexual acts in the new relationship not only appears unrealistic to many. It is also questionable whether sexual actions can be judged independent of the lived context." [Note: Let's be straight up. Marx is not the only person suggesting the Church deviate on various positions She has held for years, even since Her institution, even positions from which it is impossible to deviate. Pray for the Church, for those who oppose Her, and for those who need guidance.]

I will address the second sentence first. "It is questionable whether sexual actions can be judged independent of the lived context." I wonder what kind of context is required. Do we need to know that two people really care about each other? Do we need to know that the new couple has had children? Do we need to know that these people adopt stray animals? While all of these things may be the case, they do not change the fact that sin is being committed. I would like to see someone explain to Christ what the appropriate context is, when Christ Himself has said, "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery." (Luke 16:18) What does Christ tell the woman caught in adultery? "Go, and now sin no more." (John 8:11)

This reaction is seen again and again when Christ meets sinners. He confronts the sin. He and the sinner both know it. Then He forgives and tells the sinner to go and sin no more. Our God operates under perfect justice and mercy. Our God IS perfect justice and mercy. For this reason, I cannot understand it when people deliberately go against what Our Lord has commanded us. It is not reasonable. Speaking of unreasonable, let's talk about unrealistic.

"The advice to refrain from sexual acts in the new relationship not only appears unrealistic to many." Unrealistic is what I am told it is when I suggest that people practice abstinence or NFP. It is unrealistic to expect that people should refrain from acting on the passions (what low esteem we hold each other in!). It is unrealistic to expect people to act based upon reason. It is unrealistic to live as an all good God has commanded us to do. In a way, it is unrealistic: it is unrealistic to expect that we shall, all on our own, be perfect as Our Father in Heaven is perfect. Sin can seep into our lives. What a good reason to have Confession! We can go to the priest who acts in the person of Christ to absolve us of our sins and help us to be holy.

What about the unrealistic things we cling to as part of the Catholic faith? Is it unrealistic to profess a man to be the Son of God and born of a Virgin? Is it unrealistic to say that the Son of God established His Church among sinners? Is it unrealistic to say that He gave us His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the beauty of a most glorious sacrament? Is it unrealistic to profess that He died and was resurrected? Is it unrealistic to say that He ascended to Heaven? Is it unrealistic?

All these things are unrealistic to the skeptic. Christians have endured persecution for professing a number of unrealistic things. I wonder: if it is unrealistic to believe that men and women cannot rise above their passions, how realistic is it to believe the tenants of the Faith? If we deny the words of Christ, how can we profess to belong to His Church?

I purport that it is unrealistic to allow sin to reign in our lives and at the same time claim we adhere to the Church's teaching. How can we speak of God's loving kindness and ask for His grace when we turn from Him? It is a slap in the face. We are told to love God with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength. We are told to put God before all else. We cannot say, "Yes, Lord, I give you everything. But not this. Not this sin that I want to hold on to." When Jesus told the rich young man to give away his possessions and follow Him, the man went away sad (Matthew 19:16-22). He could not serve both Christ and the world. Neither can we serve both Christ and the popular opinion of the world. We cannot submit to sinful lives. Jesus is not in the sinful lives business. Jesus is in the salvation business. Jesus is in the follow me business.Jesus is in the calling it as it is business. Jesus is in the making sinners into saints business.

I could perhaps go into quite a discussion about problematic Church leadership, but I'll keep it brief and affirmative. What kind of leaders do we need in the Church? What kind of role models do we need in the Church? Who are the people who are willing to live out the life God plans for us? Who are the people who love Him fully, who put Him before all else? Look to the saints. Look especially to the martyrs. These are the people who, no matter their situation, said, "Yes. I will give everything to You. Even my very life. Because You are the Truth. You are Good. You are Justice and Mercy and Perfection." The saints are the people who didn't settle. The saints are the people who turned from sin and toward God. The saints are the people who stood at the foot of the cross, who battled dark nights of the soul, who led nations, who raised holy children, who sacrificed themselves for the love they had for their brothers, who served the poorest of the poor, who gave everything to God. The saints are the people who hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant."

So when Catholicism is "unrealistic," when it seems to ask too much of you, when it tells you to abandon sin, listen up! Respond to Christ's call. Return to the God of your fathers. Recall the doctrine of the Church. "Do this in remembrance of me." Remember the saints. The saints before you have followed Christ. They have kept the faith and run the race. Be a saint in our time.

*I couldn't help but include a Harry Potter reference. In Prisoner of Azkaban, Professor Lupin discovers that Harry has been wandering around the school at night and says, "[James] and your mother gave their lives to save yours. And gambling their sacrifice by wandering around the castle, unprotected, with a killer on the loose seems to me to be a pretty poor way to repay them." Christ gave His life for us. Wandering around spiritually, letting ourselves believe that sin is okay, playing right into Satan's hands is a poor way to repay Christ and His sacrifice. It is a poor way to repay God's love for us.

Coming Out As Catholic To Your Family & Friends

This post will probably be most helpful for those who have religious parents of a different faith, particularly those of a different sect of Christianity (that is, a Protestant denomination like Baptist or Methodist), as that was my situation. It may be helpful for people in other social circumstances, but I won't claim to be able to speak to something I don't have the experience to cover. Okay, let's jump in.

So, after careful study and thought, you've decided to convert (or return!) to Catholicism. First, that is awesome! I'm super stoked for you and hope that you're finding a nice parish, getting yourself to an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, learning Church history, choosing a Confirmation saint, preparing for Confession and getting ready to get down at Easter Vigil. You've got a great road ahead of you. But you still have to tell your family and friends about your decision. That can be super difficult, but it is an important step in the conversion process. Here is some of my advice when it comes to having "the conversion talk."

1. Remember Your Roots

Always remember where you came from, especially when it's from a non-Catholic Christian background, especially when your family is pretty devout in their own sect. Your family probably remembers you participating in Sunday School plays and learning about the faith right beside them on Sunday mornings. If your church was as fellowship-focused as mine, you'll probably have a long list of potlucks, picnics and house visits under your belt. In this circumstance, you have faith and community to contend with. You may find that when you say, "Hey, I'm converting," people hear "I don't appreciate what you did to help my faith," or "The memories I have of our times of fellowship together mean nothing."

Just because you now believe the Catholic Church is the Church Christ established while here on earth, you should not feel or communicate arrogance about your conversion. Did you come to the Church all on your own without God's grace? I didn't think so. Instead, be grateful for what God has done in your life, and that includes being thankful for the journey and where it all started.

2. Know Your Audience

Your audience will largely decide your delivery. That is not to say that you should be dishonest about why you are converting. Rather, only you know what kind of people you are telling your epiphany to. If your family is very devoutly Protestant, as mine was, you might find yourself with a large discussion on your hands (*see #3). You might need to emphasize how much they have helped you develop your faith and that this decision is not made against them, but for Christ. If your friends are not incredible apathetic to any religion, as many of mine were, you will face more confused looks than anything else. You may get to thrown down some fun facts (eg. "Do you know about St. Lawrence? He was a martyr who was tied to a grill and slowly roasted to death. Part way through, he said, 'Turn me over. I'm done on this side.' True story."). Knowing who you're speaking to will help you know how to say what you need to say.

3. Plan Your Speech

Now, this doesn't have to be a huge speech, but knowing what you want to say ahead of time can help you out when nerves might be hanging about. [Just don't be like me when I have to talk on the phone and write it all down, only to go off the cuff. "Uh...hi...hello...how are you? My name is Haley. ...Oh, right, I called about—" Don't be a bumbling mess.]

If you are at a loss, just keep it simple. "Hi, so-and-so. I want to share some exciting news with you. I am converting to Catholicism. I have thought and prayed about this for a good while. I appreciate your prayers and would love it if you came to my Confirmation. Any questions?"

Don't make excuses. Don't tiptoe around the topic. If your audience is in the "That's interesting. I have many questions" camp, enjoy the opportunity to tell people what you love about the Church. If your audience is in the "What utter nonsense this is!" camp, be patient and charitable. You have had time to think about converting, while your people have not. Continue to be patient and charitable through any questions or exclamations. Looking back, I will always see the ways I could have said or done something differently, and the only thing I regret about converting is that I definitely could have handled telling the news in a more charitable way. Again, this is an opportunity to tell people what you love about the Church. Time to represent.

4. Find Your Support

If your loved ones respond positively to the news of your conversion, then celebrate! That is great! If your loved ones are straight up baffled by your decision, then pray for them and find the support you need in the Church. Invoke the saints: Saints Helen and Monica are patrons of converts (and the mothers of Constantine and Augustine, respectively). We also live in the age of social media; use it to your advantage. I have made many Catholic friends because of blogs and Twitter (check out my "favorite blogs" link above and follow me at @bakeorbake!). Get involved at your parish with Bible studies and weekly Rosaries, and get to know other converts. Find your own support group.

In Conclusion

We owe a great deal to our family and friends. These are the people who have seen us grow up, who know us better than others, and who have our best interests in mind. Remember these things when you share your news. Though this may be a difficult step at first, with time, your loved ones will likely adjust and may even consult you on an aspect of Catholicism. My family and friends came to my Confirmation and showed their support again at my Nuptial Mass. The process of converting can be exciting, but the result is important, too. Always show others the light of Christ.

Forgive Yourself

This morning I prayed day five of the St Therese Novena. If you would like to join in the one I'm doing, you can find it here. Part way through the prayer of the day, it says:

"Loving God, You gave St. Therese the gift of forgiving others even when she felt hurt and betrayed. Help me to be able to forgive others who have wounded me, especially..."

Do you know who popped into my head? Myself!

I lay in bed for a moment, stunned into silence by my response. Perhaps for some, forgiving oneself sounds cliche. Perhaps several people pop into one's head: "My siblings, for being insufferable annoyances. My spouse, for doing everything the wrong way. People in general, for altered bus schedules, crappy work days, taking all the close parking spots, and global warming." For me, though, there are no truer words when it comes to me forgiving someone. The person I am worst at forgiving is myself.

Now, there are different ways this manifests.

One way is in day-to-day inner monologues. I make a mistake—forget to return library books on the right day or slosh a cup of tea all over myself—and I think, "What an idiot!" I remember all the fights I had with my sister and think, "There is no worse sister than me." I realize that I haven't talked to a friend in months and think, "We shouldn't be friends anyways. Why would they want me as a friend?" I ask my husband a question I've asked him three times before and think, "He probably can't stand me. He should have chosen someone who paid better attention."

Obviously, this cycle of negativity does no good. Not only does it confuse other people (for I withdraw into myself when I am upset and then they probably do think I am upset with them), it makes me treat myself in ways I would never treat another person. I would never tell another person they are lousy, undeserving, or the worst person/sister/daughter/friend/wife ever. So why do I do it to myself?

Some flaws, though, may help me realize when I am wrong. Maybe I have serious sins on my soul that need to be confessed (and I need to brush up on a guide to Confession). In that case, I should make myself right before God. For the most part, I find Confession to be a truly freeing experience. I am blown away by the mercy of God. But sometimes, in my imperfect heart of hearts, I'll confess something and still be thinking on it months later. Why? If God can forgive me, why can't I forgive myself?

If I have been forgiven, what use is it to dwell on the past? In the Gospels, Jesus told those he healed, "Go and sin no more." He did not say, "Go and dwell on your past failures." What did I say my favorite verse is? "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17) This verse is a reminder that in Christ I can be new. So why do I insist on holding on to the old?

The St Therese Novena continued: "I try to forgive, Lord. Help me to forgive 70 times 7 times!" 70 times 7 times! Could I forgive myself that much? I should forgive myself that much! If Our Lord can forgive the people who denied Him and crucified Him, surely I can forgive myself for burning my morning toast.

If you struggle similarly, I don't know the secret to treating yourself with the respect you deserve. I do know that if God lowered Himself and became man for our sake, if He endured ridicule, persecution and a gruesome death for our sake, then we can all manage to be a little bit nicer to ourselves. Let's talk in the comments.

A Guide to Confession

What is Confession?

Confession, also called the Sacrament of Penance, is the sacrament by which one is forgiven his sins after confessing them with true sorrow and receiving absolution from a priest. The penitent must be truly sorry and intend to avoid sin in the future. Now, this may be quite the mouthful for some readers, but I'll go through it (as always, feel free to ask questions below!). I should first say that I know there is sometimes confusion when it comes to Confession. How can Catholics seek forgiveness from another sinner? What difference does confessing one's sins aloud to a priest make when we can simply turn to God in private? What if someone doesn't mean it? How can they be forgiven? These and other questions can be answered here (the Catholic Encyclopedia is one of my favorite sources when I'm doing a bit of research, so consider bookmarking this website!).

Scripture References:

We see Christ speak of confessing sins multiple times in the New Testament. Here are some of the most popular passages:

• "[W]hatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
• "Confess, therefore, your sins to one another: and pray for one another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much." (James 5:16)
• "As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.' When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained'" (John 20:21-23)

History in the Church:

We also see Confession encouraged throughout Church history from the Didache (a writing from people in the early church), St Augustine and St John Chrysostom, both of whom lived in the first few centuries. St Athanasius writes:

"As the man whom the priest baptizes is enlightened by the grace of the Holy Ghost, so does he who in penance confesses his sins, receive through the priest forgiveness in virtue of the grace of Christ." [my emphasis added]

"But this was all ages ago. Surely, time must have changed things," someone might say. Well, if you want a contemporary source, Pope Francis has said that he tries to go to Confession every fifteen or twenty days. Outdated practice? Methinks not. As long as people continue sin, that is as long as Confession will be relevant and important.

So here is something Christ told us to do, something that was practiced and encouraged by the early church, something that we still see is important. It's good for us to know how to do it, right? A couple of things first:

• One of the Precepts of the Church is to go to Confession at least once per year (usually during Lent). You can certainly go more frequently, and you are encouraged to do so if you have mortal sins on your conscience. It is also good practice to confess venial sins.
• If one has mortal sins on their soul, he is not to receive Holy Communion. We are to be in as clean a state as possible when we receive the Eucharist. Imagine going to meet a world leader after having just committed treason in that country. We would think that crazy, wouldn't we? So we must make ourselves right before God before we receive Our Lord in the Eucharist.

I. Before Confession

Before Confession, you should take time to examine your conscience (in fact, you should examine your conscience each day). I usually use an app on my phone (Mea Culpa: it's rigorous in its detail, but probably needs an update) and go through the Commandments in detail. Parishes will often leave out pamphlets or handouts to guide you through the Commandments. I have also referred to Fr. Z's 20 Tips for Making a Good Confession, just to remind myself of good pointers.

Look up Confession times at your parish. I am lucky enough to go to a parish where Confession is offered regularly twice per week, but often up to four times per week. Jackpot! If you are unable to make the scheduled Confession time, you can set up an appointment with a priest. Unfortunately, many parishes only offer an hour (or half an hour!) on a Saturday evening. Would that Confessions were offered every day! But that's a result of many people neglecting Confession. Don't blame Father for not reading your mind and knowing your schedule. Just make a bit of an effort. (If there is a surge of Confession frequenters, then Father may add more hours to the week!)

Then, make a commitment to go at a certain time and stick to it! Make sure you show up with ample time and not five minutes before the time for Confession is over. I strongly encourage this because if many other people are trying to go to Confession that day, the priest may not get to every single person who shows up near the end, but he will make the effort to hear as many people as possible. Better safe than sorry! Remember that Confession is important: this is a matter of the soul and your standing with God. So do approach it with the seriousness and sincerity it deserves.

I find it helps to have Confession coincide with Adoration or Mass, as you have further reason to go and another good spiritual thing to do at the same time. I highly recommend going to Adoration or Mass after Confession. If Adoration, you get to thank Christ in what seems a more intimate way when you step away from the confessional. If Mass, you get to receive Christ in the Eucharist. Do all three together? That's the best!

II. During Confession

When you confess, bring along the guide you used to help you examine your conscience. I keep everything in that phone app, but if you're worried about a technological blunder, you can write everything down (and destroy the paper later). Whichever way you are comfortable with, because whichever way you choose needs to work for you.

Follow the priest. At the start, you'll make the sign of the cross. Then you'll say, "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been ___ days/weeks/months/years since my last confession." You should also state if this is the first time you've ever gone to Confession. That way, the priest will know to guide you a little more. You will continue by confessing your sins in kind and number. This means you confess what the sin is and how many times you committed it (for example: "I lied three times."). You are only required to confess mortal sins (sins of serious nature, committed with full knowledge and consent; an example would be blasphemy), but confessing venial sins (sins which fail to meet at least one of the criteria of mortal sins) is good practice, too. Once you have finished confessing, you should communicate to the priest that you are finished by saying something like: "For all these sins and any that I may not recall, I am heartily sorry."

The priest may ask questions to clarify. He will give you counsel and advice. Then he will give you a penance. Penance is usually a prayer (for example: five Our Fathers), but may be an action (for example: apologize to the person you sinned against), assigned to you in order to pay the temporal punishment of sin (the eternal punishment is remitted by the sacrament) and increase your hatred of sin. Make sure that you understand the penance. You will then be prompted to make an Act of Contrition and say something like: "O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all of my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because I have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen." It is good practice to have an Act of Contrition memorized, but I have often seen them printed out and secured to the confessional.

The priest will then absolve you. This is essential. Make sure that the priest says, "I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Respond, "Amen." There are rumors that some priests forget to absolve (!?), so if you've said your Act of Contrition and Father just says, "Peace out, home skillet," kindly remind him to absolve you. He may then say, "Go in peace." Respond, "Thanks be to God." I also like to say a quick "Thank you, Father," before ducking out.

III. After Confession

As you exit the confessional, you may feel as light and free as a bird. Do not, however, fly outside. Post-Confession prayer is some of the best prayer, and it is good time to do your penance. If you have been given a prayer as your penance, do it immediately. If you have to do some act, make a (physical, if necessary) note for yourself to complete your penance as soon as you can. Remember my advice to go to Confession and then go to Adoration or Mass? You have nice, squeaky cleanness, so what better way to celebrate than to adore Our Lord in the monstrance and receive him in the Eucharist?

Confession can be intimidating. I know, because Confession has been intimidating for me. But do you know what's more intimidating? Thinking that you have separated yourself from God by your sins and may never make amends. When you postpone Confession, you are only dragging your sins around  like a ball and chain longer. Once you've confessed, the anxiety and guilt tethered to your ankle falls away. It is truly a great gift Our Lord has given us.

Some Notes:

1. The priest is bound by the Seal of Confession. This means that he cannot talk to anyone about what is confessed. Your cringe-worthy fails are safe with him.
2. Venial sins can be remitted by prayer and reception of the Eucharist. I still like to confess them.
3. If you can manage to have a regular confessor, that would be great! I've moved so much in the last few years and even at the same parish, I haven't always had the same priest. Having a regular confessor can help both of you to see the pattern of your sins or any underlying problems. Then you'll be better able to come up with a plan of attack.
4. If you conceal any sins, then none of the sins you have confessed are forgiven and you have committed an additional sin, sacrilege. If you forget any sins, just bring them up next time.
5. If you're ever feeling a little nervous, just remember: it used to be the practice to confess one's sins aloud in front of others in the church. Take solace in your dark, private confessional!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below! Here's my post on my first Confession if you're curious.

7 Tips to Make the Most of RCIA

As a new school year begins, I am mindful of the fact that RCIA is starting up as well. I went through the RCIA program during the 2012-2013 academic year at University and it is simultaneously difficult to believe it was so short and so long ago. Here are my tips for how to make the most of RCIA.

1. BE NOT AFRAID

(like, seriously, chill out)

If you're anything like me, you get nervous over the silliest things. I remember walking to RCIA with a faster than normal heartbeat thinking about being quizzed on things I didn't know or not getting on with anyone or it not being a very good experience overall. At some point on the walk, I just started saying Hail Marys...and my freak out went from a nine to a two. Our Lady has got our backs. Never be afraid to ask for her help. Also, just don't be afraid of RCIA. It was a great experience and I learned so much and became a better person by it.

2. BOND WITH YOUR SPONSOR

(and just plain get involved)

It was great having a sponsor because that meant I got (1) a person to ask questions to (and a had a lot of them) and (2) a dear friend. We met for lunch, took walks and made dinner together, utilizing the time to talk about all sorts of things I didn't know as well as our hobbies and interests. It can be overwhelming to be thrown into a huge group and be told, "Hey, make friends." But my sponsor and I were, it seemed, perfectly matched, and it was so much easier to feel a part of everything.

You're not going to mesh with everyone. Certainly, I've found bonding with other Catholics easier in some ways than bonding in other groups. There is a common understanding there. And it's so nice to think: "That's Julie, my sister in Christ, my pal." There's an automatic camaraderie that, for introverted people like me, is so refreshing. 

3. GO TO CONFESSION.
(now I look like Father Z)

It isn't all making friends and talking about siblings, guys. If you're a convert, you'll make your first confession (here's my account of mine) and I know it can be kind of intimidating. Oh, recall all my sins from all my life? I'm a monster! But the confessors I've had have been so patient and kind and if you let the priest know that it's your first confession (DO make sure to do this), he'll help you out. If you have a priest who has been hearing confessions for a couple of years or so, don't worry: you won't frighten him away by your grievous faults. AND, because of the Seal of Confession, he won't tell anyone what you say to him in the confessional. One night, our group at RCIA talked about how to go to confession. If you have questions, just ask.

Remember that book series "Chicken Soup for the [insert demographic here] Soul?" Confession is like chicken soup on sanctifying steroids. It is so good for your soul. I really ought to make a good post about confession, so look out for that in the future.

4. GO TO ADORATION
(holla at ya savior)

I was absent only one RCIA class and that was when we were to talk about adoration. Major fail, right? Make that class! Then find out when your parish holds adoration and if they don't (yes, apparently this is sometimes a thing)...ask Father to start that awesome hour up. I know what must be a common perspective: "I'm going to kneel for an hour looking a a host? What's the big deal?"

First of all, that is JESUS up there, kid. He's just hanging out with you all in the monstrance. Am I the only one boggled by that sometimes? If that isn't enough to convince you, the whole liturgy is beautiful. I know it isn't at all applicable, but I so want Tantum Ergo sung at my funeral, it's so beautiful. I know: there should be adoration at my funeral. I mean, pray for me and everything, I appreciate that in advance. But if you're going to be at church anyway...I'm just saying. A little adoration time never hurt anything.

"But what do I do at adoration?" Well, pray, quite simply. You could pray the Rosary or the Liturgy of Hours, read scripture, or, like me, just kneel in awe for half an hour before managing to string together any coherent sentence. We are given such an incomparable, amazing gift in the Blessed Sacrament. It's okay to just be in that moment (though, finding something good to do with your mind ensures that your focus doesn't get terribly sidetracked).

5. DO INDEPENDENT STUDY
(and you thought class was over)

RCIA was a great way for me to learn more about the Catholic faith and grow alongside other catechumens and Catholics. We covered a wide range of topics, had some good discussion sessions, talked about practical applications of the faith and I made some of the best friends I feel like I can talk to at any time about living the Catholic faith. However, for most people (because if you feel hesitant, you are not forced to continue to Confirmation; some people need more time to figure everything out), RCIA is just one year--just a fraction of a year, really--and one year is not enough time to learn all one may about the Catholic faith. I wish you the best of luck in that endeavor if it is your intention.

While my RCIA group covered the basics and explained things pretty well, I am naturally an inquisitive and knowledge-thirsty person. I had been thinking about converting for some months before I joined RCIA. In those months I checked out books on Mary (because she is such a point of mystery and confusion for many Protestants, including myself at the time), Church history, the Mass, the Magisterium, Catholic practices, cloistered religious... There was nothing I didn't want to know. Reading gave me more knowledge and also helped me formulate questions. If this was to be the biggest decision of my life, I wanted to be sure of it. I wanted to understand as much as I could. I did all of this on top of an overload of coursework and a job, so if I can do it, you totally can. Do recognize the importance of this moment in your life and give it the time and energy it deserves.

A few writers and saints I've enjoyed: Scott Hahn (Rome Sweet Home was my first read; Hail, Holy Queen, Reasons to Believe, The Lamb's Supper and Signs of Life are also good ones), St Therese, Thomas Merton, St Thomas Aquinas, and early Church fathers. I also like to "quiz" myself and learn more about topics I need brushing up on from sites like this.

6. LOOK TO THE SAINTS
(the best friends you've never met)

If you asked me five years ago what significance Mary or any of the saints had in my life, I would have fixed you with a confused look. For real. The saints still aren't quite as big a role in my life as I would like to make them, but I've certainly come a ways. I am so thankful for the saints who stand as role models to us. These are the ones who have succeeded, who have run the race of life well. You'll probably experience a time or two when you lament a particular woe and a fellow Catholic says, "There's a saint for that." It is so true.

I think I appreciate the saints so much because of their real life versatility. The saints have been mothers, fathers, cloistered nuns, royals, musicians, virgins, martyrs, warriors, and--get this--sinners. It reminds me of Harry's line in Order of the Phoenix: "Think of it this way: Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than we are now. Students. If they can do it, why not us?" Modify wizards to saints, and you've got it right there. The saints lived very human lives with human concerns and became saints. We get to ask their help! If they can do it, why not us?

7. LIVE THE CATHOLIC LIFE
(and the Catholic year)

How better to show your faith than by your actions? The best way, I've found, to get to living out the Catholic life is to just jump in. Carry a Rosary in your pocket or bag, download Catholic apps, pray the Angelus and the Liturgy of Hours, pray Novenas, go to Mass multiple times per week, get to know other Catholics... There is much to do.

Did you know the year is divided into different seasons, speckled with fasting and feasting? No Creasters (people who only show up to church on Christmas and Easter) up in here. Almost every day has a saint to study and familiarize oneself with. Also take the time to understand why we fast or abstain. This is the rhythm of life.

Haley (particularly for food: she and her husband Daniel have two cookbooks out on following the Catholic year) and Kendra (particularly for activities: she recently had her eight child, so she has many little ones to teach and the ideas she has are perfect whether you have eight children or zero) are my go-to bloggers when I want to figure out how to celebrate a particular day or season. If they don't have what you're looking for, a google search will do you fine.

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If you are interested in knowing what my experience with RCIA was like, you can click on the RCIA label link on the sidebar. Here are some of my favorites:

Not Alone: One of the things I felt when I started RCIA was that I was the only one. How foolish! Especially when there were a good thirty people in the meeting room with me, when I knew logically there had to be other people in the other RCIA groups in other dioceses. When I met my sponsor, we hit it off so well, that then it finally hit me: I wasn't alone. I was preparing to be welcomed into the best group ever.

Rites and More Than Alright: Less than two months out, we went to Peoria for the Rite of Election and met with Bishop Jenky. It felt super fancy and special and the cathedral was gorgeous.

And of course, Easter Vigil Scene I, Scene II and Scene III: Because one post wouldn't be enough, I needed three posts to capture the evening I was confirmed. I was beyond excited and it was in so many ways a perfect night.

Washington DC

This post has been a long time coming. With the whole moving process, though, it fell by the wayside, so I'm finally sharing it today. Heads up: this is a photo-heavy post.

In lieu of a grand honeymoon week (though we do have something planned later this year!), C and I decided to hop down to DC for the weekend of 4 July. Well, let's be real: C came up with the whole thing, which I agreed to more out of "Sure, that sounds alright," rather than "I find this to be a super exciting idea!" As usual, he was right about what a good idea it was. One day I'll learn.

Early Friday morning, we made a necessary coffee run and then we were on our way. The trip went so smoothly that we got to our first stop, Arlington National Cemetery, by late morning. I have often heard of cemeteries described as haunting, mysterious, creepy, but almost never beautiful, which is what ANC was. It helps that things are well organized: graves sites near the entrance are uniform and roped off, keeping tourists off the well-manicured grass (I did see people visit people they knew, though). That sounds impersonal, but I believe it preserves the serious and almost sacred mood of the grounds. We were also able to find C's uncle's ashes in the crematorium (a labyrinth in itself).

I think my favorite part of the visit, aesthetically, was the Kennedy site. Not for the graves (and people definitely were interested in those), but for JFK's speech carved into a semi-circle down the hill from them.

"We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. ... In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it." 

Afterwards, we checked into our hotel in Alexandria and C napped while I figured out our evening's schedule and the metro system. Just a heads up: the metro system gets an A for number of locations, area of travel and frequency of transfer points. The metro system gets a D for their cards not working properly and requiring exit swipes (y u no like Chicago and just let us through?). I digress. We got into the city and were welcomed by rain as we made our way to the National Mall. The rain let up and we enjoyed the remaining hours of daylight walking by museums (most of them were closed or closing at this point) and to monuments. Unfortunately, a lot of buildings and sections of the National Mall were under construction, but the beauty of the area wasn't entirely marred. After the rain subsided, the sky was a perfect light gray that cast a nice, calm light on everything.

We continued our walk into the downtown area and, let me tell you, DC looks so much like Europe. I remarked several times that weekend how much I felt like I was in Paris. The layout of the city is just well thought out and the architecture of the buildings is really nice, too. Pennsylvania Ave is just super pretty at night. At the end of our walk, we got dinner at &pizza. There are many of these throughout DC and I think they just have a fun vibe and set up. You can get menu items (like dessert pizza! whaaat) or you go down the line, crafting your own pizza. There are so many options that I think you could probably come up with thousands of different combinations. &pizza also specializes in housemade sodas, some of which are pretty standard in taste (like burdock and anise rootbeer), but others have more of a twist, like ginger berry lemonade.

red pepper chili oil! yesssss.

Full of pizza, we headed back to the hotel and ended our day. The next morning, I woke up at 6 AM. For real. But I figured it was the best time to have breakfast where I wouldn't face a huge crowd. This hotel was a little unusual because it had healthier options I never see at other hotels. I mean, do people still eat turkey sausage? After another nap, we headed out on a very cold and wet July 4th. It rained almost constantly all day and we took shelter at the Library of Congress (not in the Library, mind you, because they stopped allowing visitors an hour before closing. :( ) for at least twenty minutes because we were those people who didn't bring umbrellas. When the rain lightened to a sprinkling, we walked over to the Supreme Court, which was much more popular with tourists than I thought it would be.

We continued our walk, looking for dinner, when we ran into a Paul! These patisseries are all over Paris and I almost started jumping up and down when I saw it. Of course, we had to stop in and I scooped up the last escargot pastry. It is called escargot because it's rolled like a snail shell, but there are no snails to be found; rather, the pastry is swirled with raisins and custard. So so good. We went on and found Pret, a cafe we went to in London, and had our dinner there. Basically, our food this day revolved around our Paris & London trip. We ate lentil soup and sandwiches at the window while people watching.

From here, we set off to the National Mall again and passed a stage set up with some evangelists who were talking about true freedom residing in Christ. There was a sizable crowd for it, but every few people, I heard someone remark on it negatively. I expected C to stop and engage in conversation with some people, but for some reason he didn't and we stayed on track to the Washington monument. Here, they were having a concert, and as the last notes ended, Taylor Swift pumped through the speakers and the fireworks went off. One of the best moments was looking around and seeing this beefy guy dancing with his girlfriend to Shake It Off. I've got that moment on camera, luckily. ;) The fireworks only lasted through a few songs and I was actually kind of disappointed in them. I didn't have time to dwell on such things, though, because all of a sudden, tens of thousands of people were headed for the metro and we did not want to get lost or held up in the crowd. C and I dashed through a crowd of slow walkers, small children and food trucks and down a metro escalator only to hit an un-moving wall of people.

There were easily hundreds of people around us, and that was only on the upper platform to pay before you got down to the trains. It was an absolute mad house and it was like we entered the grumpiest, high tension environment I've been in. I'm not claustrophobic, exactly, but I really don't like being surrounded by people (who does?), so feeling people press in on every side was crazy and I held on to C's hand very tightly so as not to be separated. Finally, the crowd started moving and we had to maneuver pretty slickly to get onto the next (broken) escalator and down to the main platform. A train was due to arrive in a minute and we kept trying to surge forward in order to have access to a door. When it arrived, the train was already more than half full and we jumped on as quickly as possible and a flood of people just continued boarding. Old, young, children, people with strollers but no infant inside (?)... Eventually, there was just no more room to be had, the doors closed and we went on. Travel time did take longer because the metro system was very much tried, so delays are inevitable. But we did get back to our stop in Alexandria and got on the first shuttle back to the hotel. I've never been more thankful for C's initiative and relentlessness.

We laughed about it when we finally got to our room, but in the moment, it all seemed so precarious. If we had patiently followed the slow crowd, missed the metro entrance like I nearly did, or not been so proactive in boarding, we could have been out for hours more. We woke the next morning, breakfasted and visited the National Archives to see original letters, revised drafts and the Declaration of Independence and other documents. No photography was allowed (though I did see some people try to get away with it), because the flash can damage the papers, which are kept in temperature controlled cases. I am not a huge American history buff. I am one of the least patriotic people I know. But seeing things like the Bill of Rights, right there, in person, with ink strokes founding fathers made hundreds of years ago...well, it's a little surreal.

Afterwards, we set off for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (or, as I thought in my head, the main event). It is one of the most gorgeous churches I have ever seen. The walls, ceiling and even floors are beautifully adorned in glittering stones, multi-colored mosaics and brilliant sculptures. We got there about an hour before Mass and wandered around different shrines. Perhaps my favorite area was an alcove where depictions of the Joyful Mysteries resided. As if that all wasn't enough, there was a basement level below full of more shrines, bookstores and a cafeteria. We could have spent much longer there than we did, but there were a few other things we wanted to do before we left.

We returned to our hotel and drove off to dinner at Nando's. After hearing and seeing people talk about going to Nando's for years, I knew I couldn't pass up the opportunity. C and I had salads and split half a chicken and a ton of chips (fries). The hot sauce selection did not disappoint and I poured multiple options onto my plate. I have been on a hot sauce kick lately, so I scooped up Peri-Peri with every chip. We were fairly full of chicken, but not too full for ice cream. Nicecream is an ice cream shop that crafts made to order ice cream with local ingredients and liquid nitrogen. I know. It was basically a constant science experiment in there. I grabbed scoops of blueberry and chocolate (C stuck with double chocolate) and we enjoyed our novelty experience outside. The texture is super smooth, almost velvety and, dare I say it, I think I liked the blueberry more than the chocolate. Wild! We savored our treat and watched billows of evaporated liquid nitrogen smoke pour out of the shop.

Links I'm Liking This Week

I've found some pretty good reads this week and thought I'd pass them along. Here are the links (in some cases with my more-extensive-than-planned commentary) I've been liking so far.

1. The Neoliberal Arts: How College Sold Its Soul to the Market

I came across this article thanks to a graduate student (if you're reading, thanks!). The title is enough of an eye catcher, isn't it? Its basic premise is that neoliberalism has changed the face of colleges, and particularly the study of liberal arts. Instead of attending college for the sake of learning, people go to college to grab a degree and then land a job which will keep them productive and, one hopes, well-to-do. A couple of notes:

1. Of course, one should better themselves and prepare to have a good job. If your livelihood is hanging in the balance, you're going to want to do what you can to appear the best to potential employers. I don't think that that is the argument on the table. Rather, the question is whether college is meant to be an environment for internships six-figure job searches.
2. If one intends to go to a university and spend all their time partying, well, that isn't going to do much good, is it? I sometimes would run into such people who would talk about skiving classes and prepping for parties that evening or weekend. Not everyone who attends college is college material, either. It probably sounds harsh, but not everyone can be the best or most talented: it just doesn't work that way. Lest you think I believe myself perfect, an example: I can't be a star athlete. It isn't in the cards (and if you saw me play any sort of organized sport, you would understand). There's obviously a way to do well at college and a way not to do well.

So what do we make of these two points? College isn't for everyone. (Trade school is an option and what I really think would be good is a stronger push towards things like that.) Historically, college has been a place to learn how to learn, to reason, and to improve one's mind by extensive reading. College has been a place to round out one's character and learn how to become a better person. It isn't just about the paycheck one hopes to get afterwards (but now, as the article points out, most people major in fields like business, communications and technology-geared studies). It isn't about hinging school-wide goals on vague slogans like "leadership," which no one, not even a university dean, can define.

Deresiewicz highlights a couple of comments commonly said in response to a student's announced major: "So you decided to go for the big bucks" and "What are you going to do with that?" I find these quotations so interesting, partly because I've heard the second one before (again, philosophy major), but also because they sound so similar to comments I hear directed at families with multiple children: "You know what causes that, don't you?" and "Are you done yet?" Perhaps comments and questions like these aren't meant as insensitively as they sound, but there are a lot of assumptions flying around and not a lot of looking into the value of people or certain studies. Exactly how open to conversation is the questioned person going to be after that point? In addition, how can anything contradictory or even explanatory not sound like a defense, to which the questioner can reply with a chuckle? Should everything we go after be for monetary gain or for personal ease and comfort? Should we not open ourselves up to the possibility of learning more about the world and ourselves?

Learning is what it is all about, or what it should all be about. Deresiewicz writes, "If college is seldom about thinking and learning anymore, that’s because very few people are interested in thinking and learning, students least of all." How sad! And how truly bizarre. Still, so often I sat in lectures of 300 people asking questions like: "What (least amount of work) do I have to do to pass this class?" instead of "What does Wittgenstein mean when he says x? If I accept this premise, what does that mean I must believe as a consequence?" or "I find the Milgram experiment to be immoral and this is why..." (And I studied philosophy!) People often seemed more interested in getting a passing grade (honestly, the lowest C would do) than really delving into the topic at hand, facing seemingly impossible problems, finding satisfying resolutions and emerging a stronger, more capable person in the end.

Yes, it is good to study topics which will help us be good workers and support ourselves. Anyone frustrated by being branded with the lazy/arrogant/free-loading millennial label would surely want to prove themselves. But going after an education (if you can call it that) which will only get us a six figure job also runs into a problem, as Deresiewicz continues: 

"[T]he biggest challenges we face — climate change, resource depletion, the disappearance of work in the face of automation — will require nothing less than fundamental change, a new organization of society. If there was ever a time that we needed young people to imagine a different world, that time is now."

Where do morals and values enter the scene when everything is focused on monetary gain? If more money can be gained by exhausting the earth and eventually replacing humans with robots, where will we six figure job seekers be? Turning to those who droned on about the inherent value of human beings? Turning to those who were truly creative in their approach to the world? Turning to those idealists and dreamers, reformers and protectors of what we once held sacred?

2. Party with the Old, Play with the Young

I feel like this article speaks so much to what our society is like now, and even gives an indication of how we have gotten to the point of accepting things like abortion and euthanasia. When we see certain groups of people as expendable, it becomes easier to deem them without purpose (and if you have no purpose or use in society, you're out). In this way, I find this article to be very similar to the one above. We have gotten entirely backwards what makes a person valuable or a topic worth pursuing. When we stop caring about people for their own sake or about learning for its own sake, we really miss out on opportunities to do what humans were designed to do: love and learn.

Off the soap box a little, now. If an article features a Wendell Berry quotation, chances are I will enjoy it. From The Work of Local Culture, he says:

“There used to be a sort of institution in our part of the country known as ‘sitting till bedtime’ After supper, when they weren’t too tired, neighbors would walk across the fields to visit each other. They popped corn, my friend said, and ate apples and talked. They told each other stories. They told each other stories as I knew myself, that they all had heard before. Sometimes they told stories about each other, about themselves, living again their own memories and thus keeping their memories alive. Among the hearers of these stories were always the children.”

Berry's quotation reminds me of stories I've heard about women in a neighborhood doing laundry together and bringing the children with to play in the yard. The sense of community, I feel, has largely vanished. What Leila from Like Mother, Like Daughter calls collective memory has also largely vanished. A century ago, knowledge was passed down from grandmother to mother to daughter. People went to family members for information, tips and tricks. The idea of inheritance and tried-and-true methods was woven into life.

That all hinged on community, on respect for people of all ages, on often multi-dimensional families, which we now only see when we study other societies (I'm thinking here particularly of Mexican and South American culture that I studied when I learned Spanish). I feel lucky that I, though only for a brief time, lived with my mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Four generations in one house (and after we didn't live with them, we established weekly visits). I think when a lot of people lose their grandparents, it doesn't always come as a big shock. I have talked to many a person who has said that their grandparents died before they were old enough to understand or form strong attachments; otherwise, they felt like their grandparents were practically strangers. In either of these cases (though the former is harder to control), opportunities to learn about the family, about what life was once like, and about where you come from are just off the table. They can never get back onto the table, either.

However, if we take note of how important and valuable each person and their stories are, we can open up a treasure chest which holds gems from the past to give us insight into the future. Why would we not seize such an opportunity? 

3. 123finearts

This is the Etsy website for the artist friend I mentioned in my previous post (who gifted us with some of her paintings so that now our drab apartment is a little more colorful and doughnut-ified). My favorite work on her page is Seattle Melting. I really like the color palette and think it has such a clean finish. It almost looks like it was made digitally. I hope she does more similar cityscapes! Hop over and take a look at what she's selling.

4. The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle

There is another bundle, this time the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, available now until Monday the 14th. If you don't know what these are, bloggers and health lovers alike get together to bring readers knowledge, personal advice and tons of products aimed at improving your health naturally. Basically, if you're looking for allergy-free recipes, fitness tips, natural remedies and more like-minded things, this is the bundle for you. You'll get dozens of eBooks, online courses and bonuses to get you on track for healthy and, I'd definitely say, confident living. I purchased one of these bundles last year (bundles between years are different) and have yet to go through all of the materials. The amount of information you get is insane (and I love having something to delve into). One of the best parts is it is all less than $30. For real. Scoop it up in the next couple of days.

5. Playlist Party!
I have created a playlist for the month as well, in case you are interested in what I'm listening to at the moment. It's pretty relaxed, easy listening, which I usually reserve for Fall/Winter. As it's still resolutely in the 90s, I'm hoping the music will trick me into thinking it is a bit cooler. Think it will work? ;)