Playing Catch Up

I've been meaning to make some entries about my wedding. I've wanted to talk about my health, talk about my faith that has been shaken as of late and other things that are suited for this blog.

So, about my wedding, I think I'll start with the readings we used during the Mass. It is always nice to be reminded of the day and the the words that were read on the day we got married. We spent quite a few hours pouring through the readings that were suggested in our little wedding guidebook. We wanted to find the right words to capture our lives, our marriage and our hopes. I think what we picked fit us. I wish I could post the homily our pastor gave on our wedding day as well. He said some profound and poignant words that also fit us.

Our Wedding Mass, 2/12/11

 

From the Old Testament. 

Allow us to live together to a happy old age.

A reading from the Book of Tobit 8:4b-8

On their wedding night Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife,
“Sister, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord
to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance.”
Sarah got up, and they started to pray
and beg that deliverance might be theirs.
They began with these words:
“Blessed are you, O God of our fathers;
praised be your name forever and ever.
Let the heavens and all your creation
praise you forever.
You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve
to be his help and support;
and from these two the human race descended.
You said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone;
let us make him a partner like himself.’
Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine
not because of lust,
but for a noble purpose.
Call down your mercy on me and on her,
and allow us to live together to a happy old age.”
They said together, “Amen, amen.”
The word of the Lord. 

From the New Testament:

And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians 3:12-17

Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one Body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The word of the Lord.

The Responsorial Psalm

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise shall be ever in my mouth.

Let my soul glory in the Lord;

the lowly will hear me and be glad.

 Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the Lord with me,

let us together extol his name.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

 Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,

and your faces may not blush with shame.

When the poor one called out, the Lord heard,

and from all his distress he saved him.

 Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

Taste and see how good the Lord is;

blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

  2. 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

The Gospel

They are no longer two, but one flesh.  

A reading from the Gospel of Mark 10: 6-9 

Jesus said:
“From the beginning of creation,
God made them male and female.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh.
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate.”
The Gospel of the Lord.

Where's the Love?

Recently, I got into a discussion with a friend on Facebook, who is married to one of my classmates. She's a Christian; a good example of what I'd call a Christian. In her post, we talked about how some Christians can be the most hate-filled malicious people in the world. I really hate to see examples of "bad Christians' in the world. I certainly am not a very good Catholic Christian at times, I recognize that I sin and fail many times but through my faith, through the sacraments, through Our Lord, and our Church I find forgiveness and salvation.  I just don't understand why such hate and bigotry is acceptable in in the world and especially Christianity. Oh yeah, we're human. But being human, don't you think we could be a little more humane?

I know it's a simple thought and not a very deep post but I'm not feeling overly deep today.

Can We Really See the Face of God?

Oh, a new site. My friend Fran who blogs at There Will Be Bread introduced me to "Picturing God" an Loyola Press website with daily images taken throughout the world that represent images of the divine. I would think most believers would agree that sometimes a certain sight be it a father holding a child, a rainbow or a majestic mountain depicts a bit of God.

Anyway, I'm adding it to the blog roll and I will probably update some links as I start blogging again. 

Stats Say A Lot

I haven't posted in this blog in quite some time.  I just looked at my feedit stats and it seems this search "Virgen de Guadalupe - Mañanitas a la Virgen 2007 - MEXICO" is hitting google and linking to this post I made three years ago.

I realize that tomorrow is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and here in the Americas, especially in the Southwest and Latin America, it is a big deal. I hope that everyone has a blessed day tomorrow.

Advent Thoughts

Testing, testing... is this blog on? I think I've asked that question before, or something thereabouts.  A lot has happened since I last posted anything. I really should try to catch up again. Let's see, I got married in a very romantic, very spiritual and faith filled Catholic Sacrament. It's been a good 10 months tomorrow, but we're on a rocky road right now over some health stuff. I'll make a separate post about it another time. It will be ok and the prognosis and outlook is good.

Our parish is doing quite well in taking to the changes of the new Roman missal. We still stumble as a congregation over a few of the parts and I really think the whole I'm not worthy for you to enter the roof of my mouth is the most awkward of all the changes. I'm not fond of "chalice" replacing "cup" in the Eucharistic Prayer, but in general, the changes really aren't so bad. It's odd to see the priests reading so much of the of the Prayer. They've actually put a small lectern in front of the presider's chair, as our priests are still not completely familiar with all the changes to their parts. They had a lot to familiarize themselves with, didn't they?

I'm still pretty conservative in a lot of ways when it comes to the liturgy. I dislike holding hands during the "Our Father" but will hold hands with others rather than be rude or seem aloof and not do it. I really dislike dancing. Grr... liturgical dance makes me cringe. At least when it's done at our parish, it's done outside of the Mass, but I just don't get it. I understand that dance is joyful and can show praise, but it just seems so out of place in the context of the Mass. I did mention somewhere recently I'm pro-Altar Girl, right? And I really take an issue with who has their feet washed on Holy Thursday, but I won't fight about it either way.

So... that's pretty much it so far. I'm going to try to drop by and post more often in this new year.
 
It's a little late to post this, as it is Gaudete Sunday, but it is one of the O'Antiphons, which are appropriate for the season.  Anyway, Happy Advent all.

Communion and Who Says Who Can and Cannot!

I'm thinking of jumping back to my blogging. Figures the first thing I post is about the Communion Wars and those who feel like they can determine who can and who cannot receive. A newish blog I've been following "Dating God" made an excellent post on the subject and I thought I'd pass it along. I must say having been in similar shoes as the Governor and his girlfriend, it's an interesting discussion. I must admit that when I do not receive the Sacrament of Confession for whatever sins I feel are necessary to confess to my confessor, I refrain from receiving the Eucharist. I was actually abstaining long before I lived with my boyfriend-then fiancé-now husband. (A little over a year before I felt like I was in a state of Grace again.)

It's a personal call and I don't think anyone should be judged for their actions-- other than by God-- and they should feel like they can always go to their confessor for absolution and a return to Grace without anyone else looking over their shoulder and declaring them unworthy to receive Communion.