incense in my eyes
i grew up with a sketchy knowledge of catholicism.
i wasn’t a catholic, and didn’t have any friends who attended the catholic church. i would pass the catholic church on my way to school or when i was going uptown on a saturday with my girlfriends and i would see a lot of the aboriginal ladies heading into bingo, wearing their rubber boots (that were shoes), headscarfs and skirts and thin purple jackets. i never went in to the catholic church really, until at 17 i was there for a funeral.
as i grew up, without knowing any more about catholicism, the main opinions i was influenced by was that catholicsm was full of hypocrisy, was a convenient religion and had very few real Christians. and i accepted that view. the only time i was around nuns and priests were at funerals or hospitals in crisis times, and there wasn’t much of a time to get to know about their religion then.
it took me 36 years to change that opinion. i have had lots of great catholic friends, but i always accounted them for the "few great" catholics i had been told did exist.
this weekend my opinion of catholicsm was completely altered. amazingly so.
i went on a walk to emmaus, a 72 hour religious retreat of sorts. there are emmaus retreats around the world, particularly in the united states. it was held at a catholic chapel and residence in hong kong.
stepping into the grounds, you knew you were somewhere God was. He always IS with us, to be sure, but the closeness was particularly evident here. the chapel was simple, but beautiful.
we were introduced to a sister, who was one of the spiritual leaders of the weekend. she was absolutely lovely. fantastic. interesting, funny, insightful and honest. it was such a pleasure to be around her. i didn’t have a preconceived notion about nuns, but this one was fantastic, and even her touch was calming and full of love, as were her eyes.
we met a father, and he was the most delightful and interesting man. he explained to us some of the "mysteries" of the catholic church, things that i had passed off as part of the ceremony and left it to that. but the reasons behind the ceremony were beautiful and meaningful.
i loved getting to know catholicism a little more intimately and i loved getting to know catholics better. i think there would be something incredibly comforting about knowing whatever catholic church you walk into around the world, the mass would be the same. even if you didn’t know the language, you would still know the words. and could respond in your tongue. you would know the rituals.
i think it is amazing that catholic church has remained itself since its inception. since the protestant reformation there have been thousands of church splits, but not in the catholic church.
show me a perfect church, and i will show you a church empty of people.
i am adding to my reading list a book about catholicism. i want to know more.
i had a fantastic weekend. i even took the time to cry. and listen, and not just to others. to listen to what i needed to understand.
and when it was all over, magnificent and i went out for dinner and talked about it. a perfect ending.
