The reality of entering

Hi there!  Yeah I'm still here.  I've been preparing for entrance by being as aggressive as I can with paying down my loans as well as being persistent in my fundraising efforts.  I was working on a dinner in which one of the sisters would give a talk but it looks like the dinner won't be happening anytime soon.  Initially I had planned on a dinner for October 22nd but with the need to get everything ready to enter as soon as possible, it does not look like I will be able to have a dinner any time soon.  I am hopeful though that I can fundraise enough to be ready for entrance.

In other news, my discernment is going as can be expected.  I went through a good week of anxiety and fear of the unknown shortly after I gave my boss official notice that I was leaving.  We both knew that I was leaving but giving her my letter of resignation made it all too real and I got the gist of what I was doing.  I didn't have any regrets or second thoughts but I didn't realize how much I needed to trust in the Lord as I continued to make steps to enter Religious Life.  

So these last few weeks have been a wave of emotions for me as I prepare to face the unknown.  I have  experienced true happiness and joy at the anticipation of my entrance and the beginning of a life lived in Community.  I have experienced anxiety when I think of the fact that I not only need to get additional items for my trousseau but also must be just about debt-free by the time I enter.  

Last night in Adoration, I told the Lord that I was going to spend the next hour with him in silence and I barely made it.  After about half an hour I wanted to pull out my rosary to pray the rosary and I just about did and I was reminded gently of my promise.  Fifteen minutes after that I wanted to pull out my book to do some spiritual reading; it wasn't until the last ten minutes of Adoration that I finally decided to stop and silence my heart and mind and hear the Lord.  

I have been soo looking forward to my entrance that I haven't been thinking too much about what it would be like.  Now that's it's approaching, I think about it more and more and I realize that I won't be visiting anymore and I keep thinking and worrying about that.  While I am exited on one hand, I can't help but be worried about "messing" up.  

I wonder if this is how a new bride feels after the wedding, when she and her groom are finally under one roof and she suddenly feels as though she is under a microscope.  I will never know since I have never been a new bride, but I do know that when I think of life in the convent I do feel as though it will be like living under a microscope; I don't want to "mess up" nor do I want to be unnatural.  I guess I need to continue to remind myself to just be myself, just as I was on my previous visits.  

I need your prayers now more than ever as I prepare for this very exciting and radical move especially as I work on eliminating my loans.  Please consider making a donation or inviting someone to donate to support my vocation.

May God Bless you always,

Hopeful

Remembrance

So over the past couple of weeks I have been thinking of my unworthiness.  Not only in terms of this beautiful vocation the Lord has called me to but the fact that he has seen fit to invite me to His table.  It brings tears to my eyes and I get so overwhelmed.  I was thinking of a way to express my feelings and then Matt Maher came on and this song just dotted the i.

Oh, how could it be
That my God would welcome me into this mystery
Say take this bread, take this wine
Now the simple made divine for any to receive

By Your mercy, we come to Your table
By Your grace, You are making us faithful

Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation, we remember You

See His body, His blood
Know that He has overcome every trial we will face
None too lost to be saved
None too broken or ashamed, all are welcome in this place

By Your mercy, we come to Your table
By Your grace, You are making us faithful

Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation, we remember You

Dying You destroyed our death
Rising You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory

Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory

Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation
We respond to Your invitation, we remember You 

 

picture from savior.org

I just want to sit at His feet in adoration and just let him into my heart.  I don't need to tell Him anything, he knows it all; He knows what I'm feeling, what I desire more than anything is to have time with Him in silence.  

New year, same goal

Happy New Year everyone!

I cannot believe it's 2012 already.  It seems like just yesterday I was ringing in 2011 and making resolutions for the new year.  I've thought about the resolutions that I could make for 2012 and what I think needs to be changed in order for me to become the woman God wants me to be.

Over the past years I have fallen short of my resolutions before the week was even out.  This led to discouragement and eventually giving up on my goals.  This is especially true for spiritual matters, I would vow to say certain prayers daily spend a certain amount of time in adoration and of course regular reception of the Eucharist.

I think after all of these years I have learned a little bit about making resolutions.  They aren't bad in and of themselves, however I have found that when I focus on my resolutions I tend to forget the reason I make those silly resolutions, it's to grow close to Jesus and to become a better Christian.

This year I am making one resolution, to continue to make every effort to live my faith from minute to minute and from day to day.  I am finally learning not to focus too much on my fall but to wake up the next morning determined to live my faith anew.

As you ring in the new year and think of ways that you may grow in your faith, I am keeping you in my prayers and ask you to keep me in yours.

Happy New Year!!!
Hopeful

Happy Birthday Elijah

Today is 4th Sunday of Advent but it also is another reason for celebration.  My nephew turns three today and though I can't be there to celebrate with him in person, I am very excited and can't wait till I see him for Christmas.

It's funny with birthdays, for little ones every year is a big deal.  For the past three years I have been excitedly looking forward to every milestone (a year, 18 mos, 2 years, etc.) expecting to see this overnight change.  I haven't noticed any changes in me since my 18th birthday (I really think I haven't changed much)  folks who haven't seen me in over 18 years still recognize me.

I am looking forward to a chatty Eli, a big boy who doesn't have to cling to his tia in order to fall asleep and one who is now open to sharing.  After all, he's a big boy today :)

Feeling loved even in hard times

So I'm headed to a bodybuilder's conference in Minneapolis and I don't think it could have begun any worse than it has.  It took a lot of prayer and discussion with trusted ones before I decided to let go of my fears and anxiety and go on this conference but in the end I decided that it is something that I needed to do.

Las night I realized that I did not have the donation check that I needed for the seminar fee.  This morning while on the plane I realized that I didn't have some paperwork that I needed to have completed for the conference (now I'm going to try and re do it - first I have to reprint it but where do I find a printer now?) Anyways, I threw my hands up and realize that I am definitely being taught to let go and must really learn what it means to completely surrender to God.

As I get ready to freak out and panic about the fact that I am probably not going to get the discount or be able to make the most of this seminar, I suddenly remember Tuesday morning's events.

Cue flashback
I woke up early enough to make morning mass but with all the things I had to do around the house it was after seven when I left the house.  I had every intention of heading straight to work but somehow I found myself in front of the chapel.  I went in for morning prayer and a few minutes of adoration.  By the time I was preparing to leave Monsignor O walked in and started what looked like preparations for mass, my heart was soooo giddy!!!!  I was going to get to go to mass after all, and this was an intimate one (about 4 of us)

I mean I felt that the morning's psalms were speaking to me in a very special way, it was as if God was shouting at me how much he loved me and would give me the strength to persevere (boy did I need to read those psalms that day) I happily participated and went about the rest of the day on cloud 15 (yeah I was that happy) the Lord was sooo good to me and knew how much I yearned to go to mass that day and afforded me that opportunity.  Usually on days that Monsignor is not the celebrant for daily mass, he says a private mass late evenings so for him to have decided that morning to have mass in the chapel was just a Godsend.

End flashback and return to present moment :)


As much as I am scared that the conference might not go too well, I am comforted in the knowledge that even when it feels like things are not going to improve, the Lord shows his hand and his might.  I am apprehensive and I am still anxious because I don't know how things might turn out with these curveballs but I do trust that the Lord will work it all out.

Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare to board (especially that I continue to remain hopeful in the Lord)

Pax,
Hopeful

Yep, I'm still here

Hello readers,

I looked and it's been a little over two weeks since my last post!!  I know things have been crazy with me but wow, that is a sign a lot of craziness. 

God has been so good to me that it's unreal.

I go on the boot camp training on the 28th and I am looking forward to it.

Pax!
HB

Please pray

Right now it seems that there is a lot happening all at once.  Good things, frustrating things, things I'm unsure about, just everything.  I am trying all that I can to not be overwhelmed and to remain rooted in prayer and continue to trust in Christ.

Please pray that I am able to weather this and be attentive to God's voice in my heart.

Enjoy your long weekend!
Hopeful

No more, no more. My plate is full

I have wanted to do the 54-day Rosary Novena for about forever and a day now and I just realized that I was supposed to start it yesterday to have it end on a Marian Feast day.  Well Phooey!  I now have to wait to do it so that the Novena ends on the feast of the Annunciation.  Sigh, I guess I will just have to wait until the right time. 


I think this is a sign that I am way too busy and I have too many emails to check.  I chickened out and did not get to tell the DRE that I will not be able to teach for the fall.  I mean what was I supposed to say when she brought this adorable little boy to me so he could "meet his teacher"?  A part of me just feels like this was totally planned on her part to make sure I don't drop out, lol.  I must say that I am looking forward to teaching again this coming year because every year the kids are different and it is just wonderful to see them grow in just an academic year.


So it looks like it is not part of God's will for me to scale back from teaching this year.  Man sometimes I wish I could just stop being so involved with parish ministries but I can't seem to help myself.  Well scratch that, my friend and I were going to join this group and today we both decided that we didn't need to get any more involved than we are right now so it would appear that I am learning to say no and am becoming more aware of my limits.


I am working on finishing my course (Introduction to Scripture I) before the fall term begins because I will be teaching a course at the college where I work and will be enrolled in a philosophy course; this is all on top of being involved with Youth group and Religious Education.  Please keep me in your prayers that I may survive it all without falling down from exhaustion.


p.s.  Please Keep my friends J and L in your prayers.  They are expecting (J lost her first baby about 3 years ago when the baby stopped growing after the first trimester) L was severely sick the 6th week due to very bad food poisoning.


Pax,
Hopeful

Coolest Blog post Eva!!!

OK so one of my friend has a blog that he sometimes use to display his artistic genius (he designed the banner for my website)  Anyways, I saw this post on his page a few days ago and made a comment that he needed to do other stuff, specifically a mini SMMC.  Below is what he came up with and I just think it is the coolest stuff Eva!!!!!

Max my friend, I give you the win (just for today - and I'll take it back in a heartbeat if you try to use this to misquote me)

Happy Monday everyone and may you be Christ to another today,
Hopeful

Confessions of a Discerning woman

I have a confession to make, multiple confessions actually.  For the past month and half or so I have not been truthful.  I have not been truthful to myself, to others and mostly to God.  Granted, the Lord knows all but I have been trying to actually fool him.  I have not been truthful enough to admit to the Lord and to others that I am scared, that I have not been trusting the Lord and that I have allowed my fears about what's ahead in this journey to have too much of an impact on my relationship with God.

There's been so much going on with me in terms of discernment and just life in general that I have not been "myself".  I have been doubting God in the worst way, I've been doubting His ability to provide for me in the way that I need.  I have been doubting his companionship and I have been doubting all the graces I have received.  The sad part is that while I have been doubting the Lord about His ability to provide and care for me, I have been telling others of the importance of trusting in the Lord and telling them of the need to turn all of their worries over to Him.  Daily I profess my love for the Lord and I say how much I trust in Him but yet deep down I know I am afraid to the point that I don't fully trust him and I know I do not live as if I love Him.  I choose myself above Him and I don't care to be Him to others or to try and see Him in others.

It is a horrible feeling to know that the way I live my faith outwardly is not a true reflection of how I am living my faith internally.  For the sake of others, I pretend that I am OK with the Lord (that I trust in Him, and have deep Hope in Him) Sadly I continue to go on this way and I believe that I must go on this way (faking past the doubt and fear) because that is what's expected of a discerning young woman.

A while back, I shared with my Spiritual Director my unhappiness at learning that news of my discernment had spread.  I was quite upset that my discernment had become public, I wanted to discern in private so that I could be at peace to truly hear the Lord.  The truth of it is the reasons I thought of were not truly why I wanted to discern privately.  I am now realizing that I did not want people to know of my discernment because of the fact that I didn't want to be held to any standards, especially a standard of a life of holiness.  I feel that I am expected to trust, to love and to know the Lord intimately. 

The truth is none of these are true; there are times when I question God and I find myself questioning His will for me, His wisdom in leading me toward a certain path and in truth His ability to provide.  Now as a future religious, I am expected not have doubts or moments of despair; but I do because I am fully human and I get terribly scared.

I saw my Spiritual Director late last week and we discussed this very thing (my doubts, fear and despair) He reminded me of the fact that Hope depends not on looking at what is ahead of us but rather on us looking back at past graces, evidence of God's love, faithfulness & presence and to resolve to continue our journey trusting and depending on Him.  I look back and I know I must have Hope because it is clear God has led me here.  I just need to continue to live my faith day by day and to stop worrying about tomorrow.

This task is easier said than done, pray for me dear friends as I strive to trust, to love and to obey day by day.

Yours in Christ,
Hopeful

Doubt

Do you ever have moments of great clarity and confidence only to face painfully difficult moments of doubt and second guessing?  I know I must trust the Lord with all of my fears and all that I am.  However, I find myself struggling to remain confident in the knowledge that the Lord has indeed called me to live the life of a religious.  I find myself second-guessing my discernment process and the events that led me to saying yes to religious life.

This doubt comes from fears that I have kept to myself.  Fears that I have not brought to the Lord.  It comes from the evil one tempting me with fleeting pleasures and a sense of loss; loss of the chance to be a mother, a wife and many other things.  There is a storm within my heart and I know that I need only to turn to the Lord for comfort.

Jesus, help me to truly surrender to your will and to give you my heart wholly and completely.  Holy Spirit, help me to be open to your gentle urgings in my heart.  Holy Spirit, come.

The Storm within

Hello Dear readers and happy summer.  It's been quite some time since I updated this blog and so much has happened; with me, my family and my future community.  It has all been chaotic to say the least (not necessarily a bad thing) and in the past few weeks the video below is a perfect summary of what I have been feeling.  Through it all I am fighting to remain faithful and keep continued trust in the Lord. 

Please keep me and all of those discerning the Lord's will in your prayers.

Until next time,
Hopeful

It is done

I finished the Franciscan rosary and I find it so beautiful that it is hard to think about giving it away.  I am hoping they like it and that whoever wins it uses it often.  Nerves are making it a bit hard to fall asleep but I must give in to sleep so that I am refreshed tomorrow.  I am still waffling about my talk; I have so much I want to share!  I am trusting that the Lord will guide me.  Please keep my intentions in your prayers.

I have included some pictures of the finished rosary.

Enjoy!
Hopeful

(I found these beads at a close-out sale at the local bead store.  The Pater beads are square-ish and the Ave beads are flat heartshaped.  The center is of Our Lady of Lourdes and Bernadette, on the back of it is water from Lourdes.  How cool is that?!!!)  I am hoping to go back and find some more beads for a chaplet or maybe a bracelet.

Distractions

This morning after mass, I started thinking about distractions during the mass and distractions in general.  I find it funny that my sister is the one with ADD but I am constantly finding myself too distracted by what is going on around me.

This happens specifically with my prayer life and with mass participation; I have made myself a schedule (I think I mentioned it before) for the weekday and for the weekend.  The hope is that I can use that as a guide to always remember to make prayer and time alone with our Lord a priority in my life.  However, I am finding that it doesn't take much to detract me from that schedule.  I always seem to have other things that come up (work stuff, Family obligations, Service obligations) and I start to find myself justifying not going to adoration everyday "I'm not a religious, I don't have to go everyday"  I do the same thing when I wake up late "I can just say a quick prayer, I don't have to pray the Liturgy of the Hours" before I know it I am making excuses and it is way too easy to neglect my spiritual development.

At church it is even worse, I have to always force myself to look at the cross so that I remember the point of the mass.  It is not about the fact that this person just strolled in and sat down without genuflecting, it is not even about how short and revealing someone's attire is.  It is about remembering the Lord's passion and being thankful for His obedience.  I struggle very hard to remain focused on the paschal mystery and this always brings me much sorrow.  I have started to reflect on John's love for Our Lord and I am finding this helpful in my quest to remain focused on Christ.  

It is very painful to know that I love Christ and say that I love him but I feel that I don't always act it.  Especially when I sit at mass focusing on everyone else and noticing someone else's splinter while ignoring my proverbial log.  I pray everyday that I grow more in love with him and I truly want to live only for Him, everyday before mass I ask God to rid me of all distractions and to help me focus on the sacrifice of the mass.  I am given more and more opportunities to do this and I thank God for them.  I am learning that when we ask for something (Patience, Humility, Faith) we are often presented with opportunities to grow in these virtues.  And so as I am presented with more and more opportunities to lose my distractions, I thank the Lord and I continue to pray and ask John and Our Lady to assist me in my quest to love Christ as they did.

I ask for continued prayers as I continue to pray for you.

In Christ,

Hopeful

The truth about Lent

It is the third day of Lent and already I am struggling with my promises, not so much because of my own choosing but rather because I struggle to find a balance between time with my family and time with the Lord.

In this struggle to say faithful to my Lenten promises I am reminded that Lent is not necessarily at bout myself or even about being able to keep my promises.  It is about living out my faith day by day and improving my relationship with Christ.  The failings are a humbling experience, a gentle reminder that Lent is not about us and our individual goals but rather about keeping our gaze fixed on God.

May your journey this Lent be fruitful and filled with Blessings.

In Christ,
Hopeful

And so it begins

I can hardly believe that we have started the preparing for Easter already.  It seems that only a day ago we were preparing for Advent.

For days I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Lent.  One would think that the desire for such a season is strange however for me, Lent much like Advent conveys feelings of joy.  Some think of Lent as being gloomy; I on the other hand think of it in other ways.  I am reminded of the profound love that God the Father had for us that He sent us His son; as well as the unending love from God the Son that He obediently died on a cross as reparation of our sins.

We often hear spouses and parents speak of willingness to die for a loved one, this example was lived out for us by Chris himself and Lent is my perfect reminder of that love.  It is a time when I am truly guided by the Holy Spirit to reflect on my sins; I feel as though a light is shining on me showing me my faults and I am given the great opportunity to counter these faults and grow in the virtues.

Despite my eager anticipation of Lent I had the hardest time coming up with spiritual exercises for Lent (I don't quite like the word penance) I tried to think of a way that I could grow into a deeper relationship with the Lord and to grow in the virtues.  I have finally decided on a series of penances/spiritual activities that I truly believe will help me grow closer to Him.  The purpose of "giving up" something is not for the sake of giving it up but rather to allow for more time with and closeness to the Lord.  With that in mind I made the following Lenten resolutions.

• Technology Fast (this means very moderate use of technology - no Facebook at all, light use of Phatmass; nothing at all on Sundays no phone, TV or PC) This also means not watching secular shows or movies (unless of course it is a family occasion like this upcoming Friday)  I am sure you get the idea.
• Adding in more spiritual reading; I recently picked up the book Fire Within and I am very much looking forward to getting into it.  I am also resolved to reading much of the books I have picked up in the past couple of years.  I feel that time spent in meditation and in reading the works of the great spiritual guides of our times (including the saints) will be of great help to me in my spiritual growth.
• Daily Rosary - My sister and I started saying the rosary together and I am very happy.  She brought up the idea of us saying it together and I must say I am thrilled.  I am all for families praying together so praying with my sisters puts me over the moon (I am already planning on showing her how to pray the Office so we can pray Morning and Evening Prayers together.  However, I will go slow with the new stuff - all in God's time)
• Spend more time in Meditation/Adoration - Right now I spend about 2-3 hours a week in Meditation/Adoration and I go about 2-3 times a week on average.  I would like to increase that by 2-3 hours and make my visits daily or at the very least 5 times a week.

I am sure there are other things I could do but these things I feel are at the base of it all.  I see these resolutions as part of my private resolve to live out my faith day by day and I trust that these changes in my normal routine will ultimately lead to growing in the virtues and a deeper relationship with God.  

I pray you all had a very blessed Ash Wednesday and I wish you a fruitful Lenten season.  I also invite you to share with me your Lenten practices.

May the Lord continue to Bless you all.

Pax,

Hopeful

Do not Worry about tomorrow

I have been really bad at keeping this blog updated; so much has happened since my last post.  I had a wonderful opportunity to serve as a chaperonne for the IHS (In His Steps) youth group in my area and the mountains of Georgia (where we went) only made me miss my sisters even more.  I cannot wait for the day when I can begin formation.

Just a bit of a recap, I received my formal acceptance from Mother Kathryn and I am just over the moon.  It's one thing to know of my acceptance, it's another to actually get the letter in hand with a date to boot!  I am accepted as a candidate for the class of August 2012.  I just pray that I am able to actually enter this year, I do know though that if I must wait until next year it is because the Lord wills it.  I only hope I continue to be open to the graces He bestows on me and continue to grow spiritually. 

I have heard from the Mater Ecclesiae foundation and I was not selected for a grant.  However, I am able to re-apply (more details will come from them later).  It is strange though that I feel this calm and peace about not receiving the grant.  I have this trust in the Lord that He will provide for me in His own time.  I know this sounds cheesy but as much as I try to worry about the MEFV's decision, I am comforted by my trust in His Divine Providence. 

So now it is Sunday February 27th and I am counting down the days until I get to see my sisters and spend my birthday with them.  I am so grateful for this opportunity; it has been almost a year since I last saw them, how time flies!  I get to speak with Mother Kathryn about the details of my entrance and I am trusting it all in His hands.

In light of what has been going on with me, I found today's gospel to be very fitting.  It was another reminder that I needn't worry about when I will enter and how I will manage to pay off my student loans.  Right now, my only focus needs to be growing in the virtues, in closeness to our Our Lady and Christ Himself.  It is just amazing how the Lord speaks to us when we need to hear Him the most.  I pray that I continue to trust in His Providence and continue to lay my worries at His feet.

Please keep my in your prayers as I shall continue to keep you in mine.

In Christ, our Hope
Hopeful 

2011 is here

Happy New Year and Solemnity of our Lady!

I missed mass today because I woke up late and I wasn't even able to go to adoration, I didn't like how the new year started at all.  I do my hour in adoration tomorrow and boy have I missed sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament.  During my travels during these past weeks I have not had the chance to go in for adoration; either because the parish didn't have adoration or because I had no transportation to get to adoration. 

I know the new year is all about making resolutions and I didn't think about making any.  However, in the spirit of the new year I have been thinking about a few things that I would like to do. 

• Sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament every day (even if it's for 20 mn)
• Get closer to the saints, especially St. Teresa of Avila and St. Simon (my patron for this year)
• Stop being so hard on myself, especially when it comes to my spiritual battles.  I am finding that when I fail the Lord, I tend to get myself in a downward spiral that never ends.
• Focus on the graces the Lord has given me more so than my failures
• Gain ten pounds :)

I am hoping that these things lead to a closer and deeper relationship with the Lord and make me a more grateful daughter to him.  I also hope that I can continue to stay focused on my gifts and stay faithful to my vocation.

You are all in my prayers as we enter this new year and I ask you to please keep me in yours.

In Christ,
HB

I had an Epiphany

Yesterday during a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament, I started going through my notebook and realized how close I am to experiencing my own "dark night" Of course I know the reason for this, I am not rooted enough in prayer. A few months ago, I was finding myself in the adoration chapel about two times a day and was saying about 4 of the 7 offices. Now, I have found that I am flooded with projects and a never-ending to do list that I have allowed to slowly take priority over my relationship with my intended. This of course, is my own doing; I need to learn to put the following letters together N-O. Until I do that, I must suffer the consequences (being distant from my love)

I didn't mean for it to happen but somehow, I found myself barely saying morning and evening prayer and fighting to say the rosary daily. I know I can't possibly live like a religious while I am out in the world. However, I am determined to do as much as possible to prepare and condition myself for life as a religious. Not so much so that I can get used to "life on the inside" but rather so that I never lose sight of my love. I know one thing for sure, I love Christ dearly and want to continue loving Him, the only change I would like is to see that love continue to grow. I know the one way to make sure that happens is to continue to keep in contact with Him. I am not satisfied with just going to daily mass, I want to do more to nurture my spiritual life and to strengthen our relationship.

The point of this post, is to say this; the notes that I re-read yesterday reminded me of where my focus should be and what my goal is - to be one with Him - In an effort to keep myself rooted and focused on Him, I will try to post some of these past reflections on a daily basis. Some of them are quite short while others are rather long and have no aim (at least that is what I think of them) some are short personal prayers while others are some questions that have come up during my spiritual readings.

As you read them, give me some feedback and let me know if I you would like to see more of them.

In Christ my Love
HB

Am I being judgemental?

I know you are probably thinking no :) but hear this out.  I have noticed over the years that somehow I can't help myself when I see things I deem to be offenses against the Church or the Lord.  Like for example someone going to mass wearing shorts they wouldn't even wear to hang out with friends or watch someone eat something right before mass and then taking communion or folks picking up their purses, go to communion and run right out of the door afterwards.  You say these are little things and perhaps they are, after all we are not dressing to impress are we? and God doesn't care what you wear does he?  But I beg to differ!

Let's talk about the attire, nothing offends me more than watching someone (mostly young women) dress in a way that shows disregard for our Lord, I mean you would dress nice to meet the Queen of England or some other dignitary so why is the Lord not worth the same attention and care?  And why should I care? because it seems everywhere else I look (the Baptists, Anglicans, Lutherans) they seem to dress with reverence and care while it appears as if us Catholics do not care, but we do!

And then there's the leaving right after communion.  Now I know some of us are busy and must sometimes rush back somewhere (Home to a sick child/parent or to work) but my answer to that is go to a different mass.  Ether one where you can find someone to sit with your sick loved one or one where you have enough time not to have to rush to work.  I don't know about you but if I were to throw a dinner party and my guests ate and just left before everything could even be put away I would be upset.  Again I'm sure there are folks thinking that God doesn't care but I really think He does.

Y'all excuse my ramblings but this kind of stuff hurts and upsets me to the core.  Most especially when I see some of it done by religious, now that is the last group I expected to see this kind of stuff from.

Your thoughts on this, have you ever encountered these things?  Do you also see them as offenses or do you think they are minor?  Am I overreacting by thinking this is offensive to our Lord?  feel free to comment.