Catechism

OK, I know some of you that read this aren't Catholic, and that's cool with me. And it's nice even because we can be here together and still enjoy talking about God and His love for us and our love for Him from different perspectives.

Well, as many of you may know, I'm new, sort of, to the Catholic faith. I was baptized Catholic and received my First Holy Communion on time, but then that was it for a while. In fact, my family stopped going to Church shortly after that. Anyway, I got married in the Catholic Church and moved here to Maryland where my kids go to Catholic School. A friend of mine through a business I used to do from my home, worked through the Holy Spirit and got me back interested in my faith. So I took some RCIA courses and got confirmed last May with the 8th grade class. That was fun. One of the kids told me that the sponsors sat in the row behind. I politely told her that I was getting confirmed. She said, "Oh, sorry!" I thought that was kind of comical.

Anyway, after my Confirmation, I was on the path of faith, then off, then on, then off... you know what I mean. Just recently, well, the time of the election, I began really digging in to my faith. And it is one of the most important things to me right now.

I read Scripture just about daily and write Daily Devotionals in a blog here on Blogger, and even send them out in emails. I really enjoy it. I like to read about God and I like to write about Him and talk with others about what it means to have faith, regardless of their religion.

So I'm in search of information. Lots and lots of information. I want to read so much that I'm not sure if I will have enough life time to do it all. But that's OK. Anyway. I picked up a book that our pastor created for a Bible Study he's doing. I made it to 2 meetings, but haven't made it back since. I have the book and picked it up this morning and read the Introduction. And what do you know, I have something to share.

I know that Catholics aren't always seen as "pick up the Bible and read it" people, but a lot of us are. I actually enjoy reading it. I learn a lot. I learn through that and obviously going to Church. So Father put a quote in there from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 158: "it is intrinsic to faith that a believer desires to know better the One in whom he has put his faith and to understand better what He has revealed; a more penetrating knowledge will in turn call forth a greater faith, increasingly set afire by love." I just love that quote!

It's a quote that others may be surprised about with the Catholic faith. Like what is this talk about love?? Catholics love God?? We do!! We love Him very much. We love Him so much that we want to follow His Word, in every way. But I think just recently, the Church has come back and is encouraging us to go to the Bible and read Scripture and I think it's wonderful. I mean, we read Scripture in Church every Sunday, but it's not the same as picking up your Bible and reading it.

I had a few friends who were interested in my devotionals and I began sending them in email form, then I started a blog so we could discuss online. And now I send the email each morning, and I do the devotional myself. Visit my site to read the Bible with me and discuss. I'm still learning, so if something doesn't sound right, have a question, or a comment, please let me know in the Comments section of the post! If you want the devotional sent to your email, send an email to karenscatholiclife@live.com and I will add you to my list.

Anyway, keep reading, keep learning, keep discussing, and love a lot!