My Birthday

My brother Luke's birthday is tomorrow. Sister Abigail's is Friday. Now I share an April birthday with both of them.

Today I am a one-year-old Catholic, and sometimes I feel like exactly that. Often in the throes of Christian immaturity, barely able to walk without help, barely able express a succinct word in relation to what has been.

But being only one has its good points too. I see the world anew, everything is colored differently. I have lots of older brothers and sisters caring for me. I love my mother more deeply now. God is more like God, and not so much a creature.

I have found Love in new form, not simply a feeling, not only an ethereal spirit, but both of those with Substance plus.

Prayer. More structured now. Rosary. Hours. Novena. Psalms, lots of them. Prayer. More often now.

Worship. Not only songs or sermons or Scripture readings, though I love them all. Sacrifice, Worship.
Everyday, any day.

Books, lots and lots of them. Smaller bank account. Many read, many marginally comprehended, few put into practice.

Church, down the street around the world, "catholic". Unity in doctrine, disunity in dissent. Saints, servants, sinners, scoundrels. Paradox.

Family, fruitful.

And some fun (not so?) superficial stuff. Incense, monasteries with monks, convents of cloistered, plainsong, polyphony, grand cathedrals, humble missions, fast days, feast days.

More.

I know I have to grow up now. Young at heart I hope.