“TEENS = ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT NEEDED”

That should be written on the foreheads of many Catechists across the country – perhaps the world. I believe that it is one of reasons why many teens these days leave for college and never come back to Mass; no one shows faith in them.

I’ve even been warned to “watch out for” certain students. “Troublemakers” should be dealt with properly; they’ll never learn to behave.

Last year was my first year teaching a Confirmation preparation class by myself. It was a room full of twenty-two high schoolers, including a handful of “troublemakers”. At the end of our last day, the one student whose life story seemed to others a testament to his permanent inability to contribute to classes or excell in a relationship with God, quietly pulled me aside and asked, “Are you going to be my teacher next year?”

He asked this question because it seemed that I was one of the first people to believe in him – to believe that his questions were much deeper than his “cool” facade suggested. In fact, I look forward to his barrage of questions, while I suspect other Catechists dread them. “What do other religions believe about heaven?” “Why should I subscribe to organized religion?” “How can we be sure that God exists?”

Teenagers are seeking what everyone is seeking: Love Incarnate. The world around them, however, gives teens the impression that religion is not hip and therefore not worth their time. The media which has so great a place in their lives, tells them that God is a lie, a joke, and a fad all at once.

Isn’t it normal, then, that surrounded by such attacks on faith and moral absolutes, young people feel uncomfortable, threatened, or bored in a Catechism class that they are forced to come to, led by an adult in whom they find no reason to admire and who has already given up on getting anything of value across to teens?

Teaching preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is by far one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life. In my heart, I hold the constant prayer that God will allow me to keep teaching the faith to teens for as long as possible. Teenagers are capable of fierce loyalty. They can sniff out genuity from miles away. They constantly question the world around them, and aren’t afraid to stand up for the truth.

But first? They must find the Truth.
May we love them and bring them lovingly to Their Heart’s Desire.

P.S. Today was the first day of my class’s second year together. It’s a blessing to take this journey with my students. (Reminds me of Freedom Writers.) I was told that they’ve already begun asking whether I will be teaching them next year, as well.

Some observations:

• Many good things are worth the effort they require. Good things are easy only because of God’s grace.
• Yesterday, I had class during Mass. Today, I joined the Casa Maria community during the afternoon for Mass. Every time I receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time after having previously missed Mass a day or more, I am overcome with emotion. (That means I weep.) I don’t understand why, but it happens.
• Cheese-Nips are not nearly as tasty as fatty Cheese-Its.

Today, I devoted morning prayer to a scriptural rosary. The Transfiguration mystery, in particular, drew an emotional response from me when I read these words:

While (Peter) was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. (Mt. 17:5-8 )

In our lives, Jesus takes each one of us up a mountain, as He took Peter, James, and John here. We each have to climb a mountain in order for Jesus to reveal Himself to us. And when God’s great glory is revealed, we can be just as frightened as the disciples. When God the Father tells us to listen to Jesus, what that means can scare us – i.e. following God’s plan for our lives is not the rosiest of paths.

I remember in my own life all the hardship it took for me to climb the mountain. When the Lord revealed His glory to me – the deepest of all loves – like Peter, I was excited. (“Lord, it is good that we are here.”) But God has asked me to listen to Jesus, and my reaction has been that of the frightened disciples. So much fear of the unknown future plagues my life. So much wanting to decide my own future. So much flinging myself on the floor in the presence of God, confused.

Today I read aloud those words, “Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Rise, and do not be afraid.’” Tears filled my eyes, and my heart lodged itself in my throat. As I read His words, I saw Him touch me, and His eyes looking lovingly on me, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” To me, the phrase made popular by P.JPII is the definitive remedy to my brokenness, weariness, and fear.

Jesus, thank You for loving us.

Pray for all those involved in the dangers caused by natural disasters.

Summertime equals prayer time for me. This summer, however, has been quite different from those of the past.

I’ve been reflecting on the development of my spiritual life. Last year, I remember such a rosy period. God was so deeply a part of my life, and I felt intimately connected to Him in such a happy way. This year, I feel so much more struggle in my spiritual life. I’ve continued going to Daily Mass, praying the Rosary, and reflecting on Scripture. But doing it all on my own is very difficult.

I remember that when my friends were in town, my spiritual life was tied to my conversation with them. Our discussions about our struggles and high points helped me, because every day it was easy to feel connected with God. Lately, without my friends, I realize that having at least one other person to share my life with is very important to the growth of my spiritual journey.

This, and my experience with the Marianist charism, has aided my understanding of the connection between communities and God.

It all just makes me glad that God has put these guys in my life. Maybe this is a sign that God has not created me for the single life. Hmmm…one down, two vocations to go?

Peace and all good.

I want a spiritual director. Not just any spiritual director. Now, how do I ensure that happens?

In a related note, I decided to sign up for the San Antonio Catholic Women’s Conference. My pastor is giving a talk on spiritual direction. He’s too busy to be my spiritual director. In fact, all the priests I would like to be my spiritual director are too busy.

Today, I finally heard God.

The past few days have been sad for me, because I’ve felt like I wasn’t hearing God speaking to me. I’ve been talking with Him about things that have upset me – my grandma’s surgery, my great-grandma’s pain, my dad not being home, my friends being away, my brother’s worries… So much has been happening, but I haven’t been hearing God!

I’ve never doubted that God cares for us. But when I feel disconnected from God, I feel so much weaker – and empty.

Last night, I went to Mass and prayed before Jesus, “Please, make me humble. Open me, let me hear Your voice!” And this morning at Mass, God spoke to me through the Scriptures.

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was, he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14: 22-33)

I saw myself as Peter, asking Jesus to call me to Himself. He called me, and I came. I finally answered Jesus’ call and began looking into religious life. But lately, things have seemed so much more daunting, and I’ve begun to sink.

Jesus, the Word of God, tells me through this Scripture that I have only to call out to Him for help, and He will save me. As Father Jan read the Gospel today, I saw myself struggling in the dark waters. I saw my sight become blurry. I felt Jesus holding my limp body to His, and His voice in my ear, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

This image makes me weep, because I can only imagine how much it hurts Jesus that I’ve doubted Him. Father centered today’s homily on the Gospel as it relates to John Paul II’s teaching: The only way that we can be successful in living the Christian life is if we fix our eyes on Jesus. Today I am telling Jesus that I want to fix my eyes on Him – that I want Him to be my only goal for myself, my family life, my relationships with friends and co-workers, my activities. Please, Jesus, help me to fix my eyes on You. Nothing else has value. Nothing else matters.

St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Sixtus, happy feast day.

Amen.

Hi.

My name is Angela and I’m a wimp.

Sincerely,

Angela.

The Sisters asked me if I’ve dated before. I said yes, not wishing to give any further detail. Thankfully, there was no more inquiry on their part.

That’s because some people could have considered it “dating”. It was dating in the sense that I wanted to marry that young man. It wasn’t dating in the sense that our only one-on-one dates were hours-long walks around my neighborhood (and of course, senior prom).

My guy-girl past is a series of stories that I don’t openly like to speak about. However, I realize that it’s important when reflecting on my past in the light of vocation.

Short and sweet, my experiences with guys have taught me how to handle my body; almost every guy who has ever expressed an interest in me has taken advantage of my trusting nature. It took a few strong Catholic retreats (and years) for me to finally answer God’s call to forgive – myself and those males who were too immature to realize the emotional and psychological damage they’d caused in me. I have forgiven and forgotten. Forgotten, in this case, doesn’t mean that I’ve erased those events and relationships from my memory. Instead, it means I’ve moved past them and their emotional baggage.

I understand that any religious order I look into could ask me about my sexuality and my experience with the opposite sex. I’ve heard that it’s because, “It’s usually best to have had experience with dating before you take a religious vocation seriously.” On the one hand, I completely agree with this idea. A young woman probably shouldn’t rush into the religious life without giving serious thought to other possible vocations.

At the same time, I wonder how important that really is. What if I’d never dated before? Would that make me somehow unqualified to apply to a convent? Really, I’ve never had a formal boyfriend who comes and picks me up for a date and we do that for a while. Personally, I don’t think that’s such a big deal. I’m just a picky, gorgeous girl. So, what happens if I haven’t dated after I graduate and apply to a religious order? Is my lack of so-called “experience” going to cast a shadow on my application?

This is just an honest question. Because – at this point in my life, I’m comparing guys to Jesus. Let me tell you, it makes the decision whether to date someone or not extremely simple.