This was so incredibly meaningful to me around the time of my conversion - it was a sort of draw towards the Eucharist which only made sense later, after I returned to the sacraments. Before that I used to stop in churches - and look at the tabernacle. No one knew about it. Sometimes I sat there, all tricked out - shades, bracelets, long hair ... just looking at him ... looking at me. Just looking ... something was going on, but I didn't know what it was.
We had a Pentecostal girl in RCIA. She was attending to learn more about the Church because she was dating a Catholic. She was silent in the classes and seemed very disengaged. One day she went to Adoration and she said she KNEW God was there. Shortly after that she and her young son asked to be received into the Church.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter-in-law was out with friends one evening. The restaurant they were going to is across from a cathedral. She wanted to stop in and light a candle so her 2 friends went with her. One of them was so overcome he had to step outside. He couldn't tell you what it was but he knew something (or rather, somebody!) was in that church. Unfortunately he never returned - it was a scary experience for him (but I think his god is money so it kind of makes sense he was scared.)
When I was 10 my mom took me into a Catholic church (probably for the first time since I was baptized) and we were allowed to light candles for dead family members. I remember looking around and knowing this was a special and different place. I couldn't tell you why - it was just different than other (protestant) churches. Of course now I know why it was different - Real Presence compared to real absence.
I could go on and on but I'll spare you :)
You are one of the few people online who seem to 'get' me when I post like this. I think we've had similar experiences somehow. We seem to sense how God works. That sounds presumptuous perhaps - but anyway. God is so simple, so loving, so close.
DeleteKindred spirits :)
DeleteI am so glad God called you -- and you answered.
ReplyDelete