As most of you know, I was baptized into the Catholic faith when I was only seven years old, back in 1998. I was young, cute, full of life, and attended St. Peter's Catholic School.
Prior to all of this- my parents... had seperate religions that were completely opposite to each other. Mom followed the ways of my grandma's faith, and my Dad- Well... he was the odd one out of the basket, choosing to be Jewish.
When I started attending St. Peter's for a "better education" as my parents called it at the time, they grew interested in the Catholic faith- actually truly interested.
I was taught Religion every other day, and attended Mass with the whole school (staff included) on Friday mornings. I was... growing into the faith, you could say. I remember at the time that I wanted to be a Catholic- and that's what I told my parents.
Now, I don't know how it all came about to us all getting baptized... I was only seven after all.
But I do know this...
It was the best decision that my parents made for me. I was seven, I really had no say in it at the time. But wow- am I grateful that I was baptized into this gloriously tremendous faith!
As you all know, my Dad was recently diagnosed with Stage Four terminal Cancer just two months ago. (It's so hard for me to say that... wow).
Throughout this difficult time, I have doubted my faith. I admit it. I am not proud of doubting it...but it did happen.
I was told by a very wise individual, that I should "explore my options," and that if it wasn't right for me... so be it. I knew in my heart that I wanted to explore just a little bit.... just to see if anything else felt different to me- even better.
I know this for fact now.
When I am in a different church- I don't feel the same...
When I am in the Mormon Church- I don't feel the same.
When I am in a Christian Church- I don't feel the same.
When I am in a Methodist Church- I don't feel the same.
....
When I am in my parish of Corpus Christi- I feel like I belong there, and I feel God with me.
That says a lot, too. When I denied my faith a few years ago when this hellacious process was just beginning with my Dad's kidney failure, I remember feeling so alone- so empty. But then I attended Mass again... and it was as if my broken, torn heart was sewn up by God's tremendous love. The piece of me that was missing... never actually was- it was just breaking without God and the Holy Spirit in my life and my heart.
I have been a Catholic for almost 13 years now (come this Easter Sunday). I am a Catholic, and I am PROUD to proclaim my faith.
It is a part of me, and will forever be such. I hope that I never shy away from my faith again... it just doesn't feel right.
This is me.... this is my faith.
With that thought in mind, I leave you with my favorite prayer of all time:
We believe in one God, the Father the Almighty
Maker of Heaven and Earth
Of all that is seen and unseen
We believe in one lord, Jesus Christ
The only son of God, Eternally begotten of the Father
God from God
Light from Light
True God from True God
Begotten not Made
One in being with the Father
Through Him, all things were made
For our sin, and for our salvation, He came down from heaven
By the power of the holy spirit, He was born of the virgin Mary
And became a Man.
For our sake, he was crucified under Pontious Pilot
He suffered, died and was buried.
On the third day, He rose again, in fulfillment of the scriptures.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
And His kingdom will have no end.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
We acknowledge one baptism, and the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
<3
-Wendy R. Berry
