i just got back from mass. havent been in the catholic church since my cousin, caroline, was baptised 5 years ago. they have this incredible statue of Jesus in the front. its is supposed to be the ascention, but to me it looks like hes coming back. it was exciting. in the back they have the Mary statue. she looks 16 years old. which is around how old she was when she became pregnant with Jesus. all around her were flowers and red candles. prayers. and on the other side was Joseph. he had a beard and an apron. he was a carpenter. all along the walls at the top were gorgeous stained glass images or the saints.
through the service, i noticed a genuine understanding and love of the Gospel. i enjoyed the service... but still love my protestant church. my grandparents say i am still catholic. apparently theres nothing i can do to get un-catholic. i dont really see a reason to try.
at the beginning they had a prayer for the unborn, as well as a prayer for our countries leaders. my grandfather wrote for me the prayer to an act of contrition.
"O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins because I fear the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend you my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen."
its on a sheet of paper the size of a receipt in my Bible.
i think its beautiful that everytime someone reads something from the bible, everyone says "thanks be to God"
and i think its beautiful that everytime you pray, you pray in the name of the father, the son, and of the holy spirit. and you do the sign of the cross by touching your forehead, heart, and either shoulder.