The Beginning...

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This is it. Starting this Lenten season I am going to try to post something once a week.
I know I am late in starting this as a Lenten sacrifice, but better late then never, right?

Ahh, where to begin? There are so many things that have happened to me in the past 8 months.
I guess I will start off where I left off. My last post in October was right after this event:
In August of 2010 part of my faith was question by a random girl on facebook. She was a friend of my friend and she caught something I had said (We were discussing something to do with people who are sin-free in the Bible). My friend was Christian and when I said Mary was sinless of course they both jumped at the chance to challenge me. My friend asked some questions but stopped after realizing I would not budge from what I know and believe. Her friend, however, was not so smart. She messaged me on facebook questioning me about Mary. My goodness I did not know people asked such questions. I did not know people thought of Catholics the way they do. Are we really that misunderstood? Can we really not explain clearly to people what we believe?
We exchanged emails and thus began 3 weeks of conversation via email. With the help of some friends and most especially and thankfully, my mother, I replied and answered every email and question...Except the last. I could not for the life of me get this girl to see what I was trying to say. She kept twisting my words and asking the same questions. I finally, after politely stating I had a life that this was the best I could do, did not reply to her email.
I feel very bad about this because I feel I should have finished what I started but in the end, God got the Holy Spirit working in me.. He did what he meant to. He made me question my faith. Challenged me. At first I thought I was breaking, I admit that I cried. But with the help of prayer and my amazing mother, I made it through and am stronger than ever and am wholly grateful to God.
That was only the first thing that happened.
As New Years rolled by I made a resolution to become closer to God and to listen to Him more intently.
I added extra prayers at night and in the morning, and during the day when I have nothing better to do. I also told myself I would finish the Bible by the end of this year!(I'm a little more than half way)
"This is good!" I thought. "I'll know how to answer questions."
I don't why I thought that now that I pray more I know more, because this past February I was challenged again.
A friend I met at college in Fall quarter is Christian. I met him in a Public Speech class and we became friends in real life and on facebook. I knew he was Christian, I just didn't know he was Christian. You know, the kind that, once you accidentally say something you believe in the Catholic faith, will jump at the chance to challenge you.
Here's what happened. I texted him(I'll just call him Colin) to ask about a driving test he did then went to teach our Religious Education class for the Kingergarten at our church as I usually do every Monday. (Part of my New Years resolution as well) Well, while I was teaching I got a text asking if I was taking the Drive test right now. I said no, I was teaching a class. Baaaad idea. Of course he asked what class and I couldn't lie and told him our Religious Education class. His exact words were "Ah, you mean Catholocism?" I almost laughed out loud. He was acting smart and yet spelled it wrong...
Anyway, I corrected him "Yes, Catholicism. I teach the K-1 grade." I can't quite remember what we said after that, but 2 hours later Colin asked "So, you go to confecsion right?" (He's not the best speller in the world.)
I said yes I do.............And that is where our week long conversation started. But this was different. It wasn't over email or text...It was face to face. I had been meeting up with him and his friends for awhile and the next time I met up with him he had some information for me about our "Confession" and how it was wrong.
Next we discussed the purpose of Priests and why they couldn't marry while in the priesthood, next about Saint Peter and how he was put in charge of the church after Jesus rose from the dead, and during all this there was the biggest question of all...Why we believe that we are not saved by Faith alone.
I prayed, researched and prayed some more. I finally, after a week, got him to understand Priests and them not getting married. (If you're wondering, a priest may be married before he has actually become a priest, but while he has become a priest he cannot marry again or get married period. It's a commitment.) I also kind of got him to understand Peter and the Rock thing. But, we never agreed about the "Not by Faith alone, but by works also" thing. It kind of became awkward so I told him that was what I knew and believe, and that if he wanted to know more here are some links. Winter Quarter ended and here we are on Spring Break...The best break ever!
Ahh, it feels good to rest my brain. But I am so grateful to him! He got me thinking again! God is keeping me on my toes and I love him even more for it!
Now I know to pray AND research. It won't help if you don't quite know about your own faith and never really questioned it. (If that makes sense)

Anyways, I feel I should stop now...This first post was, well, longer than I had expected. However I am not done! I have still much to say about recent events in my church!
But for now I must say goodnight, for it is 12:00am and my bed time was at 10.

So, I hope that wasn't too confusing. I have a habit of getting so in to my thoughts that it just comes out jumbled...Read it twice? Hahaha, you must be joking. I hate reading and the things I write are always so long...Hehe.

Agh! Anyway, goodbye and God bless and watch over you!
~Katherine.

Coming up next; Parish difficulties and a little bit About Me!


P.S. These are the links I gave my friend. If you have questions that need answering these are great websites!
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/
http://www.catholic.com/
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm