on (not) being catholic

 

can you see him?  it’s John Paul II at Christmas time in 1998.  we gathered in St Peter’s Square waiting in the crowd of monks and nuns and tourists from every place imaginable.  we watched as the shutters of the papal apartments were opened and a lovely tapestry flung out.  then we listened to his words about hope.  we were standing quite near to the woman who had brought the balloons, but i had no idea she meant to let them go.  and i had already broken my camera (it fell out of my pocket as i knelt at the Pieta), so i had no idea if the image would turn out at all.  but it did.  gloriously.

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months and months ago i told a friend that i’d made a list of books that had helped as i thought about high church.  and then the list sat in my journal for a very long time.  i think you can read the titles and authors from the pictures, and it seemed so much more interesting than just my regular old list!  do let me know what’s on your list…

To Dance With God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration

The Rising: Living the Mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Pentecost

Sacred Dwelling: A Spirituality of Family Life

Evangelical Is Not Enough: Worship of God in Liturgy and Sacrament

On Being Catholic

The Long Loneliness

The Rock That Is Higher: Story as Truth (The Wheaton Literary)

Teaching a Stone to Talk: Expeditions and Encounters

Dakota: A Spiritual Geography

Lying Awake

5 Comments

  1. Great photo! And a great list! I will have to share mine with you in a letter (I WILL write to you in the next week or two!) Thank you so much for the lovely postcard. It brightened my week 🙂

  2. Wow — this list. Looks like so many good ones I must take a look at!

    Books that has been on my list for years and years are two prayer books by Edward Hays: The Domestic Church and the Planetary Pilgrim.

    Also, consider reading a biographical and lesser known book by novelist Sue Monk Kidd entitled: Dance of the Dissident Daughter. It changed me profoundly.

    Best,
    Claudine

    1. thank you so much for the recommendations…i take them to heart. i just came across a prayer book too called Praying in Color. i think i’ll be writing about it soon.

      peace keep you.

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