year of faith.

A week from today starts the "Year of Faith".  Pope Benedict XVI declared that a "Year of Faith" will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. October 11, 2012, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council  (Vatican II) and also the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.

Above was found here. Please go visit so you can learn more about the upcoming "Year of Faith".

For me, this is a great opportunity to strengthen my faith and widen and explore the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  God calls each and every one of us to drop everything we have going and follow him. Yesterday's gospel (found here) explains this so well.

There is something about the strength of Catholicism that I can't explain. I can hardly make sense of it in my head. What I mean by this "strength" is this, while in my youth and even now I've never been ashamed of my faith and religion. I, along with cousins, could be out with friends and very quickly tell someone we were all related, we had a huge family, and we were Catholic. Why would we say that? Why did I feel the need to let someone know what I believed in? I was young and proud but  if was ask why I could not have answered that question. Now, I know why I am proud. The more I learn and pick up the Catechism, the more I am filled understanding, joy, grace, and humility. I am thankful I kept my pride of being a Catholic through those years but I feel so horrible at the way I treated my faith. To claim, for a long time, that I was Catholic yet I was doing so many things morally wrong which means I was not being true to my faith and to my church. It hurt or should I say stung when I came to these realizations. But I thank God I went through all of that. All my experiences, good and bad, have made me stronger. I know that God forgives. He loves us more then we will ever know. I now know what it means to love everyone, of all religions. God calls us to love, to serve others, and to be an example of his love to others.

This upcoming "Year of Faith" has good things to come. I can feel it! I will have lots of copies of " A Minute in the Church" by Gus Lloyd at the end of this month. I will be sharing with all my family and friends.

I have lots of things I struggle with on a daily basis. I was hesitant on writing all this on here. Hesitant if people would think I'm crazy. Scared that I could offend someone that doesn't agree with me. Worried about someone talking about me. I've decided to put all that behind me and follow my heart. I know there aren't many people who will read all this and that's ok. If I touch one person or bring one person an inch closer to God I know I've done something for the better and that is what we are ask to do.

Take this year as an opportunity to learn and explore.

I love you. Your sister in Christ.