Catholic Convert: Prayer in the Car

Hello all!

This is a post that has been sitting on my heart for quite some time. I'd like to thank my sweet readers in advance for your kindness, patience, and encouragement.

"I don't really have much time to pray, I'm too busy with x, y, and z." -me

Who's ever said or thought that before? (No worries, this is a judgement-free blog.) If you're anything like me, your prayer life might more closely resemble my workout schedule (sporadic and short with whining afterwards about how nothing has immediately changed) than anything else. Thankfully, due to the graces of God given through prayer (lol) and reception of His sacraments as well as the encouragement of the Mister, I've been seeing some growth lately! I'd like to pass along some tips and tricks about squeezing in a little more time when it feels like there is none.

Part One: Praying In The Car

If college has taught me anything over the last three years, it's that I spend way too much time in the car going to and from places. This can be stressful or relaxing, depending on traffic, but I have a few tips for increasing in sanctity while on the road.

Talk to Mom

No, not your mom-mom, though you honestly should call her more often. I'm talking about the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Heaven and Earth! Most Catholics have a rosary hanging from their rearview mirror--when was the last time you took it down and went through those beads? Even a fifteen-minute commute is enough to squeeze in a few decades! Don't quite remember the mysteries? You can go through the rosary without them if need be, or do what I did at the beginning and write them on index cards to review when stopped or before heading out. Personally, I've seen my road rage decrease significantly during the commutes where a rosary is involved.

Talk to Jesus

Not a long commute, or need something to ease you in? Try the Chaplet of Divine Mercy! Also prayed with rosary beads, this is a great prayer for anyone. If you're new to meditatively repetitive prayers, I'd highly recommend this. 

Talk to God

Now, I mean, both of the above options include talking to our Creator. But if you're particularly stressed out, just start chatting. He is definitely listening. Quite frankly, I've found that if I pour out all of my frustrations on Him before talking to my best friends about a situation, I find inner peace much faster and with fewer chances to gossip surrounding me. After all, isn't He your best friend anyway? cue 90s power Christian ballads

Listen to Uplifting Radio

This can be as simple as turning on Christian music that you love, a podcast or CD about the faith, or simply listening to the Bible via books-on-tape. Or, you know, some other method. Relevant Radio (970 AM, online, and on their mobile app) features a rosary every night at 8 PM and a mass (oursundaymass.org) Saturdays at 8:30 PM.

Street Signs of the Cross

The Mister said something lovely the other day when I was thinking about a sign I do so subconsciously now: "if you feel like you should cross, cross." On the road this typically manifests as I'm passing:

• graveyards or place where I know someone has died (for the souls in purgatory) 
• emergency vehicles and accidents (for the protection and healing of all)
• churches in communion with the Catholic church (hello, Jesus)
• literally anything else that can be offered up in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (including my temper)

MAJOR NOTE: Stay safe while operating a motor vehicle. Do not be on your phone, even to look at the mysteries. Make safe choices. Be aware of the weather and traffic conditions.

I'll be back with Part Two: At Home at a later point. But first, feedback--do any of you pray in the car? Any tips or favorite prayers to share? 

Signing off for now,

Maria

England 2016: Introduction and Funding

Good afternoon y’all!

Today I write from partially-cloudy-but-also-sometimes-stormy Leander, Texas, with dreams of going to sometimes-sunny-but-probably-more-overcast England! I’m sure folks are a bit sick of seeing my GoFundMe post being shared, so I wanted to make a blog post detailing a little more about the trip and expenses.

We will be spending about a week in Stratford-upon-Avon watching performances by the Royal Shakespeare Company, learning about the history of Shakespeare, and studying the plays we’ll be seeing—with talkbacks from the RSC! Topics include:

• ·         Shakespeare’s Stages
• ·         Shakespeare in Performance
• ·         “Behind the Scenes” tour of the RSC theatres
• ·         Doctor Faustus
• ·         What Makes a Great Shakespearian Actor?
• ·         Voice classes
• ·         A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• ·         The Alchemist
• ·         Stage combat and voice classes

After that, we will be spending our last two weeks studying in London at… the Globe! We will also be seeing a performance of Romeo and Juliet in the West End. There will be some free days where I plan to explore the city, as we have unlimited Tube and bus access in Zones One and Two. Topics in London include:

• ·         Macbeth
• ·         Understanding the Globe and Sam Wanamkaer Playhouse
• ·         Kenneth Branaugh’s Romeo and Juliet
• ·         The Taming of the Shrew
• ·         A Midsummer’s Night Dream
• ·         The Threepenny Opera
• ·         The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk
• ·         Acting, movement, voice, text and language, historical dance, and indoor playing workshops

Thankfully my spring student loans have covered the tuition and fees required by the program. However, they did not cover my airfare, meals, or other supplies. I’ve listed out the cost of different items on the trip; please consider sponsoring even part of my experience! If you would like a watercolor of a piece of England or a postcard, I would be more than happy to paint or find one for you while overseas—just let me know!

Note: The airline tickets have been purchased, but on a credit card that I am looking to get paid off as soon as possible. All other prices are estimated; I’m hoping to spend less than that per day on food, of course!

Experience	Cost	Amount Funded
Southwest flight to/from Dallas and LaGuardia	$362.97	$107.09
Air Canada flight to/from LaGuardia to Heathrow	$831.53
Taming of the Shrew (Folgers)	$4.00	$4.00
Romeo and Juliet  (Folgers)	$4.99	$4.99
A Midsummer’s Night Dream (Folgers)	$3.59	$3.59
Macbeth (Folgers)	$4.49	$4.49
Shakespeare’s Wordcraft	$14.98	$14.98
Breakfast (14 days)	$6 a day/$84 total
Lunch (21 days)	$10 a day/$220 total
Dinner (21 days)	$15 a day/$330 total
Meals traveling to London	$25
Meals traveling from London	$25
TOTAL	$1,910.55	$145.00

As you can see, even the tiniest bit helps bring me closer to my goal! If you would like to sponsor sometime in particular (or the trip in general), feel free to donate to my GoFundMe or in person.

Thank you!!!

Love,

Maria

Bucket List of Faith: Dallas, TX (The Prequel)

This week is spring break here in sunny rainy mildly cloudy Central Texas, and between sleeping until 8 A.M. and getting to wear leggings all day, my friends and I are headed to Dallas, TX, for a mini-vacation! As a student teacher, I could not be any more excited about this adventure.

Two of my dear friends plan to head to Six Flags Over Texas for a day; Brian and I are BLOF-ing instead! We will post more in a couple of days about our adventures, but here's where we plan to visit... for now:

-Catholic Church of St. Mary the Virgin (an Ordinariate!)
-St. Philopateer Coptic Orthodox Church
-Debre Meheret St. Michael (Ethiopian) Cathedral
-St. George Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church
-Cathedral of St. Seraphim of Sarov (Orthodox Church in America)
-Gurdwawa Nishkam Seva (Sikhism)

For a visual of where these beautiful and unique churches are located, I've embedded a map below. If you've got suggestions of more unique BLOF-worthy places to visit while we roadtrip, let us know!



Right now, these are the churches we have left (not including the five above); we would love buddies or suggestions of places to go, in Central Texas or Dallas! Blue represents a place we have visited, yellow is on our Dallas MegaBLOF, and green means we have not been... yet.

African Methodist Episcopal

American Catholic Church

Baptist (non-SBC)

Baptist (SBC)

Christian Scientists

Church of Christ

Disciples of Christ

Eastern Catholic (Maronite)

Eastern Catholic (Ruthenian/Byzantine)

Episcopalian (Anglican)

Episcopalian (Anglican)

Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Lutheran (ECLA)

Lutheran (LCMS)

Lutheran (WELS)

Methodist (UMC)

Nazarene

Non-denominational

Ordinariate (Catholic)

Orthodox (Antiochian)

Orthodox (Coptic)

Orthodox (Ethiopian)

Orthodox (Greek)

Orthodox (Indian)

Orthodox (Romanian)

Orthodox (Russian)

Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)

Presbyterian (PCUSA)

Quakers

Salvation Army

Seventh-day Adventist

Unitarian Universalists

Orthodox Church in America

Judaism (Reform) Judaism (Conservative) Islam Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism Baha’i

Much love,
Maria (and Fiance)

Catholic Convert: Year One

My one-year anniversary of joining the Roman Catholic Church is quickly approaching alongside Lent and I'm more excited about that than turning twenty-one. Here's a reflection on what this year has meant to me and what I am excited for most in the years to follow.

Thought One: Sometimes it's really hard to be Catholic, but it's harder to choose hate.

I was not raised Catholic; in fact, being a child of the South I grew up with seething anti-Catholic sentiment. However, I had always felt a pull and reverence for the Church. It was only after begging a high school boyfriend to take me to my first mass that I was able to understand how in love with God I could be. Ironic, seeing that I had taught five or six years of Sunday School at a Protestant non-denominational Bible church preceding my conversion.

In this one year I have experienced quite a bit of aggressive and passive anti-Catholic behavior. In that past when I faced general anti-Christian discussions I would become inflamed and in my passion, show anger and disgust for opposing viewpoints. Growing up I was told by the Bible Belt that Catholics were closed-minded, anti-humanity, corrupt, and generally hateful. Thankfully I've found that to be quite the opposite; I've learned to view everyone as a potential saint and a brother or sister in humanity. Does the Church have her issues throughout time? Yes, and we'll be the first ones to admit it--wrapped in the reminder that we are humans seeking God, faltering along the way but growing in grace through humble admission and contrite confession.

Can I answer every question someone throws my way? No. Is that okay? Yes. I'm comforted constantly by this line I heard somewhere about the Church and her sins: "if God did not intend her to be, the Holy Spirit would not have allowed her to continue." That being said, I firmly believe in a contrite and complete admission and redirection of sinful behavior, as do most of my brothers and sisters.

Thought Two: Mary is really awesome (no I don't worship her).

I have found amazing role models through the saints. I mean, I've always looked up to the Biblical heroes, but deep in the traditions and literature of the church I've found people who are just like me throughout time--and made it through! The biggest one being the Blessed Virgin Mary. Brian and I's dating and engagement this go-around have been guided by God through His beautiful first apostle; our first date was on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he proposed at the Schoenstatt shrine, the Mother Thrice Admirable image keeps following us around... the list goes on and on!

I don't believe in coincidences. I don't believe that Mary is equal or above God. I do believe that God uses all sorts of ways to bring us closer to Him, and I do believe that personally, He likes to use Mary for me. Regular recitation of the Rosary brings me a deeper understanding of Scripture and a calmer spirit, and I am stunned by how much I am able to serve Christ when I am simply obedient and still. After all, it's hard to be selfish when "I am the handmaiden of the Lord" is on repeat in your skull.

Thought Three: Joy rocks!

When I was confirmed, I spent the entire Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Wisdom bouncing in the pew and grinning so hard I thought my face would fall off. The Church has taught me to seek joy in the Lord and His will rather than my own desires through the example of the saints, the Scripture, and the gorgeous architecture bringing more glory to God than to the architects, to name a few things. Depression can be hard, and I'll admit that I'm quite lonely in my final semester, away from my APO brothers and Phi Lamb sisters. But finding a reason to smile every day helps, even if it's just because I think my tiny shrine full of candles and gifts is very pretty.

Brian and I have been to two Pre-Cana meetings now, and I bounced straight through both of them. I think I about talked Fr. Jamie's ear off both times! (Speaking of weddings, we recently visited a church in Austin that may just end up being our "adult" parish and wedding location....) Sometimes I fall into the trap of not giving as much of my day to God as I should, but I find that when I get a rosary or chaplet in or go on a mass/Adoration date with Brian, my heart is filled with a quiet exuberance comparable to nothing in this world.

Thought Four: This universal home is neat.

Brian and I have been on the Bucket List of Faith adventure, as I've posted about here before. In that time, plenty of RCC parishes have been visited and photographed. They all have a unique personality, but each and everyone of them feel more like a cousin than a stranger. Someone who is near and dear to my heart, a long-lost friend with whom conversation easily resumes, a home away from home. I know that wherever I go, mass (and Jesus) will be waiting for me. This especially rings true with my love for the uber-traditional Extraordinary Form of the Mass mixed in; I'm warmed with the knowledge that across the world, Catholics repeat the same solemn holy words of praise no matter their state in life.

Was that rambly? Yes. But I'm too filled with anticipation for my very first Lent as a Catholic (!!!!) to particularly care.

Thanks for reading, and go visit a church of a different denomination or faith this week. Oh, and don't forget to get your ashes in church. ;)

-Maria