Archdiocese
of Atlanta's Eucharistic Congress
June 20-21
Mark your calendars today for the 2008 Eucharistic Congress, June 20-21,
2008. The event will be held again at the Georgia International Convention
Center in College Park, Georgia.
This event is free and does not require tickets or registration. Join thousands
of fellow Catholics for one or both days of this renewing event! DivorcedCatholic.com will be in there! Look for us in the display hall. |
Soul of Christ,
make me holy.
Blood of Christ,
inebriate me.
Water from the
side of Christ,
wash me.
Passion of
Christ,
strengthen me.
O good Jesus,
hear me.
Within your
wounds,
hide me.
Never let me be
separated
from you.
From the wicked
enemy,
defend me.
In the hour of
my death, call
me and bid me
come to you, so
that with your
saints I may
praise you
forever.
Amen.
Anima Christi
(prayer after communion)
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Don't Forget!!
Our July issue will feature
you if you would like to
send in your story
of triumph through
the suffering.
Email your story
of 1,000 words
or less to
newsletter@
divorcedcatholic.com
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"This is My Body,
Which Will Be Given Up for You."
by Lisa Duffy
 I have vivid memories from when I was seven years old and preparing to make my first Communion. My mother brought me in to the church where the CCD class was being lined up in a procession line, and when the teacher took one look at me and my height (or lack thereof), she moved me right to the front of the line as all the kids laughed. I had always been the smallest kid in my class even up to high school graduation. I also remember receiving the Eucharist for the first time on that special day and as the priest laid the Host on my toungue, a camera flash in my face practically blinded me. All I could see was a huge purple and gold splotch in the shape of the flash and I almost tripped as I turned to walk back to my seat. It's funny what we remember from our childhood, but it always struck me that I didn't remember anything more significant from that very significant day in my life. The day I received the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time.
All my life, I was raised as a faithful Catholic. Missing Sunday mass or regular confession was never an option and everyday during the summer, my mother woke all 8 of us kids up at the crack of dawn and ushered us into 7am mass. Not our idea of what summer was supposed to be about! But here again, its funny that as adults, my brothers and sisters and I reminisce more about how we got in trouble for talking or joking around during those early summer masses than the significance of what my mother was doing for us; all the graces she was diligently trying to help us obtain.
Years later, when I found myself abandoned by my husband and in a world of hurt I could never have imagined possible, I went to mass for consolation. But my anger was so intense as was the disillusionment I felt, that I began distancing myself. I looked around at all the happy families and all the loving couples and I felt hurt and jealous. Even here, I was missing the significance of what was happening at mass. All I could do was focus on my pain. I didn't know how to give that pain to God so I simply kept myself wrapped up in it. And although I never stopped going to mass, the distance I put between God and myself was the beginning of a terrible period in my life. One that would render many mistakes and bad decisions that brought me lower and sadder than ever.
Fast forward through that terrible time and into a new phase of my life. I had suffered tremendously and had come to a turning point. I realized that as long as this wide chasm stood between myself and God, I would never heal from my divorce. Even more important was that I recognized I was the only one who could get rid of that chasm. I had put it there, not God. So I came back to Him and my faith with no holds barred. I confessed my sins and resolved to improve my life a little bit each day through prayer and leaving behind the things that kept me away from God. He blessed me in many ways for taking these steps. But there was one way in particular that really made a difference for me...
I was at mass one Sunday. During the consecration, as I knelt and listened, the priest prayed the "epeclisis," or the words of the Eucharistic Prayer in which the priest invokes the Holy Spirit to transform the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. And I heard him say, "Take this all of you and eat it. This is My Body which will be given up for you." When he said "you", I heard Christ saying "You, Lisa. I did this for you." I heard it in my heart as loud as if He were speaking right into my ear, and yet it was as gentle as a whisper. My heart was flooded with joy and peace. It was a brief, but incredible experience and my reception of the Eucharist that day is one that I will never forget.
Every day, at every moment, Christ is trying to get our attention. He is constantly trying to show us His love for us and lead us along the right path. But we are distracted. We are not interested. We don't understand. We are not listening. Our faith is weak and we doubt. Is it any wonder, then, that its the painful times that He is able to really help us? Those times when we finally look to Him for answers? I think maybe that's one great lesson of enduring pain - that through our pain, we allow Christ to come into focus and that an opportunity He has waited for; His opportunity to give us what we need.
During this month of June and in celebration of Corpus Christi Sunday, let us resolve to not wait until we are in dire straits to welcome God into our hearts or realize the incredible miracle of the Eucharist that takes place right infront of us at each mass. Let us open our hearts to Him as soon as we wake and keep ourselves open every moment of the day. Be assured of my prayers for you and your intentions.
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Ratatoullie and the Bread of Life
 In a world... where movies are packed with metaphors; recent movies such as "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Prince Caspian," and "The Golden Compass," there is one I'll bet you didn't expect and probably slipped past you if you saw the movie.
Disney's 2007 movie "Ratatoullie" has some very unique and interesting parallels with the Eucharist as described in Fr. Michael Pahls' recent article "Fun with Multimedia #2: Ratatoullie and the Eucharist." You will be pleasantly surprised to recognize the subtle similarities the movie's story had with the power of the Eucharist. Read the article here.
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Resources for the Catholic-on-the-Go
Many divorced men and women find themselves straddled between working to support themselves and their children and trying to have some kind of personal life, which includes family, social relation- ships and prayer. When the demand for time is so intense, oftentimes the first thing to fall by the wayside is prayer, mainly because we can hear our children, our family members, our creditors, etc. complaining that we're not giving enough. But God, who gives us the gift of each new day, does not complain. He waits patiently for us to turn to him.
Prayer is simply communication with God and we need to remain connected to Him as much as possible. If you find the demands of life are overwhelming you and you have not found time to pray, consider modern technology your friend. Keeping in mind that we need to take private, quiet time for prayer as often as possible and knowing that it isn't always possible, we have listed below some fabulous ways for remaining connected to God throughout the day, in spite of your busy schedule. Podcasts, video casts, virtual readings, etc... there are so many ways to include Christ in your day. All have been thoroughly tested by our staff to ensure their Catholicity. We will highlight more of these in the next few issues.
Pray As You Go (http://www.prayasyougo.org): Beautiful 10 minute meditations based on the readings of the day that download right into your iPod.
That Catholic Show (http://www.thatcatholicshow.sqpn.com): a Catholic series of videos about the Catholic faith that is fun to
watch and informative at the same time. It's Catholicism like you've
never seen before! You can watch the episodes online and you can order the full first season on DVD!
The Catholic Mass (http://blogs.catholictv.org/DailyMass/): This is an excellent site where you can watch a weekday mass in it's entirety. June 12th happens to have a particularly excellent homily for divorced men and women. One caution: download time for the video is approx- imately 5 minutes, so don't think your computer has frozen. Be patient - it's worth the 5 minutes.
Daily Breakfast with Fr. Roderick (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/father-roderick-live): Watch Father Roderick's live feed from the SQPN studios in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. Great Catholic content also via podcast at http://www.sqpn.com.
More to come in our next issue!
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Ask Deacon Mike . . .
 Here are some recent questions from our readers:
Q: Dear Deacon Mike,
I'm a single woman, never married, and I am in love
with a divorced man. He didn't want his divorce and
is seeking a annulment. We've been dating for almost
two years, and his divorce was final two years ago this
month. We've been living a chaste lifestyle for six
months now. No sex and I stopped taking the pill. We
want to do things right. He went to confession and was
advised that we should not kiss, hug, or hold hands.
Should I stop seeing him altogether? I love him! How do
we stay in our relationship? Are we supposed to?
I need help with this. Please advise.
Jennifer - Reseda, California
A: Dear Diana:
I want to congratulate you for living a chaste lifestyle and for recognizing your need to stop taking the pill. Let me encourage you, if you have not already done so, to also seek out the sacrament of Reconciliation, as well as to continue on your journey of living a chaste lifestyle. Lord knows that our culture and society does not support you in your efforts, but fortunately, through the graces received from your participation in the sacraments, you will receive the strength necessary to move forward. Perhaps the danger that the priest was concerned about in instructing your friend to no longer engage in holding hands, hugging or kissing, was a fear that it might very well lead the two of you to forego your commitment to living a chaste lifestyle should your signs of affection become too passionate. While holding hands, kissing and hugging are not in and of themselves sinful, given your past unchaste lifestyle, he may have been trying to protect you from a situation which might cause you to become unchaste again.
Should you stop seeing each other? This decision is your choice and should be based upon your truthful recognition of whether or not you can
continue your commitment of chastity to each other. The two of you can
be a strong and effective witness to others about the value of chastity in
your relationship. Sexual union, as you may well know already, is uniquely and beautifully reserved to those who are married, where the two fold purpose of the sexual act, its unitive and procreative nature, can be fully and maturely realized in the total giving of oneself to another.
God Bless,
Q. Dear Deacon Mike,
I just received the Easter email. I find it incredibly discouraging. I cannot believe that Jesus would not allow divorced Catholics to receive Holy Communion if they saw fit to remarry.
I married young and I took it very seriously. I loved my husband very much but was unaware that he was an alcholic and also had suffered from childhood schizophrenia. He was drunk much of the time and then was sent to Viet Nam. Needless to say he came back much worse than before. I left after 10 years and much agony and with our child because I did not want him to grow up in an alcholic household. I remarried several years later. That marriage ended in divorce. My first husband and I stayed very close until his death several years ago. We could not live together because of the abuse, but we were there for each other always throughout the years.
My parish priest said my second marriage was not valid and since my since my husband died, I am a widow and can receive Communion. I guess I will believe my confessor who forgave and counseled me that I may receive Communion. I somehow continue to believe that Jesus will have compassion and loves me. I cannot believe that he would condone the suffering of millions of people because one spouse or the other wanted a divorce. Perhaps the Church needs to pray on these issues a little bit more and see if Our Lord helps them to respond in a more humane way.
Lourdes - St. Louis, MO
A. Dear Lourdes:
As with all situations regarding divorce, annulment and remarriage, no two cases are exactly alike, and therefore, it is best to seek the advice of a knowledgeable priest or deacon, who can properly counsel you concerning the specifics of your situation before going back to receive the Eucharist. The goal ultimately is to make sure that you are properly disposed to receive the Eucharist and that you are in full communion with the teachings of the Church.
It is important to understand that only those who are free from mortal sin are properly disposed to receive Holy Communion. It is true that the marriage to your first husband ended in the eyes of the Church when he died, and that your second marriage was not a valid one in the eyes of the Church. It is also true that although you were legally divorced and legally remarried in the eyes of society, you were not free to marry your second husband as your first marriage was not declared null by way of the annulment process. Assuming then that you have with a good conscience received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, including seeking forgiveness for having remarried without the benefit of an annulment, then you "may" be free now to approach the receipt of the Eucharist. Please consult with your priest, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and follow the guidance of your priest about receiving the Eucharist. Again, the Church's desire is that you be whole, be freed from mortal sin and live a life full of grace. As St. Paul teaches us in Scripture, only those who are free to receive the Eucharist worthily should do so, lest we bring further condemnation upon ourselves.
God Bless,
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