Checking the Charts

When I was a Protestant I had the bible and it was ALL I needed. As a Presbyterian we also had the Book of Order, which some ministers followed and others did not really acknowledge its presence. I have to be honest with you. I never read the Presbyterian Book of Order so I really do not know what it says. The knowledge I had about my faith and what it meant to be a Presbyterian was not really concrete. I thought it was concrete, but I can tell you now that it wasn't. We were allowed to work within a very wide boundary, which makes it hard when you are talking to others about what you believe and what you do not believe and what Presbyterians teach.

I learned before I was even on my way into the Catholic Church that the Church not only has the Bible but it also has the writings and teaching of the Church Fathers. The best collection of the Church's teachings can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It has an index in the back so it is easy to find specific teachings regarding subjects that might test your faith. I have started reading a portion of it daily, so that I have a better understanding of what the Church teaches. It even lists the scriptures that support these teachings.

So with this great deposit of faith why are so many Catholics lost on what the Church actually teaches?

The answer: They have failed to check the charts.

So many Catholics have been taught skills to survive the world, but they were not shown the guide book as to why those skills might be necessary.

They have gone out into the world without a map or a plan and just wander in it until the hit land or in many cases debris. They get shipwrecked. They get boarded by worldly teachings. They get entrapped on an island of sirens that promise them all their desires.

Fellow shipmates, we need to save these souls but first we need to check the charts and know what the Church teaches. We need to be as sure and as solid in our Faith before we can be of good service to these fellow mates. I encourage you to learn about what the Church teaches so that you really do KNOW what it teaches instead of what people think it teaches. If you have powder monkeys teach them where to find Church teaching. That way we will not have to worry about them getting lost as they start on their journey.

St. Christopher, pray for all of us as we travel on this great journey.

The First Mate

We all know who The Captain is or some of us are seeking to find out who The Captain is. We all are learning and continuing to learn more about him.

I have decided to learn more about The Captain by learning more about The First Mate. You see The First Mate is chosen by The Captain. The First Mate listens to the concerns of the crew and takes them to The Captain. The First Mate also will take The Captain's wishes for the crew and share them with the crew. In the view of this Great Ship, I think have figured out that The First Mate is also The Captain's Mother.

As a Protestant, I always thought why bother talking to the Mother...I'm going straight to The Captain! As Catholics, we still do talk to Our Lord and Our Lord does listen. But when you talk to his Mother and you ask her to take your requests to her Son-don't you think He is going to listen that much more? (Don't you tend to listen more when your Mother asks you to do something?)

I have dedicated this year to finding out more about Our Lord's Mother-Mary. I am even going so far as consecrating myself to her, which I understand is a journey on its own. I love Jesus, Our Lord-Our Savior-Our Captain and I want to know more about him, so what better way than to find out more from his mother?

Fellow crew memembers and dear lost souls, do not fear or hate The First Mate. The Captain loves her and honors her as a Son ought to. Maybe we should do the same since she is only trying to love us in return.