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<\/a>Seven weeks ago today, I published my first post. Recalling the reasons that one is Catholic\u2014every day\u2014is a blessed exercise. The result of seven weeks\u2019 writing is a sort of mini-memoir. There are gaps in the story, which I will fill in, with your forebearance. But so far, this is the story, with apologies to the Psalmist:<\/span><\/p>\nI was blessed with a father who taught me that religion could be a manly pursuit<\/a>, My pastor inspired me to think of being an Episcopal clergyman<\/a>, I was blessed with brilliant mentors<\/a>, During my 40 years in the wilderness, I read about Joan of Arc<\/a>, Then He placed a book by Fr. James Martin in my path<\/a>, I was inspired by the Catholics in front of me<\/a>, My father came to my first communion<\/a>, I have learned a bit about Communion & Liberation<\/a>, My education as a \u201cyoung Catholic\u201d continues, but always, every single day, I try to remember to say with the Psalmist:<\/p>\n To the God of heaven give thanks, Seven weeks ago today, I published my first post. Recalling the reasons that one is Catholic\u2014every day\u2014is a blessed exercise. The result of seven weeks\u2019 writing is a sort of mini-memoir. There are gaps in the story, which I will fill in, with your forebearance. But so far, this is the story, with apologies to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI was born to a loving mother who taught me to pay attention to culture<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nShe taught me to love poetry<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever;
\nand to read inspiring literature<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever;
\nthough I don\u2019t think I ever would have had the guts to be a priest<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nMy grandmother converted to Catholicism<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever,
\nBut I did not . . . for 40 years . . . ,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever;
\nI was blessed with a loving wife<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever;
\nand we were blessed with two beautiful daughters<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI learned about St. Thomas More<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI watched inspiring TV melodramas<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever,
\nAnd I read more inspiring poetry<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nAnd I began attending daily mass the following day<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever,
\nin a truly beautiful church<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever,
\nwhere I found a truly remarkable pastor<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever,
\nAnd I was blessed with wonderful new friends<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI considered returning to the Episcopal Church<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever,
\nBut I didn\u2019t . . . ,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever;
\nmy father died six months to the day after my first communion<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI discovered that I was a Catholic in the time of a great pope<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI realized my debt to the Catholics who came before me<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI have begun attending Eucharistic Adoration<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nI have learned something about angels and archangels<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.
\nAnd I have begun singing in the St. Mary\u2019s choir<\/a>,
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n
\nfor his love endures for ever.<\/p>\n