I am a big fan of Matthew Kelly, a Catholic author, best known for his inspiring “Rediscover Catholicism” book. After hearing someone mention it one day as I was just becoming interest in Catholicism, I sought it out at the library and it really “sold” me! He is around my age (30’s-40’s) and has a very down-to-earth way of making Catholicism relevant to today’s world, even some of the most ancient and seemingly out-of-date practices. You actually can get a free copy of Rediscover Catholicism at his website, which I highly encourage you to do!

I recently read his new book “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic” and attended one of his seminars in Indianapolis. One of the biggest messages I took from both are simple ways you can become more engaged in Catholicism. Why would you want to do that? Because you will feel better, in turn your family will feel better and ultimately, the world will be better! We have to start with what we each can do. As I quoted from the “YouCat” (Youth Catechism) in a previous post:

“God gives himself to each one of us individually, and he wants to transform us through communion with him. Once we are transformed, we are supposed to transform the world.”

Here are some recommendations from Matthew Kelly that you can slowly start to add into your life to become more engaged:

1) Pray daily – Kelly found that the most engaged Catholics all have a daily prayer routine. He provides a great 10-minute prayer ritual in his book (I made several copies and have them sitting around my house) that includes thanking God for what you’re most grateful for today, reflecting on when you were/weren’t your best self that today, considering any ways God may be talking to you today, praying for anyone you feel called to pray for and concluding with the Our Father.

2) Read the Gospel – He suggests spending 15 minutes a day reading one of the four Gospels for a year. He says keep reading them over and over for a year to help get to know Jesus. Then you can move on to other parts of The Bible.

3) Donate or volunteer – Make a conscious effort to increase the amount of time you give to volunteer work or to increase the amount you donate to your church or charities a little bit each year.

4) Pray the rosary – Try praying the rosary on a regular basis (I am working toward daily). Here’s a great blog post from a fellow blogger on the power of the rosary.

5) Go to confession monthly – No one wants to do this one, but already confession has become a favorite of mine! It’s truly a joy to be forgiven and be handed a clean slate. You’ll be amazed at how it effects your outlook on life and your ability to reel in sinful tendencies.

6) Make Mass more meaningful – Kelly suggests keeping a Mass journal and asking God before each Mass to show you one way you can be a more holy person. Pay attention during Mass to that one message that speaks to you (and it will!) and write it down. Review them periodically and see how well you’ve followed God’s guidance.

7) Read a Catholic book – Try to read 1-2 Catholic books a year. Start with Rediscover Catholicism! Kelly maintains if we all read just one more Catholic book a year what a difference that would make to the church and the world.

Kelly’s “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic” book aims to encourage Catholics to be more engaged so we can have a more powerful positive effect on the world. If we can just get a few more people engaged at each parish, that could have a huge impact on our country and the world toward goodness and peace.

Get started doing your part by adding one of these simple steps to your daily routine. Keep adding a new one every month or so and let me know how it impacts your life. I am working on this also and will share my progress! Come on, Catholics! Let’s engage the world!

A week ago Saturday evening, I was confirmed, took first communion and officially joined the Catholic Church! I wanted to share my experience with you for those who have been following along my journey.

First of all, the Easter Vigil (where I was confirmed) is especially long at my church. We were told to expect 3 hours and that it had never gone later than Midnight! At first, I did not want to bring my kids, as I felt like it would be too much too late for them. They are young and usually go to bed between 8-9 p.m. and I feared my husband would not be able to enjoy the mass. However, I tried every resource I could come up with — and since it was Spring Break and I had other family members also joining the church at different parishes — no one was available! It seems God wanted them there to see me confirmed :). And what do you know? They did just fine.

I was not as nervous as I was for First Reconciliation, more just excited that my time had finally come! I wondered if I would feel different or changed after it was over and how I would react to receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. One exciting thing I learned the day  of the Vigil was that my chosen confirmation saint, Saint Therese of Liseiux, was the namesake of my father-in-law’s mother. So surprising and yet another wonderful affirmation of my choice.

I enjoyed the Mass, stood beside my sponsor who was moved to tears at different points during my fellow RCIA classmates’ baptisms, and anxiously awaited my turn. During the Confirmation, Father forgot to shake my hand, which another sponsor noticed and pointed out to me later, “no big deal; he just forgot :)” (thank you to that person for allaying any fears!). On the whole, I did not experience or feel any great “change”; the only thing I did notice was a bit of an electric tingling vibration through my body, if you will, not sure how else to describe it, afterward. That remained through the Eucharist. Perhaps that was the Holy Spirit more fully entering my soul? Or perhaps just nerves :).

I was surprised at the taste of the Eucharist! Not quite what I was expecting and had to ask my husband (thanks to him for the no heads up, by the way!) how to eat it properly so it did not get stuck in my mouth next time. That seemed disrespectful. I did not feel any great change here either. I anxiously await receiving the Eucharist at Daily Mass, as I find that a much more prayerful, intimate experience and I think that may be where I find the difference.

A friend asked me afterward if I felt any different. When I said not really, she commented “You will start noticing little differences in how you see things and how you “know” things! That’s all part of the “walk with God”. It amazes me how it’s a continual process.” Great feedback! It has been the “little things” for me all along and I have no doubt she’s spot on. I also feel like I was so invested and passionate before even becoming Catholic that I was about as Catholic as one could be without actually BEING Catholic :). So perhaps I gained some grace ahead of time that way!

I attended my first Mass as a Catholic last Sunday and also participated in my second Reconciliation in order to gain a plenary indulgence (to help purify those in purgatory) for my mother-in-law as part of Divine Mercy Sunday. After praying the rosary earlier, receiving Jesus and experiencing Reconciliation (SO much easier the second go around), I did feel a sense of complete and utter joy like I wanted to skip across the world!

So that is my RCIA confirmation experience. I now look forward to having increased strength and grace to help me do the work the Lord has called me to do and to build my relationship with Him. I will continue my blog as my first year as a Catholic. Keep reading!

I would love to hear any other new Catholics’ confirmation experiences or anyone’s past experiences in joining the church. Thanks for all your great comments and prayer support all along the way!

Here I am, less than one week away from becoming Catholic. This has been my desire for more than a year, yet somehow it’s all gone pretty fast!

I am bursting with excitement at how close I am to becoming a full member of the church and being able to enjoy more of the sacraments, most especially the Eucharist. I wonder how it will affect me — if it will be noticeable or just a subtle change.

I am thrilled that I have done First Reconciliation, which I was so nervous about. I feel like it’s all joy from here on out as I head into Holy Week and the Easter Vigil (the service where I join the church)!

I am amazed at how far I have come spiritually in just the span of a year. From a year and a half ago a nonbeliever to a full convert bursting with joy at what I have found … nothing short of a miracle.

I look forward to becoming more active in the church. So many times I’ve been interested in doing something but thought to myself “nope, let’s work on actually becoming Catholic first… then I can add more of these activities.” I hope to get involved in some of our church’s groups and programs and perhaps become a reader.

I have participated as fully as I can as a non-Catholic from going to mass weekly and on Holy Days and to daily mass when my kids’ school schedules permit it to adding prayer to my daily life and guiding my kids in the beginnings of their Catholic journey.

I have learned so much over the last year, but yet am so eager for more. It truly is a “thirst”. I find myself often sad at the fact that I cannot just sit in church or read a spiritual text or pray. Work and day-to-day life get in the way, but I’m working it in as much as I can and I hope I find the capacity to add to it.

I look forward in the coming year to continuing to work on my personal flaws and am so happy to be aided in that process by the sacrament of reconciliation. I also fully intend to commit myself to service to others in a regular fashion in the wonderful model of our new Pope Francis.

I also hope to take a short pilgrimage to St. Therese of Lisieux’s national shrine in the U.S., not too far from me outside of Chicago. Maybe a good summer trip…

So much to do… so little time… I will continue to blog as my first year as a Catholic and share all the new joys and experiences that come my way. Please join me!

Wow, I finally experienced my first reconciliation, also called “first confession” by many! Of all the portions of the Catholic RCIA process, this was the thing about which I was most nervous. Having to articulate — and thus face up to — all the wrong you have done in your life is not an easy task!

I love the idea of reconciliation, however. It forces you to regularly look your faults directly in the eye. There’s no hiding them shamefully in the back of your mind hoping you’ll forget them. That is not the path to self-improvement. If we want to become saints, or even just better versions of ourselves, we have got to start by discerning our flaws, acknowledging them and then addressing them. If you keep confessing the same sins over and over, that’s a sure place to start 🙂 on self-improvement.

I’ve been doing the Weight Watchers weight loss program over the last several years where I’m allotted so many points each day and week of food that I can eat. I find it greatly helps me resist an unhealthy choice because I stop and think “do I really want to waste 14 points on that?!!”

I feel like reconciliation gives me that same ability to resist. Since I did my first reconciliation, I stop myself when I start to do something wrong, as I can hardly stand to stain what has become so clean!

Reconciliation is an amazing gift for self-improvement and how wonderful that we are able to be forgiven of everything we have done wrong so long as we are truly sorry! It feels so joyful!

If you are nervous about reconciliation, here are a few tips that helped me for my first reconciliation through RCIA:

• Make a list, but destroy it as soon as you’re done. I found I was so nervous I could hardly think and having the words in front of gave me the courage to just plow ahead!
• Decide beforehand if you want to be face-to-face with the priest. Ultimately, I decided not to and I think that was a good call for the first time. Having to look someone in the eye while confessing your worst faults would have made me completely lose my train of thought I think.
• Relax. The priest is there to hear you, forgive you and nothing more. There is no judgement. Remember, he’s heard it all before!
• Don’t engage in a discussion. Just list out your sins, say your Act of Contrition and move on. Set up an appointment with the priest if you want to have a discussion.
• Go regularly! I already strongly desire to go back so I can wipe the slate clean again. Again, I think this is such an amazing healing gift.

Do those of you experienced Catholics have any advice on reconciliation. What has helped you?