Catholicism is a vast sea on which we sail. However, the most ignorant Catholic, who loves and follows Christ to the best of his ability, has all he needs to attain Eternal Salvation, no matter his lack of learning.
So Are We All Friend
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
Oh how true this is.
My late grandmother couldn’t read or write because she didn’t have the privilege of an education. Yet she would begin everyday saying the rosary and end her day saying the rosary. Her Faith was as normal and necessary to her as the air she breathed. Living her Faith in the very ordinary life she lived- cooking, cleaning and occasionally knitting socks for grandkids. Her only vice was the occasional cheating in card games- she’d chuckle when we caught her out. She passed away with her grandchildren surrounding her in her hospital bed, just as we finished saying the rosary.
An excellent Easter meditation in just one paragraph, Mr. McClarey!
And a wonderful comment from Ezabelle.
Thanks to you both.
Ezabelle.
How beautiful are the Lords ways and Our Mother’s Immaculate heart.
God can never be outdone in generosity. Having the privilege to say, until we meet again, via the Holy Rosary was such a poignant farewell.
btw…Our Lady and Her Son keep the promises they gave to us. Those who are devoted to Her and her Rosary, praying it everyday, receive signal graces. Thats #1 of the 15 promises made to us through St. Dominic by Our Queen.
#10) The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
#15) Devotion to my rosary is a great sign of predestination.
My parents were so devoted to Our Lady and Her rosary that I’m certain that it was a lifeline that brought me back onto the deck of the Catholic Ship which I so fool heartedly jumped off years ago.
Praying the rosary everyday, all four major mysteries, will change your life. If you can only do one, do the one. In time you will see that in one hour 3 major mysteries can be prayed..and the fourth one will come easily.
God bless you Ezabelle.
Thanks Bruno. God Bless you. Don has a gift with words- that paragraph says so much.
Philip- thank you. Your devotion to Our Lady and the Rosary is truly a gift from God through your parents. You are correct we should say it more frequently. I think that’s the goal this year. Thank you for the reminder that Good Holy habits die hard. God Bless you always.
Thank you Ezabelle.
Donald, thank you for your rich comment. This means so much to me. As a 48 yr long Protestant who is investigating Catholicism, i feel overwhelmed at what I have to believe and follow. This article makes it feel possible even for me
Jay, one of the wonderful things about Catholicism is that it works on every level it is lived, from great scholars to women saying the rosary as they scrub floors. Christ intended for it to be a faith for everyone.
Donald McClarey’s comment to Jay Steinke is the most superb and gracious comment of the year…imho.
Christ intended for it to be a faith for everyone.
Amen.
God bless you Jay and Donald.
Somewhere I saw a comment years ago, shortly after my own conversion, attributed to James Joyce, of all people. He supposedly said something to the effect of “The Catholic Church means ‘here comes everybody’. ” Bingo.
On Good Friday, I told my kids, “Time to get ready for mass!”
My four year stared at me and informed me, “Mom, it’s SERVICE!”
That whole day was an exercise in humility for me. 🤣
Delving into this question a bit more deeply:
Before the revolutionary changes of 1955-1970, the liturgical ceremony of Good Friday was indeed called the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified, and it was understood to be a Mass in a certain sense (offertory of a sort, Real Presence, Communion of the Priest).
Nowadays, it is of course a Communion service with many of the elements of the ancient Mass of the Pre-Sanctified. But there is no Mass on Holy Saturday in the modern Roman calendar, either. It is now the first Mass of Easter Sunday (it fulfills the obligation), and so there are (since 1969, at least) two days when the Church does not offer Mass: Good Friday and Holy Saturday.