Not all Catholics enter the Church on Easter Vigil. For various reasons, our family was received on Pentecost, which this year aligns with Memorial Day weekend.
I’ve always kept that as the anniversary rather than the actual date because I feel that the liturgical calendar in many ways is more important than the Gregorian date calculation. That emphasize on otherworldly affairs is a key part of the faith, and it is a needed reminder that there very much are Unseen as well as Seen things in God’s creation.
Indeed, my path to the faith was paved by reason, and I’ve written before about how my research into military history made it difficult to take the critiques of “Bible scholars” seriously.
After ten years, I became a sponsor for what was then the Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA), the “rite” now being an “order” (OCIA). Anyway, it was a great experience, but time-consuming and with young kids in the house and National Guard duty weighing on me, my wife made me promise never to do it again until the kids were grown and I was retired from the Guard. I’m planning on going back to it since those conditions now exist.
Though comfortable in discussing theology and belief, I was not fully up to speed on the spiritual realm. It took another five years before the reality of spiritual warfare became apparent.
In the years since, I’ve become more interested in the Mass itself, and have felt the tug towards more traditional forms. I have not yet attended a Traditional Latin Mass, but am now receiving the Host while kneeling on the tongue. This practice was once unique, but I would say that perhaps half of my parishioners (almost all my age or younger) have adopted the practice. Veils are also becoming more prevalent.
In contrast to the chaos within many Protestant denominations, this change is coming from the sheep, not the shepherds. Young people seem to be driving it. A record number of students entered the Church this year, and the campus-friendly location (about a decade ago the student and “townie” parishes were merged, but both buildings are being used) is reporting long lines for confession.
Indeed, I think there’s an interesting debate going on regarding Reconciliation. On the one hand, there are people arguing that it is not a form of therapy, just about sins, get to the point, keep it short so that other people can receive the sacrament.
Yet at the same time, others – particularly clergy – are urging more frequent use and would rather err on the side of excess, so to speak. Put simply, if the priest wants to move things along, he is more than capable of doing that. Better to do it too frequently than not frequently enough.
I am firmly in the latter camp, and have several times found that ‘confessing’ a gnawing moral or spiritual issue has brought insight and comfort. The priests seem to find it fruitful and I’ve yet to be scolded because my sins weren’t grave enough.
It is very clear to me that I have a lot yet to learn, and part of that comes from being raised to despise organized religion and the Catholic Church in particular. My kids (and grandkids) are definitely ahead of the me in that respect.
Chateau Lloyd 
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