Feast of Corpus Christi

Speaking of the Miracle of Bolsena, it is said that Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to issue a papal bull establishing the Feast of Corpus Christi, a day to celebrate the Eucharist. It just so happens that this year the feast fell on June 7, the day we were in Orvieto! I wish I would have known at the time; I would have been even more in awe with the Duomo.

For centuries, the Feast of Corpus Christi (or Corpus Domini as it is known here in Italy) was celebrated with a Eucharistic procession accompanied by hymns and litanies. The faithful would venerate the Body of Christ as the procession passed by. This practice has mostly fallen away, but it seems they still do it here in Naples. I wasn’t aware this year, but next year I would love to see it!

Aversa, Italy

Duomo di Orvieto

Europe is full of amazing Catholic churches and shrines, and one of my goals while here in Italy is to see as many of them as possible. On June 7, while driving back from Venice, we made a pit stop in Orvieto.

Here, we had the privilege of visiting the Duomo di Orvieto, a beautiful Catholic cathedral, which was built under the orders of Pope Urban IV to commemorate the Miracle of Bolsena. The facts are sketchy and inconsistent, but legend has it that in 1263 a priest stopped in Bolsena while on a pilgrimage to Rome. He was struggling with his faith, and was doubting the truth of transubstantiation, that the Eucharist is actually Christ. While celebrating mass at Saint Christina’s Basilica, at the moment of consecration, the host began to bleed onto the corporal (the small cloth upon which the host and chalice rest during mass). It is said that upon close observation, the blood on the corporal shows the profile of a face resembling Christ. The priest then traveled to nearby Orvieto, where Pope Urban IV resided, to tell him the tale. After immediate investigation, the Pope declared it a miracle and ordered the building of the Duomo di Orvieto to house the corporal.

Choose Your Friends Wisely

I was talking to a friend back in Virginia a couple of weeks ago and she was telling me about some fellow moms who have been gathering frequently for ‘Moms Night Out’, which usually includes heading to a bar and drinking until 3am.

My friend is against joining them because she doesn’t want to invite the temptation. Her husband is about to deploy for nine months, and the last thing she needs is to get overly drunk in the presence of other men. She made the choice not to hang out with these women because she knows that the people you spend time with influence your decisions and your behavior. Spend time with the wrong people and you will make bad decisions. Spend time with the right people and you will make good decisions.

It reminded me of something I read recently. In Rediscovering Catholicism, Matthew Kelly writes, “I love being around people who are constantly striving to better themselves. They energize me. They inspire me. They challenge me. They make me want to be a better person.”

I love that last line- They make me want to be a better person.

And I thought, what better way to be a better Catholic than to surround myself with other Catholics. Surround myself with those that strive to be shining examples of our faith. Surround myself with people who pray frequently, so that I may become more prayerful. Surround myself with people who go the church every Sunday, so that I may increase my desire for the Eucharist. Surround myself with people who go to reconciliation regularly, so that I may learn to trust God’s forgiveness.  Surround myself with people who live holy lives, so that I may remember to always put God first.

Where do I find these people? Catholic Women of the Chapel. They are such an amazing, inspiring group of women and I am so excited to be the president. I know with all my heart that God directed me towards this group because I am going to learn so much from them. What a blessing!

What's Wrong With My Voice?

I was baptized as a baby and made my First Communion when I was nine. I’ve always considered myself Catholic. I didn’t receive any religious education growing up (except for the year I made my communion), and my parents only went to church when it was convenient (which wasn’t often), but I considered myself Catholic nonetheless.

On my 21^st birthday, my boyfriend (now husband) proposed. We wanted to get married in a church, so I knew I had to make my Confirmation. I contacted the local church and made arrangements to take the necessary classes. That year I was confirmed, and we completed Pre-Cana classes and Engaged Encounter. Now I was a "full-fledged" Catholic and we started going to church every Sunday (when it was convenient, of course!) That’s all there is to this being Catholic thing, right?

Well, about four years ago, I was asked to be a catechist and the idea terrified me. What did I know about being a catechist!?! What if some kid asked me a question I couldn’t answer? People would know that I was a fraud; that I didn’t know the first thing about our faith! After much prodding, I finally agreed on the condition that I assist with the preschoolers. I figured being an assistant would take me out of the spotlight, and the kids were too young to realize how little I knew. I managed to get through three years without being “found out” (and even learned a bit along the way!)

Last summer, we moved here to Naples, Italy and I was once again presented with the opportunity to be a catechist. I was still a little unsettled after the move and didn’t want to make any commitments, so I said no. Lo and behold, once the school year started, the preschool teacher got sick and was having personal problems. I started subbing in fairly regularly, and by Thanksgiving I was asked to take over the class permanently. God is sneaky like that. He lets you think you’re in control, but he’s in the driver’s seat :)

In the past year, I’ve also become a member of Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC). It is an amazing group of ladies and I have learned so much at our meetings, but with this new knowledge came the realization of how little I actually know about Catholicism. I mean no one ever told me missing Sunday mass was a mortal sin! When I was asked to be President of the group I was once again terrified. How could I lead a group when they probably know more than me!?! I prayed for guidance, and it occurred to me that four years ago I didn’t think I could be a catechist, but I’ve gotten pretty good at it! I think God is pushing me out of my comfort zone again so I can continue to grow. I truly believe that this is the next step in my spiritual journey.