Okay, so a lot of life has been happening. I have been going through some very big deal kind of things the past few weeks and they will continue for the next few months. I will write about it all, as soon as I wrap my mind around it but for now it seems like the theme of religion keeps coming up. This time the theme is of two religions, very the same and very different.
One of my fellow racers expressed her previous anxiety about talking to Catholics about Christianity (Ireland our first country is very Catholic). I feel as though I could totally relate with her but like the two religions, I can relate in a different way. If the last name Hernández [er'nandes], doesn't give it away. I am first generation american of mexican parents. Ever since I was a baby we have traveled to Mexico City at least once a year sometimes twice, to visit our immediate family out there. Something I never forget is how we always had to visit the Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, heres a wiki for those of us who are not familiar “minor basilica and national shrine of Mexico in the north of Mexico City. The shrine was built near the location where our Lady of Guadalupe is believed to have appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin”. We would go to mass that was often lead by a Cardinal, then we would roam the grounds visiting the statues of Saints who would help the people with their prayer requests (depending of what your request was you would visit a certain Saint). It was always one of our stops while visiting my family in Mexico.
The Bacilica
Im the baby , then its my sister my mom and my uncle at the statues of Juan Diego and Virgin Mary at the Bacilica.
So growing up, Christ is all I knew along with a few other things. I was a CHRISTIAN from the start (awesome right?!). My mom paid for me to go to a Catholic jr. high, and during the first year of high school I was very involved with my churches Youth Group. I feel as though those young tender years of friday school mass, prayer and retreats were very influential in my development in character and in faith.
Yes, I was baptized when I was a baby. A dedication of my life to God from my parents. Then I did my first communion at about age 12, my saying upon my own free will that I did believe in the body and blood of Christ, and first time actually receiving it. Then by age 18, I was confirmed. My “confirming” as an “adult” (I think that depends on the person) that Christ was my savior. All of these things I did because, yes my parents were making me do it, but also because in my heart even at age 12 I felt as though this Jesus guy was legit. Their was something about all I had learned in my sunday school classes that made him so intriguing, their was no way to deny it. I knew I loved, and believed in Christ but as most of us do, and especially in those high school years living out the word was far too difficult.
Toward the end of my junior year of high school I was invited to Young Life, a high school youth group that in not associated with a specific church. It is more about reaching out to kids of all walks of life. I’ll skip to the good part, that summer I was reminded about Christ and about all those times though out my life when I had accepted and devoted my life to God. That summer in August of 2005 I rededicated my life to Christ. Since then I haven’t let go. By no means am I saying I am perfect, what I am saying is that ever since then Christ has played a role in my decisions. Some decisions of which I blinded myself to him so I could do things my way. Of course after all was said and done, I knew what I had done. Just one of those things one constantly needs to work on.
That summer of ’05 started what I call my “After Christ” life, aka Christian in “religion language”. One day my mom asked me to go to mass with her, I told her I didn’t want to go. Naturally, she was not happy with my answer. I then proceeded to explain that I didn’t want to go because I didn’t believe in all they taught. At that point my mother was furious, talking about all the money she had spent on a Catholic school for nothing. I know now that it was just the shock, and disappointment at the time. Not much is worse than when your parent feels like they have failed because of you. In this case it had to do with my faith and the fact that I had made my own decision which was not in line with hers. I always disagreed with her in many things, but as a mother she still had her way. This time I was standing up for me, and she knew that making me believe was impossible. So, yes she was mad, she would tell me I was spending too much time volunteering for Young Life (I became a YL Leader), going to church and attending events and meetings relating to the youth group and not enough time with my family. Mad at me for going to church and being too devoted?! I thought it was crazy, I mean I was following what I felt God wanted me to do.
One day my mom walks in on me doing a bible study, and she simply asks what I’m reading about. Initially, I’m bothered by it since our conversations on the topic always lead to Catholic or Christian arguments. So I kept telling myself to be patient and calm and I proceed to explain the scripture of the washing of the feet. This time was different because after so many times that I had asked her to please listen and let me talk this time she actually was listening. She then began to ask me questions!! What?! Yes, after months of her being mad at me, she was willing to hear her daughter out. The conversation led to the Catholic/Christian talk and after the conversation of which I hardly remember anything I said, my mom accepted my decision and began to go to a spanish Christian service all on her own. Seriously, one of the most amazing things God has blessed me with.
I said some things in that conversation that I didn’t know prior to all of it happening. Here are some things I do remember.
- Catholics are Christians
- Catholics practice the traditional way, the way it was practiced BC- Before Christ.
- Christians practice on a more personal level AD- After death. or in my terms “After Christ”
- Christ came, died, and resurrected to free us of the wall of sins that separated us and God. His life gave us the ability to be able to have a relationship and be in direct communication with God.
- Catholics hold up a beautiful historical/traditional spiritual life that is lead by physical actions, deeds and Saints to get your prayers heard by God. (a BC style religion)
- After Christ religion should be different than BC religion. Christ coming directly effects Catholicism since the practice was made before Christ came and reasons for the physical actions required during mass and confession to a priest are no longer there.
- My moms explanation to me of why she believes in Saints. The Saint was made a Saint because they lived godly lives, putting them closer to God. Since we are still so full of sin, those saints help up get our prayers heard.
- My response to her. See bullet 4
I’m sure there are many more technical ways of explaining the differences, but from my experience with a catholic, these were some of the big basic question that moved her to worship the Lord as an After Christ christian.
If anything, this helped me walk away more confidant in my decision to become an After Christ style Christian. I hope you find this encouraging, as it was extremely in my life.
With love,
Janice
