Does Anyone Know This One?

My last two entries did not post with the paragraphs that I had typed, btu instead ran everything into one HUGE paragraph. Does anyone know how to make sure it posts WITH paragraphs? Thanks in advance!

It All Fits Together - Part Two

My last entry apparently got cut off, so here is the sentence where it leaves off, with hopefully the rest of the comment:

…I have had an intimation during the last few years of my study into the Catholic faith, how often people over the last two thousand years have independently arrived at exactly the same points over and over and over again. Golly – like there was some unseen SPIRIT guiding all these different people to a TRUTH that doesn’t change…. Call me crazy, but that’s my thought.

And then, of course, there is the “coincidence” that I just “happened” to open that particular book which just “happened” to have a bookmark which was just “happened” to be on a topic that I was recently pondering. Again, I suppose that it may be possible that some dim little corner of my brain actually remembered that I had stopped at that part, and was subconsciously “reminding” me, but – to me – that sounds even more far-fetched than to think that some other guiding presence was interceding. I am pretty sure that the last time I read from that book was during Holy Week, when I had shingles and a fine case of exhaustion going. Given that I have actually forgotten my own husband’s name (and not just called him by some other name, either – I mean, I went to say *his* name and I came up with a total blank), I don’t see how I could possibly remember something as vague as a part of a book I hadn’t even read yet.

So my theory (and I think it is a good one) is that the Holy Spirit really is guiding us all to the same truth – if we are attentive enough to recognize it. And as I said earlier, this is not the only time I have noticed this phenomenon. I once did it myself, in fact. I had written this essay on the Lord’s Prayer, breaking it down phrase by phrase. Here I thought I was on the cutting edge, making a contribution to the faith for my brethren… And then I saw a book that had almost every point that I had made – and many more that I had not even thought of. AND it made reference to the Catechism, which had even MORE points, with quotes from Church Fathers across the ages. At first, I was annoyed that I had “wasted my time” on this, and a little humiliated at my small contribution in comparison to these great thinkers. But then I got to thinking a little more about it, and I was really excited and awed by how closely I had been able to match what had been settled over time as accepted doctrine.

Well. That wasn’t too bad for a first message. We’ll have to wait and see if another thought ever enters my head, so that I can write it down, too!! Won’t that be fun?

Have a wonderful day! Kathy Romer

It All Ties Together

Last Sunday at Mass, the Gospel reading had Jesus being "tested" by the Pharisees - again. (Didn't these guys have anything better to do?) The question in particular was which was the greatest commandment, to which Jesus gives His wonderful "love of God" and "love of neighbor" response. Father Timby's homily (which he posts on his blog now, for those interested: http://fathervol.blogspot.com/) was very good, as usual, and has kept me thinking about the "love of God" and "love of neighbor" connections through the week. So it was in this frame of mind that the following incident occurred.

I am an avid book reader, and I keep books scattered around the house (and "scattered" is all too literal from a clutter standppoint) I pick them up at random to read from whatever point I left off. None of these are fiction, though; I have not yet mastered the art of being able to put down a fiction book without having read the entire thing... But I digress. Most of these books are devotional or theological in nature: prayer companions, meditations, and other books that have compact chapters that can be digested in bite-sized pieces.

The one that I happened to pick up tonight is by Cardinal Basil Hume, and is entitled "A Spiritual Companion." It has little snippets from various homilies of his, as well as a little prayer to go with each snippet, and a Bible verse. I opened the book to my bookmark, and the homily meditation was on - eerie musical theme - "Love of God and Love of Neighbor." It was neat to see how closely Cardinal Hume's words and Fr. Timby's words echoed and reinforced one another.

Of course, it is possible that Fr. T had recently read C. Hume's homily and merely incorporated bits of it into his own address, but I doubt it. I think it goes deeper than that. I send out daily quotes to my e-mail buddies, and I have had an intimation during the last few years of my study into the Catholic faith, how often people over the last two thousand years have independently arrived at exactly the%2

Kathy Romer's Rarely Used Blog

I like to see, thank you, so I use large type. Of course, I don't know how to change the font size on the rest of my blog, so there's teeny type everywhere *else,* but I do what I can.