tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11357354.post255964131013658804..comments2013-08-20T08:21:18.133-07:00Comments on Irina's Diary: Fr. Ripperger's ConferenceIrina S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16021850148183995000noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11357354.post-61085957558175721812007-02-26T20:32:00.000-08:002007-02-26T20:32:00.000-08:00Irina: Michelle told me that you had some notes fr...Irina: Michelle told me that you had some notes from Saturday and I came to take a "peek". so glad I did. We met once at the open house for Veritas, and I know Thea from St. Al's. <BR/>You have a lovely blog, and I look forward to visiting again!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11357354.post-53893129678093664332007-02-18T16:55:00.000-08:002007-02-18T16:55:00.000-08:00P.S.I agree with Dominic about the long skirts and...P.S.<BR/>I agree with Dominic about the long skirts and dresses thing; I think once you have kids it gets a little ridiculous trying to wrestle a diaper onto a squirmy toddler. Skirts are nice for church, but they're not always practical for every situation.Tirzahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01048860234449759871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11357354.post-43122850047370008372007-02-18T16:52:00.000-08:002007-02-18T16:52:00.000-08:00That sounds like a very interesting conference; yo...That sounds like a very interesting conference; your last comment about non-sacramental marriages caught my eye and I'd like to offer my two cents for you to do what you'd like with. <BR/>I agree that it is difficult to be a traditional Catholic in today's society namely because the values of Catholicism are not supported by the values of society. I think the struggle becomes still more difficult when confronted with the dilemma of having someone in your life whom you care for be in conflict with your own personal Catholicism. My cousin recently married a Moslem gentleman and because he is not baptized their marriage was blessed by the Church but technically is not considered a sacrament. Friends and family all expressed concern over the possible struggles which she might face being married to someone who doesn't share her faith, but she displayed very consistently her determination to marry the man she loved no matter what. She asked me to be a bridesmaid, and I felt conflicted. On the one hand we were good friends, even family, and we had grown up together and often talked about being in each other's weddings; she was a bridesmaid in my wedding. On the other hand, I had serious reservations about whether or not I could support her in her decision. It didn't take me very long to decide what I should do; I told her I was concerned, but that I would love her no matter what and I'd be happy to be in her wedding. Only time will tell what their marriage will be like, but either way I'd make the same decision over again. If things go well, then I'm glad I was there to help her celebrate the beginning of a beautiful marriage. If things do not go well, I know she will think of me as someone she can turn to for support since I have been with her from the beginning. <BR/>I think sometimes it is more important to preserve a relationship and be an example of Christian compassion than to be a crusader for tradition and dogma. Sometimes, being Catholic and standing up for the truth means being vocal about it; other times, I think the truth is better served in quietly loving someone as a whole person, not weighing them according to how Catholic you think they are or how many of the rules they follow. Some people are not as Catholic as they could be, some of them endure great struggles, but a lot of them still love their children, still try to be a good friend, and above all they still need to be loved. The word "catholic" means "universal," but so often we seek to define Catholicism as something narrow, strict, and stingy. I think God is much broader, much more forgiving, and much wiser than we give Him credit for. I call myself a Catholic and go to Mass and don't eat meat when I'm not supposed to, but there have been times when I have treated other people in a very un-Catholic fashion. I think that theology and tradition are important and integral parts of the Catholic faith, but that it is easy to get caught up in them and to lose sight of the broader picture, to forget about truly Christian behavior. Someone might believe absolutely in every word of the Bible and the Catechism, but how do they treat people? With kindness and compassion, or with criticism and judgment? If a person is turned off by all the “rules” of Catholicism, I think they would more impressed with a kind person’s behavior than a scholar’s knowledge of theology. Both are necessary for the health of the Church, but I think it’s possible to be a brilliant theologian and still go to hell, and also to be a kind and loving simpleton and get to Heaven.Tirzahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01048860234449759871noreply@blogger.com