Well. For those of you not religiously inclined, you might want to skip this blog today. Warning.

I did get out of bed this morning. Welcome Good Friday.

Morning Good Friday Prayer was at 9 am. I awoke begrudgingly at 8 am. Seriously considered not going, and simply turning over and going back to sleep.

Then, guilt clicked in. The really funny thing about guilt and Catholics is that no one actually makes you feel guilty. The guilt comes from inside yourself. I am not sure how the Catholics do that, but it is very effective LOL.

The Catholic religion is good for guilt. Actually, that's one of the things I like best about Catholicism. How weird is that?

We have Holy Days of Obligation. Holy Days of Obligation are, well, obligatory. And, Good Friday is NOT one of them.

However, Holy WEEK, is. I know, that doesn't make sense, but you'll have that. I really like Holy Week, it grounds me back into the reality of the sacrifice that Christ made for me and for all.

Two days ago is known as Black Wednesday, (the day Judas betrayed Christ) Holy (Maundy) Thursday, the Last Supper, then Good Friday the Crucifixion, Tomorrow is Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil, and then we have the Resurrection of the Christ, on Easter Sunday.

I do try to make them all.

A little journey here.

In college, I minored in religion, majored in pre-law. Minoring in religious studies led me to agnosticism, where I stayed for many, many years, only ending with the birth of Pint, 8 ½ years ago.

They call that an epiphany. What happened to me.

So anyway. Here we are, age almost 52. Life in chaos most of the time, by my own hand, as it were. I did take the girls away from Calamity. But life changed dramatically for me and DH. As most of my readers know.

Why the religion? Witnessing a miracle helped a lot. Being a total and complete skeptic, I did rather need to be knocked over the head. And, I was.

Why Catholicism? It makes me feel comfortable. I don't have anything against any other religion at all. I have many friends or acquaintances of different branches of Christianity, Paganism, Islam. I don't for the most part, indulge in theological debate (okay, except on Tblog LOL).

But, as a personal matter, I like Catholicism. It answers my questions. It gives me a straight and secure road to walk. It offers prayers for when I can't think of the words to use. It offers meditation. It offers peace for me. It gives me an up close and personal relationship with God.


There are many times during my day, when I am stressed. I find it comforting to say a quick Hail Mary. It calms me to think that the Blessed Mother is up there, listening. When I need more, I say the Our Father. It comforts me to know that I am praying the way Jesus said I should. I appreciate the fact that there are many Saints whom I can ask to pray for me, or for something important to me. I always pray to God, but I do ask the Saints to add in there a bit. I do believe that the Saints are special to God himself, and that He listens to their petitions on my behalf.

I don't feel near as alone.

When I go into church, it is as though I am the only one approaching the altar. Catholics are rather singular people in a way.

One of the things I didn't like about other types of churches, was the fact that everyone was looking at me to see if I was listening. What I was doing. If the kids were being too loud. (I don't understand 'children's room's) in churches where the children are kept away from the main worship. How else do you teach them? I like the fact that there are babies crying during Mass. Children whispering to their parents, asking for explanation, or even whining. That is LIFE.

Everyone approaches the altar differently. Some just do a quick cross and sit. Some kneel and cross themselves. Some just simply walk in and sit.

Entering the pew, some kneel and pray, some just sit, restlessly until the service begins.

Boys look around to see who among the girls is there.

Girls look around to see who among the boys is looking to see who among the girls are here.

No one looks at me to see what I am doing. No one looks to see how devout my prayers are, or aren't.

Being somewhat old fashioned, I bow when the Cross comes down the aisle during the procession. I think I may be the only one who does, but I couldn't honestly tell you, because I don't look.

Good Friday is just simply prayer. The Altar is divested of everything. The Priest doesn't even go up to the Altar. He leads the prayers from a pew.

It is a time of reflection, where we think about the Passion of Christ, the crucifixion, and the death. Then, we start keeping the vigil, for the Resurrection.

Today at 3 pm is the Stations of the Cross, where we follow around the Priest at the Church, stopping at each plaque which has a particular Station of the Cross depicted. The Priest announces which Station it is, then we pray. Tonight is the Solemn Liturgy of the Word. Tomorrow is the East Vigil, which starts at sundown, and continues to Easter morning.

It is my favorite week of the year.

More special than Christmas.

And, I am glad I got up.