Dawn - you are in my prayers always.
Drusilla | Homepage | 03.11.08 - 12:15 pm | #

Thank you so much for writing that, Drusilla. You know that you are always in my prayers as well.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 03.11.08 - 12:29 pm | #

Thanks for sharing that Dawn. I've felt the same thing when attending a Catholic Mass (I'm something of an AngliMethodist mutt)...the ache that this just shouldn't be. We need to all be together at the Table.

And your vulnerability is refreshing.
Ragamuffin | Homepage | 03.11.08 - 1:56 pm | #

Thanks, Ragamuffin! As I wrote, it was a new experience for me to feel that separation from the other side--it really brought it home in a stronger way than I had expected.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 03.11.08 - 2:08 pm | #

Moving you up a few notches on my prayer list in response to one line well hidden in the middle of the report. God bless!
C.J. | 03.11.08 - 3:23 pm | #

You raise a variety of really interesting issues here.

One issue is how to deal, if at all, with the separation when dealing with the sincere Protestants, and the sincere Episcopalians or Anglicans. I'm a Roman Catholic, of course, but I have a variety of very sincere and dedicated Protestant friends. We often discuss religious issues, and it surprises me that, from time to time, some of those who come from Protestant denominations widely separated from Catholicism hold views very close to ours, without realizing it. At the same time, that sense of wanting to close the gap is there. I've never addressed it, and for the most part, they've never addressed it with me. Indeed, the only times Protestants have ever mentioned this to me have been when I did not know them well, and when they were in those group of people who held their views fiercely, but whom seemed to have a very shallow understanding of Christianity in general, and their own faith, and Catholicism, in particular.

It has often seemed to me that these sincere Protestants were looking for a bridge to Catholicism, if only instinctively, seeming to know that they were missing something, and we miss them.

To go to the next point, how to react to the sincere Anglicans is an odd experience. I recently attended an Episcopal funeral, and it was very odd to be a Catholic in their midst, sort of recognizing things, but only almost. With the very orthodox Episcopalians, it's hard for us Roman Catholics to not wonder why they do not just join us. Branches of the Anglican faith argue that they are in fact Catholic, so why not just be Catholic? It's hard for us to discern, and its' hard not to just attribute it to tradition. I've never discussed this with them either, but I always sort of wish that the orthodox Anglicans would examine their current views, and if they hold them, ask if it just doesn't become safer in a theological sense to become Catholic without question.

Another thing that I think those of us who are Catholic need keep in mind is that the most powerful argument for becoming Catholic is being Catholic. That makes us outsiders, in a way. But it's that Catholic nature that attracts those outside the Church to us. By living our Faith, the Faith lives in us, and attracts those who need Faith to us. That's harder than it sounds, but I suspect in the end, it's the greatest argument, and the only one that cannot be attacked, that there is.
Yeoman | 03.11.08 - 3:24 pm | #

Thanks, C.J.!
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 03.11.08 - 4:01 pm | #

St. Ignatius of Loyola said that tears are a gift from God.

In Domino,


Fr. Raftis
Fr. Sean Raftis, S.J. | 03.11.08 - 5:56 pm | #

I know you only mentioned this in passing, and I'm sure you don't want to talk about it, but I'm so relieved that you are going for your second surgery. I know it is not what you want to do, but it is the right decision, and it will make management of the disease so much easier for the rest of your life. I keep you in my prayers whenever I pray for my fellow thyroid cancer survivors, and I have been praying that you would get good counsel on how to proceed. I have been worried about you! (I know it's not my place, but as a support group facilitator, I can't help it.)

Thank you for all your beautiful writing, and for taking your message out there. God bless you for all your good work.
Joan | Homepage | 03.11.08 - 9:14 pm | #

Drats, Fr. Raftis beat me to the St. Iggy observation (at least it came from a Jebbie!). I'll keep you in my prayers, especially for the thyroid problem. After all, we don't want you to lose your head! Maybe we should invoke St. Thomas More!
Michael | Homepage | 03.11.08 - 9:50 pm | #

We should share Christ aching, for the protestant-supermarket-a la carte-cafeteria christians.

Him to Saint Faustina. Fifth day, in the Novena to the Divine Mercy:
"Today bring Me the souls of the separated brethren and inmerse them in the ocean of My Mercy. During my bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My Wounds heal, and in this way they alleviate My Passion".
Guillermo | 03.11.08 - 9:55 pm | #

Interesting.

It makes an impression on me to see how deeply you care about topics like this, like wanting all Christians to be united and keeping yourself from Communion when you feel you are conscious of sin. My girlfriend (whom I started dating in December) is very spiritual and often talks about having devotions and "offering things up". I often have trouble understanding such ideas. I guess I consider myself more of a practical person, concerned with organizing events for my K of C council and getting to prayer groups and pro-life rallies. She attributes it to a difference between men and women.

The only time I've felt anything close to what you describe is during the painful two weeks when I struggled with the decision of whether to marry my now ex-fiancee. One of the things that hit me hard back then was the thought of trying to stand on line for Communion knowing how I was going to be living the rest of my life.

And I'm still in the process of getting back into confession. Before 2005, I hadn't gone in probably 15 years (although I was quite conscious of certain sins and am probably more conscious now of the things I did wrong back then). And I still sometimes find myself stuck in the mindset of "Hey, all I do is get up in the morning, go to work, come home, have dinner, watch a movie, and go to bed. How could I be committing any sins?"
R.F. | 03.11.08 - 11:28 pm | #

R.F. One thing I think you'll find is that as you progress back towards Confession, offering things up, and other similiar concepts, will make more and more sense.

I could have written a lot of what you did just above. I thought I was a good Catholic, but in retrospect, I was doing some very wrong things. In my case, an invitation to something I couldn't politely refuse caused me to reexamine my Confessional practices, and I went in and confessed more clearly.

Since that time, a lot of things have become clearer and clearer. Each time they do, more of the deep mysteries of spirituality either make more sense to me, or as odd as the statement may sound, they become more deeply mysterious but more present and real than before. I'll bet by this time next year, that will be the case for you as well.
Yeoman | 03.12.08 - 10:27 am | #

Dawn, We love the Anglican mass, and our dearest wish is for Advent in Boston to swim,swim,swim!!

Be of good courage, sis.
Janjan | Homepage | 03.12.08 - 1:28 pm | #

The Church will never be "one" as many of us wish She would until Jesus comes back. It is a wonderful longing, shared even by some low church Protestants such as myself, but realistically, there are too many doctrinal, traditional and cultural differences to overcome.
That said, I understand, I think, how you feel. After all, oneness was Jesus prayer for the Church.
You remain a blessing for us all.
John Mark | 03.12.08 - 2:47 pm | #

Much thanks, Joan, and everyone who has offered prayer. My operation is tentatively scheduled for the day after Memorial Day--am currently waiting for confirmation of the date.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 03.12.08 - 10:58 pm | #

Of Courage and Hope
Dedicated to Dawn

Your heart and mind
are in the right place
surrounded by God's radiant light
that expresses the warmth and love
on your smiling face.
Trust in the Lord. All will be well
for His love will nourish and
protect you in the chaste.

Many Blessings.
Annette | 03.13.08 - 9:42 pm | #

Is it worse having to wait until the end of May for an operation, or being plunged into one suddenly upon learning a diagnosis?

Praying for you and all who face medical worries, that you may put your trust in Jesus who will guide all circumstances towards His Glory.
Therese Z | Homepage | 03.14.08 - 11:11 am | #

Hi Dawn, I have been in Calif. for the last two weeks and just got back to Chas last night. I finally got to read your blog for the first time. You are such a precious lady! I will continue to pray for you! It was alot of fun visiting with you on the tour!I pray also you won't get discouraged, because we all need to hear what you have to say. Let the Holy Spirit guide you always and give you "the Peace that passes all understanding"
Blessings, Ryckie
Ryckie Watkins | 03.27.08 - 10:02 pm | #