JP II: Truth, Happy Picture, Gift of Gold

"To all of you, dear young people, who hunger and thirst for truth, the Church offers herself as a traveling companion. She offers the eternal Gospel message and entrusts you with an exalting apostolic task: to be the protagonists of the new evangelization."
                  John Paul II - Message for World Youth Day, Vatican City, 1993.

I was an unhappy young adult back in 1993, so he was speaking to me. I was dipping my toe into young adult activities at church and not sure of anything. I'm glad I am further along in my journey now.

Leila at http://littlecatholicbubble.blogspot.com/ speaks of the truth. So does Gerard M. Nadal, Ph.D. at http://gerardnadal.com/.

Here's another happy picture. Look at this LUCKY and blessed baby being baptized by Pope John Paul II. He (or she) is Catholic forever! The caption of this picture (from the book John Paul II An Invitation to Joy) says "Sistine Chapel, Vatican City. 1997" So today this baby is a teen-ager. I wonder how he or she is doing. 

Maurizio Brambatti/Reuters/Piekna/MaxPPP

Are you baptized? I am. I was baptized into the Catholic Church as an infant. My parents gave me this great gift. If you were baptized as a child, thank your parents. If you are not baptized, you can be! You too can avail yourself of this gift by hopping down to your local church and going through faith formation classes. The Church is for everyone who wants it. If you are open to receiving the gifts, yes gifts, of the church, you may have the gift.

It's not always an easy gift to open, but it's a wonderful gift full of brightness and light. It's gold, but better and more precious. Unlike gold, there's an infinite amount.

Hey, note to those of us who go to church. Whoever approaches us, whoever crosses our path, whoever sits near us may be searching. Let us be friendly, welcoming, and helpful. 

Orignal Sin

I like baptisms. I am glad I was baptised as an infant. It gives me a secure feeling. Even though I've made all my other sacraments, baptism ensures that I have that indelible mark as a Catholic, as a Christian, as belonging to
God. If I wasn't baptised, I would feel like I was driving through life without my seatbelt on. How does it feel to not be baptised and not be any other religon? How do you just not belong to anything? Baptism is the joy.

The judgment is the original sin part. Sure, baptism washes it away, but the baby hasn't committed any sin. You're born, and you already have sin that needs to be eradicated. That's just not psychologically healthy. Adam and Eve messed up, not baby Taylor, not baby Elizabeth, not baby Annie, not baby Jimmy. The Church says it's a mystery, but I thinks that's just a cop-out statement. Now wonder they say Catholics perfected guilt: you're born, you take your first breath and already SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR BEING that needs to be corrected. Church fathers, let's get rid of the original sin. The concept is not healthy. There's no original sin. I reject the very concept.