Welcome home, John. Did the stones themselves cry out? This was my third Triduum since my return to the faith, and I try hard to express my experiences in meter and rhyme. It is all so overwhelming though that it is hard to do.

If you succeed, let me know!

I couldn't even try. I immediately grope for the humblest of metaphors, to avoid making a fool of myself. I tell people that the Church is like discovering coffee after drinking instant coffee all ones life.

Pierce the Eye of the Needle
no caravan can pass.
Ride without a saddle
a colt, the foal of an ass.
A potter will leave his treadle,
a mason white with grout
kneel to kiss your sandal,
and all the stones cry out.

--TM

Congratulations sir!

Thank you, Andrew. I neglected to type the title. No Turning Back.

Thank you Tim, I like that very much.

I like the meter, it made me think of Vaughan, "My soul, there is a country: Far beyond the stars..."

So— remember how last year, I tried to describe the ceremony of lights that I grew up with? Remember how nobody knew what I was talking about?

Well, this year I taped it.

Resucitó
Resucitó
Resucitó
Aleluya.

He is Risen
He is Risen
He is Risen
Alleluia.

Congratulations John! I know the feeling well. I went through it myself in 2003.

Thanks for posting the video B.Durbin. That was beautiful - a fitting end to my Easter.

Wow - congratulations! If I'd have known you were joining the faith this Easter, I'd have baked you a cake or something!

Rejoice, heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God's throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church! Exult in glory!
The risen Savior shines upon you!
Let this place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God's people!

Congratulations, John.

Congratulations, John. I envy you.

Congratulations, John. I joined one year ago, and had the same experience -- like coming home after sleeping in hotels. Or real coffee after instant coffee. Well said. Pax.

Welcome home. It's ten years since I fell into the arms of Our Lord and Mother Church. You have a huge family now. Know that every minute around the world the same Mass is being said; Whether deep underground in China, quietly in a group at a home in Saudi Arabia, in the ruins of a burned out church in Africa, at the threat of violence in Indonesia and in a church in Mexico... after pilgrims have walked for a day to get there. This is why, because of the martyrs and sacrifices, we must participate in the Mass and offer our joys, hopes and sacrifices for all our brethren thoughout the world. Believe it or not, later on (when it's nice and warm out), you may not 'feel' like going to Mass... run to the Mass even faster, when you think of how blessed we are to have freedom to meet our Lord on the altar so easily.
(Okay, i'll stop preaching already)

If you ever need any reading materials or links, whether on the scriptures, magisterium, fathers of the Church, the examples of Saints or the ever popular "Why do Catholics do that", historical references, let me know.

That holy night, where light shined from the darkness, and you were raised as Lazurus from being of the world... to in the world, is one of the most important moments of your life. As time goes on you'll realize the importance even more.

I still have the hunger for the scriptures and church history that I had from the beginning. It's amazing. The Church is such a wealth of knowledge... it would take many lifetimes to study.

As your rambling sister, I welcome you across the Tiber.
I will include you in my prayers for all the catechumens and candidates that entered at the Vigil and will be here if you need me.

May God richly bless you even more.

P.S. I rolled over from Dean's.

Durbin, thanks for that link, did you see the Catholic Scouts (Arab, in Jerusalem)?

Here John.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NBp-OyTuKw&mode=user&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWCbF0M2dRI

Thanks, all. Much appreciated, though I've been a bit too busy to blog or comment much.

I have not blogged this entire subject much, though it's been happening for over a year, because I didn't want to change the character of the blog, (except adding the Sunday thoughts category) and because it's really not my style to be a know-it-all newcomer. (My usual political/social stuff I've been mulling since the 70's, so I feel like I can justifiably pontificate.)

Also because I feel like I've always been a Catholic, and just didn't realize it. So I don't have any interesting turmoil or difficulties to write about. I tend to encounter the great truths of the Faith and say, "Well, D'uh. Obvious. How could anyone not agree?"

"Well, D'uh. Obvious. How could anyone not agree?"
Those things could be interesting to read about. If you're so inclined to post your readings and thoughts about them...

Andrew,
Actually, I do it all the time, but I usually don't make it explicit.

For instance, take a look at this quote, about the difference between power and authority.

Now this is in fact a Truth of the Faith, and very much a Catholic one. Anyone who is orthodox will agree that we are bound by the authority of truths that have been revealed to us...as opposed to having the power to follow our own desires or invent our own religion or denomination. (This was, by the way, the over-arching theme of Newman's whole life.)

But I resonated to this idea long before I thought of it as something "religious." That's what the very first quote on my sidebar is all about. I believe that in our American government (and "America" in general) we are custodians of an authoritative tradition, given us by the founders. It's not just about doing whatever we want, or pure majority rule. My view is not "libertarian," and not pragmatic..

And that tradition was itself an expression of a much more ancient one, referred to as "The Rights of Englishmen." Which ultimately derive from God. (And which are in fact universal. As the President put it, "Freedom is God's gift to all mankind.")

So I've been preaching "Truths of the Faith" all along without hardly knowing it, and then when I encounter them in the flesh I say "Du'h. Obvious." ;-)

(And all this is doubly Catholic, because a basic part of Catholicism is the "sacramental imagination," or world-view, which says that the little things not only matter very much, they point to the big things. So if I see deep truths in what John Adams said, Catholicism tends to suspect that they really are deep matters, and not trivial or merely coincidental.)

Congratulations on finding a spiritual home, John. I'm sure you'll find a lot of comfort and support in it.

I'm just allergic enough to organized religion that I think I'll just continue to mull over C.S. Lewis' writings for a while.

Lewis is more mullable than almost anyone. And I've certainly had my own share of allergy. In my case there was always an element of not wanting to make commitments (or even worse, not wanting to get into potentially embarrassing situations!) and that's something that's neither good nor defensible, I think.

It's not comfort and support I hope to get—maybe to give them to others a little. I hope to get some responsibilities and challenges.

Welcome into the Catholic Church, John. It can be a bit of roller coaster ride for the first few years as you get used to the new environment, but I am sure you will get to like it (its a bit like a fish who has been swimming in water and now wakes up to find himself swimming in scotch whisky). I like the Newman quote. He was a good companion for me on the journey and still is one of my favourite saints (yeah, OK, I know he isn't canonised YET).

Hi! I thought you and your readers might be interested in some post-Easter news about Pope Benedict XVI...
The Pope's car is being auctioned off to raise money for Habitat for Humanity:
www.buyacarvideos.com/popecar.htm
The bidding is already more than $200,000! Personally, I think this is a really fun and creative way to raise
money. The auction goes until April 14th if you and your readers want to check it out.