Struggling: Weeks 21 & 22.
OCIA was off for the Thanksgiving holiday week, and it was so nice not carrying all of my office gear to Mass! Back at it for Weeks 21 & 22 however...
I have been struggling. Since the car accident a few weeks ago, my mood has been uncharacteristically low, underscored by pain and not healing from muscle strains and whiplash as quickly as I anticipated. Slowly walking back and forth to Mass/OCIA isn't an issue because of how close I live to the Cathedral, but with the pain... it is akin to having a little dark rain cloud following me around everywhere. With each passing day, there is a bit of improvement, but it is undoubtedly slow going. All of this compounded with attempting to stay abreast of deep Catholic Bible study, finishing the Catechism, and the ongoing inconsistent teachings in our OCIA classes when cross-referenced to the CCC are making it difficult to show up, but... I know that simply the act of being present is mission-critical, even in the slumps.
During the OCIA retreat this past weekend (Saturday, December 9, 2023), we focused on the four pillars: ONE - HOLY - CATHOLIC - APOSTOLIC. The retreat itself was a half-day that started with the 8:00 AM Mass, and three hours of pacing through paragraphs 811-865 of the Catechism of The Catholic Church.
From my notes:
The Church’s purpose is to continue the proclamation and work of Jesus (through the authority of the Apostles). The Church is one, and the sole church of Christ, and we are united in Communion: striving for unity is paramount, one heart and one mind. It is an act of faith to believe The Church is holy; keep your eyes on Jesus and disregard the noise—encounter Him through the interior work. The Church is Catholic—universal, in keeping with the whole—because Christ is present in her: “Where there is Christ Jesus, there is the Catholic Church.” Founded on the Apostles, The Church is Apostolic, witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ. The spirit dwells in The Church, and hands on the teachings, continuing to be taught, sanctified, and guided until Christ’s return. The Church is ultimately one, holy, catholic* (all-embracing), and apostolic in her deepest and ultimate identity.
Two inquiries I've brought to OCIA recently have revolved around souls in purgatory, and how to proceed with the informational overwhelm and exhaustion I've been experiencing during this conversion process.
1) The Catechism states that the prayers and offerings of the living can assist those in purgatory, helping to shorten their time of purification (CCC 1032). This is something I never learned about in a lifetime of Protestant worship. Dcn. Garlick expanded on this very well, and I'm thankful he was there to take the question: In Catholicism, the entire body of Christ is engaged in prayer: We can ask saints in Heaven to pray for us (“Pray for us,” those already in Heaven as intercession), and we are never separated from The Church. Likewise, we can pray for the souls in purgatory as they continue their journey toward Heaven, helping to configure them toward Church Triumphant:
GOD
—^—
CHURCH TRIUMPHANT (Saints + Heaven)
—^—
CHURCH MILITANT (Us in The Church)
—^—
CHURCH PENITENT (Souls in Purgatory)
2) The struggle is real: I nearly quit OCIA last week. Considering leaving OCIA wasn't driven by a rejection of the Catholic faith, but the lack of consistency in our weekly teachings, struggling with what I have perceived as a general lack of depth in the study for a significant lifetime commitment, and lack of confidence when reviewing the Catechism—what The Church actually teaches— versus what several of our instructors have brought to class, and their outright rejection of the CCC in select cases. It's not my place to be going to leadership every time one of the appointed educators goes off-the-cuff inaccurately and there is dissent with official Catholic teachings. I believe that The Church has a responsibility to all OCIA candidates to present accurate information, and then relay that information in the weekly discussion. While understanding that no one is infallible, having a religious say with their whole chest "The Catechism is wrong," almost was the straw that broke the camel's back. I've been wrestling with thoughts around a) showing up and staying silent, b) not taking notes with the class in mind, so that cross-referencing the CCC doesn't become an issue when the educators are not teaching from Church resources, c) stepping away and taking a break, or d) finding another parish to take OCIA at.
We have OCIA this weekend on 12/17/23, and then we are off for Christmas and the New Year holiday. I am looking forward to the space and a lighter load at Mass.
In Christ,
Kayla
