My Feelings

~JMJ~

Hi everyone! I am currently on my RCIA journey, a journey towards initiation into the Catholic Church, which will culminate in my reception of the Three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. So I thought I could just share with you all what I've learnt during the lessons and other thoughts of my own.

My Feelings

I really can't wait to complete this journey! I want so much to make Full Communion with Jesus by receiving His Most Precious Body and Blood. I am a filthy tabernacle, awaiting the waters of Baptism to wash me clean, before finally make of my tongue a red carpet for the Lord, and my body a tabernacle for Him. 

It feels like Purgatory on Earth. I can see God, and long to make enter in Communion with Him so much, that this great hope burns painfully like a fire. O sweet the promise and great the hope! I can't imagine having to go through this all over again at the end of my earthly life.

There are two hymns now which nourish me to press on in this journey. It can get quite exhausting at times as my patience gets tried. So I really need these hymns to remind me of the sweetness of this journey and its reward in Holy Baptism. The first is the Vidi Aquam, the sprinkling hymn used during Eastertide. It's commonly translated as "I saw water flowing from the right side of the temple, alleluia..." It just fills me with hope for the night of the Easter Vigil. In there lies the verse which just drives me to tears:

Vidi auqam egre dientem de templo, a latare dextro alleluia;

Et omnes, ad quos pervenit, aquaista, salvi facti sunt, et dicent, alleluia, alleluia.

I saw water flowing from the right side of the temple, alleluia;

And all they to whom that water came were saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia. 

It gives me immense hope and the melody just makes me feel like I'm flooded my the magnanimous Love and Mercy of God. 

(Vidi Aquam)

The other hymn is "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross". I sang this hymn before one lesson. The lyrics truly touched me.

Jesus keep me near the Cross

There a PRECIOUS FOUNTAIN

FREE TO ALL A HEALING STREAM

FLOWS FROM CALVARY'S MOUNTAIN

Chorus:

In the Cross, in the Cross,

Be my glory ever;

Till my raptured soul shall find

REST BEYOND THE RIVER

Near the Cross, a trembling soul,

LOVE AND MERCY FOUND ME;

There the BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR

SHED ITS BEAMS AROUND ME

(Chorus)

Near the Cross! O Lamb of God,

Bring it scenes before me;

HELP ME WALK FROM DAY TO DAY,

WITH ITS SHADOWS O'ER ME.

(Chorus)

Near the Cross I'LL WATCH AND WAIT

HOPING, TRUSTING EVER,

TILL I REACH MY GOLDEN STRAND

JUST BEYOND THE RIVER

(Chorus)

(Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross)

I guess that's all I have to say. I'll update you all on my progress and things I'd learnt at RCIA classes. 

Please pray for me. Thanks and God bless you! :D


If you're Catholic and wish to read a more enriching blog, you may like to visit http://inhonouroftheeucharist.blogspot.sg. It focuses entirely on the beauty of the Holy Eucharist.