– The ending question on Fr. Nick’s most recent blog (Hi Father Nick!). This past month has been filled with so much Beauty, it’s overwhelming to contain it all. I hope to point out some recent experiences that made me ponder and reflect more on God’s love and his true and perfect beauty.
- Vancouver in the summer time is absolutely beautiful. I remember being in awe every time I visit White Rock beach, and every experience I had to see clear blue skies, serene water and mountains in the backdrop. I also remember feeling happy seeing my instagram feed full of nature-related photos because how can you not like something so breathtaking 🙂
- This month I have also experienced the beauty of vulnerability in my conversations with my brothers and sisters. From sharing conference experiences, to simple “how are yous”, to hearing the stories of previous Full Time Pastoral Workers and their love for God through their mission work (my eyes were sweating the entire time listening to their incredible stories), to reading shared status updates and blogs, to late night drives with a good friend pouring out so much honesty to the point of tears, I have seen how the Lord has given me so many beautiful relationships in my life. What a beautiful privilege it is to be placed in this moment to journey with our loved ones closer to God.
- I also couldn’t stop thinking about my first experience attending a Latin High Mass. The reverence, joy and beauty I witnessed were incredible. Some details that stood out to me were seeing the women wearing veils, the men in suits, the choir (!) and the beautiful hymns they sang, the altar servers and how focused they were being in Jesus’ presence, and the priest and his incredible love for the Mass. It left me feeling joyful and at the same time wanting more – even though I feel that this life and the journey of faith will always remain a mystery, it struck something in me to want to learn more and renew my promise to love God above all things.
All these recent experiences are but a tiny preview to the many times my heart and mind gets overwhelmed daily, when I really look into how much God loves me and how much I want to love Him.
Father Nick said it best when he said,
“At that moment I greatly desired to have this relationship in my life and began searching to see how this could be possible. There is so much beauty in our faith. The beauty of Jesus’ life who died out of love to save us. The beauty of the holy lives of the saints. The beauty of being part of the Church, a family that transcends time and nationality. When we reconnect with this beauty, we renew – or perhaps enkindle for the first time – our desire to follow Jesus.”
When we reconnect with this beauty, we renew- or perhaps enkindle of the first time – our desire to follow Jesus.
St. Joseph, Our Lady of Lourdes, Most Holy Family, pray for us on this journey of Perfect Beauty.
Praise God! 🙂
