From Catholic Roots to Spiritual Awakening
I was raised in the Catholic Church. I went to a preschool that was held at church. I went to Catholic schools from Kindergarten all through high school. I went through the sacraments and took night classes as a teenager so that I could make the sacrament of Confirmation. I had my son baptized in the Catholic Church and my first real teaching job was at a Catholic School. This religion is deeply ingrained in me. As a young child, maybe 5, my mom would host my Grandma and Brother Joe, a Franciscan Brother, on Sunday nights and we would sit at the dining room table and say the rosary.
All this to say that my experience with the Catholic religion runs very deep. I started questioning things as an adolescent. You know, the stuff that you're told that you’re just supposed to believe and not ask about the inner workings of. At one point I remember hearing the story of creation, the Bible version, and had so many questions. “What was there before God made the Earth? Who made God? Who made the one who made God? How were more people created if Adam and Eve only had two sons? Did God make the angels too or were they already there?” I could go on and on, but you get the point.
It’s normal to examine your beliefs and to ask questions. For me, understanding the “why” and the “how” are my buy-in…or cash-out. I never stopped questioning it. There were so many oxymorons…things that didn’t add up. In my late teens, I unknowingly set out to discover what else is out there…what other religions are there and do they hold truth for me? I was already intrigued with what else could be out there as I was communicating with my Spirit Team through my dreams.
The Catholic school I worked for would gather for mass every Friday. I was already awakened to my intuition and connection to the Spirit world and so going to church was very interesting. I’d sit and listen of course, but I watched too. I watched the priest as he sat on the altar, and then when he spoke. No matter what, he always had a figure behind him. Most of the time it was an archangel, but during the consecration of the body and blood (host and wine), I noticed something. A smaller figure stood with the priest: Jesus. In my world today, Jesus is an ascended master. In Catholicism, he is the son of God and part of the Holy Trinity. These were experiences that very much changed me.
One of the years I was working for the Catholic school, the principal retired. She was a wonderful person to work for and was incredibly supportive as I endured a lot of life-altering stuff in my time there. For one final time that school year, we all gathered for a celebration mass for her. It was beautiful! At one point during mass the priest asked the principal to come to the front of the church as we all said a prayer, we all raised our hands in prayer in her direction. I really wasn’t looking for it at the time, but while I stood there I felt such a strong powerful presence. Behind the priest and principal was the Archangel Michael. Fully present and blessing her too. I nearly cried at how breathtaking that moment was. What a gift!
This prompted me to explore the energetics behind it all. In reiki, our hands are powerful chakra points. How beautiful that we all stood there pointing our palms in her direction, literally pushing good loving energy her way. When the water and wine are consecrated during mass, the priest is a literal channel. He places his hands over them, much like in reiki, infusing them with the Divine energy of Christ. There have been studies that show that the chemical makeup of the unleavened bread and wine change after they are blessed. Well, of course! That’s the long and short of energy!
There is much to explore here; religion is a touchy topic for many and it’s never my intent to insult or discredit another person’s beliefs. We all have our own experiences that shape who we are. While I no longer practice Catholicism, I cannot deny that there is something to it that holds water for me. My connection to the Saints and Archangels strengthens daily with each new experience or bit of understanding. My connection to myself and the Spirit world gets stronger too. For that, I can only be grateful, humbly grateful.
Whatever path you are on, your experiences shape who you are. These are mine. Take what you will and leave the rest. May your connection to self also be strengthened as you experience life and reflect on your beliefs!
✨Bright Light Betsy✨
