Welcome to Recover Catholic... Our purpose is to help our fellow alcoholics and addicts. We welcome Mom's, Dad's, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and colleagues of loved ones afflicted by the disease of alcoholism and addiction to join us here and those suffering in all stages of the disease.
To better understand and help those suffering and slowly dying in front of our eyes by this very cunning and baffling disease. To hopefully add some encouragement, peace, knowledge and fellowship to the alcoholic and addict. New posts will be available every Sunday afternoon.
Our story continues, as Abby and I are attending Mass for the first time together, myself , being born into Catholicism, and Abby a lifelong, albeit non-practicing Baptist. We are seated in the back row of the balcony, in the rear of the church, virtually alone. I like to sit in the back with the "sinners", as it's more comfortable for me...
I suggest that we both just relax and soak it all in, and I will be more than happy to answer questions later. Abby, as is her nature, has a million questions roaming around inside, I can see it in her eyes, as she tries to decide which ones are so important that she needs the answers right now. She finally sorts them out and begins to whisper in my ear, when an usher with a basket appears from seemingly nowhere.
The Usher, as they are very well trained to do in Rome, thrusts the basket in front of Abby, and holds it there for the perfect amount of guilt producing few seconds, unwavering and unashamed. Even though she is obviously unsure and her face is turning red, the Usher stays strong, and adds an impatient glare. The Usher training program in Rome is the envy of all other denominations and is often imitated, but never but never duplicated with this level of tenacity! She looks at me in horror, not sure what to do.
As most women of her generation, she never has any cash, only her debit/credit cards, and when the bill comes when we're out for dinner, she never seems to be able to find those. Being a lifelong Catholic, I have my five dollar bill ready. I have always felt five dollars is the right amount, not too much, not too little. I often think of one of the first AA meetings I attended in Southern California, while in rehab, when the basket came around. The chair of the meeting announced simply, if you have an extra dollar put it in, if you need a dollar, take one out. This was a warm introduction for me of the attitude of the kind souls in AA. But, and I must emphasize, It is NOT the protocol here at Mass! I would advise strongly against taking a dollar out of the basket. I'm not sure what would happen, but I don't think it would have a pleasant ending.
I tell her not to worry, that the five dollars I put in will cover the cost of saving both of our souls. She whispers to me after the usher has left, that the was one of the most embarrassing and uncomfortable moments of her life. I tell her that is how you are supposed to feel when you don't have your money ready. I also add the fact that since she has made it into recovery, this had to be far from her most embarrassing and uncomfortable moments...
More on our adventure next week...
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome... Part II - The Usher and The Collection Basket
Our story continues, as Abby and I are attending Mass for the first time together, myself , being born into Catholicism, and Abby a lifelong, albeit non-practicing Baptist. We are seated in the back row of the balcony, in the rear of the church, virtually alone. I like to sit in the back with the "sinners", as it's more comfortable for me...
I suggest that we both just relax and soak it all in, and I will be more than happy to answer questions later. Abby, as is her nature, has a million questions roaming around inside, I can see it in her eyes, as she tries to decide which ones are so important that she needs the answers right now. She finally sorts them out and begins to whisper in my ear, when an usher with a basket appears from seemingly nowhere.
The Usher, as they are very well trained to do in Rome, thrusts the basket in front of Abby, and holds it there for the perfect amount of guilt producing few seconds, unwavering and unashamed. Even though she is obviously unsure and her face is turning red, the Usher stays strong, and adds an impatient glare. The Usher training program in Rome is the envy of all other denominations and is often imitated, but never but never duplicated with this level of tenacity! She looks at me in horror, not sure what to do.
As most women of her generation, she never has any cash, only her debit/credit cards, and when the bill comes when we're out for dinner, she never seems to be able to find those. Being a lifelong Catholic, I have my five dollar bill ready. I have always felt five dollars is the right amount, not too much, not too little. I often think of one of the first AA meetings I attended in Southern California, while in rehab, when the basket came around. The chair of the meeting announced simply, if you have an extra dollar put it in, if you need a dollar, take one out. This was a warm introduction for me of the attitude of the kind souls in AA. But, and I must emphasize, It is NOT the protocol here at Mass! I would advise strongly against taking a dollar out of the basket. I'm not sure what would happen, but I don't think it would have a pleasant ending.
I tell her not to worry, that the five dollars I put in will cover the cost of saving both of our souls. She whispers to me after the usher has left, that the was one of the most embarrassing and uncomfortable moments of her life. I tell her that is how you are supposed to feel when you don't have your money ready. I also add the fact that since she has made it into recovery, this had to be far from her most embarrassing and uncomfortable moments...
More on our adventure next week...
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