Lead thou me on!

The brand new baby Catholics and fully communicated in our parish, as of last night, have an ongoing support group for a full year, with other RCIA alums, just as when in the First and Second Orders, the Junior Professed often still live with the novices and are under the care of the novice mistress or master, so that they can really get a handle on Oh God, What Have I Done? This is something that I often hear from cradle Catholics that is missing in their lives, that ongoing formation.

In most fraternities of our Third Order Secular, the professed members are always welcome at and encouraged to attend the formation meetings, but in my experience as a formation mistress, rarely do. For both cradle Catholics in general and my brother and sister Tertiaries, I find this a great pity. We need support. I need support.

Recently, I read with a laugh on a fellow Secular's blog, 'I am the worst Franciscan ever.' Gee, I thought that was me! Then I laughed again to read that very comment from a friar.

We do not say this out of some kind of hypocritically pious self abasement, but in recognition of our being 'poor in spirit' - we know that we need help, we know that we need God. Every. Single. Day.

'Lead thou me on
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead thou me on
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step is enough for me.

'I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
lead thou me on....'

Bless all those who have chosen the path of Love and Peace this Easter.