a colored spectrum

future laksa

the Pope's health is in grave condition.
he had a fever last nite due to urinary infection. he wants to remain in his apartment in the Vatican.
may we pray for his health, that he will get better soon.
may our Lord bless him with grace and deliverance.
though the Pope has received his last rites, we hold hopes that his condition would improve.

though i have never seen the Pope in person, nor been fervently religious.
the Pope is a familiar face to me over the mass media broadcasting papal masses during Easter and Christmas. every week the Catholic newspaper would also feature articles about him.
i have never imagined how Catholicism would be like without John Paul II...
i feel saddened knowing that he will be gone... but he is going to a better place.
he will be called home to God and enjoy his sweet fruits of eternal life and happiness.

may our new elected Pope be wise and peaceful, may he work towards the unity of the diversified world and bring both Christians and non-Christians into harmonious understanding. may he work towards anti-war and anti-abortion and anti-gay campaigns and be well travelled. may he guide the global Catholic community into greater faith.

jus bought a Bible today from Katong Catholic bookshop.
wow. cost me $73. New International Version study bible. josh said it was an okay-level bible.
jus realized that i know very little about Catholic rites and rituals...
i do not know why we have to attend Mass on the first Friday of the month to worship the Sacred Heart. but i do know that all prayers to the sacred heart would be answered.
i do not know why Catholics have to make the sign of the cross whenever they seek blessings.
i do not know why Catholics have to confess their sins to the priests... etc etc etc.
that's why i need to do my RCIA.
and learning about Catholicism doesn't jus stop here.
like Gabriel used to say "we have this whole lifetime to study God and His words and believe me, when we die, our knowledge would still be incomplete".

well... the truth is i have only been 6 years of Catholic. i am a convert. i chose to become a Catholic. i was born a Methodist. in and between these 6 years, there's been times when i was not allowed to attend Mass due to objections from my father, there's been times i've been to busy with school to attend Mass and there's been times when i lost faith in my religion. though i was born Methodist due to my father's family, my father is not a believer of Christ. he despises Christianity, branding them as hypocrites. my mother is a Buddhist who says that all religions come to the the same Almighty being and all religions teach people to be good people. my grandma is fine with me being a Catholic.

it was in 1998 when i converted to Catholicism. largely it was due to my tutor's wife. coz i stayed with them 6 days a week for maths tuition. their house is like my 2nd home, they baby-sit me while my Dad is at work. i follow his wife to church on sunday mornings. i attend Mass with her and i get to read religious books. i witnessed and experienced the kind gracious and gentle way she treats people around her. i was motivated. at the same time, my Christian friends were rather pushy with trying to rope me into cell groups at City Harvest and Lighthouse. some introduced me to The Rock. but after all, these are charismatic churches and they didn't appeal to me. even when i didn't attend their service, i could already experience the politics within. it wasn't something i was looking for in a religion. i was seeking God.

there were times i lost faith in God and didn't attend church.
there were times i really doubted his existence.
but as my priest alwiz say "Christ is always with us. regardless of religion, people who do good deeds and help those poor and needy are all Christlike in their ways. Christ do not only belong to Christians but Christ is God. God is love. and human is made to be Christlike. that's why we love. those on the other hand who hurt and harm people, who cheat and commit adultery etc are manifestations of the demon".

for now, i only pray for the Pope to get better soon. no matter what, we will remember him and thank him for the faithful work he has done for his churches throughout the world.
wanted to go Phuture tonite but the news of the Pope's condition really hit home.

had laksa earlier on this evening with Josh at Katong. ouch. my stomach hurts.
been having the watery runs for the past 3 hrs.
i'm not going to eat nasi lemak or laksa or anything with coconut milk already...
jus hope i will be feeling better tmrw so can go celebrate Muck's birthday!

posted by Veen @ 23:10