Waking Up Catholic by Colleen McNatt
By Colleen McNatt • Feb 7th, 2010 • Category: Colleen McNatt, Columnists
“Mom, I think I want to be a Catholic,” my six-year-old announced last month as we entered Sunday Mass.
“You are already Catholic,” snarled my 13-year-old daughter.
This little girl, my fourth and final baby, was so prideful and her words demonstrated such intention. This was my first-grader’s “aha” moment.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Luke 2:40
That morning on the Church steps, I saw grace in my daughter’s green eyes. As she opened the Church door and skipped to the Holy Water font, I recognized that grace…the special twinkle in a child’s demeanor that makes all the whining, tantrums and grocery store heists of orange Tic-Tacs melt from the mommy memory.
My daughter woke up Catholic that day. Each morning, after several cycles of the snooze alarm and the whirring (and intoxicating) melody of the coffee pot, do I wake up Catholic? I’m afraid I do not.
Sure, my religious trademark is Catholic, but on most mornings when I wake up, I’m not thinking about how to be present and prayerful. My first order of business is to win the battle of morning mayhem with four children… the sandwich making, the manic permission slip signing and the spelunking for that matching navy blue knee sock. There really is no time to breathe in and broadcast my intentions, like my daughter did so effortlessly last month.
Do you wake up Catholic? It can’t be found in the coffee beans or inside a cereal box. It’s present in the nanoseconds of your crazed day and don’t worry…if you recognize that moment, please know you’re not dreaming.
Copyright 2010 Colleen McNatt
Colleen McNatt - Colleen McNatt is a San Diego-based freelance writer and mother of four. She believes that social justice begins at home and weaves this basic principle of the Catholic faith into her daily family life. She has written for numerous newspapers, magazines and online media. Visit her website at: www.colleenmariemcnatt.com
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