Prayer of Thanksgiving

[Bailey2]

I've been meaning to do this for a while now just been busy with....... well you trace back on the coffee thread about August!!

Shin invited me to this forum because I was going to sign off all forums permanently in disgust.  Typically, my experience with "conservative, orthodox" forums was to be attacked.  Not a good place to get a sense for a part of the Church about which I was unfamiliar.   My experience on more "progressive" forums was about the same towards anything that smacked of traditional.  My suggestions to be more sensitive were also met with attacks against my intelligence this time, rather than faith.

Anyway, I have noticed over these several months being here that I have become less defensive and in fact, have developed fond feelings for you all here.  I find that refreshing.

So I just want to offer a prayer of thanksgiving..... for this forum and for the hope it has given me that traditional Catholics can live side by side with non-traditional Catholics.  In many ways, we are all quite similar.

a prayer of thanksgiving.  

[Brigid]

We/I are/am so glad to be blessed by your presence. Thank you, Lord.

[Shin]

 

Thanks be to God and to Mary Ever Virgin and to the Archangels, Angels and Saints!

 

Love and prayers Bailey2!   God keep you! God keep us all together in Christ's love!

We have a real spiritual Communion here. 

[martin]

Ahh Baily this is so good to hear. I too was about to give up posting on all forums when Shin happened to invite me over here. Not knowing what to expect I pre-judged and felt I would be in for more of the same.
I wasn't long detecting the totally different atmosphere that existed here and too my great surprise (and joy I might add) it wasn't long before I felt like part of a family.
This of course is all due to your good selves without exception. I remember my dear grandma used to always warn me about staying clear of bad company. She must have been praying hard for me as I believe I was guided here through providence. What a smile she must have on her face when she sees me in the present company 
I do know since being here I've grown (if not in grace) at least in knowledge of the faith and have a clearer understanding of the requirements of sainthood. I do laugh so much at myself when I entertain thoughts of actually becoming one. I should without any doubt in my mind be already down below stoking up the embers if it weren't for the intervention of Our Blessed Lady and the great mercy of God and despite all the impossibilities of my current state, I (as stubborn as a mule) refuse to give up the hope that I can become the least in the kingdom of God (I need a stubborn mule smiley Shin). 
What did saint Gabriel say? "Nothing is impossible to God" and the Lord Himself said He came to call sinners not the just and it's not the healthy who need the doctor but the sick... These words I blame for my stubbornness. 

I do have this joyful hope of meeting you all in heaven and don’t worry, if I make it there’s hope for everyone. We might even be given a pair of golden boxing gloves. 

A priest once said in his homily that there will be three big surprises in heaven.
1. There will be many there who you didn’t expect to be there
2. There will be some not there who you did expect to be there.
3. The biggest surprise of all. You will be there.

As for your liberalism Baily.., It's only relative.  Over here you’d be a staunch conservative,, You actually pray to the saints!!  What kind of liberalism is this?   

[Shin]

 

Make that a very extra large smilie in your minds folks.

[Bailey2]

Over here you’d be a staunch conservative,

   
Not on your life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You actually pray to the saints!!  What kind of liberalism is this

We don't pray TO Saints.  We pray with them and we ask them to pray for us.  All prayers are to the Father, Son, and Spirit.  Liberals know this and do the same.  It is just that conservatives do not know liberals so well.   

This is a nice prayer thread I think.  I hope some of the other 44 will read it and understand it is good to be here.

[Shin]

We're building the heart of the forum right now..  

[Patricia]

I love y'all  :'( :'( :'(  You're making me cry/

[Bailey2]

I love y'all  :'( :'( :'(  You're making me cry/