Tag: Catholic Bucket List

Catholic Bucket List #7: Read the life a Saint

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The Catholic love of Saints is well known, so it is with this in mind that I make my next “Catholic Bucket List” recommendation:

Bucket List Item #7: Read the life of a Saint

saints

In the 2,000 year history of the Church there have been Christians who have lived lives of courageous virtue. These Christians have been both male and female. Some have been well educated, while others have not. They have come from every country, class, race and people. We call them the Saints.

We have had Saints who have been well-known Popes, others have been obscure. Some were monks, priests, monks, nuns, but others have been laity. Some have been mothers, fathers, husbands and wives. Some have lived to a great age and some died during chidlhood. All these people have been united in their love of Jesus Christ and lived lives as a testimony to His grace.

The lives of the Saints are generally not of much interest to many Protestant congregations. During my time attending Protestant congregations I don’t recall any historical figure prior to the 16th Century ever being mentioned. I did briefly attend an Evangelical congregation in London which had a “Heroes of Faith” section in their Sunday service which gave a little biography of some figure from Protestant history.

It is quite surprising, therefore, that I was introduced to the Saints by a Baptist minister. He had a great love for St. Francis of Assisi and made me watch the movie about his life, “Brother Son, Sister Moon”. Afterwards I got a small book about Francis’ life. I was greatly impressed. The question you often here asked in Christian circles is “What would Jesus do?”. As I read the life of St. Francis I regularly found the answer to that question as I found myself thinking “That’s such a Jesus thing to do!”.

So, I’d invite you to see what Jesus did through His Saints by fulfilling this bucket list item. Read the life of a Saint.

Catholic Bucket List #6: Read some CS Lewis

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Today we have something of a rather odd Catholic Bucket List item:

Catholic Bucket List #6: Read some CS Lewis

cs-lewis

This is something of an odd Bucket List item since CS Lewis isn’t, in fact, Catholic. However, he is an absolutely terrific writer. This year I have read four C.S. Lewis books and have been so impressed by his depth of thought and refined style. His insight into spiritual battle and temptation in The Screwtape letters is so insightful. His articulation of the Christian faith in Mere Christianity is just superb.

However, you don’t have to read this theological works to fulfill this bucket list item though. Lewis was a writer of some wonderful fiction. I grew up with my mother and sister reading The Chronicles of Narnia to me and they were some of the first books I read myself when I was able. In fact, I would go so far as to invite you, if you have not yet read them, to read The Chronicles of Narnia. In the past few years I have made new friends who have never read them before. When I discover this to be the case, I immediately go out and buy a set for them.

Catholic Bucket List #5: Retreat!

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The last Bucket List item was to go on pilgrimage. Today’s Bucket List item is related to the previous one:

Catholic Bucket List #5: Go on a retreat

In modern society we are surrounded by noise and we fill our days with business and it’s extremely easy for God to be squeezed out of our day. This is one of the reasons why retreats are so needed. Setting aside a day, a weekend or week to reconnect with God and spend some time with him in prayer can be so good for reestablishing a healthy life balance.

No two retreats are ever the same and there are many different kinds of retreat which one may attend. I would suggest that everyone should go on a silent retreat at least once. I know that if you have never gone on one before, the thought of spending long periods in silence is a terrifying prospect, but believe me, by the end you’ll love it!

A couple of years ago I was actively discerning the priesthood and, as part of my discernment I went on a silent Ignatian Spiritual Exercises retreat given by the Miles Christi priests:

Finding time to get away on retreat can sometimes be difficult, especially if one has children. If so, you might like to take a 3 Minute Retreat!

Catholic Bucket List #4: Go on pilgrimage

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The previous bucket list task of lighting a votive candle was rather simple. This next bucket list item is a little more involved…

Bucket List Item #4: Go on pilgrimage

The Catholic Church has an extremely rich history of pilgrimage. From the earliest times Christians have travelled to places of significance for the Christian faith. The hope in visiting such places is that the pilgrim’s faith will grow and that he would be enriched by process of the journey. The journey is itself an allegory for the Christian journey through life, a pilgrimage towards Heaven.

JP2 in Jerusalem

Pope John Paul II in Jerusalem

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Catholic Bucket List #3: Light a votive candle

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I haven’t written a Bucket List entry in quite a while, so I thought I’d come back with a nice simple one:

Bucket List Item #3: Light a votive candle

In virtually every single Catholic church you’ll find a place where there are a collection of lit candles, often in front of a statue or icon. Every now and then you’ll see someone go up and light a candle, usually lingering for a few moments in prayer.

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Catholic Bucket List #2: Try a Tridentine Mass

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Continuing my Catholic Bucket List series from the other day, this week’s suggestion is:

Bucket List Item #2: Attend a Tridentine Mass

A little background

So what’s a “Tridentine Mass”?

Well, when Joe Catholic attends a Mass today, he typically attends a “Novus Ordo” (“New Order”) Mass. This formulation of the liturgy was brought about in the Seventies through Pope Paul VI after the Second Vatican Council.

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Catholic Bucket List #1: Visit an Eastern Rite Parish

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Lists and buckets

I’m a big fan of lists.

Seriously, lists are brilliant!

A little while ago, there was a film released called The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. In the movie, both characters are diagnosed with a terminal illness and, as a result, they decide to write a “bucket list” – a list of things which they want to do before “kicking the bucket”…

If you google “bucket lists”, you will find them on many blogs. If you read a lot of them (and I have), you start to notice some commonalities among them. As in the film, the common theme that runs through all of them is that they are attempts to really try and experience the depth and breadth that that the world has to offer and to truly suck the marrow out of life.

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