“I may be paraphrasing darlin’, but that’s the gist of it all the same.”
“Oh, Jason, I feel that peace you must have been feeling all these years. It’s so wonderful! I hope my parents and brother can experience this too. Oh, the joy and peace they would have! I can’t wait to share with them. It’s a completely different kind of peace too – not of the flesh entirely, but mostly in my spirit, but I feel calm in the flesh too.”
Jennifer bowed her head and began praying in those strange tongues again as the tears flowed down her face once more and her smile became angelic, Jason realized with continuing awe. It was as though she glowed. The love he felt for her had been somehow magnified until it was a fire in his soul now, burning ever brighter. She was his life, Jenny and the Lord, they were his whole life.
Father Jose greeted the couple with his usual big smile even broader and his arms out, receiving them both at one time, like they were already a unit of one.
“Sooooo, Jennifer, tell me . . . what has the Lord done for you tonight?” Father Jose asked as he led them to a couch and he took the facing comfortable chair, sitting on the edge of his seat. Jenny talked and cried. Jason talked and tried hard not to cry. All three began rejoicing over what all God had wrought in Jenny.
Father Jose now asked her, “Jenny, how do you feel . . . about becoming Catholic now? Is that something you might want to consider? Or, perhaps you should wait to be sure?”
Previously they had not talked to her about joining the church, knowing she had no faith. Now things were different. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, “Oh, Father Jose, will the Church allow me to join?”
Easy laughter rang through the room from the two men, who seemed thrilled over her response. Jason had feared it might take years for her to realize God existed, much less her wanting to become Catholic.
“Well . . . yes, the Church would love for you to become a part of her, if you are sure. It will still require some instruction, so you will be aware of the Church’s tenets and beliefs before making your final decision,” Father Jose stated. He quickly added, “Jennifer, it isn’t the same as joining a club or organization. It is choosing the foundation upon where your faith will rest through Jesus Christ. He is our solid rock foundation and upon Himself He built the Church. We are all human and we make mistakes sometimes, and our Father knows this. He chose flawed men to work through by His Holy Spirit and we strive to do and teach His perfect will. It is through His blood that we have redemption and forgiveness. It is His gift of love to us. I just want you to be certain that the Catholic Church is where you want to call home.”
Jason was quick to share with Father Jose all they had been discussing privately and what they’d been discovering through the Church’s counseling and workshops both had been attending. Jenny had a pretty good grasp of the main, important Church teachings he explained.
Father Jose listened quietly, only nodding his head from time to time.
Jason asked, “Father, is it possible that Jenny could be baptized before our wedding? We both really want that, to start our lives together with us both walking completely and fully in the Faith. Tonight God has received Jenny and I hope the Church will receive her too, as soon as possible.”
Father Jose looked into Jenny’s eyes and asked her, “What are your feelings about Jason’s Catholic faith?”
She didn’t hesitate with her answer. “It’s perfect - with the only flaws those that human’s make. I am convinced that God is the creator of the Catholic Church through Saint Peter and helped with the teachings of Saint Paul and all the Disciples, so . . . that pretty well settles it for me. I will admit, there are things I don’t really understand yet. I asked God about that, worrying. God impressed me tonight to trust the Church and to walk in trust of its teachings, rules and laws, blindly perhaps for a season. He will open my understanding more and more as I grow in faith.”
Father Jose grinned broadly and nodded his head yes.
It was eventually decided she would begin intense RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) training about the faith with Father Jose, Edward Zonelli (Jason’s dad), Deacon Vince, and Jason himself.
They were packing nine months of teaching into six weeks of hard work on everyone’s part, if the Bishop managed to agree to it. Father Jose was going to make an appointment and discuss the situation with him, hopefully this next week.
In the meantime, Jenny’s training would start, two hours her day, three days per week. That would be about equal to a full RCIA class. When she was asked if she felt up to the challenge she admitted, “I’ll do whatever it takes to become baptized and be received into the Roman Catholic Church. I deeply desire Jas and I to be blessed with a Sacramental Marriage Ceremony.”
The time ahead, before their wedding date was short, but to them it seemed so far away. They knew there was a lot to accomplish before then so every day counted.
Jenny decided that the time she had left with her parents she would use as a witnessing tool. And they had to talk with her brother as well. No way was she going to let an opportunity to share her joy be lost, she decided firmly. What she was feeling she had to share, just had to. She was bubbling over with it and wanted all her loved ones to feel that way as well.
God was awesome and, she comprehended, a romantic sneaky who knew just what He had to do to get her attention.
Jennifer declined Jason’s offer to help her talk with her parents. She felt it would be best coming from her alone. They already knew Jason was a Christian, a real Christian. But they had no faith in any religion, the same way she had been. She decided since it was so late, after ten at night, she might better wait till tomorrow.
Opening her front door, seeing many lights still on Jenny found her mom and dad sitting at the breakfast table, drinking coffee with papers on the table and her dad’s adding machine clacking away. Hey, you guys. What’s up?” she inquired.
She noted her dad quickly covered several sheets of numbers while acting like he wasn’t doing a thing. Wondering what was going on, her mom broke through her thoughts when she asked, “Sweetie, have you been crying?”
Realizing her face must be red and blotchy and her eyes puffy she turned to her mom smiling. “I sure have mom. Been crying, but with happiness. The strangest thing happened this evening and I want to share it with you and dad, but I don’t want to interrupt whatever you’re doing?”
Her dad gathered up all the papers into a pile and set the adding machine on top of them. “Not a thing, cupcake, just our monthly budgeting. Same old, same old. Now what’s this about a strange thing occurring and why have you been crying?”
Pulling out a kitchen chair she sat and grabbed her mom’s hand. “I know you won’t believe me, but it’s the absolute truth. God spoke to me tonight. He’s real mom!” Looking at her dad she exclaimed, “Dad, there is a God after all and Jesus Christ is His son and His Blood covers our sins.”
The tears began to flow in a slow trickle down her face and she was trying so hard to pull herself together so she could witness well, not look like some Moony Loony.
Her mom looked startled but not disbelieving, Jennifer realized with surprise. “Jen, you said God spoke to you?”
Jennifer nodded, wiped her eyes with a napkin from the napkin holder on the table and explained, “Jason asked me if I would attend a Charismatic meeting with him at one of the other Catholic churches tonight. We went and everyone was so nice, Mom. They just greeted me like I was their sister or something.” She took a deep breath and silently prayed for God, her Father now, to help her.
“They began singing and they sang this particular song. It was about all the feelings I’ve had, my wondering about if there could possibly be a real God and asking Him questions and not getting answers. Then Jesus came and one drop of His Blood landed on me and He saw me down through the ages to today as He hung on the Cross. He didn’t call down angels to help free Him, He stayed on that Cross because of me.”
Sniffling she wor
ked to regain her composure, while no one made a sound. “Something strange, new and wonderful came over me. I began calling out to God and asking him my questions and found myself understanding my life and how I needed to make some serious changes, that we all have a soul and mine needed cleaning.”
Looking from her mother’s stunned face to her dad’s she continued, “I was praying out loud, really loud, I guess. That’s when I began speaking this language, but I didn’t understand any of the words, but they kept flowing out of my mouth and the most loving feeling came over me like a warm hug and I was shown pictures of so many different things, like watching a movie. And I was impressed by God about several important issues. He spoke to me. He loves me!”
She looked at her parents and said, “He loves you both too, oh so much!” she exclaimed with joy.
Her mother blurted out, “I used to go to church. I was a Baptist growing up. After I met your dad and him not believing, I guess I began listening to his take on things and I left God behind. But, I know in my heart He is real, Jenny.”
She burst into tears and said, “I’m so glad he hasn’t forsaken me, because he’s called my Jenny to Him. Oh, God forgive me! Please forgive me. I knew I should have told her about You, but I didn’t want to upset Martin. Can you ever forgive me?” she cried looking up at the ceiling.
Jenny hugged her and they cried together as her mother came home to God.
Jennifer’s dad left the table, turned his back to them and slowly washed his coffee cup in the sink. “Julian,” her dad said without hurry, “I never knew you felt I was keeping you away from a deity you cared about.”
Her mother jumped up and went to her husband. “Oh, Martin, it wasn’t your fault. I wanted to please you more than I wanted to love God. But, I do know He exists and now our Jenny does too. I’m so happy and I hope He will forgive me for all the years I didn’t talk to him, afraid he was too angry to want to ever hear my voice again. Martin, Jenny is right. God loves us all, and he loves you too.” He gave her a crooked smile as she wrapped her arms around his rounded middle and gave him a squeeze and a kiss.
He cleared his throat several times, which they knew was a habit when he was nervous or upset.
“Jenny, I don’t have the confidence you, and now I discover your mother has in this God of yours, but you are both welcome to your own experiences and beliefs. I won’t say anything negative or demeaning about your faith to either of you as long as you keep him out of my face.”
He paused and then asked, “Deal?”
“Sure Dad,” Jenny answered a bit sad, but added, “He’ll make Himself known to you too one day. Mom and me will pray and pray until that happens. Jason will too.”
“Well, kiddo, don’t hold your breath,” then turning to smile at her he added, “really, do not hold your breath on account of your old dad.”
Not wanting to stretch their emotions too much she gave them a kiss each and bounced off to get ready for bed. She had to shower, get in her jammies and pull the covers up before placing her late night call to Jason.
Tonight she was thrilled at being able to tell him about her mom returning to God. That was a complete surprise! God is so good!
15 – A time of preparation
Jenny had been sharing with her mom over their coffee and bagel together, about Father Jose’s plans for her RCIA, baptism and the wedding.
Jason’s father called and asked when she could meet for their two hour teaching session. She was helping her mom with the clothes - washing, drying, ironing but her mom insisted she go for her class instead.
First she had to decide what to wear, it was Christian studies after all, she realized with some nervousness.
Jason met her at her car when she arrived for her class with his dad. He was surprised when he saw her. Jenny had on one of the dresses he’d bought her for church and she had a scarf covering her head, it matched the outfit and was lovely. He hadn’t considered a scarf for her Sunday Masses.
“Well, my beloved husband-to-be, how do you like?” she asked, turning around for him. Upon seeing his face she whispered, “Did I do wrong? Jas, tell me, please.”
“Oh, Jenny, my Jenny, you did more right than I knew how to tell you. You are so pretty and you make a beautiful Christian lady.” His eyes twinkled and she breathed again, realizing she had simply knocked the shoes off his feet with her choices. Huh, she snorted with pleasure, she can do something right.
His dad was as pleasantly surprised as Jason had been. Mister Zonelli even said, “Jennifer, you are absolutely radiant today. We are very proud of you.” Motioning to her scarf he said, “You don’t have to wear that for our classes, you know.”
Jenny smiled and answered, “Well sir, I prayed and asked God if I was to wear the covering for any of my teaching classes and He said yes. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll keep it on while you’re instructing me, okay? He showed me in the Bible that it was for church meetings, prayer and teaching sessions. I have to do what He tells me.”
“Hum, quite right, young lady, quite right!” he responded feeling a little ashamed that she understood that so easily and he hadn’t considered the covering as needed outside of the sanctuary – until now. His right brow rose up as he contemplated the Lord’s working so readily with this lovely young woman, a woman soon to be his daughter-in-law. They had worried over her lack of faith for a long, long time. She had been in their prayers, per Jason’s request for about three years now.
Edward smiled as he escorted her to his den, bypassing the kitchen and family room that had people there talking and socializing with his wife. It was one of her committee meetings, if he remembered correctly.
“Have a seat, Jennifer,” he indicated a large overstuffed chair that was made of thick brocade fabric in a hunter’s motif. He took a seat in the matching chair. Dragging his chair he adjusted it so they would be facing each other with a small table between them.
“You can call me Jenny or Jen for short, if you like. People usually reserve the Jennifer for when I’m in some sort of trouble.”
“Thank you my dear, but I absolutely adore the name and unless it offends you terribly, may I still call you Jennifer?” he asked with such a genuine smile she didn’t feel insulted at all. Proper, she thought, just like her Jas, huh, Jason, nah, Jas.
She nodded and he smiled his thanks in return. Handing her a packet of literature and a ring bound notebook with only a few sheets in it, he introduced her to the beginning of RCIA class, meaning Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Mister Edward Zonelli gave her the reading assignment for two classes. He went over the material with her in one hour and then left to bring them refreshments, which he insisted upon.
“Besides,” he remarked with a sly grin just like Jason’s, “my son is waiting in the wings to see how you are handling it so far. I’ll bring us back a pitcher of iced tea and some cucumber sandwiches that I will snitch from Martha’s serving tray for her guests.” He left.
Jenny had already been scanning the reading and found it fascinating. She realized she was going to learn a great deal about the faith she knew was her’s. She would have to take it one step at a time though. That’s what God had impressed upon her, not to go too far ahead, but to walk as He led her, step by step, day by day.
Jason slid through the door, having quietly taken several pictures of her and his dad, on her first day of RCIA instruction. He flashed a loving smile before he bent to kiss her forehead. “Ah, Jen, you look so beautiful sitting there, reading the Bible and dressed so nice and even with your prayer covering on. It’s a dream come true, Sweetheart.”
Looking up at him she said, “You called my scarf a prayer covering? I haven’t heard that term used before, but that is the most correct I believe. It’s for covering at any time I’m praying or studying I think. Lots of angels are looking on I bet too, remembering that some of them rebelled and fell. Eve fell, kind of. Now, like our Mother Mary, I chose obedience to His perfect will no matter what others
think.”
Jason squatted beside her chair and asked, “Where did you get all that from, my love? Have you been listening to television preachers? That was, well, it’s pretty heady stuff.”
“It’s just all sort’a clicked into place as I’ve been reading that First Corinthian Book in the New Testament you showed me. Saint Paul was a pretty clear teacher, he didn’t tolerate no wobbling, so why do so many,” then she whispered, “even some Catholics, want to do things that are the opposite of what he taught is the right way?” Shaking her head she admitted, “Boggles my mind.”
Jason simply stared at her in happy bewilderment. He excused himself and hurried to share with his dad what he discovered she’d already comprehended about serving God, so soon. It was startling how fast she was growing in knowledge and faith.
Edward admitted, “Son, she’s already surprised me too. Are you sure God wants you to marry her? You might be marrying a woman called to be a nun and her not know it. Or, she could be a mystic in the making?”
The thought scared Jason for a short while. He didn’t want to lose her. Finally he tempered his racing heart and went to his room, kneeled down and prayed, “Father, thank you so much for Jenny and opening her eyes to You. You know I love her with all my heart, but Father if you have claimed her for a different calling than to be my wife, give me the strength to offer her to You without coveting your gift. Help me to know, Lord, please.” After a short while he knew what he had to do to clarify God’s will.
Jenny was finishing her studies. She and Edward were praying together when Jason paused at the door, waiting. As soon as their prayer was finished he rushed to Jenny, knelt beside her chair and asked before she could get up, “Jenny, I need to ask you something very serious. This is really important so I want you to think about it and pray about it before you answer me, okay?”
THE DAWNING (The Dawning Trilogy) Page 14
