You gotta have faith...

THE appointment yesterday of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Bishop of Rome, and, er the new head of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics around the planet as Pope Francis I, seems like a timely moment for me to open up about my faith.

I was baptised into a split Christian family. My Dad was a non-Church-going Protestant while my Mum was Roman Catholic. It was to her side of Christianity that I was brought up.

So, of course, when I became of an age it was Mass every Sunday morning, the Holy Days of Obligation (which in those days meant a day off school) and attending the big events in the Catholic Church's calendar.

I also went to Confession - several times between the ages of about 10 and 13 - until I called it quits entering my early teens.

I regularly attended Mass as a teenager but lessened as I approached my 20s. By the time I had reached my 30s I was attending about a dozen times per year, obviously on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

And now I'm into my mid-40s, that pretty much is still the picture with me and Mass. There have been a number of special Church services I have attended outside Sunday Mass, notably when Matthew made his First Holy Communion and was Confirmed. Both were joyous occasions.

What you must not deduce from my slackening off from attending Mass over all those years is any hint that my faith is waning. Far from it.

One of the things that both irks and intrigues me about people who profess to be atheists is their complete knowledge that there DEFINITELY is no God. Presumably, all have undeniable proof that this is the case, an open and shut case that requires no further investigation. I'd love to know HOW they know that.

It would hardly have been a 'Road To Damascus' moment for them, but I'd still like to know from them their undeniable evidence that shows they are 100% right and EVERYONE else who has faith in a God of whatever religion they follow is 100% wrong.

The fact is, atheists DON'T know for certain; and likewise, believers like myself DON'T know for certain either.

But this is where faith comes into play. Some 2000 or so years ago, a man who I believe was someone extraordinarily special, once said: "Happy are those who have not seen, and yet believe."

In the madness that my life often is juggling all the daily worries and woes, having that safety net of faith is something I could never do without.

There's a marvellous simple story called Footprints that I'm sure many of you know. I carry that round with me every day as its words are of a tremendous comfort. Its conclusion bears repeating:

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied: "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

The election of the new Pontiff, in conclusion, won't change me at all when it comes to my faith. That will remain intact and won't be affected by whoever is in charge at the Vatican. Because even he, like me, will have to answer to someone higher one day... I hope and pray...