Michael, The Lord's Little Mourner

19 | trans man, bisexual and happily taken | I ♡ God

[michaeldoesreligion]

Hey all, my name is Michael Ren, 19 years old, he/him/his pronouns. I am an (unbaptized) Folk Catholic who is looking into baptism and confirmation as a Catholic. This blog is a documentation of my journey, my practice and my beliefs.

I would not describe myself as a "God-fearing man" but rather a God-loving man. I deeply adore and find joy in my religious beliefs and know they will see me through anything and everything life has. The Lord will always be there to come running to.

Anyway, asks are open to all, DMs to those 18+. Send me asks about anything you would like and I will do my best to answer it.

Things to know before you follow/interact:

• I am a bisexual trans man and culturally queer (and No That Is Not Up For Debate)

• I am neurodivergent

• I was not raised Catholic (or Christian for that matter) but that does not affect my love of the Lord

• I will practice different that you, and that's okay, get over it

Discord Community Info here

Ask Game here

Tagging system

💚ren does religion -> general posts

💚saints and angels above -> veneration content

💚a voice to the heavens -> prayers

💚catholic ask -> ask game

Follows will come from @thesaturniidae

[michaeldoesreligion]

Good luck with top surgery!!! Yay! (:

Thank you, friend! I am home safe, on some potent drugs for pain and onto my next chapter in life!

[michaeldoesreligion]

Recovery from surgery has begun 🫶

[michaeldoesreligion]

I have top surgery in 4 days, and the only thing that ia bringing me peace about recovery is that I will have all the time in the world to pray, read and think about my love for Christ.

But still, please, pray for me and my safety and health.

[michaeldoesreligion]

Here's to you, oh havers of doubts.

To you, the forgetful devout.

To you, clumsy in prayer.

To you, who cries at the feet of our Lord.

To you, yes, you my sibling in Christ. For if you had no doubt, or never forgot, or were forever graceful, or did not offer up your pains, your suffering, your dismay to Him, where is there to grow? Where is there to spread your wings?

[michaeldoesreligion]

any tips on getting started in the catholic faith? i feel as if im being called to the church but being a trans man in such a space worries me (｡﹏｡")

Hi! I won't have all the answers and I encourage you ask this to as many people as you can find, but I will try my best.

My best advice comes in three forms: research, personal discernment and community outreach.

Research faiths, beliefs and philosophies, as many as you can and as deeply as you can. Find out as much as you can and cross reference it.

Second, think to yourself "Why do I feel called to the church and why this church specifically?". Ask yourself hard quedtions, and be comfortable with not instantly having an answer.

And ask questions to others! People who share your views, people who don't! Learn from others experiences and their knowledge and their mistakes.

I truly empathize as a fellow trans person who is religious, and I pray that this helps even a little. I have yet to be baptized and I'm still learning myself.

[michaeldoesreligion]

Finding my way into the church of our Lord, bit by bit, as I prepare myself to begin RCIA in September. Hopefully at least. And if all goes well, I will be baptized shortly after my 20th birthday.

I fought so hard against my pull to God for so, so long that now it feels like I am drifting down a gentle stream, letting His love guide me. Try as I may to fight the current, I am no salmon.

[michaeldoesreligion]

I think I've come to the conclusion that if I was a cis woman, I would become a sister/nun. And if I was a cis man, I would become a brother or priest. Obviously, I sort of mourn the inability in this world, in this timeline to do either. In this world, I can never do either while still living true to myself. I would love to be a priest, I would love to dedicate myself to God in that way and spread His word to a community.

But, I cannot. So instead, I sit and I pray that somewhere in the endless expanse of time and space, she is entering religious life as a sister and he is a seminarian on his way to eventual priesthood. I have yet to truly find what my path in life is, but I know it will be a good one.

[michaeldoesreligion]

What if, and hear me out on this, I became a religious hermit, living off donated food, giving out gibberish yet prophetic advice at the next minor inconvenience to me. What If.

(this is 100% for sillies and light hearted)

[michaeldoesreligion]

i'm an Anglican trans woman and relatively interested in Catholicism. some things like Papal Infallibility and the idea of a "one true church" rub me the wrong way, but i find many elements of your faith fascinating. what common ground might we have, and do you have any recommendations for media i can look into to learn more?

Hello!! I'm sorry for the late reply, I needed some time to think on this. I empathize with the sentiment of certain areas being offputting, I felt similarly and honestly, some things I know I can never 100% agree with in the church.

One of the major bits of common ground is obviously our shared love for Christ. It's a center, a focal point in our faith. Another bit is that no matter how widely accepting, or rejecting for that matter, there will always be queer and trans people in our religion, and they will always have a home with us.

As for media, I recommend reading as many books as possible. Admittedly, I have some reading to do myself but I encourage reaching out to more learned folks and asking them for recommendations. The best way to learn however, in my opinion at least, is to go to mass. Virtually or in person, attend mass at a Catholic parish. Witness it firsthand and of you can, meet with one of the priests and have a chat with him.

Have a blessed day, my friend!

[michaeldoesreligion]

Currently wanting to spend hours, maybe days, just contemplating and praying and meditating. Writing songs and poems for God, praying for souls living and dead, kneeling until my knees go numb and praying the rosary into near trances.

I may not be baptized, I may not be confirmed, I may be a sinner. But I am and will continue to be devout.

DISCLAIMER: This post does not encourage the obsessive or repetitive practice of these actions. Please use your own discretion and put your mental health first when engaging in prayer and devotion. God Bless You.

[michaeldoesreligion]

I wish I could be a mourning dove, as melancholic as they are beautiful. I wish I could coo and suddenly make people who hear my little song nostalgic, thinking of simpler times. No possessions, no worries but for food. I want to be God's little mourner.

[michaeldoesreligion]

I've been thinking a lot about veiling in relation to my trans identity and my masculinity. Personally, I don't see me dressing femininely in church as any different that dressing femininely out in my everyday life. The Lord knows my heart, he knows my name and knows that my expression is not a reflection of my gender.

And as for veiling, this may be unpopular, but I don't see anything wrong with me veiling. Who but God is to tell me that I am not allowed? My gender and aesthetic expression are my own and me covering my hair and dressing modestly is between me and God. I dress for Him. No man, no woman, no church or organization, just for Him.

[michaeldoesreligion]

I'm sorry to hear about your cat. I hope it helps to know he's up there with my girl (passed @ 19 from kidney disease), sunbathing until they can be returned to our laps.

blessed be

Thank you, it is very comforting to know

[michaeldoesreligion]

Reminder that I will not be angry with anyone for hating me for my faith, because I was there once. Just be aware that if you are going to hate me for my faith, I am going to pray for you. I am going to pray that you find it in yourself to leave hatred. I am going to pray for you, just like I pray for my friends and family and loved ones, I will pray for those who hate me (especially those who do so without knowing me).

[michaeldoesreligion]

CW: pet loss

My family had to say goodbye to another cat yesterday, thr second in 5 months. He had heart and kidney failure so it was not unexpected but still painful. I hope that when I see him again, he is his 10 year old, fat, happy and elegantly soft self again in endless fields of catnip, with a large plush chair to lounge on like the diva he was.

[michaeldoesreligion]

I've found myself in a crazy stir of good feelings and, like I do with the bad, I offer them up to God so that He may guide me on His path. I don't know what is in store for me, but I pray that the person I feel this way with is with me as long as possible. I pray that he continues to respect my faith despite his own, and I pray that he is happy no matter what happens.