Dear Yeru,
It is exactly people like you why I still call myself any kind of xtian and it is the kind of Catholicism you seem to know that is the reason why I could not be any other kind of 'partial' xtian but Catholic.
And I am not necessarily talking about your charimatic experiences, I am referring to specifically your comments about Jesus.
I have experienced equally mystical experiences in a deep shamanic ecstasy in Feri Witchcraft as I have in saying the Rosary. A saint who is related to my husband, Veronica Giuliani(do a search!), levitated, had bi-locations(two places at one time), and even had holy medals and objects IN HER HEART when she died(no one knows how they got in the actual organ!)which she told them were there.
Religion is layered. I happen to think Catholicism affords the most layers of xtianity available. And like you, the detractors are the individuals not the groups, but unfortunately the US is becoming this 'army of one'(is that the most offensive bull$h!t motto you have ever heard???!!!!!!)where the individual is dictating the majority.
I always appreciate your comments Yeru and you have helped me to take the mature road many times when all I wanted to do was stomp my foot and blow someone's head off.
My priest had no problem with me being a witch as long as I was a 'good' one! LOL He told me not to deny the gifts of Holy Spirit as SHE gives them. (He also told me that assigning HS a gender and Original Sin was not part of the Creed and therefore, in his educated opinion, optional.---which is what I love about Catholics--so many options....)
Ravyn