In no particular order, here are ten reasons why Catholics should be grateful for their faith, an why non-Catholics owe it to themselves to discover what the Catholic Church teaches:
1). Guilt-Free: All the jokes about guilty Catholics aside, Catholics who go to confession are the least guilty people you’d ever want to meet: they have the joy, lightheartedness and charity of those who know they are in God’s graces.
2). International: Looking for diversity in your life? Attracted to the United Nations and the idea of unity? The world Catholic means “Universal” and there is NO other organization, institution or church that is truly and universal and transnational as the Catholic Church; 1.8 Billion people are Catholic and you can find them in every corner of the globe.
3). Daily Spirituality: Worried your spirituality is too compartmentalized and not a part of your daily life? The Mass is the highest spiritual expression of Catholicism and the Mass is celebrated every day (not just Sundays) in grand Cathedrals and country parishes from Paris to Paraguay, and everywhere in between.
4). Feminism: Join a Church with authentic feminism; Catholics believe a woman, the Virgin Mary, to be the most perfect person God ever created and a model for Catholics. The Church also has 33 “Doctors of the Church,” whom it looks to for instruction and sound doctrine; included are such accomplished women as Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint Therese of Lisieux.
6.) Divine Organization: Quick, can you name one group, institution, country, empire or church that is 2,000 years old? The answer is only one: The Roman Catholic Church. And it’s not surprising, because Jesus Christ promised the Church would survive until the end of time. Although many have tried, no one has been able to crush the Church: the Roman Empire, the barbarians, Muslim invaders, Nazi Germany and Soviet communism all tried, but look who is still standing in Rome?
5). Certainty: Many people these days believe there is no truth or, more conveniently, they believe only in their own truth; Catholics know that truth is actually a person – and His Name is Jesus Christ. Our Lord said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,” and that’s a foundation you can build your life on.
6.) Find God: Looked high and low for enlightenment, peace and security? Jesus Christ (perfect man & perfect God) is truly present in your local Catholic Church in the Eucharist (communion wafer). “In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained (1374: Catechism of the Catholic Church).’”
7.) Go Beyond Political Gridlock: Democrats and Republicans would have you believe that their particular political views correctly address the varied and complex needs of humanity. The Catholic Church has never – and never will be – in the pocket of any one political party. A Catholic view of the world is neither conservative nor liberal – it is Catholic, universal and a product of 2,000 years of wisdom.
8.) Social Justice and Individual rights: If serving the poor, helping the marginalized and elevating the human condition are top priorities for you, know that the Catholic Church founded the university system, established the first hospitals, taught us the concept of human rights, developed international law and is currently the leading charitable organization in the world. How about that for a contribution to humanity?
9. A Place Where Beauty Matters: Has much of the modern world got you down, with its dreary architecture, abstract canvases and cynical music? The Catholic faith inspired the builders of the Gothic cathedrals, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the music of Hyden, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven all derive from the liturgy of the Catholic Mass; and some scholars believe that William Shakespeare may have been a secret Catholic. Much of the cultural heritage of Western Civilization is inconceivable without the patronage and inspiration of the Catholic Church.
10. You Shall Love God with All Your Heart: Ultimately God has commanded us to love Him with all our mind and heart. And God has given us the form of the Catholic Mass as the way He wishes to be worshiped. Go beyond the contemporary world’s fascination with disobedience and rebellion and discover that by worshiping God, you can begin to truly love those around you and find peace even amidst chaos, uncertainty and suffering.
I really like your blog!
How positive and uplifting. These are many of the things I have used when working in apologetics. What joy!
You think the catholic church is feminist? What about the fact that the Pope has clearly stated that it will never allow female priests? What about the fact that it encourages women to stay in violent, abusive marriages by refusing to allow them to divorce their husbands? What about the fact that it opposed equal rights legislation in the US and continues to do so in the rest of the world? What about the fact that it forces women who have been raped to go through the emotional and physical agony of bearing their rapists child? What about how it excommunicated the parents and doctors of a nine year old, 80lb child in Brazil for allowing the abortion of the twins she became pregnant with after being raped even though carrying them would have posed a very serious physical risk to her?
How is the church feminist again?
Thank you for you comment Sarah, let me reply:
Female priests: The Church doesn’t have the authority to ordain women; Jesus chose 12 men to be office holders in the Church (Bishops & Priests) and they stand “in the person” of Christ (who was male) when they say Mass or forgive sins. To be upset that Jesus only chose men to be priests, is not unlike men being upset that only women are chosen to be mothers.
Divorce: You are right that the Church believes marriage is for life; yet you are wrong that the Church thinks people should stay in abusive relationships; if a marriage is violent, the married people most likely have to separate and live in different homes; this arrangement honors their commitment to God, yet keeps both people safe.
Abortion: It’s worth noting that only about 1% of abortions are related to rape. Rape is certainly an evil; yet to “forget” this evil, you don’t then commit the evil of killing an innocent child in the womb. That child is innocent of the crime, and deserves life.
And finally to use the word “force” is not correct; the Church teaches, advises and evangelizes, but it doesn’t violate a person’s free will. Some Roman Catholics, unfortunately, commit all kinds of terrible sins and the Church can do very little to stop them. It preaches, prays and then welcomes them back when they are contrite and in need of God’s forgiving grace.
Feminism: We are devoted to a Woman named Mary. She is perfect, beautiful, smart, loving and courageous. We love and revere her above all other human beings. We called her the “Blessed Mother” and we are all blessed to have her as our heavenly mother.
Sarah, I urge you to pray the “Hail Mary,: and then ask Mary if the Catholic Church honors women.
Thank you and God Bless!
I love this blog post too. Definitely have to put links to these in my blog, somehow…
Thanks for this.
Conway23,
Why would you tell Sarah to pray to Mary? Isn’t Mary in the Grave?
Isn’t Jesus the ONLY one to be raised from the grave?
and
Why would you claim Mary to be the most perfect? Did she need a SAVIOR also?
Please clarify.
Hector
Hector,
Thanks for your question. I’m assuming you’re one of our Protestant brothers – welcome. Certainly you would agree that the Virgin Mary is in heaven; and we know that the saints in heaven can hear our prayers. Catholic Answers explains it this way:
“As Scripture indicates, those in heaven are aware of the prayers of those on earth. This can be seen, for example, in Revelation 5:8, where John depicts the saints in heaven offering our prayers to God under the form of “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” But if the saints in heaven are offering our prayers to God, then they must be aware of our prayers. They are aware of our petitions and present them to God by interceding for us. ”
To our second question, regarding Mary’s need of a savior, Catholic Answers also has an excellent explanation:
“Like all other descendants of Adam, (Mary) was subject to the necessity of contracting original sin. But by a special intervention of God, undertaken at the instant she was conceived, she was preserved from the stain of original sin and its consequences. She was therefore redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation. ”
Here on Earth we often ask fellow Christians to pray for us, knowing their prayers ascend to God. It’s like this with the Saints and the Virgin Mary in heaven, we pray to them, and ask them to intercede on our behalf before God. Remember that Catholics do not worship Mary, but they are devoted to her.
Thanks for the great question and God Bless…the site Catholic Answers….www.catholic.com has some great resources on the Blessed Mother (Mary).
daily communicative ways needed and strengthen my catholic faith in HIM. Daily read my Bible, treat and consider God as my closest friend that I can tell everything, not matter good or bad things I’ve done, thought in my daily activity. Pray without cease, and I’ve got my favourite word… Forever Rely On God (FROG). God Bless.
J. S. Bach was a Lutheran, NOT a Catholic.
Contrary to popular belief all of Bach’s wonderful music can be attributed to the Lutheran Liturgy.
Abigail…You are indeed correct…Mr. Bach was Lutheran. I did not suggest otherwise in my post…and though he honed his musical skills within the Lutheran liturgical tradition, let’s be clear that 1500 years of Catholic liturgical practices (The Mass) were “bequeathed” to Bach’s church after the reformation. Thank you!