Until recently I was not a believer in my faith as a catholic. Although raised Catholic I fell away, questioning my faith and the existence of God. I continued going to church, in many ways for my parents, but my heart wasn’t there. About a month back I visited one of America’s most loved cathedrals and found myself looking at all the artwork and thinking about if the artists even wanted to do the work or if they were forced by the dominant power of the time the Catholic church. I felt very detached as I walked around the church admiring all of the artwork, and found myself only able to appreciate the moment for the intricacy of the art. As I was finishing my tour of the cathedral I suddenly was overwhelmed with tears. I felt something which I cannot describe. It was a feeling I had never felt before in my life and have yet to feel again. I had an overwhelming sense of peace and love, a feeling that blew any past experiences of happiness and contentment out of the water. I looked up and saw I was standing in front of a picture of Our Lady of Guadeloupe. I left that church a different man.
The next day I decided to go through my email and delete old files, a task I do probably twice a year. I found an email from an old friend of mine about our Lady of Guadeloupe. This particular friend has probably sent me a total of three emails ever in our history of knowing each other. The following day I went to mass at a local church and sat in the same spot I had the past three weeks. Directly in front of my pew ten feet away was a portrait of Our Lady of Guadeloupe.
Now those last occurrences could have been a coincidence, although I do not believe they were, but my experience at the Cathedral is enough for me to believe in God and in Mary’s love for all of us.
So back to the original question. Does God really care what church you attend?
This is a question i have been struggling with myself.
I originally fell away from the faith because I saw a lot of hypocrisy. Things didn’t add up. I heard Catholics say one thing and do another. Very “devote” Catholics who said the rosary every night were the first to judge and the last to help others. In simple words I saw more “Love” for others in the way Jesus loved us from some atheists then I did from many Catholics. I truly believe in Catholics lived their faith as John Paul the 2nd and Mother Theresa did there would be a lot less animosity towards the Catholic Church and a lot more conversions. By living a true life of faith you speak louder then words. In fact in many ways I find when you speak words out against others beliefs (protestants as well as any other religion) you may be doing more damage then good. I see it even here in these forums, not necessarily this one, but a “holier than thou attitude.” This is an attitude Catholics can not afford to hold.
From my own experience I have found Catholicism to be the way to God and holiness. Is it the only way, no. Pope John Paul the 2nd told us that there are truths to all religions, Catholicism is just the most complete.
Does God really care what church you attend? If you truly believe Catholicism is the most complete and accurate faith, and you beleive God wants us to follow his will then yes he does care. Catholicism should be seen as the best means we know of to get closer to God and strive for holiness. Does that mean he will condemn those who are not Catholic, I don’t think so. He will judge us on the state of our souls and our personal holiness. Catholicism is the best tool to reach this holiness, but that doesn’t mean you cannot reach this holiness outside of Catholicism.
And most of all we are in no place to judge others on their faith. That’s God’s job.
