What Does Catholicism Do For You?

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AlanBaker773

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Serious question; what does the Catholic religion do for you on a personal level? In other words, what is it about Catholicism that gives you inner and outer fulfillment and happiness? What do you find in the religion that completes and sustains you? Certainly, you don’t hate Catholicism, so why do you love it?
 
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In a word, truth.
The Gospels and words of Jesus are pure truth.
When I read and reflect on them, I am more likely to question the existence of the chair beneath me than the love of God and his sacrifice for us.
 
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  1. I get to be closer to the Real Jesus here (via the Eucharist) than I could possibly be any place else
  2. I get to be friends with Mary and the saints too
  3. It’s also my family tradition and my ancestors suffered hardship rather than give up the Faith, so I’m certainly not going to sell them short now when it’s no hardship at all for me to practice
 
And what of community? Do you feel stronger knowing that there are billions of others like you?
 
It gives me perspective on my place in this world and the next. Despite corruption, we have the promise of Christ that the Church will prevail against destruction. We have the promise of the right path in a world where there are so many pitfalls. We receive unconditional love and the opportunity to embrace God Himself. He truly wants us to choose to be close to Him and love Him in return.
 
It allows me to understand life better, be a better person, and gives me peace (especially mentally.)
 
I love that Catholicism is the “Universal Church,” yes. I can go anywhere in the world and know what will happen in the Mass. We have bishops in every land.
 
I find my self-worth in Catholicism. I matter, you matter, we all matter.

As a Catholic I know that Jesus is physically present in Communion and when I revive Him at Mass, I feel that my world is safe and complete in its current state regardless of what is going one.
 
The example of the Saints.
Also asking for prayers from the Saints has proven most fruitful for me and my whole family.
 
AlanBaker773 said:
And what of community? Do you feel stronger knowing that there are billions of others like you?
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I couldn’t care less if there’s a billion or zero…well I guess I would like there to be at least one other person and have that one be a priest so he can consecrate the Eucharist, since I’m not a priest and can’t do that 🙂

Seriously, it’s about Jesus, not about whose church is bigger. By that reasoning, then if I went to the Middle East I’d just go become a Muslim.

The only reason a large number of church members might make me happy is (a) it’s that many more people getting to know Jesus in the best way, and (b) it creates more convenient worship opportunities when there are 10 parishes rather than 1. But if we had to go back to 1, in USA a lot of places started out with 1 tiny church in a big area, so we’d manage.
 
The presence of Christ in the word and the sacraments! As a human being, I need something substantive to relate to God. The Church gives me that through the sacraments.
 
Inner peace, which the world cannot give.
Access to spiritual gifts and graces to increase my faith and grow spiritually.
The full deposit of truth, which is an everlasting treasure.
 
The Catholic faith turned my world upside down, shook me around and helped me understand what the love of God, my wife, my family, and of myself can be. It is the true faith that took me 60 years to open my eyes and heart to. Since converting, I’m at peace with myself for the first time in my life. I’ve been Lutheran, Nazarene, Baptist, nondenominational, and even attended Catholic masses for many years. But until I joined RCIA to learn more about the Catholic faith, I couldn’t experience the love of God as I wanted. I learned about the Eucharist being the true body and blood of our Savior and longed for him like I never had before. Once I experienced the Eucharist my live began to change so much for the better.
 
AlanBaker773 said:
In other words, what is it about Catholicism that gives you inner and outer fulfillment and happiness?
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It’s stable, yet it’s able to develop. So it keeps me grounded, but open to new developments. That stability gives the freedom to wander without getting lost, so to speak.
AlanBaker773 said:
What do you find in the religion that completes and sustains you?
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Well, that would be God. I know that’s a simple answer, but I think I should just keep it at that.
 
I get to wake up every morning and hold the Body of the Lord in my hands, to make my hands his hands, by the Eucharistic sacrifice I’m privileged to offer.

I get to reconcile sinners to the Merciful Father.

And as if all that wasn’t enough, it pays the bills and comes with a snappy wardrobe!

-Fr ACEGC
 
I’m a better person because of my faith. It took me awhile (two-and-a-half years; so up until a few months ago) after my reversion to fully let the Faith take over my life, but in the words of that old Tim McGraw song:

I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying
 
Extra points for the Tim McGraw reference. Now I’m going to go listen to that song on repeat.

-Fr ACEGC
 
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