What I like about the Church

[consumedconvert]

I like His Holiness Pope Pius XII, who saved my (Jewish) grandfather’s life, as well as the lives of at least 799,999 other Jews. Without His Holiness, I would not exist.

That is AWESOME!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

I might as well throw another one in their. I love the awesome holy heritage we have in the vast majority of our Popes, Pius XII included, and our current Holy Father!

 

[Jeanette_L]

Having someone who is willing and able to authoritatively tell me what I should believe.

Because I came from an Evangelical background, and you could never really know for sure…

So, the Magisterium and the Papa.

This is an extremely astute observation. It pains me to say how many cafeteria Catholics I have heard say that they believe what they want to and no one or no “thing” is going to tell them what to believe. Yet they profess to be Catholic. We can only pray for them.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Same here ConsumedConvert and Deacon Ed.

I came from the Fundamentalist/Evangelicals, I feel blessed to be in a place where you can rest in the authority of the Magisterium and the Pope. I am quite confused when I hear Catholics complain about and argue with the Church’s teachings and her current authority to do so, her authority in matters of faith and morals is her absolute foundation. Without it she falls. It’s a no brainer. And it keeps me at peace. Maybe some people just don’t like peace.

 

[consumedconvert]

Same here ConsumedConvert and Deacon Ed.

I came from the Fundamentalist/Evangelicals, I feel blessed to be in a place where you can rest in the authority of the Magisterium and the Pope. I am quite confused when I hear Catholics complain about and argue with the Church’s teachings and her current authority to do so, her authority in matters of faith and morals is her absolute foundation. Without it she falls. It’s a no brainer. And it keeps me at peace. Maybe some people just don’t like peace.

I actually had a moment of panic a couple of weeks ago because some were disparaging Vatican II as a mistake, as a sinful council, as invalid, etc. But if I’m supposed to sort through the councils as I once tried to find truth by sorting through the scriptures, how would I ever find truth? Am I to sort out two thousand years of councils and encyclicals and decide which ones were valid and which ones are not? Am I once again condemned to be the final authority on what I believe?? God forbid!

Fortunatetly the panic didn’t last long. I now have my own copy of Vatican II, and my faith in the Authority of the Church is restored.

So I guess if I had any advice to give new Catholics, it would be stay off the internet…

 

[anamchara]

I have seen many threads where people express over and over what they think is wrong with the Church. How about lets using this one to express what we feel is right about the Church and what we like about the Church. Only this and nothing more.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Thanks Deacon Ed.

All the sacraments.

The real presences of our Lord in the Eurchrist. The awe of the Mass. The smell of incense, the feel of the Holy water, the music, the priest when he kisses the bible, the profound look of love on peoples faces when they come up and recieve our Lord, elderly when they try hard to kneel even though it is a struggle. (that makes me cry) the rich history of two thousand years, the connection we have with all cultures, the strength of the magisterium, I have ran out but I’m sure something else will come to mind

 

[anamchara]

I love the moment after I genuflect as I’m leaving and right before I turn and walk away where I quietly whisper I love you to Jesus in the tabernacle. I love the presence of Jesus in the tabernacle in general!

Perfect Karen.

 

[Jeanette_L]

I actually had a moment of panic a couple of weeks ago because some were disparaging Vatican II as a mistake, as a sinful council, as invalid, etc. But if I’m supposed to sort through the councils as I once tried to find truth by sorting through the scriptures, how would I ever find truth? Am I to sort out two thousand years of councils and encyclicals and decide which ones were valid and which ones are not? Am I once again condemned to be the final authority on what I believe?? God forbid!

Fortunatetly the panic didn’t last long. I now have my own copy of Vatican II, and my faith in the Authority of the Church is restored.

So I guess if I had any advice to give new Catholics, it would be stay off the internet…

Or at the very least, don’t take peoples opinions, no matter how passionate, as gospel.

As converts, you and I know that we came home because we believed what the Church teaches about herself, that she will not err. All else rests on this. To walk away from this core understanding is to eventually walk away, period…like all the other schismatics…

God bless!

 

[Saint_Gemma]

I like the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the 1955 version of the prayer for the conversion of the Jews who are not Catholic, and the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite when celebrated traditionally, as well as Divine Liturgies.

I also like the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, the Franciscans of the Immaculate, the Institute of the Incarnate Word, and the Institute Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.

I like the priests at two of the Churches that I attend regularly, as well as the sisters at one of the Churches (the other Church does not have any sisters).

I really like Summorum Pontificum, the Dominican Rosary, and the fact that Our Lord is the world’s best known curly-headed Jew-boy, beating even David Krumholtz, the man who plays the mathematician on the television show Numb3rs.

 

[consumedconvert]

I like the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the 1955 version of the prayer for the conversion of the Jews who are not Catholic, and the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite when celebrated traditionally, as well as Divine Liturgies.

I also like the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, the Franciscans of the Immaculate, the Institute of the Incarnate Word, and the Institute Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.

I like the priests at two of the Churches that I attend regularly, as well as the sisters at one of the Churches (the other Church does not have any sisters).

I really like Summorum Pontificum, the Dominican Rosary, and the fact that Our Lord is the world’s best known curly-headed Jew-boy, beating even David Krumholtz, the man who plays the mathematician on the television show Numb3rs.

 

[catharina]

Same here ConsumedConvert and Deacon Ed.

I came from the Fundamentalist/Evangelicals, I feel blessed to be in a place where you can rest in the authority of the Magisterium and the Pope. I am quite confused when I hear Catholics complain about and argue with the Church’s teachings and her current authority to do so, her authority in matters of faith and morals is her absolute foundation. Without it she falls. It’s a no brainer. And it keeps me at peace. Maybe some people just don’t like peace.

All three of you, I say: LOVELY -
and yes, Jeanette, thanks be to God, a no-brainer too.

 

[DonaNobis_Pacem]

If only I could be at such peace. Thank you for that bit of inspiration. ^^;

What I like about Holy Mother Church is that we have such beautiful sacraments, my two favorites being Holy Communion and Reconciliation. I am so glad that I can go to the priest and place my trust in him (since he is bound by the seal of Confession) as he brings Christ’s forgiveness and healing with absolution after I have confessed my sins. And the Eucharist…WOW. Seriously, what more can I say, other than that it is truly a humbling experience to have Jesus come, under the appearances of bread and wine, to all gathered at Mass. It’s an awesome and overwhelming thought that the King of the universe would empty Himself for us, who are but miserable sinners, yet in His great love He gives Himself as food to nourish our bodies and our souls. ^^

 

[Fitswimmer]

I like the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the 1955 version of the prayer for the conversion of the Jews who are not Catholic, and the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite when celebrated traditionally, as well as Divine Liturgies.

I also like the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, the Franciscans of the Immaculate, the Institute of the Incarnate Word, and the Institute Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.

I like the priests at two of the Churches that I attend regularly, as well as the sisters at one of the Churches (the other Church does not have any sisters).

I really like Summorum Pontificum, the Dominican Rosary, and the fact that Our Lord is the world’s best known curly-headed Jew-boy, beating even David Krumholtz, the man who plays the mathematician on the television show Numb3rs.

Our Pastor is from the Institute of Christ the King!! We had a young priest for a year from there-a wonderful Confessor and I will miss him-but our new Pastor is another gem! What a wonderful organization.

 

[WILKM]

This is such a lovely thread.

I went through a wilderness phase in my late teens/early twenties (for about three or four years) where I didn’t go to Mass that often and sometimes went to various other denominational services out of curiosity and often did not go at all as I wanted to be “part of the crowd” I was with who held no faith at all.

That feeling of coming back to the Church, going to Confession and receiving the Body and Blood of Our Lord was the most wonderful feeling I ever experienced. I was home again and I still feel the same way.

The Sacraments are definitely high on my list about what I like about the Church. I wish I was in a position to go to Eucharistic Adoration more than I do. That too is high on the list.

I love the rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the Triduum Mass at Easter, Our Blessed Mother and the communion of saints, etc.

I love having the Pope as Peter’s successor.

There’s lots more!

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Any other replies out there??
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[Gaius_Felix]

I love so many things, but here’s a few that stand out to me:

• The Church is always the Church. I drive by my childhood home once in a while. The new owners have replaced the worn out fence, repaved the crumbling driveway, landscaped the overgrown shrubs and trees, re-sided and painted. In every way, they’ve improved and beautified their home. To me, they’ve ruined it to the point it’s hard to look at. It’s not my home anymore. When I came back to the Church, after more than 10 years away, it was still Home. The Mass was the Mass, the Eucharist was the Eucharist. I remembered the prayers and responses, I knew what was happening and I knew where I was.
• The Popes and the history of the Church. It’s so comforting and confidence-building to be able to see where everything you are taught and told has come from, and to know that you can’t just set up a store-front church, call yourself a pastor, and say whatever you like. There’s leadership, there’s authority, there’s accountability. The Holy Father is simply amazing. Even when I was an unbeliever, I respected the man for the courage of his convictions, even if I didn’t agree with them at the time. It struck me so powerfully last month when Pope Benedict XVI was here that even the secular world stops and gives the Pope the world stage and the respect of their attention. Joel Osteen is probably not going to be visiting the White House or speaking at the UN. (Not knocking Joel, his was just the first “big name” i could think of, as my work neighbor has one of his books sitting out.) The Holy Father is recognized as a leader in the world, and it makes me proud to follow him.

The Eucharist. How can you not love the Real Presence of Jesus Himself? When I come back to my seat after Communion, I feel different. Something has changed inside me, and life afterwards seems that much better and more ordered and peaceful.

— Ben

 

[allana]

I like that the doors of our Church are always opened to the public during the day and not only when services and masses are being held, this allows me to enter and pray my own personal prayers freely.
i also love the peace and calming reverence of the in which our services are held, (and not loud and rowdy like a rock concert, as some protestant churches do)

i love how the priest explains scriptures to us, not scream at us his interpretations of scriptures(like some protestant pastors)

i love that when we pray we have benches in front our seats so we can kneel in respect in our Lords house(not stand with our heads high and and proud to pray, like well you know who…)
this is what i love the most about my Catholic church, compared to the others i attend for curiousity sake.

 

[minimom]

I have seen many threads where people express over and over what they think is wrong with the Church. How about lets using this one to express what we feel is right about the Church and what we like about the Church. Only this and nothing more.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

Wow-what a great idea! Thanks for this idea-I’m so saddened by the posts by either anti-Catholics or ‘cafeteria’ Catholics who put more faith in the world and its ‘mouthpieces.’
What I love is that we KNOW for certain we are on the right path! We have the Holy Spirit for guidance. We follow Jesus’ original Church. We have Tradition. We’re ‘gettin’ there, though we suffer on the way, and carry our crosses. I’m SO thankful to be Catholic!

 

[ethelzguy]

Yesterday was a perfect example of what I love about the Church.

It was recently observed that pigeons had been “blessing” the front steps of the church. The Padre called on the “SOFA” crew to help. We showed up yesterday, and up the bell tower we went.

Pigeons had broken through the chicken wire we put up some years ago, and had again nested in the bell tower.

So, we shooed them out, repaired the chicken wire, and spent the next hour or so scraping, sweeping, and bagging pigeon poo.

During the course of our chores, the discussion centered around whether this project might gain us some extra credit toward an indulgence, or whether it was an omen that after we kicked the bucket, we’d be shoveling pigeon poo in Purgatory.

We concluded that it was probably the latter.

(How many protestant church volunteers could have enjoyed THAT conversation?)

Afterwards, we snagged a few cold ones from the KC Hall and called it a day.

That’s one of the things I love about the Church. Whatever needs doing, there’s always someone to help you do it, and find a way to have a great time doing it, regardless of how unsavory the task might seem.

There’s always a cold one, and at cheerful “Thanks, guys” from the Padre when we’re done.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I’m SO thankful to be Catholic!

My wife who is a convert,(she became a Catholic at age 17) became a Catholic with all of her church elders praying over to cast out that demon Catholic that was trying to steal her soul. The true angel Catholic won out. I am a cradle Catholic. We both discuss and ask and wonder why we were so blessed out all of the billions to be graced with the true Catholic faith, the very Church that Jesus established. I pray and thank God daily for this true faith which he has given to me and my family. We both know how you feel in making that statement of thankfulness. WOW Thank God - Praise and bless him forever.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

 

[jmcrae]

I love that it’s a world wide organization and that you can always run into a Catholic from another part of the world. I also like that the heirarchy is made up of so many humble, down-to-earth men who are easy to approach and fun to talk to.

 

[minimom]

This is an extremely astute observation. It pains me to say how many cafeteria Catholics I have heard say that they believe what they want to and no one or no “thing” is going to tell them what to believe. Yet they profess to be Catholic. We can only pray for them.
Prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B

So VERY true!! And the scary thing is they want to steer everyone in their direction. These poor souls are lost to this world. Yes- we can and must pray for them!