What keeps you Catholic?

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Well, being honest, I bounce sometimes. I’m not the most religiously stable person to begin with! What keeps me coming back to the Catholic church is a combination of guilt-fear that it’s the “true church” and that I’m going to Hell if I leave. I bounce between a WELS high church Lutheran and a Catholic church.
 
Not being right in there among the membership I can still say it’s just the best place to be. As Dr. David Anders has said, being Catholic is a blast. I can say the same thing from my view on the edge.
 
And yet, we can be faithful Catholics and never receive the Sacraments. We have had a little taste this year of what our brothers and sisters across the world and the ages have lived. There are places where the Sacraments are not celebrated for lifetimes!

We are thankful that we live in a time and a place where we can access these vehicles of Grace. If the access went away forever tomorrow, I would hope that all remain faithful to the Church.
 
Harmony said:
Lord, to whom shall we go?
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This is the one true Church. Where else can we go?
If the Catholic Church did not exist I would have to convert to Judaism.
Besides, Jesus is in the blessed sacrament. The rosary is primarily Catholic.
The Church is incomprehensibly beautiful. The spirit of the oneness of our souls in God and the sacred architecture is stunning. Nothing else compares to our awareness.
 
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TheLittleLady said:
If I were not Catholic, I would be an atheist.
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In that scenario, would you be the kind of atheist who couldn’t care less about what other people believe because we are all cosmic dust anyway or would you be the kind of atheist who goes about preaching atheism to everyone even coming to CAF to argue for atheism?
 
It’s who I am; via my parents/family/ancestors (although there was at least one Protestant great grandparent).

But the reason is Jesus. When you’re really in trouble you call His name. (I learned His name as a Catholic.)

I was also blessed to have a friend who rubbed off on me, who is pretty orthodox as a Catholic.
 
And I love how much all of you love the Eucharist!

Sometimes during contemplation I am nearly moved to tears at the devotion of God’s people.

Particularly so during the pandemic when so many were denied for so long.

I am the true bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord,
Deacon Christopher
 
When I was in university, I was really tempted to leave the Church and simply said, “Lord, if You don’t want me to leave the Church then You’d better stop me.” I was literally on the threshold of the door when my friend C said to me: “Margaret, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” I told him why and it was his kindness, the support of my friends and the grace of God that kept me in the Catholic Church. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be posting here today.
 
A very wise Dominican once said, “God comes to you disguised as your own life.”

I have pondered and shared that thought with many over the years.

Deacon Christopher
 
I don’t know where you are, Father Deacon, but if you’re in southeastern PA please come to our small parish. It’s 30+ years since we’ve seen a deacon at our parish.

True trivia tidbit: When he was still a deacon (again, this is 30+ years ago), the rector of our UGCC seminary in D.C. served with our former pastor for a month in our parish.

The rubrics actually assume the presence of a deacon. As my current pastor said, deacons are a treasure.
 
I’m in Nebraska, part of the Eparchy of Chicago.

But I am planning a trip to Ohio next year to see the newish women’s monastery Christ the Bridegroom in Burton. They are all young, on-fire nuns. I know one of them from a neighboring state.

I would like to spend a little time in Ohio and Pennsylvania, where there are many more Eastern Catholics than here.

Through the prayers of the Mother of God…
Fr. Deacon Christopher
 
… O Savior, save us!

If you ever come to southeastern PA please PM me. Maybe we can meet at our cathedral in Philadelphia one day.
 
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Certainly will.

There are a number of people on here I would love to meet in person.

Our little Temple just re-opened for parishioners. For a long time it was just the priest and a server, or occasionally I would join them, but we always livestream the liturgies and exhortations and such for those stuck at home.

I was so excited Sunday, maybe 20 parishioners attending, but when I intoned “Approach with the fear of God, and with faith!” No one moved. Not a single person communed. I have never consumed so many particles of the Lamb. Next week I’m making sure Father goes easier on the quantity of wine and the particles!

But at least we can be together now again. 😀
 
I spent many years in evangelical churches. It was generally a wonderful experience. The people there meant well, they tried so hard to be close to Jesus and studied the Bible diligently. All so good! But…the disunity drove me away. Over so many theological issues, there’s such incredible diversity. How are you supposed to know which of the many interpretations of even just one theological issue, is correct? I’ve come to the conclusion that the “Solas“ of the reformation inadvertently stir up a great deal of spiritual pride, which drives the disunity.
 
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I’d be a person of love and compassion, surrounding my mind with beauty and traveling as much as I could. Spending my days on earth in fellowship with the human race
 
Christ is what keeps me Catholic.

If God want’s me to go elsewhere I will follow His will.

However, in my 68 years, he hasn’t led me elsewhere so this is where I’ll stay.
 
First and foremost, the Eucharist. During the time when we couldn’t go to church, I watched it on YouTube, but not being able to go to communion was a physical pain for me.
Secondly, the witness of the saints. They are my heroes and inspire me when I feel lax.
Thirdly, I believe. In spite of bad behavior by way too many Catholics, I still believe that it is the church Jesus founded and I thank God every day I am a member.
 
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