Discover or Rediscover Catholicism!

Nobody needs to do this more than us Cradle Catholics, me included. I have started this quest. I realized a few years ago just how ignorant I was about the Catholic Faith, although I have been a practicing Catholic all my life.

If we consider that the most important relationship that we will ever have with anyone, is the one that we have with our God, then getting to know the Faith takes on a whole new sense of priority and urgency. We will never be able to understand our Faith completely – it is just too big, too incredible, and too supernatural and frankly incomprehensible for our feeble human minds. If, though, we can make an attempt and effort to more fully understand the Faith, I truly believe that we can find peace on this Earth, it could reign within us in an outward and inward transparency. So many of us Cradle Catholics take what we were taught, taught erroneously, or not taught at all for granted. We accept the Faith at a very shallow and superficial level, and that is the way we practice it. We go through the motions with no real intensity. We are shortchanging ourselves on so many levels by doing this.

I also contend that many of us end up leaving the Church for those superficial reasons as well. We choose more shallow and trivial options for worship. These options require much less effort, and perhaps an impression of less rigidity. What most of us fail to realize is that at the most basic core of our Faith lies Truth. The Catholic Faith represents the Truth that Christ brought to us, and then for us, through his Bride, the Church. The main goal of the Church is to bring people to Jesus, and then ultimately to Heaven. As many souls as possible! The Church is looking toward eternity, and how this life on Earth gets us there. For the truly devout, the Church can bring to us some of Heaven right here to Earth.

What the Church teaches is very misunderstood and distorted. Most of us don’t truly understand what the Church specifically teaches on different topics concerning a whole range of subjects. We take what we can piece together easily, and make our own interpretations, and then pick and choose what we agree with and what we will disregard. We think we know, but we don’t. We are flying blind and in the process damaging ourselves, and the Church as a whole. We really need to take the time to seek expert council, research and investigation into Church teachings and the reasons for these teachings. Even well meaning Catholics get it wrong much of the time, and the press and media distort Dogma for their own agendas and purposes.

I contend that those of us who leave the Catholic Faith do so without truly understanding and appreciating the depth and Truth contained within it. We are swayed by the misconception, and false teachings, ignorance and stubbornness to seek knowledge. We allow ourselves to be manipulated by emotion and have negated reason. We get caught up and are lured into a form of worship that might be more user friendly, tolerant, and easy. We gravitate toward the trendy, politically correct and a lack of authority and accountability. We like the services that make us feel good, don’t expect certain standards of behavior, and lack any real sacrifice.

As we start this New Year, let’s make a resolution to really make an effort to understand our Faith as Catholics. Let’s dive in and get to the core of the Truth and Dogmas, the teachings, rituals, traditions and great history of this great Faith of ours. Our history doesn’t just go back 2000 years, but to the beginning of time itself.

The gyms and fitness classes will be full this January as many of us attempt to transform our physical selves. Why don’t put the same priority on our spiritual health and transformation as well.

The bottom line is that our relationship with God is the most vital and important aspect of our existence, not our kids, our parents, our houses, our jobs or careers. You see, all of these things are gifts from God. If we can make our relationship with God right, then all the other stuff falls into place. The Church and her teachings may seem like restrictions on these pursuits, but really they free us to pursue them more ardently and honestly

Any day can be that day that you commit or recommit to God through his Church. Make today that day, and prepare the way of the Lord.