What does it mean to be Catholic?

[nyj]

As I've been going over these tracts that I am writing for World Youth Day, it occurs to me that something is missing. I am giving these kids sound answers to unsound accusations made by anti-Catholics, but I feel as if I'm not telling these kids WHY they need to give those sound answers.

Why?

What does Catholicism mean to me... what should it mean to them?

It's something I've been asking myself, and I think that the reasons are why we as Catholics "fight" so vehemently to get our point across on the Interfaith forum.

Mackerel-snappers, Papists, Romanists... do non-Catholic/non-Orthodox Christians have as many derogatory nicknames for their faith as Catholics do? Somehow I don't think so. Since this country was founded.. if you didn't live in Maryland and you were Catholic, you faced discrimination.

Remember, most of the people that came here, especially on the East Coast, came from England... and while they might have been fleeing from religious persecution, they were just as biased against Catholics as the English government was... and still is today! Do you know it's STILL A LAW in England that the King/Queen cannot be Catholic? Exactly what do you think is going on in Northern Ireland? Think it's just a political squabble? Guess again... it's religious persecution.

Catholicism isn't an "individual relationship" with God. Catholics have more in common with those of Jewish ancestry (IMO) than they do with non-Catholic/non-Orthodox Christians. Catholicism is about community, it is about family, it is about establishing a Christian legacy and a Christian identity.

Nowadays people drop out of a denomination with the minimum of provocation. Changing churches is like changing underwear. Not so with Catholicism. You're born into it, and if you're not born into it, you make the conscious decision to go against the norm and then you're born into it. Born into it because your family disproves and disowns you, born into it because you open yourself up to ridicule... not just from non-believers but other Christians as well. There is no turning back once you become Catholic... heck, it takes years just to say "I get it." to begin with! To be Catholic is to make a life long commitment, because that is how long it takes to "get it". To be Catholic means to wear it on your sleeve, to be on fire for the Lord, and to know that millions of others before you have shed their blood to get this message to you in the first place!

Martyr's like St. Issac Jogues who braved the wilderness of the Catskill Mountains to bring Catholicism to the New World, and who shed their blood... but not before converting other Saints in their stead to continue the mission.

Catholicism is not just about religion, it's about all aspects of life, it has influenced two millenium, religiously, culturally, politically and socially.

Just like Judaism is a way of life, so is Catholicism. As an Italian-American, I hear stories about my grandparents and how they dealt with the racism. Italian? That meant Catholic, that meant "not a real American". That meant shoddier jobs, that meant less pay, that meant less food on the table. But not once was dropping Catholicism an option. To this day, when I wear a t-shirt that says "Catholic" on it, my grandfather will take me off to the side and tell me "You know, you have to be careful who you wear that shirt around." I wonder how such a mindset can be instilled upon someone unless they had it lorded over them their entire life by non-Catholics.

Just Italians? Forget it, try Irish-Americans too. You know why you see the stereotype of the NYPD, FDNY and trash collectors of NYC as Irish or Italians? Because it's true! Back during the great immigration waves, no one wanted to be a cop, no one wanted to be a fireman, no one wanted to pick up other people's trash. Police work, firemen, trash collectors... those were junk jobs... the only jobs available for the scum of New York... the Italians and Irish who couldn't find any other line of work.

People wonder why Catholics take their faith so seriously. As far as I know, the Supreme Court hasn't ever said any other denomination is as persecuted in the United States as the Catholics are (thanks Clarence Thomas, for calling a spade a spade). Well, we might take it seriously because we know what it's meant for the generations that came before us, and that it's not something to be cast aside like a dirty rag because someone else doesn't see "eye to eye" with us.

My parents faced discrimination because they were Catholic, my grandparents faced discrimination because they were Catholic, all throughout history... Catholics have been killed for the faith and now because someone else doesn't think Purgatory exists, I'm supposed to forget these two thousand years of shed blood and spilled tears to appease them?

As we say in New York "Forghedaboudit!"

Why do I defend Catholicism? Why should others defend Catholicism? Because Catholicism is more than just about religion. It's about placing Christ into every aspect of our life. From the moment we wake up, to the moment we go to sleep. It's how we plan our day, we eat our meals, we say our prayers. It's how we raise our kids, it's how we spend our weekends and our holidays. It's about family, it's about community. It's about individuals shedding the "me first" attitude and becoming the one body Christ demands of us, with Him as the head.

I'm not a Catholic because I made a personal commitment to Christ. I'm a Catholic because my parents are Catholic, and my grandparents are Catholic and my great grandparents are Catholic... I'm Catholic because as far as I know, every generation of my family has been Catholic. It's exactly the same reason a Jew stays a Jew and they don't become a Buddhist. They've been given a responsibility by God and they're gonna stick to it. It's the reason the Orthodox stay Orthodox... they're born into it. And those that are not born into it... wish they were!

Am I Catholic for all the wrong reasons? I imagine some may think that I am. That I need to find a personal relationship with Christ and from that I need to reinvent the wheel. Well, I found Christ, smack dab in the middle of this great one billion strong family of Catholics. Just like those three thousand on that very first day of the birth of the Church. Individual decisions? Perhaps, but in the larger context of things, it's all about community. And that's why I'm Catholic.

 

[kern]

Good post! I like catholicism more and more every day.

-Chris

 

[Avila]

I think you're right on.....

 

[jukesk9]

Jesus told us we would be hated because of His Name. How true that rings today in light of the current Church scandal. We never said we were perfect, just that the Gates of Hell wouldn't prevail; try and try as they have.

Why am I Catholic? I grew up in a mixed household with my father being Catholic and my mother being Methodist. My brother and I joked we were Metholics; we had all the religion and half the guilt. When my father died when I was 14, my mother respected his religion and had a wake with the rosary prayed and even had a priest give my father last rites (though I understand the Church doesn't call last rites "last rites" anymore).

All my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. are Catholic. We went to the KofCs with my folks when I was younger to meet their friends. When I was 19, I was confirmed in the Holy Catholic Church. Why? Well, if I could say I only learned one thing from my father (which I didn't but if I could say I only learned one thing) it was to get right with God each night when you laid your head down to rest. He was a devout Christian man and in my eyes could do no wrong. So, if he was Catholic, then I am Catholic. Kind of like a saint, if you will. The Church uses the Saints as role models we should try and imitate. I do that with my father. I've heard all the "anti-biblical" arguments but you know what? My daddy loved Jesus and he read the Bible. I still have his St. Joseph Edition. And if he didn't find anything conflicting, then there isn't.

I remember my mom telling me that when she met my dad, her father wouldn't let her marry him because my dad was Catholic and my grandpappy was a Mason. They eloped. I asked my mom why she never converted to Catholicism and she said that she agreed with the Church on every thing they taught except for their stance on divorce. She didn't like the fact that people who were divorced and remarried were barred from Holy Communion.

You don't see Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Baptists, etc. told they're going to hell. You don't seem them persecuted. But you see Catholics persecuted because not only do they stand up for Jesus, but they stand up for what Jesus taught, The Catholic Church. We contain the entire revelation of faith. We don't pick and choose what we like. We don't have an Apostle Cleophus going to start a new church because he disagrees with Pastor Jethro Billy Jack's take on Baptism.

I live in the South. I hear it daily from my "concerned" co-workers. I meet a lot of people in my line of work. When one of my non-catholic co-workers introduce me to one of their friends, they say, "This is Jake. He's Catholic." And then I hear, "Oh." You know what's really weird? The majority of the Fundamentalists I know (and there's a lot here, trust me) don't have friends outside of their church! I've got Baptist friends, Lutheran friends, Methodist friends, one Episcopalian friend (they're even more of a minority here!), a Jewish friend, etc. I take to heart Jesus' command to love my neighbor.

I have a Rosary hanging from my rear view mirror. Why? Not only to show the world how proud I am of my faith, but because it also reminds me to pray daily. If I don't have anything going on, that Rosary reminds me to say thanks or to say a prayer for someone. I pull up to answer a call and the first thing someone sees is that Rosary. I am not ashamed nor will I ever be. Will I die for Him? Yes. Will I suffer for Him? Yes. Will I confess Him? Yes. Why? Because I'm Catholic and that's what it's all about. In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

[Hoonbaba]

I guess I'll share my comments about Catholicism. I think it's awesome to see how family is a reality in the Catholic church. As a protestant, I want to know what that's like. I probably only scratched the surface of Catholicism. However, I have to disagree with many of the comments made about protestants.

I honestly think your assumptions are a bit biased. Protestants get persecuted too. My friends and I get looked down for simply being 'Christian'. I was one of them.

As for the things going on in Northern Ireland. It's horrible. Christians should never be attacking each other, it makes both Protestants and Catholics look bad. Unfortunately it seems both groups aren't fully representing Christ and ultimately it isn't glorifying God. =(

I wouldn't be a Christian had it not been my roommates who were all protestants. If anything I would've still been agnostic tearing apart Christians all the time. For me I never really cared much about Catholics, but protestants were the ones I were after, since I was surrounded by them. I saw so much garbage growing up, but recently I came to realize that there are many genuine protestant believers out there. And it's a blessing to see that they strive to live lives of holiness and godliness =)

As for the personal relationship thing, I found that to be really fascinating. Of course that's what protestants teach: That we are to love our Lord (Matt 22:37). And I think it's absolutely necessary for us to know God personally, rather than believe that God is some dude up in heaven just simply looking at us. The bible is really clear that he wants us to get to know him. But of course this is where protestants are missing out on the reality of full fellowship (i.e. communion as one single body).

So anyway, what I noticed among many Catholics (not that Catholics are bad) is that many of them are very 'dead'. Of course protestantism has it's own problems like liberal denominations (especially with gay pastors and such), but many Catholics I've met haven't been good examples of godly living. Personally, I've been exposed to Catholics who do not in any way represent or even attempt to represent Christ. And the first genuine Catholic I met was about 2 years ago. Unfortunately she's a one of a kind. Recently, I met some others are a local Catholic Center, so that was encouraging.

I'll be real honest here: My church I'm attending is an awesome church. But I know I'm missing out on communion. Can't wait to know what that's like =)

-Jason

 

[VOW]

To Jason:

You'll find incredible fellowship in many Catholic Churches, as well.

The persecution of Christians, all Christians, is universal. However, the attacks upon Catholics by other Christians typically does not flow in the opposite direction. You won't find special "Methodist Ministries" in the Catholic Church, but you WILL find "Catholic Ministries" in a Baptist Church. It's been my observation that Catholics are much more tolerant of other Christians than Protestants are. And especially since I've been frequenting message boards on the Internet in the interest of Apologetics, the problem is the misinformation which is being perpetuated by the Protestant Churches about Catholicism. It's a crying shame! We Catholics certainly don't like it! It HURTS to hear someone tell you that all Catholics are going to Hell because they pray to Mary! You are craving the Real Presence now....wait until you hear the FILTH they say about that!

The Catholics in this forum come to the Catholic board to regroup, purge themselves of the anger and the sadness, so we can "put on Christ" and then resume our mission of education.


Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Avila]

Jason, there are many Christians, period, who do not live their faith very well. One problem with the Catholic Church today, though, is that there are quite a few people (around late 20s to late 30s) who don't know their faith. Whose fault it is, we don't really know. It's just that somehow, they missed the lessons on their faith. But, for the ones that haven't studied their faith and aren't "alive", there are many who are active, vibrant, faith-filled, and alive. Even among the "live" wires, there are some that have come to it from being "dead". My FIL is an excellent example. He just has his dry spells and then comes out of them even stronger. It's probably the same with many....

 

[nyj]

Originally posted by Hoonbaba
I think it's awesome to see how family is a reality in the Catholic church.

It is my opinion that family should be a focal point of our faith. Not just family in the sense of a "nuclear family", husband and a wife and 2.3 children, but in the sense that we have a common identity. I don't see that sort of identity in Protestants, but I see that sort of identity in Catholics, in Jews and in the Orthodox.

I think that is why we see the second largest religious group in American are non-practicing Catholics. They're the prodigal sons, running away from their father for who knows what reason, and I bet that some of them are looking for that one good reason to return. I see a huge effort within the Catholic Church trying to bring these people back... to assuage the pain they felt that caused them to leave in the first place, to rectify problems, heal wounds. But notice for the most part they didn't join another denomination... same way you cannot change your own parents. And the fact that we know they're fallen away Catholics is because they make mention of it. For them, their Catholicity, in some way, is still important to them. It's a part of their identity and while it may not be 100% active, it still smolders inside of them.

Originally posted by Hoonbaba
I honestly think your assumptions are a bit biased.

Of course I'm biased, I'm Catholic afterall. I didn't intend to shoe-horn non-Catholics, but I certainly have never seen the sort of community, outside of a particular church, amongst Protestants as I do with Catholics. A sense of community that literally extends worldwide. For the Orthodox and Jews, you certainly see this sort of community on a national level.

I'm not trying to be elitist, though I imagine it may seem that way. But there has to be a reason why Catholicism has managed to survive for two thousand years and why it has continued to thrive under what non-Catholics would consider "oppressive conditions". I say that at least part of that reason is because of what Catholicism means, not just from a personal religious sense, but from a communal sense... a sense that I think was truly present amongst the first Christians but at least in America today, seems to be noticably lacking.

 

[PrinceJeff]

You won't find special "Methodist Ministries" in the Catholic Church, but you WILL find "Catholic Ministries" in a Baptist Church.

Not my Baptist church you won't.

 

[nyj]

Originally posted by PrinceJeff

Not my Baptist church you won't.

Amen to that Jeff.

Unfortunately, Carr Baptist Church doesn't see things that way. What could possess people to re-preach the Word of God, instead of bringing it to those who have yet to hear it, is beyond me. If I lived (or near) Borden, Indiana... oh man, what a fuss I'd be raising.

http://members.aye.net/~carolync/church/index5.html

Looking at that page... it's insulting!

 

[VOW]

Originally posted by PrinceJeff
Not my Baptist church you won't.

Thank the Lord!


And NYJ, I clicked on that link, and was apalled! Someone else called such ministries "sheep stealing," and it sure seems that way to me!


Peace be with you,
~VOW

 

[Hoonbaba]

Originally posted by nyj


It is my opinion that family should be a focal point of our faith. Not just family in the sense of a "nuclear family", husband and a wife and 2.3 children, but in the sense that we have a common identity. I don't see that sort of identity in Protestants, but I see that sort of identity in Catholics, in Jews and in the Orthodox.

LOL! 2.3 children =)

Anyway I firmly agree. I think Galatians 3:28 may be relevant here:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus

God bless!

-Jason

 

[Hoonbaba]

Originally posted by nyj


Amen to that Jeff.

Unfortunately, Carr Baptist Church doesn't see things that way. What could possess people to re-preach the Word of God, instead of bringing it to those who have yet to hear it, is beyond me. If I lived (or near) Borden, Indiana... oh man, what a fuss I'd be raising.

http://members.aye.net/~carolync/church/index5.html

Looking at that page... it's insulting!

What a waste of time. If anything that ministry probably offends God. I sincerely hope those baptists are doing it out of concern for Catholics, but considering they obviously don't realize that the Catholic church IS the church established by God. May God have mercy on them. I'm sure he will =)

God bless!

-Jason

 

[Avila]

My friends, that is on the side of state opposite where I grew up, but that is exactly how most of the Protestants in southern Indiana are... Your more "mainline" denominations (Methodists, Episopalians, Lutherans, etc.) are really pretty ecumenical, but there is still the tension between Protestants and Catholics. The whole area is scattered with Catholic pockets (particularly around Dubois County) & there is even a shrine to Our Lady of Monte Cassino. There are two gorgeous monasteries there - where the Sisters of St. Benedict run a girls' school in Ferdinand, and the Archabbey at St. Meinrad (home of Abbey Press & also a seminary). OTOH, there is a strong Protestant (particularly So. Baptist) influence... Anyway, I digress & am probably boring you with sundry details of my "home area".

 

[isshinwhat]

I just converted a little over a year ago after about 1 1/2 years of study and RCIA. My reasons were definately because of the truth I learned from God's family. The Catholic Church was the first place that I saw family being paid more than lip service. I guess that is why I get so sad when I see people in my church who really don't appreciate what they are blessed to be partaking in. Poor teaching, I guess.

Jesus has definately blessed us all, and I appreciate that in a deeper manner every day.

I live in Tennessee, right in the middle of the Bible Belt, so I can relate to those of you who live in a not-so-Catholic-friendly environment. You've not seen sad until you've had "real" Christian Tracts handed out after Mass, or until your girlfriend is told she desperately needs to show you Jesus, lest you be damned....with you standing there....I told him I knew Christ, my Lord just fine, thank you very much. It used to irritate me badly, but now I TRY to use it as an opportunity for Charity. May God give me the strength and patience I need to accomplish His Will. Amen.

Neal

 

[kern]

Originally posted by Avila
My friends, that is on the side of state opposite where I grew up,

Me too...the Catholic church I went to in my youth was St. Mary's of the Lake in Gary, IN.

-Chris

 

[PrinceJeff]

Heh I live in Kentucky.....where you have to drive 30-45 minutes for beer but just 5-10 seconds for a Baptist church LOL.

My church (Salt River Baptist) in Danville, KY isn't really ecumenical but my pastor always said his differences with other denoms is very minor. We do not have any sort of ministry related to any group, except our Hispanic Mission on saturdays. We have alot of Hispanic people in the area and statewide who work on tobacco farms and other places, hence the reason for that. It is not because Mexico is a predominantly Catholic country.

I may go to a church that officially is part of the SBC, but we don't do their politics. Heck I even watch DISNEY of all things and I drink beer on occasion and I believe in gifts of the spirit. Oh no I must be in apostasy and error. LOL!

The only hard part for me is when fruitcakes like Fred Phelps ruin it for the rest of us and all Baptists get referred to as "gay bashers", "bigots", "KJV Idolaters", ad nauseum.

I may not agree with Catholic teachings on many things, but I am still your brother aren't I?

 

[nyj]

Originally posted by PrinceJeff
I may not agree with Catholic teachings on many things, but I am still your brother aren't I?

Only on the days of the week that end with a "y".

 

[PrinceJeff]

In spanish, that would make me not.

Lunes, martes, miercoles, jueves, vierno, sabado, y domingo.

 

[nyj]

Originally posted by PrinceJeff
In spanish, that would make me not.

Lunes, martes, miercoles, jueves, vierno, sabado, y domingo.

Oy vey! Ok, how about this? You're only a brother on even and odd days of the week?