Reasons To Be Catholic

Father's sermon on Sunday was titled “Why Am I Catholic?” He gave his own six reasons why he is Catholic: the communion of Saints, Mary, Confession, the Mass, the Eucharist (the Real Presence) and other Sacraments, and then the one he said was the most important one of all—because he loves God. Getting a bit emotional, Father said that he never wants to go back to that nasty little hole where we are without God.

Whole books could be written about each of Father's reasons. I've been thinking about sin, the evil in the world, demons. Where we are weakest is where the devil attacks us every time. Without the Church, we don't have a chance. Without the Church, we're back in that nasty little hole.

Without the Church, instead of the fruits of the spirit, we have the fruits of sin. Pride, avarice, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth or acedia are the seven capital sins. They are called “capital” sins because they lead to other sins and vices. One sin leads to the next. The more you commit a particular sin, the easier it is to keep committing it until it becomes a normal part of your life. Pretty soon you don't know the difference between what's right and what's wrong. Unless you turn things around, you're on the road to hell.

But with the Church we have weapons and ways to defeat all of those sinful things. We have the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.

We have the theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity (Love).

We have the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

We have the twelve fruits of the Spirit: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity.

When my kids were growing up, I kept Phillipians 4:8 posted on our refrigerator door: Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Those are the things I want them to have in their hearts always, especially now that they are adults, some with children of their own.

St. Gregory of Nyssa said, “The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God.”

That's our goal. That path leads to Heaven. We have to become like God to get there, and we all know that's impossible without Him. With the help of the prayers of the Saints, with Mary's intercession, with the grace of Confession, through the sacrifice of the Mass, partaking of Christ's body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist, and through the other Holy Sacraments, we can achieve the impossible, not only because we “dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell,” but because of our love for God.

Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen