Why do I remain a Catholic?
That’s the question posed by Elizabeth Scalia at Patheos.com — a challenge to Catholic writers everywhere to respond. Here is an excerpt from her piece, which you should read in its entirety, including links, here.
How about if Catholic writers from all over the internet — bloggers, reporters, poets, aggregators, newshounds, journal editors, politicians, new-media-storming priests and nuns, Catholics in secular positions — what if they all were to take a few minutes to jot down “Why I Remain A Catholic” and post it where they can, on websites or social media?
How great would that be — a cloud of witnesses in the ether, another kind of Communion of Saints?
So why do I remain Catholic?
Because I didn’t.
Because in my 20s and early 30s I walked away from the faith in which I was raised.
I turned my back on 2000 years of tradition.
I ignored the tenets, practices, commandments, exhortations, teachings, parables, lessons, and scripture that taught me how to live.
I rejected the Truth.
I pooh-poohed the notion of sin — sin that eats away at us — in favor of modern, secular, relativism. After all, I wasn’t hurting anyone.
I considered the sacrament of reconciliation passé and irrelevant.
I found attendance at Mass to be inconvenient at best, boring and archaic at worst. And with that came the goodbye to the Eucharist. Because I had enough sense to know that I was not in a state of grace.
Because by that very grace of God I knew the truth of what I was doing and was ashamed.
Because I missed Jesus.
I had once believed in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, rejected it, and then longed to return to full communion. Let’s say, I knew first hand what I was missing.
I found my way back home, thanks to that grace.
I’m still a sinner. Still need grace. Still a work in progress when it comes to spiritual maturity, but I’m home.
And I’m not leaving.
When the grace of Jesus Christ finds its way deep in your heart, in spite of turning away from Him for a time, there’s no turning back. You have found real Love. Thank you for sharing, from one Christ lover to another.
THANK YOU! AMEN.
I love this Maria! Same realization I just had a couple of months ago….
That’s wonderful! It’s been a long journey of reversion, for sure.
Thank you, Maria, for the reminder of why I converted to Catholicism, and why I need to get back to the faith…
Go home…the lights on 🙂
I’ve remained a Catholic because I know I can go home. I made a mess of things, charred my soul through sin and felt so embarrassed to go back into the Lords house. A wonderful priest reminded me that God was waiting for me to come to Him. The Blessed Mother had outstretched arms just waiting for me. I was ashamed, but I made my way back. Missing the Holy Eucharist had become painful. There was a candle in the window of God’s love and mercy. I followed the light and I was embraced by Him even though I was a sinner. I will make mistakes and sin again, but He will always be there for me.
I love this Lorraine. Thank you so much for sharing what I think is pretty common for so many us. God bless you!
Well written. I’d comment more often and ‘like’ more of your posts but I am too lazy to sign in. Sad, but, there it is. I am a lurker. 🙂
Lol! I’m glad this moved you to sign in 🙂 thanks for de-lurking!!!
I think we are all a work in progress but when you believe it’s hard not to come back to the source in some manner.
So true. I used to think it was an old lady thing. Now, it’s just the wisdom that come from age and experience ( ha. An old
Lady thing)
Thanks for sharing this Maria. It’s an encouragement for those of us who though have never ‘left’ the church sometimes allow the dust of routine to dull our ‘catholic shine’. Thanks also for the follow
It’s a struggle, for sure. Perhaps there’s grace in that.