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Why I Am Catholic |
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A Weekly Series by Rev. Joseph J. Shaute |
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Subject Index |
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| Sacraments | |
| Anointing of the Sick |
In his letter, James asks: “’Is anyone among you sick?’ He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15) |
| Because we serve a banquet |
Only the Catholic Church offers the fullness of the Christian faith. We celebrate the wedding feast of Heaven—the Last Supper and the banquet in heaven we one day hope to be a permanent part of. Christ offers His Body and Blood through the Catholic Mass and offers many of the other elements of His spiritual banquet exclusively through the Catholic Church. |
| Compassion |
Another reason is the Bereavement Committee and the support of this parish to those going through losses, crises, and times of suffering. This past year I have seen many actions of care and compassion—of people helping others bear their burdens and their sorrows. |
| The Sacrament of Confirmation |
“By the Sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obligated to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (1285, Catechism of the Catholic Church) |
| The Sacrament of Reconciliation | Through the Catholic Church, Christ offers second chances, while also holding us accountable to Him and His people. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available through the Church and reminds us that our sins don’t solely impact our relationship with God. |
| The Sacrament of Reconciliation #2 | I did list this as a reason before, but I am allowed to mention something more than once. And one of the great blessings of this sacrament is we can receive it on a regular basis. |
| The Sacrament of Reconciliation #3 | The forgiveness of our sins, especially the “big ones,” is an activity of grace and ministry left to the Church by Jesus Christ Himself. |
| Holy Communion/Eucharist |
Today we celebrate seven first communions. I still remember my First Communion like it was yesterday. I couldn’t even wait until Sunday; I convinced my parents and the religious education director to allow me to make my First Communion at a weeknight mass in the parish chapel. It is one of those indelible memories and I pray it will be for our new communicants. |
| Marriage | “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601) |
| Funeral Rites |
The Funeral Rites of the Catholic Church are comforting, beautiful, and very meaningful. When a loved one has died, family and friends have many options as far as masses, prayer vigils, gravesite services, etc. In the United States, a funeral home usually is involved in the planning process. And in coordinating all the details: from burial options, to visitation, to church services, to selecting a cemetery. The Catholic Church strongly prefers that a funeral mass be celebrated for the deceased. |
