The theme for today's photo is "Catholic". This post is difficult for me because I feel that this topic is a very special idea. I feel very strongly about the faith as I have been raised in a Catholic family and have begun to discover my own connection with the faith. So what does it mean to be Catholic? In this post I will tell you.
To me being Catholic is something to be proud of. In this day an age many people are turning away from religion. It is becoming more and more difficult to find people that practice the faith. Religion is something that, sadly, is not as important to our society as it once was. This is why we all need to be proud of our religion. The easiest way to attract other people to at least educate themselves is to show them the beauty that is the Catholic faith.
Being Catholic is a blessing. When you have religion you have a comfort zone. Think about it. You can go anywhere in the world, not knowing anyone, and walk into a Catholic church and feel at home. There is no need for a membership or monthly payment, just a desire to connect with God.
Being Catholic is a guide. When you have religion, you have a moral compass and a way to strat fresh when you have made mistakes. God forgives us for what we repent and helps live a more loving and fulfilling life. God gave us the 10 commandments as basic rules to follow in our journey as well as an outlet to confide in. Sometimes you can't talk to those around you about certain things that are on your mind. For this you have God. He is always there to listen. While His answers may not come through as clear as a regular conversation, He will always guide you in the right direction.
Being Catholic is love. When you immerse yourself in the religion you find yourself appreciating a lot more of the world around you. You realize that everything is a gift and that God created it all. You care for the people around you a little more than normal because you realize that they are gifts from God. A gift that God created with love, compassion, and intent. A gift that you should be thankful for, especially because of all that those people around you teach you.
Being Catholic is a challenge. There is no one telling you what you can and can't do. This makes things difficult. Everything that you put into the religion is what you will get out. This is the challenge. Sometimes you don't feel like you have time to be religious, but this is why we must rise to the challenge. We must make prayer, mass, and all things related to the religion, a priority. There is always time to say a quick prayer. While it takes discipline, it is one of the most rewarding challenges you could undertake.
I could go on and on about what being Catholic is, but it is more important what being Catholic means to you. The only way to grow in the faith is to understand why it is important to you. Over the last few weeks of Lent narrow down why your faith is an important part of your life, and if it is not, why not? Being Catholic is something I am thankful for with all of my heart and I hope that those of you reading and sharing this can agree with me.