My Story in Catholicism

So, John Arnold has brought forth the question of my sort of religious background, and what Catholicism means to me, and what I find important about it, etc. I have already written a post about my religious trek to where I have ended up religiously, so I will just put a little bit of a nutshelled version on this post, then move on to the second part. 

So, I was baptized Catholic after I was born, like every other child born to a Catholic family. However, soon after that, my parents left the Church, and didnt really find a new church home. So, the only experience I had with organized religion during that time was with my dad at his Baptist church, and I became the stereotypical baptist teenager that you see on TV and such. Then, when I was in High School, for some reason, I felt myself drawn back to the Catholic faith. The only explanation I have for it is that the Holy Spirit spoke to me through my baptism to remind me of where I came from, and to show me the path to the faith I wanted to have. I havent looked back since then. 

It was really one of the best decisions of my life. After I started doing some reading on my own, and looking into what the Catholic Church teaches, I found out that it wasnt the evil thing that I was originally taught. Things like devotion to Mary and the saints, confession, Immaculate birth, Priests, etc, were actually closer to what I felt made sense to me. When I went back to Mass for the first time, I felt absolutely amazing. I hadnt felt closer to Jesus than I did that service. I love the ritual aspect of the Church, and the reverence that it offers. In that way, I guess I would describe myself as a somewhat "old school" Catholic. I dont enjoy Masses that have more contemporary music, dont follow the GIRM in the correct way, etc. 

My personal faith is something that had similarities between what most Catholics practice, and what most dont do anymore. For example, I find myself kneeling a lot more than most Catholics. During communion, after the consecration, most people stand or sit to wait their turn to receive, but I stay keeled the entire time. Also, when I receive communion, I receive on the tongue. I dont feel like my sinning hands are worthy of touching the physical body of Christ, so I dont receive on the hand. I also dont care for the excessive use of Extraordinary Ministers of Communion. The priest has the consecrated hands, we dont. Plus, in most churches, it is not necessary, just a convenience for Catholics to speed up the Mass, which they should be happy to be attending. 

I also have a pretty strong devotion to the Blessed Mother and 2 saints, St. Michael the Archangel, my patron saint, and St. Benedict, the patron saint of religious orders. I am enrolled in the Confraternity of the Rosary, which requires me to recite each set of mysteries once a week. I enjoy these devotions because it brings me closer to the mother of Christ. Why would I NOT want to have a close relationship with the mother of our savior? I also cant think of a better way to have a close relationship with Jesus than also having a relationship with the holy person who gave birth to Him...dont think anyone can know him better than that. 

While I follow the Catholic teaching that all religions hold some sort of truth, and all Christians are brothers and sisters through a common baptism, however, the Catholic Church, instituted by Christ, and following the lead of the Holy Spirit through the Magesterium offers the fullness of faith, and is the one true truth. Its where I feel home, its where I feel Christ, and I love my place in this Christian world. 

A full discourse into the beliefs of the Catholic Church would take a HUGE amount of time. If you are interested in that, the Phatcatholic blog on my links list will offer you a searchable writing from a student of Catechesis from Stubenville Catholic college in Ohio. I hope that I answered what I was asked. :-)