A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic (Z)

The challenge is on.  Write a post each day in April (minus Sundays) using the letters of the alphabet as your guide. 

The theme I have chosen is "Why I Love Being Catholic".    


Let's continue..   

Z- Ze Recap

Here we are, the last of the 26 days of blogging.  I'm zonked!  I haven't blogged this frequently ever! 

When I started this challenge a month ago, I had one goal in mind.  I wanted to defend my faith in all of it's beauty from people who didn't understand it.  What ended up happening was I found out how much I didn't know about it myself.

How clever God is!  He took my self-centered emotions and turned it into something wonderful.

As you probably realized, much of my writing was not so much my writing, per se.  Google supplied me with a lot of definitions and Bible verses that I otherwise wouldn't have known.  The personal stuff was really me, but other than that, I had been at a loss for true understanding of the "why" of the faith.

This challenge has left me feeling a lot more zealous for being a Catholic.  After many posts, I wanted to run to the Catholic book store and read all I could.  Apologetics will soon become my new hobby.

So this is what I've learned. 

1.) Most Catholics (maybe just me?) don't know their faith.

Most Catholics know what they don't like or agree with when it comes to the "rules" set out by the Magisterium.  (by the way, these rules protect us - just so you know.)

 The Catholic Church is full of riches.  There is so much grace, hope, mercy, and love at our disposal if we just tap into it.

If we have a deep understanding of Catholicism we will have the knowledge to not only benefit from its beauty, but defend it for others who will question, and sometimes attack, our beliefs.

2.) Our faith REALLY IS rooted in scripture.  (okay, I already knew this)

We also have traditions handed down to us and apostolic succession to keep us in unison. You know the old adage, Too many cooks spoil the broth?  Well, not for Catholics!  We don't have that problem.*

3.) There's a counter-argument for everything.

As I mentioned before, I looked up a LOT of information on the computer.  And for every bible verse that supported my "word of the day", there is a counter argument for an opposite interpretation of said bible verse.

There will always be misinterpretations, misunderstandings, and a bunch of "I'm right, you're wrong."  But if I may use that old adage again...too many cooks....Maybe we just need one...and his name is Pope!*

4.) Faith is hard

It's hard to believe and trust in something you can't see or prove.  Do it anyway.  Or at the very least, dive into an area of your faith you aren't sure about.  There is so much to learn.  I didn't realize this until I was in the midst of this challenge, and now I'm thirsting for more.

Stay thirsty, my friends.


Thanks for reading and for your wonderful, encouraging comments. God bless you!


For more A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic, click Here.




 

A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic (Y)

The challenge is on.  Write a post each day in April (minus Sundays) using the letters of the alphabet as your guide. 

The theme I have chosen is "Why I Love Being Catholic".    


Let's continue..

Y- YOU!

Definition: Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing.

Bible: 1 Corinthians 12:27  Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it.

Personal: I enjoy being with people and I love to learn from them.  I play a little game with myself where I find something special about that person and their personality.  There's usually at least one trait that I admire. (sometimes I have to look harder than others, depending on the person. *wink*)

Every person who comes into our lives has done so for a purpose.  Try to find that purpose and grow from it.

And this is why the Church needs YOU.  You have a lot to give. You never know who is learning and growing by your example.

Shine your light of Christ.  We need YOU!


For more A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic, click Here.

A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic (X)

The challenge is on.  Write a post each day in April (minus Sundays) using the letters of the alphabet as your guide. 

The theme I have chosen is "Why I Love Being Catholic".    


Let's continue..

X- eXamination of Conscience


Definition: An examination of conscience is a “prayerful self-reflection on our words and deeds in the light of the Gospel to determine how we may have sinned against God”(Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Bible: 2 Corinthians 13:5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?

Personal: Who the heck wants to examine their wrong-doings on a daily basis? I sure don't!  But...
It is very humbling to do so.  The internet has a plethora of sites that can lead you to meaningful ways to do this.  One good one is Here.

One thing to reflect on in addition to the sins we may be committing, are the actions we ARE NOT doing.  Sins of omission can be just as serious.

Our lives of sinfulness can be a slow fade.....we may not even realize it is taking place.  Regular examination of conscience brings us back to reality; a strong look in the mirror reflecting our inner selves.


For more A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic, click Here.

A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic (W)

The challenge is on.  Write a post each day in April (minus Sundays) using the letters of the alphabet as your guide. 

The theme I have chosen is "Why I Love Being Catholic".    


Let's continue...

W- Works of  Mercy  

Definition:   Charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.

Bible:  Matthew 25:40  Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.


Personal:  Be the hands and feet of Jesus.  We have that power!

Seeing the great need for mercy and healing in the world, Pope Francis called for the Year of Mercy—a special period, also known as a Holy Year or Jubilee Year, for the Catholic Church. It is a time for the Church across the world to take approximately a year to focus on forgiveness and healing in a special way. Pope Francis has asked us as individuals and as a Church “to be a witness of mercy” by reflecting on and practicing the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.  Beginning December 8, 2015, the Holy Year of Mercy will focus on studying and reflecting on mercy, receiving mercy, and being merciful towards others. *

• Lord Jesus Christ,


• You have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,
• and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.
• Show us your face and we will be saved.
• Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;
• the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things;
• made Peter weep after his betrayal,
• and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.
• Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:
• “If you knew the gift of God!”
• You are the visible face of the invisible Father,
• of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy:
• let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.
• You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness
• in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error:
• let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.
• Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing,
• so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord,
• and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,
• proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.
• We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy,
• you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.


• Amen

*Source

 

For more A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic, click Here.

A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic (V)

The challenge is on.  Write a post each day in April (minus Sundays) using the letters of the alphabet as your guide. 

The theme I have chosen is "Why I Love Being Catholic".    


Let's continue... 

V- Veneration

Definition:  Great respect; reverence.

Bible:  Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith" (Heb. 13:7).

Personal:  On a couple occasions my children have come home from school telling me something disturbing their friends have said.  It goes something like this:

"So-and-so says Catholics just believe a bunch of lies."  When pressed further, it usually stems from our recognition of the Blessed Mother or how we "worship" statues.

It sounds so ridiculous to someone who was raised knowing that our respect for the saints is just that...respect.  We look to the saints to help us on our way.  They were human like we are, with strengths and weaknesses.  Some of them even strayed far, far way from God, yet found their way back. They give us hope.
We venerate them.  They are human role models who help us live lives of goodness for God.


For more A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic, click Here.

A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic (U)

The challenge is on.  Write a post each day in April (minus Sundays) using the letters of the alphabet as your guide. 

The theme I have chosen is "Why I Love Being Catholic".    


Let's continue....

 U- Universal

Definition: The term catholic is derived from the Greek word "Katholikos" which means "on the whole" or universal.  The term was first used to emphasize the wide scope of the church throughout the world.  It also refers to the unity of the church in regards to its teachings and worship.  There are no divisions or branches within it's membership.

Bible: Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Personal:

-The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus.  Spread The Word.


For more A-Z Challenge: Why I Love Being Catholic, click Here.