The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
At Patheos the Crescat is one of many who responded to the Anchoress’s call when she asked people why they stay Catholic.
… The question of why we remain Catholic has been asked of the Patheos writers, in response to Pew Report stating our numbers are dwindling.
I’m not much for big word-y words, preferring to keep it straightforward.
I’m Catholic and plan to remain so until I die and my big fat Catholic soul flies off to Catholic Heaven – the part of Heaven where the alcohol and fireworks are kept in ample supply. The existence of Catholic Heaven has been well documented.
If I didn’t leave the Church amidst scandal or liturgical abuse it stands to reason that there’s not much that would make me go. Not even other Catholics.
On the other side of the coin, I don’t stay simply because I love my priests and think they are awesome guys. I don’t stay for the art, the architecture, the traditions, or even the awesome nuns.
You can’t base decisions like that on such superficial reasons.
As awesome as I think the Catholic Church is; with Her brains, beauty and generous nature, that is not why I choose to remain a Catholic. It’s not the beer nor the bacon.
I remain Catholic because the Church is Truth.
I’ve seen the Truth. I’ve experienced it firsthand. I’ve been baptized in the Truth. Confirmed in it. I’ve tasted and drank the Truth. I’ve Adored it and received graces and forgiveness from the Truth.
I have looked plainly and unflinchingly at the Truth and to leave the Church would be to turn my back on all that I know, believe, and have experienced.
To leave the Church is to embrace Hell.
Amen. The end.
This is a good answer. It reminds me of St. Peter. The Church has unity in itself. The truth is complete. It has a life of its own. Partial truth is just false and morbid.
How long must we endure all this blather about being part in and part out of the Church, about an ‘ecumenism of blood’ in the name of Jesus, and how the Devil knows all Christians are one? It doesn’t stand to reason. It is killing souls.
Let the heretics pray Our Lord will have mercy above and beyond the truth He has revealed. Let them try to make sense out of confusion, and integrate sins using false faith. If our own voice doesn’t ring clear how will they hear it and be saved?
Katrina Fernandez makes the sacrifices and pays the price to be united to the Church. She’s no fool and sees the difference between black and white. You have to take the long view and see the ends of things to understand.