(Being) Catholic Matters

by David Lins  |  03/17/2019  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

Sometimes, it can be difficult to be Catholic. People who aren’t Catholic hear horror stories about the worst of us. I remind you of something I wrote months ago, “Judge a medicine by looking at the people who follow the prescriptions.” Look to the saints. There aren’t too many people who look at St. Mother Teresa and think she was a jerk.

This is Catholicism.

Some of you may still think about leaving the Faith from time to time. Allow me to say this: the Church has been under attack from the outside and from within since the beginning. (Does the name Judas ring a bell?) I am so grateful to my ancestors that they stood strong and refused to leave the Catholic Church, founded by Christ, drenched in sacramental graces, and still prevailing against the gates of hell. As a result of their perseverance, I was born Catholic and have had access to the sacraments.

I don’t blame a single person for wanting to make a positive impact on the Faith. I’m right there with you. I have bad news and I have good news.

Let’s start with the bad news: the American mindset (and I love my country) of fixing things through comfortable complaint or financial leverage won’t work here. The Church is an entirely different entity.

The good news: there is a proven way you and I can positively impact the entire Church. We can become saints. I looked back through Church history and from St. Athanasius of Alexandria to St. Catherine of Sienna, saints were able to influence church leadership, including popes! It can be done.

We must begin with ourselves. We must take the medicine that Christ prescribes through His Church according to the instructions provided.

We should never say anyone else should be saintly, unless we are willing to go first. After all, it shouldn’t be easy being a Catholic.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org