CATHOLIC TENDENCIES

 Ever since I was introduced to the Catholic Church I have been fascinated by this body of the Christian faith. One thing that has stuck with me that I admire is the unashamed strength to stand up for what they believe and back it up with The Three Pillars of the Church. Now for those who do not know The Three Pillars, they are number one, Sacred Scripture which comprises the Old Testament and New Testament in a total of seventy-three books. Next is the Apostolic Tradition which is the Living Tradition and the liturgies. Thirdly, The Living Magisterium which is the teaching authority of the Pope in Communion with the Bishops.

So what brought this topic up for me is listening to a podcast by Fr. Mike Schmitz denouncing the opening in France of the Olympics when blasphemy was committed by mocking The Last Supper of Jesus Christ. I know some of you are thinking this is already old news. At the time, so many wrote and talked about it that I felt it would be overkill if I wrote about it. I was wrong because I should have added my voice regardless of how many talked about this sickening event. 

I need to work on not always trying to compromise for the sake of peace. I am learning this from the Catholic Church. As an Episcopalian, which is Catholic Lite with half the guilt, I see both the churches stand up for certain causes. Now some I agree with and some are just too liberal for my taste and to me are nothing more than a woke agenda. But the point is they stand up to be heard. This is something my generation was not taught. We were to be quiet unless spoken to and we also were taught to do as they say not what they do, which was confusing!

So why do I have Catholic tendencies? I find I enjoy the Ascension app on my phone. I enjoy Latin Chants and hearing what the Pope has to say about things going on in our world. I love cathedrals and prayer rooms. I find peace in saying the Ancient Prayers. I love stained glass and statues and icon paintings. Lighting a candle and the smell of incense to pray. I like reading the writings of the Church Fathers and Desert Fathers and those Saints deemed by the church. I love my Catholic family and friends.

So in all things holy, I end in saying shame on the French Olympic Committee for allowing such a sickening, tasteless, and blasphemous mockery of our precious Savior Jesus Christ. Hats off to all the athletes who took a stand for Jesus Christ in the games, God bless you.