2008 Woodie Awards
Choosing Catholicism
Ranger A&E editor answers questions about faith
Maddisun Fowler
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Religion and Politics
Being a Catholic person in the world today is not as easy as one would think. The times have changed and with the times so have the people. People today have different moral values than the people fifty years ago had. There are different choices and situations that people are faced with, such as what they believe in, what kind of friends they surround themselves with and where they will ultimately end up. There are many misconceptions about the Catholic faith.
Question: Why do Catholics pray to saints and God?
Answer: We do not worship saints by any means, we pray to them to help us. Saints are closer to God than we are. When you ask a saint to help you pray for a certain intention, they are able get the message to God. Some saints serve as patrons such as to musicians, the blind, rape victims, cures for pain, lost articles, poets, editors, universities and so on.
Question: Why do they call priests "father"?
Answer: The reason we call our priests "father" is because just like our own fathers who look after our family, priests look out for their church family.
Question: How can bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ?
Answer: At the Last Supper, when Jesus said to eat his body and drink his blood, he did not mean for the bread and wine to be a symbol of his body and blood. When the bread and wine are consecrated, they become the true body and blood of Christ.
Question: Why do they have to go to confession?
Answer: We must confess our sins to be truly forgiven by God. After going to confession, it feels as if all of this weight has been lifted from you.
Question: What is purgatory?
Answer: Going to confession is a way to stay out of purgatory. People who only have love for their being are made to have love for God while in purgatory. The people who are in purgatory need the prayers of the people on earth to help them enter into Heaven.
Question: Why do they pray the rosary? Answer: Meditation is a big part of the Catholic faith and the rosary is a form of meditation. Each bead on the rosary indicates a certain prayer. While praying the rosary you meditate on the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
So, In conclusion... It is important that people recognize a Catholic person when they first meet them. A Catholic person should not have to be questioned about whether or not they are Catholic, it should already be perceived in the way that they live their life. If they are living their life the way God has intended, then it should be known who they are and what they believe.
Question: Why do Catholics pray to saints and God?
Answer: We do not worship saints by any means, we pray to them to help us. Saints are closer to God than we are. When you ask a saint to help you pray for a certain intention, they are able get the message to God. Some saints serve as patrons such as to musicians, the blind, rape victims, cures for pain, lost articles, poets, editors, universities and so on.
Question: Why do they call priests "father"?
Answer: The reason we call our priests "father" is because just like our own fathers who look after our family, priests look out for their church family.
Question: How can bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ?
Answer: At the Last Supper, when Jesus said to eat his body and drink his blood, he did not mean for the bread and wine to be a symbol of his body and blood. When the bread and wine are consecrated, they become the true body and blood of Christ.
Question: Why do they have to go to confession?
Answer: We must confess our sins to be truly forgiven by God. After going to confession, it feels as if all of this weight has been lifted from you.
Question: What is purgatory?
Answer: Going to confession is a way to stay out of purgatory. People who only have love for their being are made to have love for God while in purgatory. The people who are in purgatory need the prayers of the people on earth to help them enter into Heaven.
Question: Why do they pray the rosary? Answer: Meditation is a big part of the Catholic faith and the rosary is a form of meditation. Each bead on the rosary indicates a certain prayer. While praying the rosary you meditate on the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
So, In conclusion... It is important that people recognize a Catholic person when they first meet them. A Catholic person should not have to be questioned about whether or not they are Catholic, it should already be perceived in the way that they live their life. If they are living their life the way God has intended, then it should be known who they are and what they believe.
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