Random Musings On Becoming A Catholic

(CHRISM NEWS/ CHRIS POTRATZ) Our Savior said, “…small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” I’ve been reflecting on this passage a lot as I consider my own conversion to Catholicism and the many criticisms of the Church’s practices, dogmas, and structure. Obtaining full communion with the Catholic Church is by no means a hard process, but it is most certainly not without its doors, stumbling blocks, and procedures. No doubt, it can seem daunting to someone on the outside looking in.

But considering our Savior’s words, is it any surprise that the gate leading to full communion is narrow? Embracing the Church, warts and all as it is said, requires one to enter through this narrow gate – it is not an easy or wide gate to enter. If realizing the full meaning of what it is to be a Christian was as easy as opening a Bible – would Christ’s words make as much sense?

Catholicism is demanding – and I believe that is the very essence of what draws many Protestants, such as I was, to its narrow door. RCIA is demanding. Confession can be demanding. Indeed, all of the precepts – if followed correctly – are demanding. Should this be a barrier to our separated brethren? No, it should be the very beacon calling them home to the very Church Christ founded on Pentecost. Many who move beyond what Protestant theology and practices have to offer are ready to embrace the challenge.

Moreover, the further away I get from my former Protestant traditions (yes, they too are traditions) the more I come to realize the way in which the Church is truly living out the intentions of the Savior, the Gospel writers, and authors of the Epistles. It has been refreshing to discover over and over again that, despite the attacks on the Church for being “unscriptural,” no Christian body on Earth comes close to being as truthfully scriptural as the Catholic Church.

I have also found much amusement in discerning the totally fraudulent claims of Protestant sects, of which I adhered, claiming to be Biblical literalists. This concept, as it is perceived by such sects, actually only amounts to literalism insofar as it reinforces Protestant theology. Confronted with Christ’s words, “This is my body,” suddenly they get all symbolic on you. Try to discuss the Angel Gabriel’s words to Mary in Luke 1:28, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women,” and you might get this response: Mary who?

And the real kicker: “That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of the heavens; and whatsoever thou mayest bind upon the earth shall be bound in the heavens; and whatsoever thou mayest loose on the earth shall be loosed in the heavens.” It seems abundantly hard to deny the obvious fact that Christ literally founded a Church. Further, hell shall not prevail against this Church. This, again, seems to fly under the radar of the so called Biblical literalists.

Consider also Jesus’ words, “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted to them; whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.” If one is honest with themselves – the very literal meaning of this passage is unavoidable: Christ’s Apostles had the power to forgive sin, and what’s more, to prevent sin from being forgiven. One can try to explain away this idea by stating that such power ended with the Apostles. This, however, flies in the face of Christ establishing a covenant. Or, was this covenant only a 50 year covenant which fell apart and ended in total confusion? I think not.

#opinion