Why Be Catholic?

Time2bCatholic.com

This is a partial list of what I wrestled with as a Presbyterian christian, researched to death, then, through God's amazing grace, had the eyes to see, and ears to hear the full truth of the Church that Jesus himself formed. The word Catholic means Universal. Nowhere else can I find the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Eucharist - actually Jesus - not a symbol. Nowhere else has the authority to offer the seven Sacraments Jesus Himself instituted.

On any given day,

in every country, no matter what the language,

for 2025 years,

the Mass is the same--the same order, the same Bible readings,

with the same authority that Jesus came to live among us to institute and die for.

No matter where I roam, at a Catholic church, I find Jesus in the Tabernacle, and I am home.

Be welcomed, and brave enough, to face Jesus at Mass - He'll tell you and show you and share with you all you need. Find a Catholic Priest and ask your questions. Keep checking here at Time To Be Catholic - we'll be unpacking and expanding on each of these and so much more.

-The Eucharist at Mass IS Jesus - humbled in simple bread - ready to feed our souls.

'Talk about foreshadowing: He's even placed in a food trough manger as a newborn! (Mangia!)

-Jesus' Precious Blood at Mass. The first 4 books of the Bible "set the stage" for Jesus' living sacrifice...We read how Jesus "wraps up" blood sacrifice in the New Testament. No more animal sacrifices. He told us "...unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." Those he spoke those words to, understood Jesus, the "Lamb of God" referencing early biblical sacrifices... We may be very removed from sacrifice nowadays... But it's still just as important and relevant to God - who made us, and set up the process of how to remove sin. Choose to get "life within you". Go to Mass.

-Living Sacraments, not symbols: Baptism, Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation,

Marriage, Holy Orders, Extreme Unction

-It's what God Himself wanted/set up/died doing

-Did Jesus set up His Church, and give Peter the Keys and authority to bind and loose sins etc., as simply a framework, just waiting for us to brainstorm 45,000 different christian religions 1500 years later - none of which have the Sacraments or Priests that He Himself established?

-Eucharistic Miracles

-The sheer amount of people who have died for the Eucharist: That many would not die for a lie

-St. Paul. ...St. Paul.

-The Stigmatists

-The Incorruptibles

-Exorcisms - When it's real - somehow everyone knows to get a Catholic Priest...

-Catholic hate made me research Catholicism. No one hates a Quaker or Seventh-day Adventists with Catholic-level hate. I had to ask - what is there to be afraid of? I found the answer to that question--The Truth.

--The Graces are extreme! Miracles - old and new! Our Lady of Guadalupe (see article on Monthly Cath. Life tab above)... The power of prayer to Mary and the Saints! The power of the Rosary (check out her 15 Promises on the Reference tab above)!

--Water into Wine Miracle (seriously Jesus' first miracle was the best wine, served after everyone at the Wedding had their fill of wine, but some recently created religions ban drinking alcohol? Are they inferring that Jesus was not responsible?)

--Saint stories/lives/truths/miracles!

--Mary. The new Eve. The new Ark of the Covenant. The Mother God Himself created for Himself. I was taught that basically she was a bit-part in God's story, only talked about at Christmas, who besides the "Jesus part of her life" had a regular life as a regular wife?! Oh, I can't wait to share the fullness of Mary's role in God's plan with you! Hold onto your heart - Wait 'till you meet her!!

--Once you see the Truth - of actual History - of the way the Old Testament

puzzle-piece-completes the New Testament - the endless Connections of Heaven & Earth, Traditions & Bible, Saints & Sinners - and so much more - you can't unsee it. That's why so many convert stories are similar, and why people that have left, return after they begin to study Catholicism. I'll leave you with this. Don't think you know

don't take anyone's word for it

do the research.

The journey is worth it. Below are some places to begin:

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EWTN - The Journey Home with Steve Grodi

Fr. Chris Alar - "Back to Seminary" youtubes by topic

Steve Ray (convert) - catholicconvert.com (site: Defenders of the Catholic Faith,

book: "Crossing the Tiber")

Scott Hahn (convert with an amazing story) - ScottHahn.com

Bishop Robert Barron - video series: Catholicism, wordonfire.org

Taylor Marshall (convert - former Episcopal Priest) - TaylorMarshall.com

Gus Lloyd (revert) - GusLloyd.com