What Makes Catholics Catholic

June 30, 11:05 AMOrange County Roman Catholic ExaminerRichard Sikorski

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If someone asked "what makes you Catholic?", how would you answer that question, off the top of your head, without running to some religion book or Catholic website?

If you said because "I believe that Jesus Christ is God", "I believe in the Holy Trinity", and "I believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of Original Sin", you would be answering why you can, theologically, call yourself "Christian". (Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses can't. They simply don't agree with those foundational doctrines. So they can't call themselves Christians, even though they do.) But you wouldn't  necessarily be identifying what makes you uniquely Catholic.

If you starting quoting lines from the Apostles Creed, you'd be leaving out some important differences between us Catholics and our Protestant Christian brothers and sisters.

The most obvious is the Pope, the Supreme Pontiff, head of Christ's church on earth. (Sorry, the pope isn't in the Apostles Creed.)

Catholics believe the pope to be the successor of Peter, whom Christ appointed directly. What's more, we believe we have the scripture to prove these claims. (Which is the reason those who disagree with the concept of a pope or papal succession, disagree with Catholic interpretation of that scripture.) Whether you believe in his office or not, the pope remains, arguably, the most influential religious leader in the modern world. (Pope John Paul II did much to support that claim in our lifetime.)

Catholics have more sacraments than most other Christian denominations. Some only have Baptism. (That's all they claim they need.) Others stop at Confirmation. The Catholic religion cites biblical substantiation for all seven of the sacraments in its lineup. Marriage, for example, has sacrament status in the Catholic Church. (One reason for its stand on divorce.)

Next is Catholic devotion to Mary and the devotion of doctrine to her. For accepting the role of mothering the human nature of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, she is honored more than any other human being in human history. Mary has feast days, holy days and mysteries of the rosary devoted to her. (The rosary, of course, remains her most recognizable devotion.) Her Immaculate Conception and Assumption into Heaven are matters of Catholic doctrine. Catholics believe she has appeared to select faithful throughout the centuries since her assumption into heaven. Lourdes, Fatima, and Medjurgorge are sites of such apparitions and still draw millions each year in pilgrimage. (Yes, Catholics listen to their Jewish mother.)

Unlike others, the Catholic religion confers sainthood and continues to do so. It's part and parcel of papal power. (Which is the reason religions that don't believe in a pope don't take part.) A confirmed miracle is part of each and every sainthood process. (Miracles are another thing that seem to set Catholics apart.)

But probably the most significant difference between Catholicism and other religions, particularly Christian ones, is the importance of the Eucharist. Catholics take "take this and eat for this is My Body" and "take this and drink for this is My Blood" literally. The doctrine of Transubstantiation states that Jesus is actually present under the form of bread and wine at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Commemorating the Last Supper actions ("do this in memory of Me") is worthy of daily practice of the sacrifice of the Mass, as is individual reception of Christ's Body and Blood in Communion. In fact, keeping one's soul in a state of grace worthy of that reception is the practical goal of practicing this religion. For no one who has committed a serious Ten Commandment infraction (offense to God or fellow man) can receive Communion, unless he or she has confessed the sin, been forgiven, did penance, made restitution and promised never to commit it again.

Imagine if every one in the world could be in such a state of being. (Can't say the Supreme Being didn't give us the Incentive!)

Now it's your turn:
In the comment section below, add what you think makes Catholics Catholic.
I'll edit your responses for a future article.