More Thoughts on Catholicism...

I've been surprised to receive very little criticism or concern about my recent conversion to Rome. In some ways, I'm happy about it because I was bracing for impact that a lot of people would feel I had lost my way. In other ways, though, I almost wanted a good fight, partly to force me to reevaluate my decision. One of the biggest criticisms I have heard, however, is that Catholics have too many rituals, many of which the stereotypical Catholic performs habitually and places little thought into. An example is making the sign of the cross before and after prayers, which even I admit is often done more through a sense of obligation and habit than through a thoughtful and meaningful intention. In addressing that, I would first say that I don't disagree at all...all too often, Catholics do things that they've been taught to do for years and if you observe them, you can often tell they're putting no thought into it. What I would disagree with, however, is the idea that, because so often these rituals are performed haphazardly, they should be abolished and abhorred entirely. It is an unfortunate reality that people, as we live in banishment from Eden and inhabit a corrupt flesh, often forget the meaning behind what they do. But the ideas themselves about these types of rituals I find completely sound. My ideal solution to the problem of people forgetting the meaning when things become routine is not to abolish the practice altogether, but rather to encourage and remind people to carefully consider what they do when it comes to worshiping God and to ask his mercy for those times we fall short. Yes, many people who have been Catholics their entire lives put no thought into making the sign of the cross when they're "supposed" to at mass or during prayer. But that doesn't make the practice flawed. The idea of the rituals so often criticized by Protestants is to bring the ENTIRE person into the worship experience. Protestants and Catholics alike understand that they bring their hearts and minds into worship, but what I appreciate about the Catholics is they ask, "why stop there?...we have more than a mind and a heart, but also a physical body, so why not bring that into worship as well?". In other words, since God has blessed us with bodies and five physical senses, why not use those gifts and give them back to God in the same way we show our appreciation for the gift of wealth by giving back a meager 10%? During the Mass, the body and all five senses are utilized along with the mind, heart and spirit to attempt to give God worship that encompasses all that we are and have, and this also benefits the worshiper by taking everything they have, including the physical body, and using it to praise God. That's why the Catholics often place emphasis on beautiful church buildings, stained glass, alters, and priestly garments, to allow the sense of sight to see beauty and to see something different and more special than what you see otherwise. And they burn incense to include the sense of smell and allow that to be a gift to God. Hearing is incited through music in all churches, but in Rome, bells, liturgy and other mediums are employed. Taste is especially emphasized in the celebration of the Lord's Supper at every mass and touch is employed by dipping our hands into water as we enter Mass to remind us of baptismal waters, and by making the sign of the cross. And the body as a whole is engaged when we bow before God at the beginning of Mass and during the Celebration of the Eucharist. It is a wonderful experience to worship God with the ENTIRE person - mind, heart, spirit, and body. Again, it is unfortunate that the nature of humanity takes these well-intended worship mediums and reduces them to mere habit. But the antidote to this is not to abolish or discard the rituals themselves, but to fight all the more for them and remind others why they are so meaningful. I'm not saying at all that such practices are required by God, but I feel I have been blessed and have benefited by involving these worship practices in my life. My hope is not that everyone will agree they should do the same things, but to understand they are not merely rituals that draw worship away from God - they are the opposite when employed properly and bring the entire person God created back to his praise.