Catholicism for Dummies
...f emphasis on this rite during my visits to church. More than a place for worship on Sundays, the church is a mother who feeds and disciplines spiritually. The definition of Catholicism is the practice of Roman Catholic Christianity. Like Jews and Muslims, Catholics are monotheistic. There are four major ideas that Catholics believe in. The bible is the inspired error free word of the lord. Next there is Baptism or the rite of becoming a Christian. Baptism can be obtained through water, blood, or desire. The next idea is God’s Ten Commandments which provide a moral set of guidelines to life. When I attended Sunday school these were stressed to the extreme. They are an ethical standard to live by. The forth idea is the Holy Trinity or one God in three persons. This always confused me when I was younger and the fact that there are three persons but there is one god. This is the belief that God is: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. There are seven sacraments in Catholicism are Baptism, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. I have been through all the sacraments up to Confirmation. Confirmation is receiving the Holy Spirit and happens around the age of fourteen or fifth teen. There are an abundance of symbols through out religion, Catholicism is no different. Burning incense, candles, stained glass, and unleavened bread are all symbols found in Catholicism. The human body has five senses that connect you to the outside world. The church uses these symbols to remind followers of the invisible power they worship. I never realized that there was such a meaning behind all of these symbols. I can however understand how something tangible like these symbols contributes to the understanding of the religion. Grace is a huge part of the Catholic religion and the cure for sin. It is totally free, unmerited gift from God. As a gift, however, a person can accept or reject it. Grace must also be cooperated with and put into action. I have accepted Christ into my life and am trying through out my life to put grace into action. Catholics belong to their own churches called parishes, which are local places of worship. Weekly worship sessions are called Holy Mass which is a reenactment of Holy Thursday (The Last Supper) and Good Friday, when Jesus died to enjoy eternal life. Going to church is required by the catholic fate unlike some other denominations. Missing Holy Mass without a worthy excuse, such as illness or bad weather is a sin. There also is a Saturday mass which was originated for those Catholics, who had to work on Sunday, but the preferred day by the church is Sunday; this is because Sunday is the Day of the Lo...