In the uncertain odyssey of life, a brightly sparkling jewel that illuminates my path and rekindles hope, leaving me profoundly joyful, is my Catholic faith. My heart swells with happiness at the thought of being part of an institution that has about 1.42 billion baptized Catholics (17.7% to 18% of the world’s population) from diverse cultures, all unified by one common belief. Built by Jesus Christ himself upon the rock of St. Peter with inspiration drawn from the Holy Spirit, my Catholic Church will forever remain the ground for my elation.
Treasure the fullness of the Catholic faith
Of central importance to a purposeful Christian life is being Catholic, as it’s a potent force that keeps us close to God and is perfectly aligned with Christ’s teachings of faith, sin, grace, good works, and the path of righteousness. In Christian circles, we often get to hear weighty discussions about ‘grace’, a concept which is germane to our spiritual life. An unmerited help from God; it is by grace we are being saved, and it is grace that needs to be constantly at work in us to enable us to live in faith and love and grow in holiness that would lead us heavenward. And the best way to tap into these graces is through the practice of Catholic Christianity. As we dive into the different practices of the Catholic Church, let’s remember that they help infuse grace into the soul to make us immune to sin and strengthen our bond with Christ.
The Word of God
Compiled and recognized by the Catholic Church, the Bible is the inspired Word of God that builds our faith, helps distinguish right from wrong, trains us to choose what is right, heals brokenness, reproaches sinners, and is the very foundation of our inner and physical wholeness. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 holds the very essence of the Word, stating, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” In John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”), the Word is recognized as Christ himself, and so reading the Word can help us experience the mighty power and overwhelming presence of God. The process of sanctification calls for immersing ourselves in the Scriptures, as Jesus in His ‘High Priestly’ prayer to the Father says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” From sealing a meaningful relationship with God, inspiring our personal transformation, to fundamentally shaping our inner self, what the Word can do to a soul is too good to brush aside. Hebrews 4:12, in its inch-perfect description of the Word (“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”) reminds us of its puissant effect on the mind, soul, and body. In moments when we are away from the Eucharistic presence of God, the Word can do wonders, as is evident in Matthew 8:8, where the centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant, saying, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the Word, and my servant will be healed.” Personally, I can attest to this truth, for which I am eternally grateful. In two of my most troubling moments, when my son was gravely ill and laid up in the hospital, I sat beside him reading the Gospel passages. Almost instantaneously, the fever left him, and he recovered speedily. As Christians, we are called to read the Word daily to discover Christ in unthinkable ways and make it through conflicts and chaos, especially when life feels like hanging by a thread.
The Holy Eucharist
The core of the Christian belief is the Holy Eucharist, and the highest form of worship is the Holy Mass. Adoring the Holy Eucharist and receiving the Body and Blood of Christ under the Eucharistic species of bread and wine makes complete the perfect union with God. It’s in congruence with the explicit command of Christ in John 6:53: “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” Our spiritual sustenance hinges on consuming the bread and wine transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ, a practice that originated in the Passover meal with the apostles: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body’. Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matt 26:26-28) Thus, we see that the Holy Eucharist was no invention of the Catholic Church but one that was instituted by Christ Himself. These Eucharistic miracles can strengthen our faith and remind us of the mystery of Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist. The Church officially recognizes over 100 Eucharistic miracles, the latest one having occurred in Christ the King Church, Vilakannur, Kerala, India, on November, 15, 2013. During Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Thomas Pathickal at the time of the elevation of the consecrated host, the priest noticed a mysterious spot on it. Gradually, the mark became clearer and took on the face of Jesus. In January 2024, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith commissioned the scientists at Christ University, Bangalore, to conduct rigorous tests on the Host using chemical analysis. The findings concluded that there was no tampering of the host with artificial dyes, ink, or any substance. Further, no preservative was used, and the host was naturally preserved. The miraculous host is now enshrined in Christ the King Church for veneration by masses.
In the Blessed Sacrament, the most invigorating experience awaits believers seeking deep spiritual peace and renewal. The comforting promise of Jesus – “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:20) is fulfilled. It can be said that out of His unfathomable love and mercy, an extraordinary privilege has been given to us to bask in Christ’s company and have a tête-à-tête with Him who thirsts for souls.
Marian Devotion
No human creature in the entire history of the human race has ever received a lavish salutation as did Mary when Angel Gabriel relayed God’s message to her, saying, “Hail thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with Thee.” It was indeed the highest regard for any human soul by God. And when He granted this singular honor to Mary, God also asseverated that the whole of creation must honour her. Debunking claims of people who condemn Catholics on the grounds of worshipping her, it’s important to reiterate that Catholics revere the Blessed Virgin Mary in obedience to God’s command: “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. – John 19:26-27. Thus, to us He commands us to look up to Mary for help, and to her God entrusts souls to be led to heaven through her intercessory role. During exorcisms, many a time the evil spirits have reportedly stated that they are intensely tormented by her humility and purity that blow a hole in their pride and rebellion. Personally, I have a testimony to substantiate this claim. A few years ago, during a certain season of life, I was regularly praying the Rosary. And it so happened that on a particular night, when I was in a deep sleep past midnight, I was woken up by a terrifying sight at my bedside. It was a devilish grimace giving me a death stare. The horrifying glare sent chills to my heart, and I lay there shaking with fear. While my mind was aware of the occurrence, my spirit (not under my control) began saying the ‘Hail Mary,’ and in a matter of a few seconds, the evil creature vanished into the darkness. The next morning, a feeling of uneasiness stole over me, and the first thing I read on the internet was a snippet sharing an account by Fr. Gabriele Amorth from an exorcism where the demon confesses, “Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end.” It was then that the extreme supernatural power of the Rosary dawned on me. The frightful episode of the previous night threw me into a bit of consternation until a few days later I was blessed with a dream of Jesus appearing before me at some distance. The beautiful sight stayed with me for a long time in the wee hours of one morning when I was asleep, and I woke up feeling ecstatic the next two days.
Our Lady’s maternal and intercessory role can never be overstated; her pivotal role in assisting souls has been affirmed in the very first miracle of changing water into wine at the wedding of Cana in Galilee, performed by Jesus at the behest of His dear Mother. Of this most powerful role, St Alphonsus Liguori once said, “He who has recourse to Mary shall never be lost.”
Homage to Saints and Angels
Yet another good Christian practice recommended to Christians is contemplating the hagiographies of Saints, for they have left behind an example of themselves to be imitated. Their promising prayers and spiritual companionship strengthen our relationship with God. God himself has allowed the Saint-Status to these holy men and women through canonization in acknowledgement of their sufferings for Christ, perseverance in faith, gladness to take up the cross, and complete detachment from the world. The many miracles and graces obtained worldwide prove that leaning on their assistance can bring prompt and speedy answers to our pleas, provided it’s in God’s providence. Furthermore, God has assigned Archangel St. Michael and a guardian angel to each of us for overcoming in our spiritual battle. Seeking their protection together with all the other angels in this demon-infested world is of the essence.
Aiding souls in purgatory
An immense act of charity that draws divine graces down to earth is offering prayers and Masses for the holy souls in purgatory to shorten the torments of these suffering souls. In return, God favors us with a pocket full of graces for our moral and temporal well-being.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
If you’re looking to free yourself from the burden of sin, Confession, or the Sacrament of Reconciliation, accomplishes it for you. Primarily, the Sacrament is meant to restore the rift created in the relationship of man with God as a result of sins, moral wrongdoings, or any human imperfections. A true and sincere penitence on the part of the sinner can get the ruptured bond healed. The Sacrament takes effect through the Catholic priesthood, wherein Christ has vested the authority to absolve sins in Catholic priests through apostolic succession. (Ref: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven”. – John 20:23). The Sacrament works as a powerful weapon to keep satanic invasions at bay by reinstating sanctifying grace into the soul and sealing the door to demonic influence. However far we’ve strayed away from God, we can be placed back into His Hands and begin a new life in Christ. After all, the message of reconciliation is about taking fresh heart and opening ourselves to an abundant measure of hope presented by God in this beautiful Sacrament. Every Catholic is mandated to make the most of this Sacrament to help our ongoing sanctification and stay close to God.
Finally, let’s remind ourselves that not only the Scriptures wouldn’t suffice, but every tradition, teaching, and revelation that has been handed down by God since time immemorial matters for a fulfilling Christian journey. This Catholic belief is echoed in the Scriptures themselves, where St. Paul tells the Thessalonians, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings [traditions] we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
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