The purpose of this paper is to introduce the religion of Catholicism with a distinctive account of a priest named Juan Pena, as well as provide steps needed to successfully convert to Catholicism. Catholicism has been a large part of the world’s culture and religious realm since about 30 AD. The audience will be able to understand why choosing Catholicism is the way. To date catholic churches and its religion dominates many of the earth’s cities and towns. This paper will also describe ways to accept the Catholic way of life and its philosophy. This religion was built up from the teachings of the lord Jesus Christ and to this very day has continued to be known as the founder of the religion. Catholics believe that man was created by God and that all who believe in the religion must be baptized as a child. This paper will describe how to prepare for the afterlife. Catholicism is built upon the words of Jesus Christ and many sacraments that must take place in a believer’s life. In addition, I will give some advice of maintaining the Catholic traditions.
Catholicism runs concurrently within my family and all are still very strong within their beliefs of Catholicism. I believe that Catholicism is one of the largest religions on earth. I also believe that the Catholic religion is highly structured with a pope, cardinals, Bishops, Diocese, fathers and priests. In my interview with Priest Pena I asked him if he could give me a brief history of where Catholicism originated. Priest Pena stated that the Catholic religion was founded by Peter the apostle of Jesus Christ. Peter was named the first bishop of the Catholic Church and eventually became pope. Priest Pena stated that the major Catholic holidays are ash Wednesday, palm Sunday, holy Thursday, good Friday, Easter Sunday, divine mercy Sunday, ascension, Pentecost, trinity Sunday, all saints day, Christ the king, immaculate conception and Christmas. The catholic traditions involve sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, reconciliation, anointing of the sick, holy orders and holy matrimony.
Choosing to become Catholic in some cases is not an issue for most followers because most were born into the religion by their parents or other. Most people were baptized as baby’s and inducted into the Catholic religion. In turn, when one is an adult and he or she decides to convert into the religion there is a way to become a member of this religion. There is a program called Rite of Christian Initiations of Adults (also known as RCIA) that will assist in bringing a new believer up to date with all of the sacraments and traditions. It is unclear as to how long it will definitely take for a person to completely convert into Catholicism. The RCIA is basically a process of understanding in which many teachings take place as well as sacraments. Included to some of the traditions is baptism in which one must be cleansed of all evil and reborn in the Lord Jesus Christ. If a person is looking into becoming Catholic I would suggest that a little research should be done in order to gain a full understanding of the religion as a whole. Understanding the basic compound of the religion of Catholicism is vital to searching within the soul. After research and self concentration one that is ready to become a member of the Catholic faith must learn about accepting the Catholic way of life and get to know its philosophy. For some people it may take a short time to gather information as well as their thoughts to understanding the religion. Other people must continue to study the religion and keep an ongoing faith with the Lord Jesus Christ and prepare for life after life on earth.
I asked Priest Pena how the Catholic shaped his life and he stated that he found his calling. Priest Pena stated that as a child he was raised in the religion in which he completed all of the sacraments that were required of him. Thereafter, he tried worldly things as drugs, alcoholism and many other things that were dissatisfying to his body and soul. After many years of living a bad life Priest Pena stated that he started going to the catholic sanctuary more often and started to deeply study the religion and the Holy Bible. Thereafter, he said that he made a personal and godly decision to take part in the religion and commit his life to change and embody others to do so as well. Priest Pena stated that he is very glad that he found his calling and now hopes that one day all people on earth find the lord Jesus Christ and claim as their savior as he did.
The Catholic way of life is an everyday task and within it one must completely transform their lives with sacraments and special devotions. It is completely up to a person to understand what must be done in order to live a Catholic life. Many sacraments must take place once a child is born into Catholicism but not completely closed for a person to convert. The religion has placed a program called the Rite of Christian Initiations of Adults in which assists in the transformation of the adult. In order to become a member one must go through entirely with all of the holy sacraments. There is only one exception to the rule without completing most of the sacraments and that is imminent death on the way to a person’s life with approval from a bishop. In order for a person to completely understand the Catholic way of life and its philosophy one must understand the religion in order to feel and experience the transformation. In Catholicism one must be able to devote time and prayer. In addition, one must know all of the sanctifications and eventually commit to rebirth. In Catholicism there are many different devotions one can concentrate on such as the holy name, the fine wounds or devotion to the immaculate heart of Mary. A person has to understand that in being committed to the Catholic religion one must understand that Catholicism has many religious items in which each has a specific purpose and devotion. One must embrace everything they touch and see and thank the lord for allowing them for one more day of life.
After a while of speaking about his personal life Priest Pena stated that there were many challenges to practicing Catholicism. Priest Pena stated that regardless of the way the direction that the world is moving we must move forward and distance ourselves from despair. All of us must keep strong within the lord and keep true because we are all sinners and we must hold ourselves accountable for all that we do. One of the major challenges to keeping true to the religion and to God is envisioning all people on earth to being saved. Delivering the word of Jesus Christ is one of the most important aspects of being Catholic and we must ensure that all understand what is at stake and that is the soul.
Ongoing with the interview I sincerely asked about Priest Pena’s family background in regards to Catholicism. He stated that his family ties to the Catholic religion are huge and almost everyone in the family is Catholic. Catholicism has been his family’s main religions and has been practiced for many years. Priest Pena stated that his family has always been deeply involved with church events and religious practices. In addition, I asked Priest Pena what prompted him to join the religion as one of its officials. Priest Pena replied that he found his calling in God and decided to help people in the process. Priest Pena states that one day he would like to become pope and greatly deliver the message of the Catholic Church. Priest Pena states that he does believe that others should be saved by this religion not because is superior but because Catholicism is a guide to one’s life. The goal of this religion is to establish a well rounded religious factor in one’s life. Catholicism is shaped to guide one’s life and lifestyle to fulfill the word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Priest Pena believes that one day many more will look up to Catholicism for guidance because there will come a time when the lord comes back for rapture and hold all accountable for their sins as well as deliver us from hell. Priest Pena states that he does not see Catholicism as supreme but he does think that all people should at least look at the religion as a tool for complete guidance alongside the works of the Lord and God.
Preparing for the afterlife within Catholicism is simple because one must follow the ten commandments of God first. The Ten Commandments state that no one shall have strange gods before him; you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; remember to keep holy the Lord’s day; honor your father and your mother; you shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor; you shall not covet your neighbors wife; and you shall not covet your neighbors goods. These commandments must be followed thoroughly and daily in order to sanctify their own body as a form of purity. In addition to the Ten Commandments one must confess their sins for which they have committed. On must always do things as if they were walking in the footsteps of the lord Jesus Christ. One can never be too prepared for death because one must always keep holy and true to the religion and their beliefs. Preparing for the after life entails gathering your personal thoughts and religious beliefs and placing them into action in order to be cleansed. In addition, I believe that one must also open their heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and invite him into your life. The Catholic religion definitely has steps on how one could reach the goal of being prepared for the after life.
The Catholic religion and Christianity are much in the same but with some differences. The Catholic religion does have some saints that are worshipped separately from Jesus Christ and God. In contrast, Christianity states that there shall be no other before the Lord Jesus Christ the savior. Catholics take many sacraments and Christians do not take part in any of the sacraments that Catholics take part in. Another part in difference between Catholics and Christians is the fact that Christians do not confess to any other humans and Catholics do. In relation to each other Catholics and Christians do believe that every human being is their brother or sister. Christians do not have a full scale hierarchy as the Catholics do.
In order to be a member of the Catholic religion one must advocate and pass on the sacred traditions. Traditionally, one of the pillars that are not written within any documents of the Catholic religion is that of the oral deposits of faith. Within the belief of the Catholic religion the mother and father established a home and created children therefore, the home is the first place where tradition should take place in the life of a Catholic. The pope is the conservator of tradition and has vowed to not change anything within the traditions of the Catholic religion. The religion states that there is only a few in a handful of Catholics that keep true to tradition and they are the ones who are the true church of Jesus Christ. [Quoted from Latin Mass News, Sacred Heart Church, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Vol. 4, Issue 17.] One must have strength to accomplish and ensure that the next generations will hold true to maintaining the Catholic tradition. Catholic traditions have somewhat veered into a different direction in which some traditions are not carried out. I believe that at times the Catholic religion has veered of into other directions from tradition to cope with the times and possibly a different finding in the interpretation of the Holy Bible.
In conclusion, choosing to become a Catholic is something that should incur much thought into the process of reformation. Accepting the Catholic way of life and its philosophy is mainly one’s personal process in which will allow one to follow the passage into transformation. Preparing for the after life is a lifelong process in which one must follow a strict path through the religion and personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Picturing me before converting into Catholicism is general knowledge of the existence of Jesus Christ and after transformation I believe I would have set guidelines into the religion.
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