I'd always been fascinated by Catholics (or at least how they were portrayed on TV and in movies!), but I never really knew what the actual religion was like until about two years ago. I suppose I had some of the misconceptions about Mary, but other than that I really had no idea what they believed. When I really started looking though, I found a religion rich in tradition, history (though not all of it good), and love.
My family was never super "religious", and we never went to church as a family or really talked about God. I did go to church with my neighbors a few times, but, being a child, nothing ever really stuck. For a long time, I considered myself an atheist, but as I got older, I started to change my mind. I started out looking into both Wicca and Catholicism at pretty much the same time, and I was leaning toward the Wicca side more, probably for about a year. But, then something changed. I suppose it was around the time when I entered university, and met a bunch of young Catholics, and saw their love for God. I also think it is easier to love someone when you can actually talk to them, read about them, and come to understand them. In Wicca, I only had what people told me, and knowing that most of the myths and things were man made (Egyptian Gods, Roman, Greek etc.) made it hard to believe. I suppose it makes more sense in my head, but it's all about opinion, isn't it! In both of those religions or belief systems, there is ceremony, which is one of my favorite parts about my faith. Of course, you can't base your entire faith on something like the fact that you like ceremony, but it's a perk, and it is one of the things that drew me to Catholicism in the first place.
It took me a long time to actually go to a Mass (another word for church service). I'm more of a reader than a jump-in-and-do-er, so I spent a lot of time reading online and from books in the library. Reading about the beliefs, how the service is set up, what RCIA is, how to pray the Rosary, and lots of other stuff. When I finally got up the gumption to go, I went to a weekday mass (it is a shorter version of a sunday mass for people who want that extra bit of time with God every day), and there I met a lovely older couple who led me through the mass, introduced me to a few people, and really embraced me as a daughter of Christ. They made everything a lot less scary, and even introduced me to the chaplain on campus!
Of course, if you've taken grade 8-10 Social Studies in school, you'll know that Catholics were not the nicest people, burning witches, being super invasive and closed- minded. However, it is of course a religion followed by humans, and humans have a habit of doing mean things when they have power. Being Christian does not mean you are immune to being power hungry, bigoted, racist, etc. and bad people have a habit of getting power (think Hitler, Stalin, you know the kinds of people I'm talking about) However, this religion has also given birth to some amazing saints (Mother Teresa, Therese of Lisieux and hundreds of other loving, charitable people). Nowadays, there is still a mix of good, loving people and not-so-nice bible-shakers, but that is okay. We are all on a journey, and love is the most important thing in life.
I have made some amazing friends in this Church, but I have also made other great Christian friends who follow other churches. I don't think that this Church is the only "true" Church, although I'll catch some flack for saying that! I think that religion is a way for you to encounter God, and different people need different things. Don't forget, I'm also human. I don't claim to know everything, and for all I know, I could be completely wrong. But loving them for being human is really all that matters. The basic principles are the same across the board. Love your God above all, and love your neighbor as yourself (plus the other commandments).
I'll tell you more about what RCIA was like for me in another post, which is basically a course where you learn about the beliefs you'll be following, and allows you to grow in faith with the help of your sponsor or godparent, but for now, this is how I came to the Church.
Love and blessings of Christ! -Sarah
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