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Why am I Catholic?

What is the Church?

According to Ephesians 1:23 and 1 Corinthians 12:27, the Church is the Body of Christ, and we are integral parts of it.

Ephesians 2:20 reveals that the Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Notably, the Catholic and Orthodox Churches are the only institutions that can trace their lineage directly to Jesus Christ and His apostles through unbroken apostolic succession. The Catholic Church traces this lineage in a special way to St. Peter, whom Jesus appointed as the rock upon which He would build His Church (Matthew 16:18), and that Petrine lineage remains unbroken to this day. St. Peter was the first pope, appointed by Jesus Christ Himself, and that lineage remains unbroken to this day. Similarly, every Catholic bishop can trace his ordination back to one of the twelve apostles.

This apostolic identity is not just historical; it is eschatological. Jesus Himself promised the apostles a unique, enduring role:
"Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." — Matthew 19:28, NRSVCE

If their authority was only temporary, why would Christ give them thrones for the final judgment? Their office is meant to endure.

This is confirmed in St. John’s heavenly vision of the New Jerusalem, the fulfilment of the Church:
"Then one of the seven angels... came and said to me, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.'... It has a great, high wall with twelve gates... and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of Israel;... And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." — Revelation 21:9-14, NRSVCE

Heavenly Jerusalem itself is built on twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles. The Church on earth reflects this heavenly reality. It is not built on Scriptures alone, nor on any individual’s personal interpretation, but on the apostles of the Lamb. The Catholic Church still stands on those twelve foundations today.

The Catholic Church also steadfastly upholds the traditions passed down by the apostles — as Scripture commands us to do (2 Thessalonians 2:15, 1 Corinthians 11:2, 2 Thessalonians 3:6).

Interpretation of the Bible

Interpreting the Bible without guidance can be daunting and may lead to misinterpretation, as St. Peter himself warns that "no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20).

If not through personal interpretation, where can we learn its true meaning?

In John 16:12-15, Jesus acknowledges that His disciples are not yet ready to grasp the full depth of His teachings. He assures them, however, that the Holy Spirit, who will come after His departure, will guide them into all truth. This promise was made specifically to the apostles, who would become the foundation of the Church.

After His resurrection, Jesus revealed the depth of Scripture to them. On the road to Emmaus, He interpreted the Scriptures, showing how everything pointed to Him (Luke 24:27). Later, He opened their minds to fully understand the Scriptures, explaining how they foretold His suffering, death, and resurrection, and commissioned them as His witnesses (Luke 24:44-48).

St. Paul affirms this authority given to the Church when he calls it "the pillar and bulwark of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15, NRSVCE). He was referring to a visible, apostolic Church — the one Christ established before His Ascension and empowered with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Let us not forget the wisdom endowed by God to the Church to make known His manifold wisdom (Ephesians 3:10).

This is why Christ’s words are so crucial:
"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." — Luke 10:16, NRSVCE
"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me." — Matthew 10:40, NRSVCE
"Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me." — John 13:20, NRSVCE

Jesus did not leave us as orphans to figure out Scripture alone. He sent His apostles with His own authority:
"As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world... that they may all be one." — John 17:18-23, NRSVCE
"As the Father has sent me, so I send you... Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." — John 20:21-23, NRSVCE

This apostolic mission continues through preaching and the sacraments. As St. Paul asks:
"How are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?" — Romans 10:14-15, NRSVCE

As Jesus’ disciples, where else can we seek truth if not through His Church? As Peter confessed, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).

3. The Eucharist

The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord.

This is the source and summit of the Christian life (CCC 1324).

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