November 9 is the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral church of Rome, a symbol of the universal Church centered on the ministry of the Successor of St. Peter.
This remarkable basilica contains the relics of Ss. Peter and Paul, extraordinary statues of the Twelve Apostles, and the cathedra of the pope.
This liturgical feast invites us to meditate on the gift, mission, and mystery of the Church Herself and led me to reflect on why I love the Catholic Church so much.
I love the Church because She is born from the crucified side of Christ, anointed in the power of the Holy Spirit, bearing within Herself the very presence and power of the Most Holy Trinity.
The Church carries forward the saving mission of the Lord, preaching the Gospel to all nations and introducing the fullness of God to every human heart and mind.
I love the Church because She leads me to Jesus. She is both His Body and His Bride.
I love the Church because through Her I receive the sacraments. Baptized as an adopted son of the Father; Confirmed in the Holy Spirit; fed with the Body and Blood of Christ; forgiven of my sins; ordained as a deacon, priest, and bishop; I am given all the graces I need to live in this world as a new creation, if I cooperate with such extraordinary gifts.
In the sacraments, we encounter the very life of God and He comes to dwell within us through sanctifying grace. Without the Church, there are no sacraments.
I love the Church because She teaches me the truth about God and His actions, creation and its purpose, history and its destiny, the human person, and our inestimable dignity.
All of the Church’s doctrines, teachings, beliefs, and practices cohere as a unified and dynamic revelation of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.
The Church loves us enough to point out sin and its dreadful effects, to direct us on the path that leads to salvation and life, to call us to conversion, to lead us to Jesus.
In these troubled times, when so many leaders, institutions, and people have abandoned rational thought, traditional morality, and Scriptural truth, the Catholic Church confidently, serenely, and lovingly proclaims the unchanging beauty of the human person, created by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sanctified by the Spirit.
I love the Church because She has created the most beautiful art, architecture, music, and poetry in the entire course of human history.
St. Peter’s Basilica, Michelangelo’s Pieta, Mozart’s Mass in C Major, Dante’s Divine Comedy, Gregorian chant, and countless other expressions of beauty are all inspired by the Catholic sacramental imagination.
All of this creative wonder flows from a vision of reality profoundly formed by the Church.
I love the Church because of the saints. The saints are the most extraordinary individuals who have ever lived!
They are to holiness what astronauts are to outer space. They explore the outer limits of spiritual possibility.
The courageous martyrdom of St. Agnes, the astounding miracles of St. Anthony, the radiant joy of St. Francis, the valiant courage of St. Joan of Arc, the missionary zeal of St. Francis Xavier, the sacrificial love of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and the ardent charity of St. Teresa of Calcutta flow directly from their love of the Lord Jesus, manifested in the Catholic Church.
No other church, religion, or institution has formed, inspired, and sent such an extraordinary group of people into the world to set it on fire with faith, hope, and love.
I love the Church because She does more for education, health care, service to the poor and marginalized, the unborn, elderly, and homeless, for authentic human flourishing than any other institution on earth.
She rightfully views Herself as the servant of the human person, making no distinctions in the application of charity and justice in the world.
The Catholic Church feeds, houses, educates, heals, and serves more people than anybody else.
We should be proud of what our Church does for the common good and for human progress across the planet.
I love the Church because She is my Mother, birthing me in the waters of Baptism, feeding me with the Body of Christ, healing, loving, and teaching me about God.
The Church gives me the vision and hope of Heaven, leading me to the wonder and glory of eternal life!
The Catholic Church is the only institution which I would spend the days of my life serving and for which I would hand myself over to death professing.
Love the Church!
Serve Christ through the Church as Her loyal son or daughter.
This pilgrim path of faith will lead us home to Jesus Christ the King.