Catholic Foundations

Strong Foundations

Did you know Catholics come in different varieties? We and our families may even go through different phases in our faith lives. At times we may start behaving like “Cafeteria Catholics”, only follow-
ing the beliefs and practices we prefer. Or we may act like “Holiday Catholics,” going to church only on Easter and Christmas, and for weddings and baptisms. Or we may slip into the lifestyle of “Cultural Catholics,” who follow the form of the Mass and church practices but neglect to consider their real meaning and power.

If we find ourselves behaving in any of those ways, however, we’re in danger of building our spiritual house on sand—where it can quickly crumble under the storms of life, and fail to provide a strong legacy for our children.

God wants us to have a strong, informed faith—not for His sake, but for our salvation. Attending Sunday Mass, praying regularly, learning about why we believe as we do—these things will strength your faith and your family’s.

Try This:

There are many simple ways to learn about our faith and incorporate it into everyday life:

•  Say a Hail Mary or Our Father when you hear a siren
• Many books for teens explain the faith well even for adults. One such book is Do I Have to Go? By Matthew Pinlo
• Put a cross by your door—touch or kiss it as you leave.
• Get a rosary CD and pray in the car during long trips.