Ashamed to be Catholic?

I was on a plan about a month ago, chatting with an elderly couple from my hometown when they mentioned a familiar church. I commented, "I'm Catholic, too."

"It's okay," the woman responded to me in a placating tone.

I was dumbfounded. Later I realized I'd wanted to tell her that I wasn't apologizing for my religion. I was proud to be Catholic.

I notice when others seem to be ashamed of being Catholic or try to make excuses for it. Why?

Here are some reasons to be proud to be Catholic:

We are the religion fonded by St. Peter over 2000 years ago.

We partake in seven sacraments which are not only signs of faith, but intimate contact with God. For example, in the Eucharist, we eat and drink the body and blood of Christ. In Confirmation we receive the Holy Spirit through being anointed with oil. In Penance, we are touched by the priest acting as Christ and hear the words that we are absolved from our sins.

We participate in the divine reality of heaven in the Mass. We are actually joined with the saints and angels in the present moment, giving glory to God and experiencing the divine mystery of being part of the body of Christ.

Catholic churches house the body of Christ in the tabernacle, making these places of worship holier than the ancient temple was to the Jews.

We Catholics have awesome symbols and tools of meditation such as the crucifix and the rosary.

Our rich traditions during Lent and Christmas deepen our faith.

We honor Mary as the Mother of God and she intercedes for us to Christ when we pray to her. She has granted countless miracles.

Catholicism has doctrine and beliefs that are not compromised for the flavor of the day or because it is easier to change.

Why should I be ashamed to be Catholic? I am not.

I am not ashamed that Catholics aren't perfect and that we make mistakes. But as a Catholic, I admit when I am wrong and make amends as the Church itself has done through the centuries.

I am not ashamed that we have made superficial changes because those modifications have not strayed from the Catechism. The Vatican II changes were actually a renewal of the earliest Catholic traditions and have added to the richness of the Mass.

There is so much to learn about our faith and the more I learn, the more I have to learn and the more that all of life makes sense. It's all there in the Catechism and teachings of the Catholic Church--how to live a full, satisfying, joyful and meaningful life. Catholic.org is a good place to find out more.