Cursed to be Catholic

My parents ruined my life. Now '); document.write('I know there may be a lot of people who say that they feel the same way... but mine really did. They raised me Catholic.'); document.write(' I am forever cursed with a conscience that never lets me just play the part of a mere mortal. I am forever obligated to'); document.write(' send my kids to a Catholic school (no kids yet, so I still have some money). For the rest of my days, I will be working'); document.write(' Bingos, eating at Fish Fries, walking the Stations and saying the Rosary. I have often thought my life would be a lot e'); document.write('asier if I wasn\'t Catholic, but then again, maybe there are ways in which this curse can be a blessing.

Curse #1'); document.write(': Honoring Family Tradition

Your Grandma did it and her mom did it... For decades my family has been popping out'); document.write(' Catholic kids. We\'re Catholic on both sides so that\'s a lot of tradition to go against if you\'re not Catholic.

I'); document.write('\'m not sure who it was, but one of my great-great somebodies decided that it was worth the sacrifice to send their child'); document.write('ren to a Catholic school. This was a gift that was to be passed down.

For me, being Catholic is tied to giving th'); document.write('at gift. It\'s tied to supporting the system that taught me and nurtured me into the young adult I am today. Well, there '); document.write('go any expensive vacations!

Curse #2: Modeling a Good Work Ethic

My family made a decent living, but Cat'); document.write('holic school bills for two kids are steep. To help off-set tuition, my mom worked in the cafeteria, at bingo, and even a'); document.write('t a concession stand at Pine Knob and the Palace. I also worked at these places.

For me, being Catholic means sac'); document.write('rifice and hard work. More than anything in a religion text book, serving people at bingo and at concerts, taught me wha'); document.write('t it means to be Catholic. It taught me patience and dedication. It opened my eyes to those "least of my brothers" who a'); document.write('re really Jesus in disguise.

I also learned to appreciate my parents more. I saw how they were willing to forego '); document.write('fancy vacations, a boat, a bigger house, and many other creature comforts in order to give me a Catholic education. I wi'); document.write('ll forever be indebted... and cursed...

Curse #3: Serving Others at Mass

My family also taught me about '); document.write('the call to ministry. Sometimes I wish they hadn\'t. There were Sundays where I would altar serve, lector, and help as a '); document.write('Eucharistic minister. (I should\'ve asked for a cut of the collection!)

I can remember, when I was in high sch'); document.write('ool, how I hated altar serving. I figured I had done my time -- why didn\'t some of the young kids go up and serve? '); document.write('Whenever I would get really frustrated, my mom would tell me that serving is a special grace from God.

"Fine," I '); document.write('thought. "How about I let somebody else get a little grace?" I would look at people who just sat there, pretending not t'); document.write('o know that Father needed help, and I would think, "Why me? Why can\'t I plan on being passive on Sunday?"

For man'); document.write('y years, as a young adult, I was known as "Altar Man" -- and became proud of it. It\'s a curse I became used to. For me, '); document.write('being Catholic means serving your community. It\'s about stepping up to the plate when someone needs you. It\'s about usin'); document.write('g your gifts to help the community. Of course, even today I sometimes wish I could just sit in the pew once in awhile!

Curse #4: Living with an Unrelenting Conscience

In addition to everything else, my parents also cursed me'); document.write(' with a conscience that just won\'t settle for mediocrity. Why do I have to be the one to put others first? Can\'t I just '); document.write('look the other way and pretend that somebody doesn\'t need help?

Life would be so much easier without this conscie'); document.write('nce. I could just follow the crowd, and not feel guilty about it afterward. I could do what I want and only think of mys'); document.write('elf. But because of this cursed conscience I can\'t.

Prognosis

If you have any of the above symptoms, you'); document.write(' too may be cursed with being Catholic. Sadly, there is no cure. All you can do is try to see your curse as a blessing a'); document.write('nd thank those who have played a part in your becoming who you are.

If you ever find yourself going to Mass, perf'); document.write('orming in a passion play, teaching high school catechism, and writing for a Catholic website all in one day, call me. I '); document.write('have a job opening for you. I could use a vacation!

Life Applications:

What does being a good Cathol'); document.write('ic mean to you?
Who has most influenced your faith? Have you thanked them?
How might you serve your Church com'); document.write('munity better?

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