1. Are you a cradle Catholic or convert? If a convert, where did you convert from?
I am a cradle Catholic.
2. Who is one of your favorite saints and why?
Saint John Paul II is one of my favorite saints. Chloe and I went to classes that dug into Love and Responsibility at the K-State Catholic Campus Center the first semester we were dating and ultimately picked him as a patron saint of our relationship. Now I am learning more about his life by reading Saint John Paul the Great: His Five Loves by Jason Evert with my men’s group. One of the most inspiring things I have learned about him was his devotion to prayer while working in a chemical plant. He would find a spot in the boiler room every day to kneel down and pray the Liturgy of the Hours and was able to stay focused in prayer even while people would intentionally try to interrupt him by throwing pieces of trash at him.
3. Besides the Eucharist, what is your favorite part of Mass?
I remember the first time I was asked this question in first grade religious education. My response was “The part where the priest talks about himself.” Apparently our parish priest liked to tell a lot of personal stories during the homily. While I still enjoy a good homily, my favorite part of the Mass is the time of prayer and thanksgiving immediately after receiving the Eucharist. This is usually the most fruitful time of prayer for me where I can reflect on God’s love and mercy.
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis is probably the most beautiful church I’ve ever been in with one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world covering the ceiling. However, I think what makes a place the most Catholic isn’t the building but the people. Based on that, the Catholic Household of Chi Rho in Manhattan, KS is my favorite Catholic place. Every Monday they have Spiritual Monday where they invite different priests to give a talk and celebrate Mass in their house. Their living room would be packed with people wall to wall for Mass and every time it reminded me of the importance of community to push us toward Christ.
Chloe and I hope to take a trip to Italy within the next four years. I also think it would be neat to visit all of the Basilicas in the US.
I have heard a lot of people say that the Catholic Church is oppressive because of the rules and restrictions it places on people. The reason for the Church having rules is to guide its members and to point out the truth of God’s plan for our lives. Take, for example, a basketball game. If I didn’t know I had to dribble the basketball, or if I chose to ignore that rule, it wouldn’t give me a greater freedom to play the game. Knowing the rules of the game gives the players a greater freedom to play the game how it was intended. Likewise, the teachings of the Church don’t restrict our freedom, they provide guidance to help us live our lives closer to how God intended.
