You ask Mary's intercession, Cana-style, when picking out wine at the liquor store...or if your mom ever dressed you up as the Pope for Halloween...
Oh, the wonderful and unique experience of growing up Catholic! I love my faith and I love the cultural aspects of being Catholic. And, living in the predominantly Protestant South constantly magnifies my Catholicity, and affords me many opportunities to explain why my family and I do the things we do to all my Protestant neighbors.
- Why do you have a statue of Mary by your front door?
- Why in the world would you willingly walk around all day with ashes smudged on your forehead?
- Why do you pray to statues?
- Why does your daughter have five names (Mary-Catherine Maria Gorretti Johnson)?
Of course, there are always the deeper questions about the Eucharist and the Pope, but having to provide those answers always seems to remind me of some of the fun and funny practices and traditions most Catholics have grown up with.
Practices and traditions that we just go along with because they are ingrained in us, but when you stop and think about doing them, it can be somewhat humorous, especially when you take into consideration the fact that non-Catholics are so perplexed by them. So, let me ask you a few questions:
- Do you say the rosary to help you fall asleep?
- Do you pray for the people you see people ordering hamburgers at McDonald's on Fridays in Lent?
- Do you sing Mass hymns in the shower?
- Do you make the sign of the cross whenever you pass by a Catholic church?
- Do you pray a "Hail Mary" when you hear an ambulance siren?
- Do you shower really fast so you can get your scapular back on?
These are just some of the funny quirks of being Catholic. And to really back up my point, here is my official video for your viewing pleasure:
You Might Be A Catholic, If...
