A situation in which someone explicitly asks, “Why are you Catholic?” has rarely happened to me. But even if I don’t always say why I do something, Catholicism lies at the heart of my actions. Teachers in my Catholic grade school weren’t lying when they said, “Jesus is always the answer.”
He’s all there is to live for, and I found that to be true in the highest and lowest points of my life. In periods of extreme suffering, I feel empty and only God can fill me. In moments of utter joy, I still somehow wonder if there’s something more. A quiet invitation from within seems to pull me outside of myself. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t ignore that. I’m Catholic because loving God and loving others is all that matters.
Many have asked me, “Why do you wake up so early?” In college, I was the odd duck who woke up at 5:20 a.m. almost every day. I enjoy the peaceful calm of morning, but that’s not what dragged me out of bed in the dead of winter. It was knowing who waited for me after my brisk walk to the chapel. Morning prayer time is when I meet God, before the craziness of the day sets in. I get up so I can exercise, pray and attend Mass before turning to other tasks. Otherwise, God doesn’t get the best of me. I love a good sunrise, and a good night’s sleep, but neither means much without recognizing the divine artist who grants them. And while prayer time is crucial, God doesn’t disappear afterward. My faith is integral to everything I do, even leisure.
Another common question I receive: “Why didn’t you like that movie?” Maybe the acting was good, maybe the plot kept people intrigued. But sometimes I can’t stand the content, morally speaking. Cinema is an art that can captivate and move audiences. Any work of art that fails to inspire a beautiful thought does not reflect the Creator as it should. If it models poor behavior, it does more harm than good. I leave more unsettled than refreshed, and I wish I had spent that time living my life, instead of watching someone else’s.
People often ask me, “Why don’t you party every weekend?” I’m in my early 20s, extroverted and energetic. I love dancing, people and a good drink, so it doesn’t seem to make sense. But parties make me feel dead inside. I see all the hurt that people try to cover up with noise and consumption. All of us battle temptation or want to escape sometimes, but “the way, the truth, and the life” fills me with “abundant life” (Jn 14:6, 10:10). I would rather live in a way that fulfills me, not in a way that makes me feel empty and exhausted.
Catholicism is my “why” to everything. Faith adds profound purpose to everything I do, even if I am not conscious of it. I know all I do matters, both temporally and eternally. My life centers on glorifying God, getting to heaven and bringing as many people with me as possible. That’s the goal.
Beer, 23, graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, with a degree in theology and catechetics and evangelization in May 2023. She works at St. John the Baptist in Savage, and loves swing dancing, outdoor adventures and being with people.
