For as long as I can remember, I've been raised Catholic. When I was in high school, I adopted the faith as my own when I was confirmed during my freshman year and I've never looked back since then. Even though there are millions of reasons that make being Catholic awesome, I'm just going to list a very few of them.

1. We believe in a God that is slow to anger, rich in kindness, loving and forgiving.

Despite our greatest weaknesses, failures and sins, God will still love us no matter what because that is all He can do. God is love, and all love flows through Him. Being Catholic reminds me of His ultimate goodness and sovereignty in every stage of my life!

2. We get to receive Jesus Christ's body, blood, soul and divinity!

In John 6, Jesus clearly outlines that the Eucharist really, truly, is Him. It's crazy that the God of the universe finds it important to dwell within us during each Holy Mass! Just another proof that our God loves us to no end.

3. Mary is not only Jesus's mother, but our mother too.

In John 19:26, Jesus said "Behold, your mother!" while he was dying on the cross. Those words were not only meant for the apostle John, but for all of us. Mary takes care of us as if we were her very own flesh and blood.

4. We have thousands of saints.

It's like having a best friend always at your side. St. Anthony has helped me so many times to find lost things and St. Francis de Sales helps calm my anxiety.

5. Our Church was founded by Jesus Christ Himself.

We also have a line of Popes that has not been broken since the very first pope, St. Peter, who was appointed by Christ himself.

6. We are universal.

When a Catholic travels, they can be assured that there will be a Catholic Church there! A year ago, I traveled to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia and it was the most amazing experience to be there with so many diverse people. We are One faith!

7. Our religion has lasted longer than any empire or government system on Earth.

Two thousand years of unbreakable tradition: that's the Catholic Church. No human institution has outlasted us, showing the world that the gates of hell will never prevail against us. Our faith was divinely instituted by Christ. This picture is from the ancient Catacombs that are located underneath Rome.

8. There are hundreds of devotionals to choose from.

There are so many different ways to express the Catholic faith! There's the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, songs, Liturgy of the Hours, anything! Each devotional has a different meaning, but they are all ways to grow in relationship with Christ.

9. We have a bunch of really cool holy sites to travel to!

Like Mexico, Portugal and France, just to name a few. There's plenty of places even in the United States, like Holy Hill, National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians, in Wisconsin!

10. We love beauty and art.

Art has always held a prominent place in Catholicism; it was used as a tool for teaching about the faith before people were literate! For centuries, the Catholic Church could claim all of the famous artists of the past. Michelangelo, Raphael and all of the other Renaissance greats painted many works of art for the Church! Even in more recent times, Antoni Gaudi, designed the beautiful Sagrada Familia that is still in construction today!

11. One word: Adoration.

12. We really like to celebrate: there's a different feast day almost every day!

Feast days are awesome! Usually they are in remembrance of some type of event or person. The feast days of saints are typically on the anniversary of their death, which is celebrated as a birthday into Heaven! They are celebrated by a Mass and sometimes there are different traditions that go into feast days, like leaving shoes out on the Feast of St. Nicholas.

13. We love candles.

Don't even get me started about the candles. We really like fire.

14. There are many different forms of the Mass.

Since I am most familiar with Novus Ordo and Tridentine Mass (wait, what the heck are those?!) I will discuss them here! The Novus Ordo Mass is the one in English that most Catholics are used to attending and is the most recognizable and common. The Tridentine Mass is said exclusively in Latin, and was the only liturgy in the Latin (western) church up until the year 1969. Since they are both equally valid, you can pick which one you want to attend based on your preference!

15. Catholicism truly is a gift from our heavenly Father.

In the end, there are literally millions of things to rejoice over in being Catholic. Faith is a gift to cherish, and I am so grateful for and in love with my One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church!