I was born and raised as a Catholic and I know there are some things that just make us different from other Christian religions. This is a small list I've put together of just some of those things, if you're a Catholic as well, chances are you'll understand everything I'm talking about on this list.
1. Guilt Trip
Probably at a younger age, you tried to do something in the house you knew you were not allowed to. And just as you were about do it, you see that little statue of the Virgin Mary your mom likes to keep in the house and you stop because you remember someone is always watching you.
2. Sunday School
Probably most of your fellow Sunday school classmates were Hispanic (assuming you're not also Hispanic yourself) and your teacher might have been Hispanic too.
3. Rosary
You've probably got one in your room or carry one on your person somewhere. You remember all those times growing up as a kid having to learn to pray the rosary. My grandma use to have me pray it with her frequently as a kid.
4. Memorizing Prayers
The Our Father, Hail Mary, The Glory Be, The Blessing before a meal. Pretty much all of these prayers and more were drilled into your head since you could talk and now you can recite them like second nature.
5. Saint Anthony=Lost Stuff
Did you lose something? Call Saint Anthony, every Catholic knows this prayer. "Saint Anthony Saint Anthony please come around, something is lost and it can't be found." And guess what, we usually find what we're looking for too.
6. Living in a town full of mostly Protestants (aka the south)
I love the south but sometimes being a Catholic you feel like the odd one out. I'll get that question "What church do you go to?" I'll say "Saint Marks" they'll ask "Oh is that Baptist or Church of Christ?" Me "Uh neither it's Catholic." Them "Oh...I didn't know that." And cue the awkwardness.
Sometimes I'll even have people ask me how that even happened as if it's impossible for a southern person to be anything other than a Protestant.
7. Misconceptions
There are so many ignorant misconceptions about the Catholic faith it's ridiculous. "Don't you guys worship Saints and Statues and Mary?" Uh no, no we do not. I don't know where you keep hearing this from, but it is so far from the truth. Seriously, you're not even in the right ballpark.
We're Christian, we believe in one almighty God and we believe his son, Jesus Christ died for us to save us from our sins. What you think is "worshiping" is actually just asking friends to pray for us. When we say Hail Mary, we're not idolizing her as if she were God, we're asking her to pray to God for us.
8. First Communion
You watched people walk down that aisle a million times to receive the body and the blood of Jesus Christ and you were always so curious as to what it taste like.
Then comes the day of your first communion where you're finally old enough to receive it. You're so excited and you get up there to take it and...you're severely disappointed at how bland the bread is and how you have to practically choke the wine down.
9. Confirmation
Confirmation is an exciting time in any young Catholics life. At the age of 14-15 you get to decide if you want to become a full adult member of the church. There's a huge ceremony where you get blessed by the Bishop and the best part of all, no more Sunday school classes!
10. Home Decor
You're house probably has a statue either of the Virgin Mary or Jesus or a Saint. There are at least two crucifixes and probably a few rosaries hanging somewhere.
