Do Catholics Have A
Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? How many times have Catholics heard this question from Fundamentalists and never known what to say? The response to this question is quite simple: As a Catholic, I have the most personal relationship possible with our Lord. Would you like to know how?

* A Catholic’s personal relationship with God begins when they are "Born Again" through the sacrament of baptism. In this sacrament, the Lord forgives mortal, venial, and original sin as well as permanently marking the soul with a sign of His grace. One must remember Christ words, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit." (Jn 3:5)

* When a Catholic does good works for their neighbor they are meeting Christ face to face. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." (Matt 25:35-36)

* The sacrament of confession is a personal encounter with Jesus. Christ established this beautiful sacrament to free us from our sins when He said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained" (John 20:22-23)

* When a Catholic reads or hears Scripture they are experiencing the Lord in a profound and intimate way. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17)

* Personal Prayer is a one on one conversation with God which takes many forms such as, a novena, praying a rosary, or a simple petition from the heart. "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matt. 6:6 )

* The worthy reception of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament is the most personal experience one can have with our Savior. One truly receives the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. "For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." (John 6:55-56)

* Catholics encounter Jesus in very special way in the sacrament of anointing of the sick or commonly call the last rites. In this sacrament bestowed through and only through a Catholic priest, Christ forgives sin, heals the body if it is His will, and strengthens the soul for the journey home. "Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he is in sin, they shall be forgiven him." (Jm 5:14)

Note: Catholics are not alone on the road to salvation, but are assisted and strengthened by the Communion of Saints, which is the spiritual solidarity of the faithful Church upon the earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven.