Why We Catholics Believe What We Believe: A Journey Through Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the Foundation of the Priesthood
From the very beginning, God has always wanted a family—a people who would walk with Him, trust Him, and live in relationship with Him. And throughout Scripture, He set up structure and leadership to guide His people—from the patriarchs, to Moses and the prophets, to the priests of the Old Covenant, and then ultimately through Jesus and the apostles. Nothing about our Church today was made up. It was built on something unshakable. Jesus gave us everything we needed to keep going: His Word, His Spirit, His presence in the Eucharist, and the Church that He established Himself.
Jesus Established His Church
Jesus didn’t just teach and then disappear. He built something lasting. In Matthew 16:18-19, He said to Peter:
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
That’s huge. Jesus gave Peter spiritual authority, and by doing so, He laid the foundation of the Church. The words "keys of the kingdom" take us back to Isaiah 22:22, where a royal steward is entrusted with keys—signifying authority to act on behalf of the king. Jesus was handing over real responsibility.
Then in John 20:21-23:
"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that, He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
He didn’t just speak peace over them—He gave them power. Power to forgive sins. And that authority didn’t stop with them—it’s still alive in the Church today through the priesthood.
The Priesthood: Old and New
From the beginning, God used priests to stand in the gap between Him and His people. In the Old Testament, priests were anointed, consecrated, and tasked with offering sacrifices on behalf of the people (Exodus 28-29; Leviticus 16).
In the New Testament, Jesus becomes the High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16). He is the ultimate sacrifice. But He didn’t eliminate the need for priests—He gave it new meaning. Now, the apostles became the new priests, offering Christ Himself through the Eucharist (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
Paul even calls himself a spiritual father:
"For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15).
That’s why we call priests "Father." It’s not about replacing God—it’s about spiritual leadership, guidance, and care.
From the Apostles to the Early Church Fathers
The apostles didn’t go out and just preach; they trained up successors. They laid hands on others (Acts 6:6, Acts 13:2-3, 2 Timothy 1:6), prayed over them, and passed on the same authority Jesus had given them.
Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, and then came Linus, Cletus, Clement… one after another, the Church grew and continued. Pope Clement I wrote around 96 A.D.:
"Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife over the bishop's office. So, for this reason, they appointed the aforementioned men and afterward gave instructions that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them." (1 Clement 44)
And then we have powerful voices like Ignatius of Antioch (a disciple of John), Polycarp, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus—all defending the Eucharist, the authority of bishops, and the importance of unity in the Church.
Intercession of the Saints and Mary
A lot of people think we worship the saints or Mary. We don’t. We ask them to pray for us, just like we’d ask a close friend or a family member to pray. The only difference? They’re in Heaven, face-to-face with Jesus.
Even before the Church was fully formed, this was part of our faith. In 2 Maccabees 15:12–14, the prophet Jeremiah is seen interceding for people even after his death. And Revelation 5:8 gives us this beautiful image:
"Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people."
That’s the saints—offering up our prayers.
And Mary? She’s not God. But she is His mother. And at the wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11), she intercedes. She notices the need and brings it to Jesus. He responds. That’s what she does for us—she sees us and brings it all to her Son.
The Seven Sacraments and Their Roots
These sacraments weren’t invented. They’re encounters with Jesus, and each one has roots in Scripture:
Baptism – Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17) and told us to go and do the same (Matthew 28:19). It’s our rebirth (John 3:5). And here’s the part many don’t understand—baptism replaces circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Just like Jewish babies were circumcised to enter into God’s covenant (Genesis 17:10-14), babies today are baptized to enter into the new covenant. Paul says it clearly:
"In him you were also circumcised… having been buried with him in baptism." (Colossians 2:11-12)
Eucharist – Jesus said, "This is My Body… This is My Blood" (Luke 22:19-20). He meant it. Paul echoed it too (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
Confirmation – Acts 8:14-17 shows the apostles laying hands and conferring the Holy Spirit. It’s a strengthening, a deepening.
Confession – Jesus gave the apostles power to forgive sins (John 20:22-23). James says, "Confess your sins to one another" (James 5:16).
Anointing of the Sick – James 5:14-15 talks about calling the elders to pray and anoint the sick with oil.
Holy Orders – This priesthood didn’t stop with the apostles. They laid hands on others (Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14), passing on their role.
Marriage – Jesus affirms marriage as a lifelong covenant (Matthew 19:4-6), and Paul even compares it to Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:31-32).
Each sacrament is Jesus reaching into our lives with grace.
Why We Believe
We believe what we believe because it’s not made up. It’s not tradition for the sake of tradition. It’s Jesus. It’s the Church He built. It’s the apostles, the early fathers, and the saints who carried this torch so we wouldn’t be lost in the dark.
We don’t worship Mary or the saints—we honor them. We don’t confess to a man—we confess to Christ through the man He appointed. We don’t see a symbol at Mass—we believe in the Real Presence. And we don’t follow the pope like he’s God—we follow him because Jesus said to Peter, "Feed my sheep."
The Catholic Church has lasted for over 2,000 years—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s His.
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42,47)
This is our home. The Church He built. And I’m so grateful to be a part of it.
Lord Jesus, thank You for establishing Your Church and guiding it through the hands of the apostles and saints who came before us. Thank You for the gift of truth, tradition, and the sacred Scriptures that reveal who You are and what You desire for Your people. Deepen our love for the Church You built, and help us never be ashamed of what we believe. Teach us to lean into the wisdom of the saints, to honor Your Mother as our own, and to trust in the authority You left behind through the priesthood. Strengthen our hearts to walk in unity, humility, and faith, always remembering that You are the cornerstone of it all. Amen.
