What do you love?

There is an interesting comment thread over at Mark Shea’s blog in response to his question:

What (or who) is it you enjoy about being Catholic?

I find it hard to pin down, because there’s so much I enjoy. I like the humanness of the place. I like belonging to a communion of slobs like me (a big relief when you are coming from a tradition whose emphasis on holiness takes on a sort of quasi-Darwinian quality).

I like the balance. I like the breadth. I like the Dickensian love of *characters* that the Church has. The Church has a soft spot for kooks. I like the ability the Church has to love Nature without worshipping it. I love the coolness of the Blessed Sacrament sanctuary on a hot day. I love the warmth of the sanctuary on a cold night in winter. I love being able to take my sins to confession and then forget about them. I love meals in common with our friends. I love that sex is a sacrament. I love that eating is a sacrament. I loved the sound of my friend’s voice the morning he made his first confession and I asked him how it went: "I feel…. clean!" he said. I love being able to pray for my Dad, who has been dead for 20 years. I love that Chaucer was Catholic. I love being able to say that the smell of salt air on Puget Sound is what the freedom of the Spirit is like, and knowing that there is a real sacramental connection there and not simply a subjective projection on the idiotic face of matter.

I commented that amazement that something both wonderful and true would have me as a member. Unlike Groucho who quipped he would not join a club that would have him as a member, a sinner like myself only glories and rejoices in being part of the Bride of Christ – his Church.

Besides where else can you go to receive something so awesome as the Body and Blood of Christ followed by something so mundane as coffee and donuts afterwards?