>It is not only the structure and tradition of Catholicism that make it more cohesive but also the Mass itself. The Catholic Mass is centered around the Eucharist. Rather than serve as a mere symbol, the Catholic teaching of Transubstantiation shows that the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. This means that Catholics believe they are one with Christ through this transformation. A couple who were converts speaking at my confirmation class said their 8-year-old daughter wanted to have “real communion” and “stop pretending.” The Catholic Church provides the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, so there is not pretending necessary.
>The music and homily may differ, but the central focus on the Eucharist along with the same Scripture readings and prayers throughout the world links Catholics in one common union that simply is not possible in Protestantism.
>A Protestant church tends to be based on feeling and personal taste. The doctrines enumerated in the Catechism give it a firm foundation over the sects of Protestantism. No institution carried out by fallen man can be perfect, thus the need for the tradition and structure unique to the Catholic Church to prevent the societal mores of the day from secularizing the faith.
>There are numerous Protestant churches where the pastor is simply a charismatic man who appeals to the feelings of the attendees using the Bible as a tool to uplift and inspire without any real challenge. But a true Christian life is not so simple. There will be sacrifice needed to cast aside our passions in favor of something beyond ourselves. For instance, weekly Mass attendance is mandatory for Catholics and to miss intentionally is a mortal sin. While some do not respect this, the rule establishes the principle that faith demands things that might be inconvenient. Reconciliation is another way that Catholics are “held accountable” through confession in which we seek absolution for our mortal sins.
>The divine mysteries as taught in Catholicism are what we ought to pursue. In a culture that consistently advocates self-interest and instant gratification, we need the Truth inherent in Catholicism to elevate us and draw us in to a two-thousand-year history that can be traced back to Jesus and the Twelve Apostles. I had a great Protestant upbringing, but that is not the case for many and it can easily veer into relativism. Catholicism is not relative. It is a more full expression of Divine Truth.
https://newlyceum.org/blog/2018/4/13/all-roads-lead-to-rome