People are Catholic for a variety of spiritual and communal reasons, including a belief in the Sacraments as signs of God's grace, the historical continuity of the Church with Jesus Christ and the Apostles, the deep meaning of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) as Jesus's true Body and Blood, and the strong sense of community, tradition, and universal mission that the Catholic Church offers . Other reasons include devotion to Mary and the saints, the Church's historical contributions to art and culture, and the teachings of love, forgiveness, and service to others. Spiritual and Doctrinal Reasons The Sacraments: . Catholics believe in seven Sacraments—rituals like Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Matrimony—as special signs of God's grace and the Church's spiritual life. The Eucharist (Holy Communion): . A central tenet is the belief in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, where bread and wine become His Body and ...
