We had to take this very long (240) test regarding our characters for my Positive Psychology class. The results of the test highlight what character strengths an individual has. All in all, I think there are about 21 character strengths defined by the test. But our professor just told us to get the top 5 strengths that we have.

I wasn't surprised when Spirituality and Religious made it to my top 5.

I'm a Catholic. Born, raised, grew-up in a very Catholic environment. My mother side, who lives in Quezon City, was named Most Outstanding Christian Family in the Philippines two years in a row. I hear mass every weekend (may it be Saturday's anticipated mass or Sunday mass). I pray the rosary every day. I pray novenas for Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Jude as well for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I wear a scapular. I go to confession during Lent, Advents and as much as I can. I practice fasting and abstinence during Lent and participate in our provincial procession in Lipa, Batangas. And I have loved my Catholic experience from day 1.

Before, I wasn't really doing it because of my faith. I went to mass and I prayed because my parents told me too. That all changed when I became a delegate for the 4th World Meeting of Families that was held here in the Philippines back in 2003. I was the youngest delegate from our school and it was the best experience of my life! I got to meet delegates from other countries and other parts of the Philippines. I met Bishops and Priests from around the globe and the best part of it all was I learned a lot of things about being a Catholic.

After that, I guess my faith in God strengthened. I saw the Catholic practices in a new light. It helped a lot that my best friend was very active in our Youth Ministry in the parish beside our school and I was able to attend prayer meetings. My mother side is very active in the Legion of Mary where I am also an auxiliary member. I was part of the Catholic Action in high school, being part of the Lector and Commentators as well as the Music Ministry.

I totally lost track of this blog because I basically just blabbed about my Catholic experience which I think was not the point of the Character Strength activity which my friend my made. (I'm guessing I won't use this for that anymore). But through contemplating it over, I love the Catholic practices I have been emerged into. These are traditions that have withstood the test of time and are still being done today. Sure many people would say that Catholics are conservative pigs who hate change but I don't and my family doesn't either.

Catholics and Catholics for a reason. I'm not conservative as well. I agree with some provisions with the RH Bill. I am not against those people who love each other regardless of gender. What matters in the end is I believe in God, and I believe in His love for us.

At the end of the day, the question is, what do you do with what God has given you? How do you repay God for His love? What do you do?