But Really: Why Do Catholics Do Some Of The Things They Do‪?‬

When I went through the process of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) in Chicago in 1995-1996, many questions remained, and it seems that they all began with the word, “why.”
As I watch and accompany a friend through RCIA in 2013-2014, I hear many of the same questions again.
I note that most of these questions are “things that ‘Cradle Catholics’ take for granted.” Even “Cradle Catholics” aren’t able to answer, “Why?”
From my experience as a convert, coupled with a friend’s experience becoming a convert, the list of questions contained herein has been amassed. Through research and through discussion, the questions have been answered. Answers are intentionally simple, and sometimes perhaps over-simplified. My goal as I wrote was to make this understandable to any reader, regardless the educational or religious background.