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Title: What Makes Us Catholic : Eight Gifts for Life by Thomas H. Groome ISBN: 0-06-063399-9 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: March, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3 (4 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A thoughtful articulation of the Catholic faith
Comment: This book was a joy to read. Groome "unpacks" several key defining characteristics of the Catholic faith, including the sacramental view of God as present in the world around us, the thirst for social justice, the need to recognize and include people of all cultures. This book is a wonderful synthesis of what makes Catholics Catholic, and even though I was familiar with these ideas before reading the book, I found Groome's thoughtful explanation of each characteristic in its Scriptural and historical context to be particularly enlightening. Very refreshing was his empowerment of the laity to actively live their faith,and he offers many practical ideas on how to do so. Groome is also very honest about times when the Catholic church has fallen short of its own ideals, both in the past and in the present day, but the overall message is one of hope: the Holy Spirit is continuing to move throughout the Church and, as was stated at Vatican II, "as the centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly moves forward toward the fullness of divine truth." This book is truly a refreshing drink for a thirsty soul.
Rating: 2
Summary: What does the author mean by Christian?
Comment: If you're a 'Catholic' you will probably love this book. But if you're a 'Christian' you may debate some issues. Even though the author uses the words Catholic and Christian synonymously he is promoting Catholicism as the true religion. However, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, Baptists, Lutherans, and a whole host of other denominations also call themselves Christians. Then I must ask myself, "What's the difference between a 'Catholic' Christian and a 'Pentecostal' Christian?" Obviously both consider themselves Christian, yet if you look at the two religions they have very little in common. I read the gospels and I couldn't find where Jesus made distinctions between those who followed Him, He preached only one consistent gospel.
Rating: 1
Summary: Lowest Common Denominator Catholicism
Comment: After a generation of Catholics have received sloppy to bad instruction in the Faith, it's sad that authors like Groome are reduced to adopting a lowest-common-denominator approach to defining Catholicism. Simply put, there's more to being a Catholic than simply calling yourself one.
A recent piece from Ascension Press addresses what *should* make us Catholic: You need to strive to know, love, and serve God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn 6:27, 17:3; 1 Cor 8:3; CCC 1). You need to commit yourself to being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Since Christ continues to act in the world through the Church with which He is one body, Catholics believe complete discipleship involves adhering to Christ's Word as presented in the teachings of the Catholic Church (Eph 4:11-16).
You need to follow the teachings of the Church. This means assenting to all that the Magisterium (the pope and the bishops united with him) teaches as true concerning faith and morals and, by God's grace, living accordingly (Mt 18:15-18; 2 Thess 3:6; CCC 150, 892). To his disciples Christ said, "Whoever listens to you, listens to Me. Whoever rejects you, rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me, rejects the One who sent Me." (Lk 10:16) The Magisterium carries on this mission. When the Magisterium teaches, it is Christ teaching us through it.
You need to receive Christ's grace through the sacraments. This includes receiving the sacraments of initiation - Baptism (Acts 22:16), Confirmation (Acts 8:14-19), and the Holy Eucharist (Acts 2:42)); the sacraments of healing - Reconciliation (Jn 20:21-23) and Anointing of the Sick (Jas 5:14-15)); and those related to the particular vocation to which God is calling you - Holy Matrimony (Eph 5:31-32) or Holy Orders (1 Tm 4:14)). The sacraments are visible, effective signs of Christ's invisible action (CCC 1113, 1127, 1129).
Finally, Christ exercises His pastoral and kingly authority over His followers through the pastors of His Church (Eph 1:22-23, 4:11-12). You need to obey their lawful authority as a way of obeying Christ (1 Jn 4:6). Following the pastors includes observing the six precepts of the Church (Jn 14:16):
1. Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days (Ex 31:13-17; CCC 2180).
2. Confess one's sins at least once a year (if one is conscious of mortal sin) (Jas 5:14-16; CCC 1457).
3. Receive Holy Communion during the Easter season (Acts 2:42; CCC 1389).
4. Observe appointed days of fasting and abstinence (Acts 13:2-3; CCC 2043).
5. Contribute to the support of the Church (Gal 6:6).
6. Observe the marriage laws of the Church (Rom 7:2-3).
These precepts are all ways our basic Christian commitment to follow Christ is lived out in His Church.
It is important to remember that these precepts are minimal acts of discipleship. Some people adopt a sort of legalistic approach to such requirements and ask "What is the bare minimum I have do?" This is something like a husband asking, "How often do I have to kiss my wife?" This is not a sign of a particularly healthy relationship. The precepts of the Church are more like a sketch, a basic outline of a portrait of a disciple. It is the task of each of us to use the gifts God has given us to fill in that portrait with the oil paint of faith, hope, and charity, and make it as beautiful as we can.
To find out more about "what it means to be Catholic", try reading books like "Catholic Christianity" by Peter Kreeft" and "Living the Catholic Faith" by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput.
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Title: A People Adrift : The Crisis of the Roman Catholic Church in America by Peter Steinfels ISBN: 0684836637 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 05 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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Title: Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints by Elizabeth A. Johnson ISBN: 0826414737 Publisher: Continuum Pub Group Pub. Date: July, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: Educating for Life: A Spiritual Vision for Every Teacher and Parent by Thomas H. Groome ISBN: 0824519701 Publisher: Crossroad/Herder & Herder Pub. Date: September, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: The Holy Longing: The Search for A Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser ISBN: 0385494181 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 20 July, 1999 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: Catechism of the Catholic Church by U.S. Catholic Church ISBN: 0385479670 Publisher: Doubleday Pub. Date: 01 April, 1995 List Price(USD): $8.99 |
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