What Makes us Catholic
...reader is immediately into bonus points. Growing up in a Catholic home and being educated in Catholic schools can instill the message that being Catholic metaphorically places you on the winning team. Complacency then negates the necessity of both practice and participation. Groome challenges this with his Constant theme of "bringing life to faith and faith to life." (p.196). There is no substitute for walking the talk in his understanding of Catholic discipleship. Those who thrive on the use of authority, who hide behind it or blame it will find themselves challenged by this book. Aquinas clarified that the church has three cooperative sources of teaching and learning: the research of scholars, the lived faith of ordinary people (sensus fidelium) and the official magisterium of the papacy cura episcopacy. "All three should work in concert, mutually supporting and correcting one another." (p.157). This is a powerful concept. Groome gives a wonderful structure to his exploration of just what it is to be a Catholic. Each of his nine chapters explores a question in a manner that appeals to the curious, the student of the Bible or those simply wishing to be reaffirmed. His teacher talents and experience serve him very well. He is provocative, asks good questions and at all times grounds his teaching in Scripture and Church teaching. Groome takes great care to define terms and always directs the reader back to scripture and theological sources to substantiate his thinking. However, Groome believes Catholic spirituality is the essence of the religion. It’s what makes a Catholics Catholic. And what are some of the components of Catholic spirituality? He writes of Catholic optimism, a lust for life, the central place of gratitude, rich imagination, and celebration and at the core, a sacramental view of life. Not to be lost is a Catholic incarnational view of life, centered in Jesus, which makes all life sacred, demanding respect, even awe. Life, then, is to be lived in a sense of gratitude, awe and respect. In some way, the author negatively portrays most Catholics as struggling with the Church and its teachings. The over use of inclusive language in this book is very cumbersome. For instance, (p.102) it would appear that the Western church is insisting upon celibacy and maleness for priesthood at the expense of people's access of Eucharist - so central to Catholic identity and spirituality. And looking at page 114, there can be problems in making an argument from nature to favor society or social arguments. For example, there has been much gend...