what does catholic religion mean to me essay

This site makes extensive use of Javascript. For an optimal experience, please enable Javascript in your browser.

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported by this website. Please upgrade your browser. Download

Unleash the Gospel

Feel inspired to share?

Disciples • Real Talk

Why are you proud to be Catholic?

what does catholic religion mean to me essay

Article Details

Casey McCorry

February 10, 2020

We asked people across the Archdiocese of Detroit, “why are you proud to be Catholic?” Here’s what they shared.

Mark Grabowski, Divine Child, Dearborn

“My Catholic faith has always been a part of who I am. I was raised in a Catholic family, attended a Catholic elementary and high school and now attend John Carroll University in Cleveland, where my pride in my Catholic faith has grown as I’ve come to realize just how much God loves us, and learned to share that with my community. However, it isn’t always this easy. In college, there are so many distractions. There will be days where I lack the motivation to live out my Catholic faith. My faith has been tested and I have failed before. I have felt lost. Going to daily Mass has allowed me to grow closer to God and find myself in him and the Eucharist. It took a lot of courage and strength to continuously go to daily Mass, but seeing my relationship with God as a friend has completely changed my mindset. You have to make time to have a relationship with your friends, and it’s the same with God. Even through these days of struggle, God’s love always prevails, and this allows me to continuously be proud of my Catholic faith.”

“You have to make time to have a relationship with your friends, and it’s the same with God.”

Camille Graves, St. Moses the Black, Detroit

I’m a Black cradle Catholic with a Detroit Catholic education from elementary school through college. I’ve lived in the same northwest Detroit neighborhood most of my life, in earshot of the bells of at least six different parishes.

I witnessed the changes in my city and, yet pride in my Catholicism not only survives but thrives. It’s forever rooted in childhood experiences, revitalized by the Eucharist, rejuvenated by singing with the Black Catholic Ministries Gospel Choir and empowered by witnessing corporal works of mercy in action.

Growing up, I was inspired by the commitment of the Sisters of Charity who educated me and the Home Visitors of Mary who embraced my neighbors. Along with all the joys of raising my children and nurturing theirs, I’m most fulfilled when experiencing Christian service. As a service coordinator, I’m frequently overwhelmed by the calls of the poor and humbled by the response of the generous. Our parish food pantry feeds the hungry and clothes the cold. Parishioners and seminarians visit our homebound, and volunteers help neighbors avoid utility shut-off or eviction. I’m so proud of being Catholic and part of such a team of joyful missionary disciples!

“I was inspired by the commitment of the Sisters of Charity who educated me and the Home Visitors of Mary who embraced my neighbors.”

Matt Lorio, St. Paul of Tarsus, Clinton Township

“‘Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. Only say the word and my soul shall be healed.’ This has always been the most impactful part of the Catholic Mass for me. Even as a young altar boy, the concept of believing in the powerful nature of that phrase began to shape who I am today: Jesus, I have no right to ask for your intercession, because I am flawed, so just say a simple word from a distance, and I’ll accept what comes from that. Right after I repeat those words at Mass, I realize how unconditionally I am loved. How fantastic it is to be able to celebrate being renewed this way at every Mass.

There have been times in my life when situations have challenged my faith, but at the core of all of these challenging times, those powerful words resonate with me. They have helped me realize, once again, that no matter what we are faced with, how dark things seem, how unworthy we may think our needs are, because of faith, we are always loved. Always. Love overcomes all. Being Catholic has taught me that, and I am proud to be Catholic.”

“Love overcomes all. Being Catholic has taught me that, and I am proud to be Catholic.”

Maia Cook, St. Aloysius, Downtown Detroit

“I am proud to be Catholic because being Catholic means being resilient. No matter what hardships are placed in our way, we overcome them. In hard times, your faith is all that you have. The Catholic faith has taught me a sense of community. We have experienced difficult times within our church, and we depend on one another as a guide to the end of the tunnel. The Catholic church is evolving, and in my opinion, there is no better time than now to be Catholic. I love that we are able to keep the traditions we hold near and dear to our hearts, but we are also implementing modern approaches as well.”

“I am proud to be Catholic because being Catholic means being resilient.”

Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda

“I am very proud to be Catholic, for I can share the Good News of our Lord and the true faith as an active member according to the teachings of the church. I am proud and blessed to be nurtured with the loving sacrament of the Eucharist and experience the mercy of God in the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation. I am proud to call Mary my mother and ask for her intercession as a joyful missionary of our Lord. And finally, I am proud to be surrounded by a cloud of witnesses — our saints — who intercede for me in this awesome ministry of service to the church.”

“I am proud and blessed to be nurtured with the loving sacrament of the Eucharist.”

Lynda LoPiccolo, St. Mary Queen of Creation, New Baltimore

“I have strong faith and a close personal relationship with Jesus. I got this from the Catholic Church. I remember that even as a young girl, I loved going to Mass every Sunday morning. During the readings, I felt the Lord speaking to me … directly to me! It was so profound and touched my heart like nobody else could. I love my Catholic faith!

Where else would I go to celebrate the sacraments? Where would I go to be cleansed by the sacrament of reconciliation? Where could I go to receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ every time I partake in holy Communion? I love my Catholic faith!

There are so many opportunities to grow in our faith, to grow in our knowledge of Scripture and to grow in our relationship with Jesus. There are so many ways to give back to God and to help our neighbors in need. We have our Blessed Mother and all the angels and saints, as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ, to call upon for intercessory prayers. When traveling, we never have to go far to find a Catholic church.

I am truly blessed and proud to be Catholic. I trust in Jesus and his divine providence. I love my Catholic faith!”

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” — John 6:68

“When traveling, we never have to go far to find a Catholic church.”

The Importance of My Catholic Faith

to see your options for becoming a subscriber.

Other items that may interest you

Pierre Toussaint Dinner Honors Bishop Espaillat, Married Couple

Rockland school celebrates, catholic school educators refresh faith at spirituality day, cardinal dolan thanks ‘army’ of catechists, youth ministers for their support.

Introduction to the Catholic Religion: Beliefs, Practices, and History

Getty Images

Beliefs and Teachings
Holy Days and Holidays
Christianity Origins
The New Testament
The Old Testament
Practical Tools for Christians
Christian Life For Teens
Christian Prayers
Inspirational Bible Devotions
Denominations of Christianity
Christian Holidays
Christian Entertainment
Key Terms in Christianity
Latter Day Saints

The Catholic religion was established in the Mediterranean region during the first century by a small group of Jewish men and women who were one of several sects bent on reforming the Jewish faith. The word "Catholic" (which means "embracing" or "universal") was first used to refer to the early Christian church by the bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch in the first century.

According to figures from the seat of the church, the Vatican in Rome, there are currently 1.4 billion Catholics in the world today, with roughly 40% of them living in Latin America.

Key Takeaways: Catholic Religion

Catholicism is a Christian religion, a reformation of the Jewish faith that follows the teachings of its founder Jesus Christ.
Like other Christian religions (and Judaism and Islam), it is also an Abrahamic religion; Catholics consider Abraham as the ancient patriarch.
The current head of the church is the Pope, who resides in Vatican City.
There are 1.4 billion Catholics in the world today, about 40% of whom live in Latin America.

What Do Catholics Believe?

The Catholic religion is monotheistic , meaning that Catholics believe there is only one supreme being, called God. The Catholic God has three aspects, known as the Trinity.

The Supreme Being is the creator, called God or God the Father, who resides in heaven and watches over and guides everything on earth. He is known as the lord of heaven and Earth. He's referred to as almighty, eternal, immeasurable, incomprehensible, and infinite in understanding, will, and perfection.

The Holy Trinity is made up of the Father (God), who has no origin and holds the sole power of creation; the Son (Jesus Christ) of God, who shares the wisdom of the Father; and the Holy Spirit, which is the personification of goodness and sanctity, arising from both the Father and Son.

The legendary Founder of the Catholic Church was a Jewish man named Jesus Christ who lived in Jerusalem and preached to a small group of followers. Catholics believe he was the "messiah," the son aspect of the Trinity, who was sent to Earth and born to redeem those who sin against the true religion. Christ is said to have had a human body and a human soul, identical to other humans except that he was without sin. Important religious events said to have occurred in the life of Christ are a virgin birth, miracles he performed during his life, martyrdom by crucifixion, resurrection from the dead, and ascension into heaven.

Significant Historical Figures

None of the individuals named in the Catholic religion as significant or sanctified figures have powers of creation, and as such, they are not to be worshiped, but they can be appealed to for intercession in prayers.

Mary is the name of the human person who was the mother of Jesus Christ, a resident of Bethlehem and Nazareth. She was told by an archangel that she would give birth to Christ as a virgin, and would remain a virgin after the birth. On her death, her body went through the process known as "the assumption," becoming the Queen of Heaven.

The Apostles were the original 12 disciples of Christ: led by Peter, a Galilean fisherman who might have been a follower of John the Baptist first. The others are Andrew, James the Greater, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Lesser, Jude, Simon, and Judas. After Judas committed suicide, he was replaced by Matthias.

Saints are people who lived an exceptionally holy life, including many martyrs from the second and third centuries, and afterward, are said to reside eternally with God in heaven.

The Pope is the supreme pastor of the Catholic Church. The first pope was the apostle Peter, followed by Clement of Rome around the year 96.

Written Records and Authorities

The main religious document of the Catholic religion is the Judeo-Christian Bible, which Catholics believe to be the inspired word of God. The text includes the Old Testament of the Hebrew religion plus the canonical books of the New Testament as they were established in the fourth century. Parts of the Bible are to be read as literal truth; other parts are considered poetical expressions of faith, and the church leaders define which parts are which.

Canonical law for Catholics emerged from Judaism in the third century but did not become universal for the church until the 20th century. Three main works establishing the canon include Didache ("Teaching"), a Syrian document in Greek written between 90–100 CE; the Apostolic Tradition, a Greek manuscript written in either Rome or Egypt in the early third century, and the Didaskalia Apostolorum ("The Teaching of the Apostles"), from northern Syria and written in the early third century.

Commandments of the Church

There are several types of commandments—rules defining ethical behavior—that are included in Catholic dogma. The two major commandments of the Catholic religion are that believers must love God and keep his commandments. The Ten Commandments are the Jewish laws recorded in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy:

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

In addition, there are six chief commandments of the Catholic Church. A Catholic adhering to the laws of the church must:

Attend Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
Fast and abstain on appointed days.
Confess sins once a year.
Receive Holy Communion at Easter.
Contribute to the support of the church.
Observe the laws of the church concerning marriage.

The seven sacraments are ways in which bishops or priests intercede with or bring grace from God to ordinary people. These are the rites of baptism; confirmation; first Eucharist; penance or reconciliation; anointing of the sick; holy orders for ordained ministers (bishops, priests, and deacons); and marriage.

Prayer is an important aspect of Catholic life and there are five types of prayer performed by Catholics: blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. Prayers may be directed to God or the saints , either individually or as a litany .

The main tenets of the Catholic religion are that 1) God is universal and loves everyone; 2) Jesus Christ came to save all the people; 3) not formally belonging to the Catholic Church is objectively sinful, and 4) no one who is sinful makes it into heaven.

Creation Story

The Catholic creation story says that God created the universe out of the void, first starting with the angels. One of the angels (Satan or Lucifer) rebelled and took a legion of angels with him (called Demons) and formed the underworld (Hell). Heaven is where goodness resides; Hell is where evil resides, and Earth is where evil and good are at battle.

The world was created in seven days. On the first day, God created the heavens, earth, and light; the firmament on the second; the grass, herbs, and fruit trees on the third; the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth; the creatures of the air and sea on the fifth; and the creatures of the land (including the first human) on the sixth day. On the seventh day, God rested.

The Afterlife

Catholics believe that when a person dies, the soul lives on. Each soul faces a "particular judgment," that is to say, God determines whether she or he has lived a good life and where she or he should spend eternity. If a person has learned to perfectly love God, her soul will go straight to heaven to enjoy endless happiness. If a person loves God imperfectly, her soul will go to Purgatory, where she will be purified before (eventually) going to heaven. If a person has rejected God's love or commits a mortal sin and dies before repenting, he is condemned to the everlasting torments of hell.

Some doctrines state that there is a fourth state called "limbo" where resides a soul who has not been baptized but has not committed any personal sin.

The Catholic Church believes that Christ will return to earth to save it again, announced by signs such as famine, pestilence, natural disasters, false prophets, wars, the renewed persecution of the church, and the fading of faith. The world will end with a revolt involving Satan and his demons ("The Great Apostasy"), a time of great sorrows ("The Great Tribulation"), and the appearance of an Anti-Christ, who will deceive men into believing he is a man of peace and justice.

When Christ returns, the bodies of the dead will be resurrected and reunited with their souls, and Christ will make a final judgment on them. Satan and his Demons and sinning humans will be thrown into Hell; people who belong in Heaven will go there.

Feasts and Holy Days

From the earliest days of the Church, Easter has been considered the central Christian feast. Easter's date is calculated based on the phases of the moon and the spring equinox. Although there are no special rites, other than going to church, performed on Easter in the West, members of the Eastern Orthodox Church will often recite the Homily of St. John Chrysostom as well. Before Easter day is a 40-day period known as Lent, which has several important days and rites.

Next in importance are the festivals at Christmas, including Advent , the 40 days before the celebrated date for the birth of Jesus Christ, as well as events afterward.

Coming 50 days after Easter and 10 days after the Ascension , Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. For that reason, it is often called the "birthday of the Church."

History of the Founding of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is traditionally said to have been founded on Pentecost, the 50th day after its founder Jesus Christ ascended to heaven. On that day, Christ's apostle Peter preached to the "multitudes," people assembled in Rome including Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. Peter baptized 3,000 new Christians and sent them back to their home countries to spread the word.

The period from Pentecost until the death of the last Apostle is known as the Apostolic Era, and it was during that time that the church went underground because of Roman persecution. The first Christian martyr was Stephen in Jerusalem about 35 CE, about the same time Paul of Tarsus , who would become an important leader in the early church, was converted to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. Early church leaders met at the Council of Apostles and Elders in 49, to discuss how to modify the rules to allow new converts to be admitted even if they were not Jews, such as lifting dietary and circumcision rules. Paul began his missionary work in Cyprus and Turkey, and he and Peter were executed in Rome.

The second and third centuries saw continuing persecution of Christians by the Romans, who also persecuted other sects including Jewish and Manichean religious groups. The heroic ideal of martyrdom was experienced by men and women, young and old, slaves and soldiers, wives and popes. Not all Roman emperors were uniformly brutal, and during the centuries after Christianity became the state religion, they too practiced persecution of other non-Christian groups.

Establishing Institutions

The first Pope was Peter, although the leaders of the church were not called "pope" until the sixth century—Peter was officially the Bishop of Rome. There is some evidence that after Peter died, a group of bishops supervised the church in Rome, but the second official Pope was Clement in 96. The idea of a monarchical Pope was developed in the eastern part of the church and spread into Rome by the second century. Within 100 years, the control of the Bishop in Rome included regions outside of the city and Italy, through the direct intervention of Pope Stephen I.

Stephen broke the church into regional precincts called dioceses and set up a three-tiered episcopate: the bishops of dioceses, the bishops of larger towns, and the bishops of the three major sees: Rome, Alexandria. and Antioch . Eventually, Constantinople and Jerusalem also became major sees.

Schisms and Change

The most significant changes to the church came after the conversion of Emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the state religion in 324 CE, bringing the Christians out of the underground. The Roman Empire was eventually broken up by barbarian invaders, invaders who in turn converted to Christianity. Evangelization and conversion of central and northern Europe spread Christianity into those regions.

Beginning in the early seventh century, the Eastern church was threatened by the rise of Islam, although Muslim forces did not take Constantinople until 1453. Christians under the Islamic empire were a tolerated minority; eventually, a schism between Eastern and Western churches led to the separation of Eastern (to be called Orthodox) and Western (Catholic or Roman Catholic) churches.

The final great schism affecting the Catholic Church was in 1571, when Martin Luther led the Reformation, dividing the church and leading to the emergence of Protestantism.

Difference Between Catholic and Protestant Religions

The differences between the Catholic and Protestant religions were a result of the sixth-century Protestant Reformation of the church led by Martin Luther . Major changes Luther pushed for included a reduction in the number of sanctified and significant figures who should be prayed to, publishing the Bible in German (provided in Latin or Greek, it had been only accessible to educated authorities), and the marriage of priests. Luther was excommunicated for his beliefs.

The Sacrament of Confirmation
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Are Catholics Christians?
Why Are Catholics Anointed With Chrism at Confirmation?
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
What Is a Sacrament?
Are There Married Catholic Priests?
The Major Differences Between Anglicanism and Catholicism
The Sacrament of Baptism in the Catholic Church
Faith, Hope, and Charity: the Three Theological Virtues
Why Aren't Christians Jewish?
The Sacrament of Marriage
Communion Rites in the Catholic Church
Piety: A Gift of the Holy Spirit
The Papacy of the Catholic Church
Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November

BEING CATHOLIC IN TODAY’S SOCIETY

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Strangers in a Strange Land (Henry Holt, 2017)

“Simply put, America can’t be the way it once was.” (Original italic.) This is not so much a lament as it is a reality check: Catholics upset with the culture can work to change it, but they cannot expect a return to more placid times. That is one of the most defining conclusions in this intellectually rich volume.

Archbishop Chaput has a great command of theology, history, sociology, and political science—his range is wide and deep—making him the right person to analyze current conditions and make cogent prescriptions for change. His love for the Church shines through over and over again, which is why this is a book that Catholics of every leaning can embrace.

What’s wrong with America is as obvious as it is distressing. The social order is in disarray on many fronts. Young people are spiritually lost, having no moral anchor to guide them. Pornography is commonplace; its destructive elements are wreacking havoc in relationships. Cohabitation and divorce are also creating problems for men, women, and children, fraying bonds that are integral to our well being. But there are some good signs.

We’ve made progress on abortion—especially among youth. “They’ve seen what abortion does. They’ve lived with the fact that they could have been aborted. The humanity of the unborn child is obvious on any ultrasound machine.” Where we’ve gone backwards, and nowhere is this more apparent than with young people, is with gay marriage and gender ideology.

June 2015 was a watershed moment in American history. That is when the U.S. Supreme Court, in Obergefell v. Hodges , imposed gay marriage on the states.

For Chaput, the effects were far reaching: “It changed the meaning of the family by wiping away the need for the natural relationships—husband and wife, mother and father—at the heart of these institutions.” Just as ominous, “the state implicitly claims the authority to define what is and isn’t properly human.” Indeed, he calls this ruling “poisonous,” precisely because it weakens marriage and the family, the two most important bedrocks of a free society.

Gender ideology is an offshoot of this phenomenon, blurring the lines between the sexes. Nature is the enemy: cultural elites teach that whatever exists is a social construction, having nothing to do with nature, or nature’s God. This represents “a revolt against biology itself—and it’s not without its own peculiar form of bullying.”

We have reached the state where those who do not accept gay marriage and gender ideology are condemned as bigots. Tolerance does not extend to those who believe in traditional marriage, or to those who see the sexes as binary, as either a man or a woman. Worse, when there is a showdown between gay rights and religious liberty, the latter is trashed, even though it is cited in the First Amendment (the Constitution says nothing about two men marrying).

These changes all took place in a nation dominated by Christians. Chaput notes that Catholics and Protestants have long shared the same basic faith and worldview, but success has spoiled us.

“Over time,” he writes, “we Catholics have succeeded very well—evidently too well.” Thus did we miss the opportunity to claim a “Catholic moment” in the culture. As a consequence, our “appetite for comfort and security has replaced conviction,” making it more difficult to bring about a much needed cultural renewal.

Our affluence is a function of our democratic and capitalist society, and while there is much to celebrate, it also has the effect of weakening the authority that resides in civil society. Parents, teachers, the clergy, and civic leaders have seen their moral muscles atrophy in the wake of the ever-increasing role of government. Now we take our cues from public opinion and market forces. The results are not sanguine.

We’ve been compromised. Truth is under attack, and the pernicious notion that all moral values are equal has triumphed. So we speak about “abortion rights” without ever saying exactly what the term means. The fluidity of our moral vocabulary allows us to skirt reality, bringing us to the point where “sucking the brains out of unborn children, or trading in their body parts, is not so appalling.”

Chaput does not sugarcoat our condition, but he is not without hope. “The gift of hope creates in us a desire for heaven and eternal life as our happiness,” he says. But to many Americans, despair and presumption have eclipsed hope. They are a reflection of our secular pursuit of progress, and our conviction that we need no external moral authority. This makes us more likely to follow the Machiavellian politics of a Saul Alinsky than to accept the challenges of the Beatitudes.

So where does this leave us? Citing an early Christian author who observed a similar condition, “They [Christians] live in their own countries, but only as aliens.” To understand Chaput’s point, consider that the subtitle to this book is Living the Catholic Faith in a Post-Christian World . That is our challenge: how do we as Catholics navigate the secularization of America, and the moral crisis it has spurred?

Contrary to what some commentators have said about Strangers in a Strange Land , Chaput is not asking us to throw in the towel; he asks that we consider how the early Christians handled their challenge. He says that “they didn’t abandon or retire from the world. They didn’t build fortress enclaves. They didn’t manufacture their own culture or invent their own language. They took elements from the surrounding society and ‘baptized’ them with a new spirit and a new way of living.”

In other words, for us to change society, we must first attend to our own spiritual health. What does it mean to be a Catholic? Recapturing our lost identity is not simply a good thing to do—it is the foundation of our ability to help renew the culture. There is much work to do: the baby boomers have failed to “pass along our faith in a compelling way to the generation now taking our place.”

Chaput outlines three challenges to the Catholic community: individualism, institutionalism, and clericalism.

“Christianity invented the idea of the individual.” (Chaput’s emphasis.) Yes, by stressing the unique God-given qualities that inhere in every individual, and by recognizing that we are all equal in the eyes of God, possessing the same human dignity, Catholic teachings transformed the traditional group identities of tribe, clan, kinship, and social statuses. Unfortunately, a modest interpretation of individualism has given way to an extremist one.

Radical individualism is not something to cheer about. The idea that we don’t need God—we are self-sufficient—is vacuous, failing to satisfy our base needs. “I’m spiritual, but not religious,” is a popular refrain, but it is a dodge. Indeed, the idea that we are on automatic pilot needing no external moral authority is absurd.

There is a Catholic tendency to see the Church as some huge institution that is self-propelling, needing little input from the faithful. This is the meaning of institutionalism, the fatuous notion that we do not have to participate in the life of the Church in order to remain Catholic. But what kind of Catholic is it that passes the buck, as well as the basket?

Clericalism is an unhealthy situation where the laity settle into a second-class condition, leaving to priests all responsibilities for governance. This cannot be corrected, however, by merely extending more rights to men and women in the pews—they must be willing to assume concomitant responsibilities. Many do not.

St. Augustine instructed us not to entertain the notion that a just and perfect social order is possible: we are all sinners, making perfectibility an illusion. But that doesn’t mean we do not have the power to transform society. Indeed, Chaput argues that “we can’t simply withdraw from public affairs.” So what should we do?

“The surest way to transform a culture is from the inside out.” What Chaput has in mind is “colonizing and reshaping the culture’s appetites and behaviors.” This begins at the micro level: he is not talking about some grand social engineering agenda, he is talking about you and me. “To recover the Church’s identity,” he contends, “we first need to recall our own.” That way we can “bring the Gospel to all those we encounter.” We are all called to do so.

This will not be easy. Chaput does not mince words: “The world hates the story Christians tell. It no longer believes in sin. It doesn’t understand the forgiveness of sinners.”

When I read those words, I immediately thought of Richard Dawkins, arguably the most famous atheist intellectual in the world. The English author says that sin is “one of the nastiest aspects of Christianity.” Of course, to admit to sin is to admit to God, and he will have none of it. And as Chaput informs, “If we don’t believe in the devil, sooner or later we won’t believe in God.”

Words such as sin and evil are no longer part of our vocabulary, though the experience of 9/11 helped to resurrect them for a while. In our therapeutic society of grief counselors and consoling dogs, human tragedy has nothing to do with sin: we can be reclaimed by talk, if not by yoga.

Despite the subtitle of Chaput’s book, he emphasizes that the first thing that God asks of us is “to realize that the words ‘post-Christian’ are a lie, so long as the fire of Christian faith, hope, and love lives in any of us.” But that means we cannot “tag along as compliant fellow travelers with a secular culture that’s now, in so many ways, better described as apostate .” (His accent.)

Chaput, then, is not preaching resignation, pulling back into some safe quarters. We have a moral duty to change ourselves and change society, but to do so we must be realistic: the secularism is stacked against us, requiring us to rebuild our Catholic identity in ways that work.

When I was a board member of the National Association of Scholars, a non-sectarian organization seeking to restore higher education, I was asked by the executive director to reach out to like-minded professors who belonged to NAS in the Pittsburgh area. We met from time to time in each other’s home, or on the campus of one of the colleges or universities.

The purpose of these meetings was to build bonds, to establish a confidence in our pursuit of truth, not politics. In short, to embolden us, thereby setting in motion a determination to change our institutions, knowing that we had the backing and resources of our colleagues. Did it work? Higher education is still a hotbed of activism, but matters would be worse if we simply went quietly into the night.

As Archbishop Chaput aptly notes, we have a moral duty to bring the Gospel to our fellow citizens, and that cannot happen if we run for safety, living in some cocoon. If we can transform the Catholic community, we can transform society, or at least put the brakes on our precipitous moral decline.

ABUSE LOBBY UPENDED; AGENDA EXPOSED

TENNESSEE TRIUMPH

LOOKING BACK

BIAS AND BIGOTRY AT THE BBC PART II

SEXUAL ABUSE LOBBY IS AGENDA-RIDDEN

Christian, Yes…But Why Be Catholic?

Some years ago a recruit was undergoing basic training in the Army. He had no actual religious background, but when told to list a particular denomination, he identified himself as Catholic. The reason he did so was that all soldiers were required to attend church services of their choice each Sunday, and since no Catholic chaplain happened to be available, he—unlike his Protestant buddies—had the freedom to sleep in on Sunday mornings! Eventually a Catholic priest was assigned to the base, and when he began meeting individually with all his parishioners, the soldier-in-training admitted his reason for claiming to be Catholic. Father chuckled appreciatively and then invited the young man to consider joining the Church for real. The recruit thought about it and agreed; he took instructions, was received into the Church, and became a firmly committed Catholic.

There are probably almost as many different reasons for being Catholic as there are members of the Church, including varying degrees of chance, choice, and conviction. Some of us were born Catholic, others joined the Church later in life, still others left the Church at one point but then returned. We hear stories of persons who were born Catholic and who remained fiercely loyal to the Church throughout their lives. We read the accounts of people of great intellectual gifts and learning, or of great moral courage, who freely entered the Catholic Church, often at considerable personal cost—persons such as John Henry Newman and G. K. Chesterton in the past, and, in our own day, Scott and Kimberly Hahn, Marcus Grodi, and Richard John Neuhaus. Why? Catholicism is only one of many different Christian religions. What is it the Catholic Church offers to its almost one billion members that cannot be obtained anywhere else?

(1) Only the Catholic Church can trace its roots back to Christ Himself.

Within a few short years of the Resurrection, the followers of Jesus began calling themselves “Christians” (cf. Acts 11: 26), and by the end of the first century, the word “catholic” —meaning “universal” —was applied to the Church. The idea of different (and sometimes competing) Christian denominations would have been unthinkable to the early Christians, especially in light of Christ’s pronouncement on one shepherd and one flock (John 10:15) and his prayer that his disciples remain one (John 17:22). It was only human weakness and sinfulness that brought about the religious divisions that afflict Christianity today. The Orthodox church drew apart from Rome off and on over several hundred years, finally separating in the fifteenth century, and the various Protestant denominations date back no earlier than the sixteenth century. These churches can trace their roots back to Christ only through the Catholic Church. To put the matter rather bluntly: Why should anyone settle for an imitation when the original is available—especially when it comes to knowing and living the truths necessary for salvation?

(2) The Eucharist—the Real Presence of Christ—is not found in Protestant churches.

Jesus described himself as the bread of life, stating that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will have life eternal (John 6:54). At the Last Supper he gave the apostles and their successors, the bishops (and through them, validly ordained priests), the power and authority to continue his sacrifice when he said, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). The Catholic Church has been obeying Christ’s command for almost two thousand years, and whereas many Christian denominations see the Eucharist mainly in symbolic terms, the Church has consistently taught that it is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. Moreover, only Catholic and non-Catholic Eastern priests—because of their ordinations—have the sacramental power to consecrate the Eucharist. (Anglican or Episcopalian priests sometimes claim to possess this power, but Pope Leo XIII, after carefully examining this issue some one hundred years ago, concluded that the link of apostolic succession had not been preserved by the Church of England.)

Catholics are privileged to be able to receive the treasure beyond all price—Jesus himself—each time they attend Mass . It may be true that many Protestant and Evangelical congregations at times seem to offer a greater sense of fellowship and community, more dynamic preaching, and various activities and programs than the average Catholic parish. These things are all valuable and praiseworthy—but for a Catholic to give them a higher priority than the Eucharist is akin to Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage (cf. Gen. 25:29–34). If we truly understood what a wondrous gift the Eucharist is, none of us would even consider ever leaving the Church, and our example would attract many other persons to Catholicism.

(3) Unlike other Christians, Catholics have a fully sacramental understanding of God’s saving activity.

The word “sacramental” is here used in three different senses. First we have the incarnational sense, which means that God can be known and experienced in and through what he has created. Catholicism has always remembered that God looked upon his creation and pronounced it “good” (cf. Gen. 1:31). So instead of being suspicious of human activity and the material world, the Church has often encouraged people to develop and use their abilities and to do all things for the greater glory of God. It’s no surprise that some of humanity’s greatest art, architecture, and music has been commissioned and preserved by the Church.

The second sense of “sacramental” (used here as an adjective) refers to the Eucharist and the other six sacraments, which are visible signs and sources of God’s grace active in the world. God, as our Creator, is fully aware of our human limitations. Because human beings are both body and spirit, the Lord relates to us not only in an invisible, spiritual way but also through the use of human gestures and material items we can see and hear and touch and taste: bread, wine, water, oil, words, and so forth. Most Christians agree on the essential requirement of water for baptism, but Protestants are not consistent in treating as sacraments the other sacred actions Jesus gave to the Church.

Thirdly, the noun “sacramental” refers to a blessed item or gesture that, for those who have faith, can be an experience or source of God’s grace. Sacramentals of this sort include holy water, scapulars, crucifixes, medals, rosaries, ashes on Ash Wednesday, the Sign of the Cross, and so on. Sacraments, by God’s promise and power, are effective in and of themselves, whereas sacramentals depend on the disposition of the believer. Though much less important than sacraments, sacramentals can be a valuable source of grace and spiritual favor.

If Jesus was willing to humble himself by becoming human (Phil. 2:6–7), it’s logical to assume God would continue working in and through human beings and the material order he himself created. Catholicism, with its sacramental emphasis, has carried this truth through to its logical conclusion.

(4) Because of the Church’s magisterium, Catholics have the assurance that their beliefs are divinely revealed truths, not human interpretations and opinions.

Other than questioning the apostles on what they and other people believed regarding his identity (cf. Mark 8:27–29), Jesus never conducted a vote or an opinion poll, or said to his followers, “This is what I personally think, but you decide for yourselves what to believe.” Rather, he came to proclaim God’s truth (John 18:37), and he entrusted this same teaching authority, or magisterium, to his Church (Luke 10:16). It is illogical to believe that Jesus, the eternal Word of God, would go to the trouble of becoming human, establishing the Church, and dying on the cross to save us from our sins, without providing a guarantee that the Church would continue to preserve and proclaim his teachings faithfully. Jesus followed his own advice by building his Church on the solid foundation of fidelity and truth (Matt. 7:24–25) and on the rock of Peter’s faith (Matt. 16:18–19). Not only does this divinely given teaching authority assure the Church’s pronouncements on faith and morals will be free of error, it also serves as a source and measure of unity. This is something all Protestant denominations lack, and the results are a matter of historical record. Once Luther and his colleagues established the precedent of protesting and rejecting the Church’s teaching authority, there was nothing to prevent later protests against their own self-proclaimed authority. The process of continually reinterpreting Scripture has reached the point where now, according to Oxford’s World Christian Encyclopedia, there are well over 20,000 Protestant denominations with their own—often contradictory—interpretations of the Gospel, each claiming to possess the true understanding of divine revelation.

(5) The Catholic Church, more than any other, gives fitting honor to the Mother of God.

A story about a small town’s efforts to create an ecumenical outdoor nativity scene illustrates this point. A Protestant minister said to the local Catholic priest, “We can include all the characters mentioned in the Bible, except we should leave Mary out. Otherwise, the scene will appear to be too Catholic.” The priest responded, “I’ll agree to that—on the condition that you explain to everyone how the infant Jesus was born without a mother.”

Catholics are indeed known for the honor they give to the Virgin Mary, and she plays an irreplaceable role in God’s plan of salvation. It is only right that we honor her (not worship her), for one of the Commandments says, “Honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20:12). If God wants us to honor our parents, how much more must he desire us to honor his Mother. The angel Gabriel declared Mary to be “full of grace” (Luke 1:28), making her worthy of our highest respect. Moreover, Mary herself stated that “all ages will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). The Catholic Church is virtually unique in obeying and fulfilling this scriptural prophecy.

(6) More than any other Christian religion, Catholicism takes Scripture seriously.

This assertion will surprise those who assume that Catholics are ignorant of Scripture and that the Protestant belief in sola scriptura (accepting “the Bible only” as a source of religious teaching) makes them the only true “Bible Christians.” However, history and logic are again on the side of the Catholic Church. It was the Church that, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, created the Bible as we know it (compiling the books of the Old Testament, and willing the books of the New Testament). And it was the Church that decided which of the many early Christian writings were canonical, or worthy of acceptance as scriptural. (Ironically, Protestant Bibles contain the same twenty-seven New Testament books as Catholics Bibles—a list decided upon by the Council of Rome in 382. Thus, the Protestant New Testament ultimately rests upon the authority of the Catholic Church.)

Moreover, none of the teachings of Catholicism contradict Scripture, and the Bible—at least implicitly but normally explicitly—supports all of the Church’s doctrines. Protestants reject many Catholic beliefs, but in doing so they must ignore or reinterpret what Scripture clearly says. For instance, the widespread Protestant understanding that the Eucharist is merely symbolic flatly contradicts our Lord’s words in John 6 (“My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink”) and also the accounts of the Last Supper (“This is my Body . . . this is my Blood” [Mark 14:22–24]). Rejecting the authority of the pope is also a rejection of Christ’s words to Peter, by which he gave him the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the authority to bind and loose (Matt. 16:18–19).

To deny the reality of the forgiveness of sins through confession, or the sacrament of reconciliation, is also a denial of the words of the resurrected Jesus to the apostles (John 20:22–23), in which he gave them the power to forgive sins in his name. Disbelief in the teaching authority of the Church is also disbelief in our Lord’s command to teach and baptize all nations, and in his promise to remain with the Church always (Matt. 28:19–20). A further weakness of the Protestant position lies in the idea of sola scriptura itself. Nowhere does the Bible say that Scripture alone is the only source of divine revelation, but there are numerous references to Tradition and the teaching authority of the Church (Matt. 18:15–18; John 14:16, 14:25–26, 21:25; 1 Cor. 11:21; Eph. 3:10–11; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:16). Many Protestants are very good at quoting the Bible, but, in terms of its entire message, it is the Catholic Church that lives by it.

(7) The Church has survived and even thrived for almost two thousand years, in spite of every form of persecution, opposition, and difficulty.

Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church (Matt. 16:18), and history records many examples of Satan’s vicious but unsuccessful assaults on the Body of Christ. The Church has withstood numerous heresies and schisms, along with fierce persecutions stretching from the days of Nero and Diocletian down to our own bloody twentieth century. Catholicism has weathered false prophets and antipopes, wars, civil disturbances, plagues, natural disasters, barbarian invasions, and societal collapse. The Body of Christ, though often wounded, has renewed itself after the attacks of Rationalism and the Enlightenment, the political intrigues of kings and princes, the brute force of mobs and dictators, the meddling of emperors, and even the disastrous rule of sinful or incompetent popes and bishops. No less a persecutor of the Church than Napoleon Bonaparte noted, “The nations of the earth pass away, and thrones fall to the ground; the Church alone remains.”

The only parallel in history is that of the Jewish people—a people often singled out for persecution, scorned, oppressed, and exiled, yet miraculously preserved over thousands of years. Because the Jews are God’s chosen people, divine providence has worked in powerful ways in their behalf. Only this fact explains their miraculous ongoing existence. As the “new Israel” (cf. Rom. 11:17), the Church is also the beneficiary of God’s constant guidance and protection and will remain so until the end of time.

The four marks of the true Church are that it is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. I would humbly and unofficially suggest a “fifth” mark: the true Church is also opposed . Just as Jesus was a sign of contradiction and a stumbling block (1 Cor. 1:23), so his Church is a lightning rod for hatred, calumny, misunderstanding, suspicion, and opposition. Christ told his followers to expect the world’s enmity, since they were not of the world (John 15:18–19), and he warned them that some people would even claim to serve God by persecuting them (John 16:2). A present-day example of this is those Fundamentalists who attack the Church by identifying it as the “whore of Babylon.”

As the great bishop and martyr Ignatius of Antioch noted, “Christianity shows its greatness when it is hated by the world.” Anti-Catholicism has arguably had a stronger role in human history than any other prejudice save anti-Semitism, even in the United States. Catholics have suffered discrimination as immigrants along the Eastern seaboard; Catholics have been isolated and unwelcome in the Bible Belt and have been victims of the “No Nothing” movement and other organized opposition to the Church, including the Ku Klux Klan; and today certain political and social movements—such as the proponents of abortion—often appeal to anti-Catholic sentiments.

This is not to deny the historical fact that Catholics have themselves been guilty of grave sins against charity but to point out that the Church—precisely when it follows its Master most faithfully—is subject to some of the same hatred he encountered. Satan, possessing a cunning and intelligence far beyond human reason, sees his true enemy very clearly. His unrelenting attacks against the Church are a powerful indication of its vital importance in human history.

(8) Of all Christian religions, Catholicism has the most accurate and complete understanding of human nature.

This truth pertains to three areas in particular: reconciliation, ritual, and role models.

Reconciliation here refers to the fact that we are sinners in need of redemption, and that this process is an ongoing one. It is not enough to ask, as many Evangelical Protestants do, “Have you been saved?” This suggests that if we’ve been “born again,” and have “accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior,” salvation is guaranteed, and little if anything further is required of us. Such an understanding not only contradicts Scripture, which speaks of the possibility of losing one’s salvation (cf. 1 Cor. 9:27; Phil.2:12–13, 3:10–12), but also human nature. We are imperfect human beings, never completely free of sin. As Scripture says, even the just man falls seven times a day (Prov. 24:16). We are constantly in need of forgiveness, and this is why Jesus established as a sacrament not only baptism, but also reconciliation. Other important spiritual practices promoted by the Catholic Church—prayer, fasting, devotions to the saints, acts of penance, and so on—are designed to aid us in our ongoing efforts to grow in holiness and to cooperate with divine grace in overcoming our faults.

Ritual refers to human customs and behaviors designed to facilitate social interactions and celebrations. These rituals include such everyday actions as shaking hands, saying “God bless you” when someone sneezes, and blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. Examples of Catholic rituals include blessing oneself with holy water, genuflecting before the tabernacle, and making the Sign of the Cross. Calvin and other Reformers were determined to “purify” their churches of everything they considered human traditions and accretions to the Gospel. They radically simplified worship and church architecture. But sociologists have come to realize that ritual is an inherent part of human culture and an important part of human life and social interaction. A society’s “rites of passage”—in which young people are given the chance to demonstrate their maturity and be accepted as adults—are just one example of this. Even most non-Christian religions recognize and respond to this basic human need. Catholicism—unlike many Protestant denominations—has never ceased doing so.

Role models are also a fundamental human need. Human beings are social by nature, and much personal growth and development results from imitating, consciously or otherwise, certain influential persons. The Catholic Church offers the saints as models worthy of imitation. The cult of the saints began when early Christians celebrated the anniversaries of martyrs’ dates of death as their “birthday” into eternal life. Local custom, and eventually official policy, gradually recognized and celebrated still other holy men and women as heroic examples of righteousness. Saints are not worshiped, but they are esteemed and honored, for they are part of the “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1) whose lives testify to the truth of the Gospel and inspire those Christians still on earth to persevere in taking up their cross each day. Human beings, especially young people, require role models, and in opposition to self-centered movie stars, overpaid athletes, or promoters of cultural degeneration and violence the Church presents as examples those men, women, and children who can truly show us the way to eternal life and happiness.

(9) Catholicism reflects the nature of heaven more accurately than any other religion.

This can be seen in three different ways. First of all, the Church has a hierarchical structure; so does heaven. There are nine different choirs of angels, each with a different function and rank. Also, while all the persons in God’s kingdom are saints, some are even greater in holiness than others. The Virgin Mary, of course, is the most perfect illustration of this. Moreover, our Lord’s words about the least in the kingdom of heaven being greater than John the Baptist during his earthly life (Matt. 11:11) suggests that some of the saints are indeed ranked higher. At the same time, all are equal in the sense of fully sharing in the Beatific Vision (the joyous, all-encompassing contemplation of God) and in being perfectly happy.

Second, the Church is universal. More than any other religion, Catholicism is to be found in virtually every nation and culture, with members from every background and social status (as noted earlier, the word “catholic” means “universal”). Catholicism’s missionary outreach has covered the entire earth. In this, the Church imitates heaven, whose citizenship consists of “a great multitude, which no one could count, of every nation, race, people, and tongue” (Rev. 7:9).

A third characteristic of the Church that reflects the kingdom of God is that, in both cases, all the members are united as one while preserving their individuality. Each resident of heaven is completely absorbed in the contemplation of God, perfectly united with all the angels and saints in worshiping and praising the divine Majesty, while at the same time more fully alive and unique than ever before. In a mystical way, the Church’s worship on earth—most particularly, the Mass—shares in this ongoing heavenly liturgy. Furthermore, Catholicism has one central form of worship (the Mass and the sacraments) yet provides many different religious devotions, spiritualities, religious orders, and other opportunities to serve for those who are called to such a vocation. In this context, “one size” most definitely does not fit all, and Catholicism recognizes this truth even as it provides a sense of unity and purpose linking this world and the next.

(10) Because it is rooted in, but also transcends, time and history, the Church is able to help its members discover and live by God’s unchanging truth.

Other Christian religions have made significant changes in their moral and religious teachings—for example, ending their prohibition of artificial contraception. (Luther and the other Reformers echoed the Catholic teaching that birth control is gravely sinful, and this remained the Protestant position for 400 years. In 1930, the Anglican Church allowed certain “exceptions,” setting in motion a process in which all Protestant denominations have come to regard contraception as morally acceptable. The Catholic Church, in contrast, has maintained its teaching on this issue for almost two thousand years.) Catholicism is well suited to be “behind the times” and counter-cultural. This is an important sign of its authenticity, for objective truth is often unpopular or considered irrelevant or outdated—and yet the genuine Church of Christ must proclaim it nonetheless. Moreover, the Church—because of its international presence and prestige—is a powerful political force in its own right, as demonstrated by Pope John Paul II’s role in the collapse of the Soviet empire and the liberation of Eastern Europe. Church officials are often able to work behind the scenes in mediating conflicts and defending the rights of the oppressed while remaining true to the Church’s otherworldly mission. Jesus prayed that his disciples would be consecrated in truth, for they are in this world, but not of the world (John 17:11–18). Through the Catholic Church, his prayer has been and continues to be fulfilled.

These, then, are ten important reasons not to settle merely for being Christian, but to seek the fullness of God’s revelation through the Catholic Church, the only true Church of Christ. These reasons do not imply that Catholics as individuals are perfect or sinless, or that they have always followed the teachings and spirit of our Lord. No, the Church freely admits the sinful and unchristian behavior of many of its leaders and members throughout history.

Neither are the ten reasons listed above a denial of the importance of working closely with our Protestant brothers and sisters, or of the truth that we have many important lessons to learn from them, especially in the areas of preaching and a personal commitment to evangelization. Members of the Church are sinful and holy, earthly and heavenly, and imperfect and incomplete—yet undergoing the process of sanctification. This process is one that must include each individual Catholic and one in which all other people must be invited to share.

Like the soldier in the story at the beginning of this article, it seems that many Catholics have gotten used to “sleeping in” and not taking their faith seriously. Now, however, the “Chaplain” has appeared, and he is calling each one of us personally. It is our duty not only to belong to and believe in the Church but to defend and promote it. As Jesus noted, much is expected of those to whom much is given (Luke 12:48). We as Catholics can alone rightly claim to have the fullness of God’s revelation and guidance. This is reason for us to rejoice and to renew our commitment to living and sharing the Gospel.

Why I am a Catholic

Written by Super User
G.K. CHESTERTON

The difficulty of explaining "why I am a Catholic" is that there are ten thousand reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true. I could fill all my space with separate sentences each beginning with the words, "It is the only thing that . . ."

Now there is no other corporate mind in the world that is thus on the watch to prevent minds from going wrong. The policeman comes too late, when he tries to prevent men from going wrong. The doctor comes too late, for he only comes to lock up a madman, not to advise a sane man on how not to go mad. And all other sects and schools are inadequate for the purpose. This is not because each of them may not contain a truth, but precisely because each of them does contain a truth; and is content to contain a truth. None of the others really pretends to contain the truth. None of the others, that is, really pretends to be looking out in all directions at once. The Church is not merely armed against the heresies of the past or even of the present, but equally against those of the future, that may be the exact opposite of those of the present. Catholicism is not ritualism; it may in the future be fighting some sort of superstitious and idolatrous exaggeration of ritual. Catholicism is not asceticism; it has again and again in the past repressed fanatical and cruel exaggerations of asceticism. Catholicism is not mere mysticism; it is even now defending human reason against the mere mysticism of the Pragmatists. Thus, when the world went Puritan in the seventeenth century, the Church was charged with pushing charity to the point of sophistry, with making everything easy with the laxity of the confessional. Now that the world is not going Puritan but Pagan, it is the Church that is everywhere protesting against a Pagan laxity in dress or manners. It is doing what the Puritans wanted done when it is really wanted. In all probability, all that is best in Protestantism will only survive in Catholicism; and in that sense all Catholics will still be Puritans when all Puritans are Pagans.

Thus, for instance, Catholicism, in a sense little understood, stands outside a quarrel like that of Darwinism at Dayton. It stands outside it because it stands all around it, as a house stands all around two incongruous pieces of furniture. It is no sectarian boast to say it is before and after and beyond all these things in all directions. It is impartial in a fight between the Fundamentalist and the theory of the Origin of Species, because it goes back to an origin before that Origin; because it is more fundamental than Fundamentalism. It knows where the Bible came from. It also knows where most of the theories of Evolution go to. It knows there were many other Gospels besides the Four Gospels, and that the others were only eliminated by the authority of the Catholic Church. It knows there are many other evolutionary theories besides the Darwinian theory; and that the latter is quite likely to be eliminated by later science. It does not, in the conventional phrase, accept the conclusions of science, for the simple reason that science has not concluded. To conclude is to shut up; and the man of science is not at all likely to shut up. It does not, in the conventional phrase, believe what the Bible says, for the simple reason that the Bible does not say anything. You cannot put a book in the witness-box and ask it what it really means. The Fundamentalist controversy itself destroys Fundamentalism. The Bible by itself cannot be a basis of agreement when it is a cause of disagreement; it cannot be the common ground of Christians when some take it allegorically and some literally. The Catholic refers it to something that can say something, to the living, consistent, and continuous mind of which I have spoken; the highest mind of man guided by God.

Every moment increases for us the moral necessity for such an immortal mind. We must have something that will hold the four corners of the world still, while we make our social experiments or build our Utopias. For instance, we must have a final agreement, if only on the truism of human brotherhood, that will resist some reaction of human brutality. Nothing is more likely just now than that the corruption of representative government will lead to the rich breaking loose altogether, and trampling on all the traditions of equality with mere pagan pride. We must have the truisms everywhere recognized as true. We must prevent mere reaction and the dreary repetition of the old mistakes. We must make the intellectual world safe for democracy. But in the conditions of modern mental anarchy, neither that nor any other ideal is safe. just as Protestants appealed from priests to the Bible, and did not realize that the Bible also could be questioned, so republicans appealed from kings to the people, and did not realize that the people also could be defied. There is no end to the dissolution of ideas, the destruction of all tests of truth, that has become possible since men abandoned the attempt to keep a central and civilized Truth, to contain all truths and trace out and refute all errors. Since then, each group has taken one truth at a time and spent the time in turning it into a falsehood. We have had nothing but movements; or in other words, monomanias. But the Church is not a movement but a meeting-place; the trysting-place of all the truths in the world.

Additional Info

Author: G.K. Chesterton

G.K. Chesterton. "Why I Am A Catholic." From Twelve Modern Apostles and Their Creeds (1926).

Reprinted in The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton , Vol. 3 Ignatius Press 1990.

Publisher: Columbia
Alternate: http://catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0075.html

Please show your appreciation by making a $3 donation . CERC is entirely reader supported.

Acknowledgement

Subscribe to our Weekly Update

See the latest CERC E-Letter

Interested in keeping Up to date?

Our apostolate relies on your donations. Your gifts are tax deductible in the United States and Canada.

Give $5.00 (USD)

Give Monthly $5.00 (USD)

Give Monthly $13.00 (USD)

Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project

Columbian College of Arts & Sciences

Document Type Abbreviations
Repository and Source Abbreviations
Fellowships & Internships
News & Events
Support ERPP
Walking Tour: Eleanor Roosevelt's Washington
Works by Eleanor Roosevelt
Reading Eleanor Roosevelt's Handwriting
Glossary: The People in Eleanor Roosevelt's World
A Short Biography of Eleanor Roosevelt
Historical Introduction
Aids to Reading the Documents
Browse the JFK Documents
Editorial Method
Browse If You Ask Me Columns
Search If You Ask Me Columns
Browse My Day Columns
Search My Day Columns
My Day Index
The Pond's Dance Program
The Simmons Program
Americans of Tomorrow
It's a Woman's World
Talks by Mrs. Roosevelt
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt's Own Program
Over Our Coffee Cups
The Eleanor & Anna Roosevelt Program
Today With Mrs. Roosevelt
Mrs. Roosevelt Meets the Public
The Eleanor Roosevelt Program
Prospects of Mankind
Touring the British Homefront (1942)
In the South Pacific War Zone (1943)
Postwar Europe: A Haunting Horror (1946)
Europe Again: A Magna Carta for All Mankind (1948)
Travelling Around the World (1952)
Promoting Democracy in Japan (1953)
The Long Way Home (1953)
On Soviet Soil (1957)
Audio Materials
Miscellaneous Documents
Universal Search
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Volume 1
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Volume 2
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Volume 3
Resources for Teachers

What Religion Means to Me

Catholic World Today

You asked: What does the Catholic faith mean to you?

Why is your catholic faith important to you.

Being Catholic to me means serving the less fortunate , doing the right thing even though sometimes you don’t want too and allowing others to be who they are without passing judgment. It means I have the freedom to speak to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit or say a “Hail Mary” whenever I feel the need to.

What does Catholic religion mean to me essay?

To be a Catholic means to have complete faith in God and his divine grace . Having God’s divine grace means to obey it and keep it holy as it was created by God and given to his people. The religion itself is based on this and the people take it very seriously. … Catholics are a Christian sect and believe in one God.

What is Catholic faith?

Roman Catholicism

Objectively, faith is the sum of truths revealed by God in Scripture and tradition and which the Church presents in a brief form in its creeds . Subjectively, faith stands for the habit or virtue by which these truths are assented to.

What does it mean to be Catholic in today’s world?

As members of the Catholic Church in today’s world, believers are called upon to share their faith with the wider community . The beginning of Catholic belief is God’s revelation. … We believe that God loves us and desires to be in relationship with his creation.

How do you explain the catholic faith?

Catholics are, first and foremost, Christians who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Catholicism shares some beliefs with other Christian practices, but essential Catholic beliefs include the following: The Bible is the inspired, error-free, and revealed word of God .

What does catholic mean and why is it important?

It simply means that body of Christian believers over the world who agree in their religious views , and accept the same ecclesiastical forms.

What religion means to me?

“Religion means that you are faithful to what you believe in . For me, being a Christian is hard because there are a lot of sacrifices being made, a lot of temptations, but I still believe in my religion because he never failed me before and I’ve been through a lot at such a young age.

What are some Catholic values?

The following are several of the key themes that are at the heart of our Catholic social tradition.

Life and Dignity of the Human Person. …
Call to Family, Community, and Participation. …
Rights and Responsibilities. …
Preferential Option for the Poor. …
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers. …
Solidarity.

What makes you a Catholic?

A Catholic is anyone who has been baptized , whether or not they want to be Catholic. This needs to be amended for a technical point, baptism alone does not make you a member of the Catholic Church even if it unites (incorporates) you into the Church. Technically, provided you have been baptised, you are a Catholic.

What role does faith play in your life?

Faith isn’t just a notion that some people hold onto in tough times; faith is an important element to all human life on earth. … Faith is what helps to get us through, illuminating the pathway in times of darkness , helping to give us strength in times of weakness. Without faith, we are nothing.

How does faith impact your life?

Authentic faith influences our small, daily decisions about how we behave , like our attitude when driving and how we treat our families. But it also influences the big choices that we make about our life: the house we buy, how we use our money, where we send our children to school.

Why is faith a human act?

Now the act of faith (credere) is itself an act of the intellect that assents to divine truth at the command of the will , which is moved by God through grace; and so the act of faith is subject to free choice in relation to God. Hence, the act of faith can be meritorious.

What does it mean to live a Catholic life?

CARROLL: Well, it means that you live the life of the Catholic community . Most especially it means that you attend the sacraments, especially the mass. … Many former Catholics still understand themselves in relationship to something they used to be.

Recommended for you

What being catholic means to me, you know the things catholics are tired of hearing from others. now know the things catholics want to be sharing with others..

You may have seen other articles about “Things Catholics are Tired of Hearing” or you may have simply heard such things said among conversations in society today. I feel like nowadays as Catholics we constantly have to defend our faith, constantly have to explain our faith, and constantly have to correct others’ misconceptions of our faith

Well, I simply want to share my faith. Not to convince you or convert you, but simply to share with you what all of these Catholic traditions and beliefs mean to me, personally. This is not the church's textbook definition or a biblical explanation. This is my description of what living as a Catholic means in my own personal life.

Being Catholic means...

That I get to ask the Saints to pray for me when I'm in need of some extra support. These Saints are people just like me who had to face some of the same experiences and temptations that I do.They are the people I can ask for help, support, and prayers, and the people I can look to when I need an example of what a strong faith and relationship with Christ looks like. They are the ultimate role models.

I have the rosary to help me fall into a state of peace and prayer. The rosary is not simply prayer repetition, but prayerful meditation. It’s when I can sit there and think about whatever I need to, knowing that God is there in that state of peace and prayer with me.

I have a daily reminder to do good in the world because it is my responsibility to not only spread the Word, but to live the Word. While Christ died for us to be with Him in Heaven, He did not make the path to Heaven easy. He filled it with challenges and opportunities to do good in honor of Him. We cannot simply take life for granted the gift of life He has given to us. We must live out what He taught us, to love and care for one another through prayer and good deeds.

That I have a special prayer, the Sign of the Cross, that can be said at any time for any reason. When I'm scared and need to ask for peace and strength, when I hear an ambulance rushing by, when I simply want to pray before a meal. Anytime, for any reason. In just a few seconds, I am calling God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit to be with me or with whoever it is I am praying for in that moment.

I have the Blessed Virgin Mary as a woman I can look up to and honor. Just as she loved her son unconditionally, she loves me, her child, unconditionally. She is the woman who said yes to God even though she was afraid, and she is the one I can look to whenever I am unsure of what God has planned for my life. She is the one who gives me strength and confidence in His plan for me.

I go through the actions of standing, sitting, and kneeling to glorify the Lord every time I go to church. When I stand, I rise in honor of Him out of respect for someone I love. When I sit, I am listening to what He is telling me and reflecting on His message in my heart. When I kneel, I am acknowledging that Christ is my King. We are not nearly worthy enough for Him, and yet He welcomes us in anyways. He deserves to be worshiped and adored mentally, emotionally, and physically because He is truly the King of Kings.

That I have the humbling experience of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which I must vocally admit that I have done wrong in front of Him. It is not just for me to feel better about myself, it is for me to apologize and ask for His forgiveness because His love and mercy is not to be abused or assumed. It is a privilege that we have been blessed with that should still be respected and asked for.

That I get to attend the celebration of the Mass. It is so much more than simply singing songs and listening to what somebody has to say. The Mass is a celebration of the Eucharist. It is the opportunity for me to hear His word, to feel His presence, and to receive Him in the most spiritually intimate way. It is a constant prayer. It is not a service to remind me of how to act or what to believe, but a time to glorify and worship Him.

That I can come face to face with Christ through Eucharistic Adoration. I can feel Him there, staring back into my eyes and into my heart. It is an experience and a feeling like no other where I lose track of time and of the world around me. I am simply too busy adoring Him, speaking with Him, and feeling Him there with me. It's a state of peace, prayer, and presence that can't be described or compared to anything else.

That I receive Him in the most beautiful and selfless way, through the Eucharist. It is Him, in the flesh. It is Him and His own blood. It is His way of saying "I am with you" in more than just a metaphorical sense. He is physically with me. It is one of the most difficult concepts to explain or understand, and yet that is exactly why it is the most important thing to me. It is a personal experience that can only be felt to be fully understood. Sitting here now trying to write this I cannot find the words to give it justice. It is more than words can describe because it is a feeling. It's like trying to explain love. No words will ever amount to exactly how you feel. Well think of it like this: receiving the Eucharist is the most beautiful and epic feeling of love that was ever created.

Some of these things may not make complete sense to a person who is not familiar with the Catholic faith, and that is okay. There are lots of articles and people who could explain the traditions and beliefs in a textbook definition or biblical explanation. However, these words were not meant to explain those things. These words were meant to describe the experience and depth behind what it truly means to me to be Catholic.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

27 hidden joys, appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures..

Life is full of many wonderful pleasures that many of us, like myself, often forget about. And it's important to recognize that even on bad days, good things still happen. Focusing on these positive aspects of our day-to-day lives can really change a person's perspective. So in thinking about the little things that make so many of us happy , I've here's a list of some of the best things that often go unrecognized and deserve more appreciation:

1. Sun showers

3. tight hugs, 4. discovering new foods you like., 5. laying in bed after a long day., 6. and being completely relaxed, 7. "this reminded me of you", 8. breakfast foods, 9. over-sized clothes, 10. contagious laughs, 11. car rides with that one person, 12. random (i miss you/ i love you) texts, 13. the city at night, 14. surprises, 15. blanket cocoons, 16. good hair days, 17. really good coffee, 18. days where you're in a good mood naturally and for no particular reason, 19. conquering a fear, 20. when they give you a lot of guac at chipotle, 21. being so comfortable with someone that you can literally talk about anything, 22. home-cooked meals, 23. tattoo stories, 24. leaves changing color in fall, 25. butterflies in your stomach, 26. peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, 27. when you can't stop laughing, cool off with these 8 beers.

Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports ... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

Coors Light Summer Brew:

This summer shandy begins this list, it's a mix of lemon, lime and orange. While this is by no means a craft beer, it still has it place as a refreshing summer brew to enjoy.

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Solid choice for any summer get together, great taste with a hint of citrus.

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Distinctly reminds me of Fruity Pebbles, but nonetheless is a wonderful summer beer.

Want to know more about beer?

Summertime is the perfect time for beer, and that's why International Beer Day is on August 2nd. Our community has you covered with more stories about beer, including:

The Benefits of Drinking Beer : Let us count the ways. There are more than you might think.
Delicious Beer Substitutes : Is beer not typically your thing? Try one of these instead.
Unique Beer Flavors to Try : Whether it's hard apple cider or the tase of wild blueberries, these are great options.
If College Majors Were Beers : Business, sports medicine, design – there's a beer for every major.

Sam Adams Summer Ale

Sam Adams is known for their traditional Boston Lager, but their Summer Ale is damn good.

Hell or High Watermelon

Made with real watermelon, not much is more summer-esque than juicy watermelon in July.

Blue Moon Summer Honey

I love me some Blue Moon, so the summer brew is a no-brainer on this list.

LandShark Lager

Fun fact: LandShark is owned by Anheuser-Busch, and is more commonly know as the signature drink of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.

Obviously Corona had to take the number one spot. To me, there's nothing more refreshing than a cold Corona with lime on a hot summer day.

So whether you're on a sandy beach, a fishing boat, or at a pool, just remember what our dear friend Jack Nicholson said, "Beer, it's the best damn drink in the world."

Drink responsibly and never drink and drive.

7 Reasons SoCal Rocks!

75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?

SoCal summers are the best summers by far, and honestly, no argument is needed. But, if you aren't sure why SoCal summers are the best, here are 7 reasons why!

Perfect Weather

You'll get an effortless tan.

Being outside is inevitable when the weather is this nice, so slap on some low SPF and enjoy the perfect weather as you become a bronzed beach babe!

You can exercise with a view

Who said working on your summer bod has to stop when summer starts? In SoCal there are hundreds of gorgeous hiking trails in the mountains or on the cliffs overlooking the beach, so maintaining your summer bod is easy on the eyes and a lot less of a drag!

You don't have to worry about bug bites

The likelihood of you getting bit by a bug is slim, so you don't have to worry about smelling like bug spray whenever you want to go outside.

In n Out all day, every day

No explanation needed.

We have outdoor concerts

At the county fair or on the beach, summertime means outdoor concerts with good music and great friends.

We live where people vacation

We're lucky enough to live in paradise and we don't take that for granted. We take advantage of our sunsets on the beach and backyard staycation without spending a pretty penny on visiting somewhere that isn't nearly as perfect as SoCal. We're pretty spoiled.

25 Lyrics for Selfie Captions

Because let's be honest, we all use lyrics..

Sometimes you can't think of the perfect caption for your Instagram post. I love using lyrics as my captions because there's so many great lines in songs that just seem to fit in the moment . Here are some lyrics that could work for your selfie or pictures of you with your friends!

1. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It's where my demons hide.”

Imagine Dragons, Demons

2. “Tonight, we are young.”

Fun., We Are Young

3. “Cuz I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it.”

Rihanna, S&M

4. “Tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame.”

Justin Timberlake, Summer Love

5. “I can’t wait to fall in love with you, you can’t wait to fall in love with me.”

6. “sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with no makeup on.”.

Drake, Best I Ever Had

7. “Why you so obsessed with me?”

Mariah Carey, Obsessed

8. “We ain’t ever getting older.”

The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey, Closer

9. “I didn’t know that I was starving until I tasted you.”

Haille Steinfeld, Starving

10. “Didn’t they tell you I’m a savage?"

Rihanna, Needed Me

11. “I’m gonna make you miss me.”

Sam Hunt, Make You Miss Me

12. "Cheers to the freakin weekend.”

Rihanna, Cheers

13. “Love’s a game. Wanna play?”

Taylor Swift , Blank Space

14. “You don’t know about me, but I bet you want to.”

Taylor Swift, 22

15. “Let’s set each other’s lonely nights, Be each other’s paradise.”

Justin Bieber, Company

16. “Trippin’ on skies, sippin’ waterfalls."

Troye Sivan, Youth

17. “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days.”

Twenty One Pilots, Stressed Out

18. “But you will remember me for centuries.”

Fall Out Boy , Centuries

19. “Something about you makes me feel like a dangerous woman."

Ariana Grande, Dangerous Woman

20. “Don’t act like it’s a bad thing to fall in love with me.”

Justin Timberlake, Not A Bad Thing

21. “Darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.”

Taylor Swift, Blank Space

22. “Find me where the wild things are.”

Alessia Cara, Wild Things

23. “I’m high on lovin’ you.”

Florida Georgia Line, H.O.L.Y.

24. “If you’re gonna be somebody’s heartbreak, somebody’s mistake, if you’re gonna be somebody’s first time, somebody’s last time, be mine.”

Hunter Hayes, Somebody's Heartbreak

25. “Don’t be afraid to take the road less traveled on.”

Lauren Alaina, Road Less Traveled

Bruce Springsteen's Top 7 Lyrics

Everything bruce says in his classic rock songs..

Anyone who was born and raised in New Jersey (or anywhere really) knows of Bruce Springsteen, whether or not they like him is a whole other situation. I hope that his hundreds of classic rock songs and famous high energy performances, even in his sixties he can put on better concerts than people half his age, are at least recognizable to people of all ages. Love him or hate him (I identify with the former) you have to admit that some of his songs and interviews have inspirational quotes and lyrics.

Want to know more about Bruce Springsteen?

One of the great American artists of all time, Bruce Springsteen has had a profound impact on the music world. Our community has you covered with more about him:

How I Learned To Love Bruce Springsteen : It was an acquired taste, and here's exactly what made him stand out.
4 Of My Favorite Songs From 'The Boss', Bruce Springsteen : He has so many hits, but these are the best of the best.
18 Most Memorable Bruce Springsteen Lyrics : "Ain't no sin to be glad you're alive" and many more!
Bruce Springsteen: To Lose Your Audience : He's dabbled into political music, so no surprise that can be divisive.

Here are a few of Bruce Springsteen's most memorable song lyrics because whether you're a die hard fan who named your dog after the man (I totally did that) or you have other opinions, you have to admit that some of his lyrics are on point:

1. "Talk about a dream Try to make it real You wake up in the night With a fear so real Spend your life waiting For a moment that just don't come Well don't waste your time waiting." (Badlands)

This is one of my personal favorites. Maybe it is a little lengthy, but it really hits on some major points.

2. "It's a town full of losers/ I'm pulling out of here to win" (Thunder Road)

Maybe this only resonates with people who hate their hometown (which is most college students I know). However, I once watched an interview where Lady Gaga said that this was the lyric that inspired her to become a musician. Which is pretty cool if you ask me.

3. "You've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above" (Tunnel of Love)

It's the Bruce Springsteen version of "if you can't beat them, join them."

4. "I got something in my heart / I been waitin' to give/ I got a life I wanna start/ One I been waitin' to live" (Leah)

For some reason, I have always loved this less popular song.

5. “God have mercy on the man/ Who doubts what he’s sure of” (Brilliant Disguise)

This had to be included because this is my favorite Bruce Springsteen song, but it is also a solid quote.

6. “Well everybody’s got a hunger, a hunger they can’t resist/ There’s so much that you want, you deserve much more than this/ Well, if dreams came true, aw, wouldn’t that be nice?/ But this ain’t no dream, we’re living all through the night/ You want it? You take it, you pay the price” (Prove it All Night)

Maybe it is not one of my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs, but this lyric is still powerful.

7. “Is a dream a lie when it don’t come true, or is it something worse?” (The River)

"The River" is another one of my favorite songs, it has so many quotable lyrics. This is just one of them.

Top Creators

1. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society 2. Radhi, SUNY Stony Brook 3. Kristen Haddox , Penn State University 4. Jennifer Kustanovich , SUNY Stony Brook 5. Clare Regelbrugge , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

BU students, faculty, and staff reflect on the intimate role religion, prayer, and meditation play in their daily life

Cydney scott, bu today staff.

Boston University began as a Methodist seminary, the Newbury Biblical Institute, in Newbury, Vt., in 1839. And since its beginnings in Boston in 1869 as Boston University, it has been open to people of all sexes and all religions, many who carve out time from their daily studies and work to find moments to pray, meditate, and reflect.

BU photographer Cydney Scott has long wanted to capture the many ways members of the BU community express their faith.

“One of the great things about being a photographer is that I have the privilege of stepping into aspects of life that are unfamiliar to me,” Scott says. “Religious faith is one of them. Religion and faith give people solace, guidance, and a sense of community, among other things.”

Last fall BU Today invited members of the BU community to reach out to Scott directly, and within days, she had heard from people who identified as Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, and more. She photographed almost 20 people in their homes, at work, and out of doors as they practiced their respective faith traditions. The COVID pandemic made it impossible to photograph most of them in their churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship, so instead, Scott sought to capture each one in ways that reflect how they pray, worship, and integrate their faith into their daily lives. Each participant also wrote a short essay describing what their faith means to them.

The resulting photos are deeply personal and intimate, speaking to the breadth and diversity of the BU community and the myriad ways people observe and celebrate faith in their lives.

Emily Mantz (Sargent’21,’23), Christian

Emily Manz (SAR’23) says grace over her dinner in her Stuvi2 apartment. A tan young woman with black curly hair bows her head over her clasped hands as she sits at her desk in her dorm room.

“There are many ways that I practice my faith on a daily basis. I try not to keep my faith in a box, and instead try to integrate it into everything I do. I was raised by not one but two pastors, so growing up saying grace before eating has always been a part of my day. During my undergraduate years I was heavily involved with BU’s Inner Strength Gospel Choir. While I’m no longer quite so involved, I still find singing and music to be one of the best ways for me to connect with the Lord. I attend church every Sunday and volunteer at the nursery there as well. Finally, I pray and read my Bible every day, twice a day. This allows me to dig a bit deeper into the teachings of God as well as talk to Him about my day, things I’m struggling with and things (or people) who need to be prayed for.

“To me, my faith is my lifeline. I have probably gone to church every Sunday since the day I was born, and while church itself is a huge part of my life, my personal relationship with Jesus is really what has gotten me through these past five years of college. Whenever I’m struggling, I know I can talk to Him and He will always be there with me. Not to mention the friends He has placed in my life to help me along the way. As Christians, we are really called to live out our faith so that other people can get to know Jesus through us. I try to exude that by upholding values of kindness, forgiveness, and patience in all aspects of my life, no matter how hard it may be.”

Aimee Mein (COM’22), Buddhist

A photo of Aimee Mein (COM’22) meditating in her room. A white woman wearing a dark blue cami and pants sits with legs crossed and hands placed in her lap.

“My faith is the lens through which I see the world. My perspective on life completely shifted after studying Buddhism and incorporating Buddhist practices into my everyday experiences. Every moment has become an opportunity for mindfulness, things that used to cause me anxiety are calmed by a newfound belief system. Even my struggles with mental health have improved. Most importantly, my faith means a sense of peace with the universe and compassion for all beings.”

Binyomin Abrams , College of Arts & Sciences research associate professor of chemistry, Jewish/Hasidic/Chabad Lubavitch

Photo of Rabbi Binyomin Abrams, left, learning the Torah with Rafael Kriger (CAS’22) in his Metcalf Science Center office. A Jewish man with a long beard and wearing a yarmulke sits on the other side of a desk and faces a younger Jewish man also wearing a yarmulke. The Torah sits between them

“I’m Jewish, specifically a Lubavitcher (Chabad) chossid. Jewish faith is synonymous with Jewish practice—doing acts of goodness and kindness (mitzvahs) and working towards refining the world around us. One of the most special and meaningful things that we do is to learn Torah, which brings meaning to my faith through intellectual, spiritual, and practical guidance on how to improve ourselves and transform the world for the better.”

Martha Schick (STH’22), United Church of Christ

Photo of Martha Schick (MDiv’22) lighting a candle in Gordon Chapel. A white woman with short hair wearing a mask lights a candle with a long match in a darkened chapel

“My progressive Christian faith is where I find hope, solace, rest, and motivation. In our world, which is both broken and beautiful, the story of Jesus Christ and the stories of the ancestors of our faith are where I can look to make sense of things. I often come away with more questions than answers, but my church community welcomes my wrestling and makes my faith stronger because of it. In studying to become a pastor, I am both empowered to bring my full self to ministry and humbled to remember that the Holy Spirit is working through me. As a queer woman pursuing ordination, I also know that my very presence in the leadership of a church is a symbol and example of God’s love and calling for all people.”

Muhammad Zaman , College of Engineering professor of biomedical engineering and of materials science and engineering and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Muslim

Photo of Professor Muhammad Zaman during Zuhr (noon) prayers at the ISBU prayer room in GSU. a man wearing a white mask kneels on an ornate rug with hands in prayer in front of him.

“I am a practicing Muslim and consider my faith as a driver for my work. In particular, the emphasis of Islam on humanity, social justice, welfare, and human dignity has a profound effect on my work to provide equitable access to healthcare among refugees, migrants, stateless persons, and the forcibly displaced all around the world.”

Chloe McLaughlin (STH’22), United Methodist Church

Photo of Chloe McLaughlin standing with hands wide as she stands at a wooden podium in Marsh Chapel.

“Faith has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up attending church, going to youth group, and spending my summers at church camp. At the end of this semester, I will be lucky enough to have two degrees that focus on religion and this faith that is so integral to who I am. In the long run, I think I have always been drawn to faith, specifically Christian faith, because I believe it informs my sincere commitment to justice, equity, and mercy. Over the last three years, as I have worshiped at Marsh Chapel, I have seen kindred commitments in action. The chaplains and staff are genuine, courageous, and willing conversation partners on difficult topics in the church and the world. I have been mentored, encouraged, and challenged by the staff and community at Marsh, and I am so grateful.”

Mich’lene Davis (SSW’25), Christian/Pentecostal

Photo of the Davis family. A Black man reads the bible to his wife and three children, two of which are seated on a sofa beside him

“‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). The wind blows, no one can see it, but you feel it and know that it is there. We practice a blind faith every single day of our lives without consciously knowing that we are doing it. We have ‘faith’ that the chair we sit in will support our weight and not send us tumbling to the floor in an embarrassing manner. We place ‘faith’ in our vehicles that they will get us from point A to point B without having some catastrophic failure or breakdown that will leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere. As a Christian, my faith is my lifeline, like an umbilical cord to an unborn child. Everything I believe about God and His one and only son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is what feeds my mind, soul, and spirit. I have faith to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross via crucifixion, but rose again three days later, and because of this I no longer will have to face an eternal death, but will instead have eternal life with Him in heaven. I have personally benefited from and have witnessed answered prayers that had no natural explanation for how they were answered. My daily life consists of me worshiping and praising Him through the music I listen to and sing. Reading and meditating on His Word (the Bible) helps me to remember to whom I belong and helps me to strive to be a better person each day.”

Caitlyn Wise (Sargent’23), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Photo of Caitlyn Wise (SAR’23), a young white white woman with long blonde hair, sitting in a chair amidst a circle of chairs all facing the center.

“Faith gives me the confidence to live courageously each day. Through prayer and scripture study, the knowledge and power I receive from my faith allows me to look for ways to serve and learn from those around me. Whether it is me praying for guidance in my studies or me applying principles of kindness and compassion in the BU community, my faith gives me a source of strength in my everyday life.”

Adit Mehta (CAS’22), Jainism

Photo of Adit Mehta, a tan man with black hair and beard, sitting cross-legged and wearing a white top and pants, on the floor in his room. He reads a book using the light from the window.

“I was brought up in a Jain household and always had it around me, but in college, separated from my parents, I’ve explored my faith and consciously made decisions to follow ahimsa (nonviolence), aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and anekantavada (multiplicity of viewpoints), the three As of Jainism. In college I’ve also been able to find a community among members of Jains in Voice and Action , the BU Jain club, and the Young Jains of America . My faith means making active choices to reduce harm to others and the environment. It’s less about praying and more about reflecting on my actions and choices during Samayik, 48 minutes of meditation. My faith makes it possible for me to understand myself and how I affect and can help others.”

Zowie Rico (CAS’23), Lunar Witchcraft

Photo of Zowie Rico (CAS’23), a white woman dressed in orange overalls, as she reads her Tarot and Prism Oracle cards in her Stuvi2 apartment

“My spirituality is something very new for me. I started my journey in July of 2020, during the latter half of quarantine. Before that, I wasn’t really a spiritual person. Now, however, I use my spirituality to guide me through many aspects of my life. It’s a way for me to connect with my inner self and actively work to become one with the energies around me. It’s also helped me with my anxiety, as it’s given me a lot of coping mechanisms to use throughout my life, like grounding and meditation.

“My spirituality is a part of many aspects of my daily life. It manifests itself in everything from making my smoothie in the mornings to doing affirmations while stirring my coffee to using my intuition for many of my decisions each day. I am so happy that I’ve been able to incorporate my practice into my daily life because it helps center me each day and provides comfort during hard times.”

Jewel Cash, BU Summer Term program manager, Christian

Photo of 7 Black women seated and holding hands around a rectangular dining table with an assortment of food on it

“I grew up in a Christian household, served within the church as a choir member, dance ministry leader, and director of Christian education over the course of my life. My faith has always been an important part of my life. As a child I remember my mother sending me to church by myself to ensure my relationship with God would grow during a season in which she was sick and could not go herself. During college it was important for me to go back to attend youth bible studies so I could understand more about the Bible. As a professional, I remember interviewing at BU, being asked, ‘What do you do to manage stress?’ and surprisingly responding without hesitation ‘Pray. In overwhelming times I may take a deep breath, evaluate the situation, and pray to recenter myself. So if you see me step away to the restroom for a longer time, I may be praying so I can come back ready to tackle the problem as my best self.’

“My religious faith means a lot to me. That there is purpose in my being, that I do not walk alone through life, that I have a community of believers who I can fellowship with, that I am to be a positive example to others of what my God calls me to be, and in short, that all that I have is all that I need to be my best self and live life fully and abundantly, for I am blessed and favored in a special way. It means I am not perfect, but as I pray, praise, and push, I am progressing. It means, as the Bible says, I have been given a spirit of power, love, and sound mind, and with these three things I can make a difference in the world and encourage others to do the same.”

Ray Joyce (Questrom’91), STH assistant dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Catholic

Photo of Ray Joyce, a white man with gray hair and black glasses, reading a daily devotional in his West Acton home.

“My faith really means everything to me. It’s how I live through each day, the good and the bad. In the current political climate, I find it’s essential to keep centered. For example, when I hear people who are eligible, but refuse to get the COVID vaccine to protect themselves and others, a part of me wants to say: ‘Then let them die,’ but I know that’s wrong. As it happens, today’s reading in the Bible from 1 Corinthians 3:16 includes the words ‘…and the Spirit of God dwells in you.’ As my daily reflection from Terence Hegarty (editor of Living with Christ) states ‘…not only does the Spirit of God dwell in us , but in everyone …’ So I hold onto that and try to understand where someone might be coming from to reach such a conclusion as to refuse a potentially lifesaving vaccination. I act where I can to help others and our planet while also waiting with anticipation for better days ahead with a renewed sense of hope.”

Mary Choe (CAS’24), Baptist

Photo of Mary Choe (CAS’24), an Asian woman wearing a black mask, as she reads her daily scriptures in a cafe

“Hebrews 11 states: ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ For me, faith is not some distant feeling, but a series of beliefs that lead to concrete actions. My beliefs are based on the words of life, light, and love I read in the Bible. Much like life itself, faith is hardly easy or linear. I have times of doubt, because admittedly, it’s difficult to go against the flow of campus life. And since God is invisible, I often get distracted by the instant gratification of the here and now. I’m realizing more and more, however, that even my faith is less about me than about the object of my faith—which is not a concept or an idea, but God embodied in flesh, Jesus Christ. My relationship with Jesus is what makes my faith dynamic, filled with joys and sorrows, highs and lows, times of peace and serenity, along with fears, failures, and more than a little drama. But I take comfort in knowing I’m not on this journey alone. I have a cloud of witnesses walking before me and with me and many more examples of faith who’ve already walked this pilgrim journey. Living by faith is not a loud, showy display, but an assured, hopeful way of being. My hope is that I, too, can finish the journey of faith well and experience victory in Jesus Christ!”

Swati Gupta (SDM’23), Hindu

Photo of Swati Gupta (GSDM’23), a brown woman with neck-length black hair, in her prayer/meditation space in her Boston home. She holds a cup made of copper and has head bowed as multi-colored candles are lit in the space.

“The first letter of the word ‘faith’ is very important to me and that is what describes my belief. For me, ‘f’ stands for flaw. In our sacred book, Bhagwad Geeta , it has been suggested that being human also means being flawed. Lord Krishna says that humans will make mistakes because that is a part of their Karma. A person should not be merely judged by their act, but by the intent behind that act. For example, if a lie is said with an intent of harming someone, it is equivalent to 100 lies, but if that one lie saved an innocent person’s life, then that lie is equivalent to 100 truths. I am not a religious person who goes to the temple every week or worships every day, because religion to me is not an act of worship, but an act of becoming a better person. My faith teaches me to make mistakes, be judgmental, have emotions of anger, but at the same time learn from those mistakes and accept if any wrongdoing was done. Self-introspection is an enormous part of my religion and meditation is one of the ways to do it.”

Kristen Hydinger (STH’15), ordained minister and research fellow, Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute, Baptist

Photo of Rev. Kristen Hydinger, a white woman with brown hair and wearing a blue jacket, walking down a Boston street. Trees and leaves around her reflect Autumn in their color (yellow)

“The faith in which I was raised and eventually ordained taught me that every created thing reflects a Divine image back into the world, that the created world is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ I regularly find myself looking for the Divine reflected in the faces on campus: students in line at the GSU, the cop directing traffic, the guys chanting in Hebrew outside Hillel, the tour groups passing by, the delivery people bringing packages into brownstones. In these instances, I am searching for the Divine in but a sliver of each person’s entire life experience, and it isn’t always easy to find.”

Kristian C. Kohler (STH’25), ordained minister, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Photo of Kristian, a white man wearing a dark green and black plaid shirt, singing in the Marsh Chapel choir.

“As a Lutheran, faith to me is a bold trust in the amazing grace of God. In short, God is love. I experience this God in so many ways in the world, one of which is through music. Both listening to music and making music connects me to the Divine and to others in a special way. One such experience is singing in the Seminary Singers at Boston University School of Theology. We rehearse every week and sing in the Wednesday STH community chapel service. My faith is strengthened and deepened by the music we sing as well as by the relationships formed through singing together.”

Jonathan Allen (LAW’19), BUild Lab Innovator-in-Residence, Interfaith

Photo of Interfaith leader Jonathan Allen sitting on a long stone bench along the Charles River. The sun can be seen peaking from behind the buildings in the background for a scenic photo.

“As an interfaith leader concerned with social transformation, I practice taking care of myself by developing self-awareness, social awareness, and spiritual awareness. Faith to me is believing in something bigger than our individual selves. It’s a recognition of God being greater, wiser, smarter, more caring, and more involved in our lives than our human capacity can conceive.

“Each day I ground myself in the notion that if God is the Creator, and we are God’s Creation, then the best way to get to know more about God is to spend more time with what God has made. I believe that we need each other regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, educational level, religious background, or even political party.

“Irrespective of our religious affirmations, God’s love and heart for justice transcends doctrine. We have an obligation, a collective responsibility, to treat all living things with dignity and respect. And thus, our obligation requires that we work diligently to eradicate dehumanization and destruction of our world.”

Kayla Marks (Pardee’23), Jewish

Photo of Kayla Marks (Pardee’23), a Jewish woman with long brown hair, demonstrating the lighting of one candle and the reciting of a blessing. She holds a lit match as she prepares for the lighting.

“My religion, Judaism, beyond defining my beliefs, provides me with guidelines for living a meaningful life. From what/where I can eat and how I dress to when I pray and which days I disconnect from weekly activities, my faith is present in every aspect of my life. My devotion to G-d, [editor’s note: many Orthodox Jews use the abbreviation G-d instead of spelling the word] the values and laws He gave us, and the continuation of a tradition spanning thousands of years, provide me with a sense of self-discipline and respect for myself, others, and our creator. Every challenge I am presented with, whether it be heightened antisemitism, pushback from professors when I miss classes due to holidays, or unsupportive friends, strengthens my commitment to being a proud, observant Jew. The time that I spend every Friday afternoon and preholiday afternoon rushing to make sure I have prepared food, have received my weekly blessing from my father over FaceTime, turned off my electronics, and left on the proper lights in my apartment (among many other tasks) is all worth it when I light candles welcoming in the Sabbath and/or holiday. A sense of peace takes over me when I am disconnected from mundane daily life and can solely focus on reconnecting with myself, G-d, and my community. Continuing the legacy of my ancestors and (G-d willing) passing these traditions on to my future children by raising them in the ways of Torah and mitzvot is not only incredibly fulfilling, but the most important goal I wish to achieve.”

Explore Related Topics:

Photography
Share this story
13 Comments Add

Photojournalist

Cydney Scott has been a professional photographer since graduating from the Ohio University VisCom program in 1998. She spent 10 years shooting for newspapers, first in upstate New York, then Palm Beach County, Fla., before moving back to her home city of Boston and joining BU Photography. Profile

BU Today staff Profile

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 13 comments on Photo Essay: What My Faith Means to Me

Beautifully done Cydney and all!

Thank you for the article. Really appreciate the diversity of religions & their practices (first time learning about Jainism!). Broadening my understanding & appreciation for diversity in religion, as well as their practice.

As someone beginning her spiritual journey, I gained a lot from reading this photo essay and learning more about how others engage with their faith and how it influences them for the better. Thank you for showing me a window into these different lifestyles. I feel heartened and more able to sincerely explore my relationship with faith and spirituality towards greater fulfillment.

This is the best article I’ve ever photo essay I’ve read in some time. Beautiful images that capture the spiritual lives of BU’s community.

Thank you for this great article and touching photos. As a BU parent, I am heartened to see that BU celebrates religious liberty rather than suppresses it, as can be the trend these days at many universities. Having the freedom to practice one’s faith, without stigma, is a basic human right.

Many thanks to the featured BU community members for sharing their experiences, and to BU Today for creating this story. I really enjoyed it!

Tremendous piece—wonderful photos and wonderful essays. Thank you for sharing!

Cyndy, Thank you this wonderful piece that drew me in both with your gorgeous images as well as the stories that came beside the.

Beautiful Spiritual revelations lighting a dark and disturbed world!

When I was a student at B.U. I took Greek and Hebrew at the STH (CLA ’77). I am thrilled to open up the B.U. Website and explore this article by Cyndy Scott. Exploring the faith of B.U. people has broaden my experience. I had not heard of Jainism. Thank you for this. Now, I am an ordained Presbyterian minister now living in Canada. I will share this article with my congregation.

Thank you for such an inspiring and wholesome article. Keep up the amazing work!

I really enjoyed reading through this. I am pentecostal holiness myself. I grew up in the bible-belt (GA). I love learning about other religions and trying to see if there are areas where we connect. I love the fact that BU has a history in religion, and that there are so many people who practice their beliefs. I love reading how their religion(s) help them in their daily lives. #Diversity

Latest from BU Today

What’s hot in music this month: new albums, local concerts, photos of the month: a look back at july at bu, to do today: attend the annual feast of saint agrippina in the north end, to do today: free outdoor screening of godzilla 2000: millennium on the rose kennedy greenway, biden calls for supreme court reforms–but are there better options, pov: what is the “right” population for earth, and who should decide, has the us hit the “soft landing” of controlling inflation without a recession, was the shooting of donald trump “political violence” or something else, penny bishop, adolescent development scholar, appointed new dean of wheelock college, bu radiologist heads to the paris summer olympics, to do today: seaport sweat, to do today: watch 46 plays for america’s first ladies, who won the two free tickets to deadpool & wolverine tonight, to do today: catch a free outdoor screening of jaws at the anchor boston, bu’s framingham heart study gets new director, the rewards of working as rural docs, pov: sisterhood for the win, living with a rare disease, this recent grad is trying to help others like herself, to do today: kayaking on the charles river, to do today: central square farmers market.

Email Login

Subscribe to CE (It’s free)

CE in the News
Apologetics & Education
Art & Culture
Culture of Life
Food & Travel
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Marriage & Family
Prayer & Spirituality
Spiritual Warfare

The Importance of Community in Living Out Our Faith

“The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” by Rembrandt van Rijn (1633)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. (Romans 1:16)

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

A friend is a friend at all times, and a brother is born for the time of adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)

I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:20-21)

Where one alone may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together as one! (Psalm 133:1)

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18).

No one can deny the excitement of hearing a great homily or a teaching from someone who seems to know exactly how to bring out the meat of the Gospel and apply it directly to our lives. We leave the church or hall feeling filled, enthusiastic, and optimistic. Of course, the power is not just in the words spoken, but in the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) and the power of the cross of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) . But what happens a few weeks later when the words start to fade from memory? What happens when we face our mundane daily struggles and busyness?

Eloquent preaching and teaching is obviously better than dull exposition, and can inspire us, but what truly sustains us and deepens our faith in the long term as Catholic men is our faith community and the support of other brothers in Christ. Seeing other men staying faithful to prayer, seeing them at church or in our men’s group or our prayer group, walking with them as they grapple with suffering, praying with them as we all struggle against temptation—this is what solidifies our convictions and helps us live them out (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Proverbs 17:17).

The reason why a faith community is so powerful is that it follows the way God made us to live: not in isolation but in relationship (Psalm 133:1)! Through our faith community, we also learn the message of the cross as we see our brothers’ lives transformed by Jesus in the nitty gritty events of the day. Jesus is the Word made flesh, and in a similar way, the church is the teachings of Christ made flesh. It is us, his body, living out his word in our everyday lives. Remember that Jesus commanded us, before he went to the cross, to love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34) and he prayed that “they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us.” (John 17: 21).

Even though it may seem strange in our individualistic world, we truly do need each other if we want to grow in faith. We need the witness of other brothers in Christ. We need to see the way they live out his word. What’s more, they need the same thing from us! And most importantly, we need their prayers and support (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

If you really want to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, share your life with other Catholic men. Be counter-cultural and seek out fellowship (1 John 1:7). Share your struggles and prayers and hopes with them. Be ready to “rouse one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Join a faith-sharing men’s group in your parish. If there are no men’s groups in your parish, consider forming one — or join a Bible study and build relationships with other men.

As you stand shoulder to shoulder with other Catholic men, the message of the cross will penetrate deeper than you’ve ever known before and you will be “transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Then you will become a greater witness to this darkened and broken world.

“Lord Jesus, help me break down barriers within me so that I can live in fellowship with other Catholic men. Open my eyes to see my need for their support and prayers, and their need for my support and prayers – so that we may grow together as brothers in Christ.”

Many thanks to The Word Among Us ( www.wau.org ) for allowing me to adapt meditations in their monthly devotional magazine. Used with permission.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

Take some time to meditate and reflect on the Scriptures at the beginning of the article. What do you think God is trying to reveal to you through them?
As described in the article, have you ever listened to a homily or talk that inspired you when you first heard it, but within a few weeks its impact was gone? If so, why do you think that occurred?
What impact did the article, and the Scriptures referenced in the article, have on your understanding of the importance of Catholic men supporting one another as brothers in Christ? Why do you think this support is necessary?
What has been your experience in developing strong relationships with other Christian men? How has their support or prayers impacted your life?
If you are part of a Catholic men’s group, how has this impacted your life?
If you are not part of a Catholic men’s group, are you willing to join one? Are you willing to start one? Why or why not?
Take some time now to pray for a greater openness to sharing your faith, and your life, with other Catholic men. Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.

Maurice Blumberg is the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners , ( http://www.waupartners.org/ ), a ministry of The Word Among Us ( www.wau.org ) to the Military, Prisoners, and women with crisis pregnancies or who have had abortions. Maurice was also the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men ( http://www.nfcmusa.org/ ), for which he is currently a Trustee. He can be contacted at [email protected] or [email protected] .

By Maurice Blumberg

Subscribe to ce (it's free), more on catholic exchange.

Memorial of Saint John Vianney

Why I’ll Never Remove My Scapular Again

I Am the Bread of Life: Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Go to Catholic Exchange homepage

Adeodatus | The Renewal of Catholic Education feat. Dr. Alex Lessard

The Vocation of Consecrated Virginity | feat. Mary Beth Bracy

Modern Miracles at Lourdes | feat. Marlene Watkins

Religion: What Does Religion Mean to You?

—Senior Sophia Hyver

Towards other beliefs, I’m so accepting. I think some people do this thing where I’m right, you’re wrong. People like things in black and white, and I think religion is a gray area. Of course everyone believes that their religion is the right one, and I understand and respect that, but I’m not sure that there’s one right answer to every question.”

—Senior Meghan McDermott

Religion to me shouldn’t dictate your life, it should give your life a purpose, and a sense of faith, and happiness, and optimism, but it shouldn’t be your entire life. It shouldn’t interfere with other portions of your life.

Growing up in the Bay Area, religion is not a big part of most people’s lives and I didn’t really understand how beautiful it could be until I went to a conference in North Carolina this summer. I woke up at five a.m. to go to church. I’ve never done that, it was something different.. You get there and realize that it’s about faith, it’s about optimism, it’s about feeling a purpose in your life, it’s about believing in something and it’s about making yourself the best person you can be .”

—Sophomore Julia Khan

—Sophomore Hunter Lai

Atheism is not a big factor in my personal life, as after all it requires no prayer or spiritual thought, but whenever religion comes up as a subject, what else am I supposed to say besides what I am? I just hope that someday, in those sorts of discussions, people will come in with a truthful understanding of what atheism is and what it isn’t.”

—Junior Ben Gardner-Gill

— Sophomore Amy Spruill

—Senior Saumalama Lulio

“Wicca is a really free, nature based religion that incorporates witchcraft into its practices. It’s really open, and it’s basically live how you want to as long as it’s not hurting anybody else. And I like that. I think that it’s a good way to live. It’s not like black magic, like sacrificing goats and stuff like that. Most of it is mental, it’s not physical. You’re trying to make yourself feel better. So you can do potions and chants.You’re not making things appear, you’re trying trying to make the space around you – [to] make you feel like it’s a good space. It’s very metaphysical. I think [I have practiced for] about a year now. But I’ve been doing a lot of research. I’ve come a long way in a short time. I think that some people are deterred, because it’s one of those things that’s not very common. And there’s a lot of stereotypes and generalizations about witches and I think that’s pretty negative. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just different .”

—Junior Cayley Cunha

“Religion is something that keeps you motivated and gives you a reason to live. Early in my life, it was a big part of me. But as I grew older, I didn’t really see a reason to believe it as much as before. To me, right now, it doesn’t seem too important. I’m usually pretty busy at school. It’s just not my priority right now .”

—Sophomore Eduardo Cuellar

“Buddhism has also changed me as a person. For example, when I was little I would meditate with my grandmother. The practice allowed my legs to become more flexible so I can sit in a full lotus position.”

—Sophomore Anson Nguyen

“I see a huge part of my life change in a positive way since I’ve become Christian. I feel more happy when I’m around those people, I feel relieved from the pain and sorrows and the negative stuff when I go to Church . I’m just trying to get better, to understand more about it. People say that we Christians, we look down on people, we think we’re the best, like being gay is a sin, like doing wrong stuff is bad. We’re trying to show that we’re all sinful, we all have problems in life and we all need to get better.”

—Junior Jason Cai

What does religion mean to you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

A month-by-month break down of the 2023-24 school years important news.

The student news site of Los Altos High School in Los Altos, California

Comments (0)

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Report Abuse

Your first call should be to law enforcement..

About the Archdiocese

Synod/pastoral letter, eucharistic revival, find a parish, find a catholic school, announcements, your faith, your life, tribunal (annulments), catholic education & youth formation, life & human dignity, sacraments & worship, faith & discipleship, faith communities, ministerio latino, stewardship, mission/social outreach, how we serve, safe environment, chancellors, hr & benefits, mission advancement, renewal of structures, finance & accounting, archives & records, office of conciliation, communications, mission support, clergy & vocations, clergy services, deacons & deacon formation, consecrated life, more resources, staff directory, our history, reorganization, ecumenical guides, pastoral letters, catholic glossary, seeking truth together: indian boarding schools.

Why is Confirmation important? What effect does it have on me?

Subscribe to together on the journey from archbishop hebda.

Receive a monthly video plus weekly updates from Archbishop Bernard Hebda. Sign up here!

Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world. Through Confirmation, our personal relationship with Christ is strengthened. We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service.

The Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts—wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord—to assist us in our mission and witness. The impact of these gifts accompanies us in the various stages of our spiritual development.

As the confirmed, we walk with the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom enables us to see the world from God’s viewpoint, which can help us come to grasp the purpose and plan of God. It grants us the long-range view of history, examining the present in the light of the past and the mystery of the future. It saves us from the illusion that the spirit of the times is our only guide. The Spirit’s gift of knowledge directs us to a contemplation, or thoughtful reflection, of the mystery of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as well as of the mysteries of the Catholic faith. We are drawn to meditative prayer, where we allow God to lead us while we rest patiently in the divine presence.

The gift of understanding stimulates us to work on knowing ourselves as part of our growth in knowing God. It is what St. Augustine meant when he prayed, “That I may know You, may I know myself.” When the Spirit pours fortitude or courage into our hearts, we can trust that we will be prepared to stand up for Christ and the Gospel when challenged. As the gift of counsel or right judgment grows in us, we can sense the quiet teaching that the Spirit gives us about our moral lives and the training of our consciences.

The gift of piety or reverence is an act of respect for the Father who created us, for Jesus who saved us, and for the Spirit who is sanctifying us. We learn reverence for God and people from our parents and others who train us in virtue. The Spirit fills us with this gift at liturgy, which is a masterful school of reverence, as well as through popular devotions and piety.

Finally, the gift of fear of the Lord or wonder and awe in God’s presence can infuse honesty into our relationship with God, a frankness that places us in awe before the majesty of God. Yet the gift also imparts an attitude of grateful wonder that God loves us and that we can share in his life.

When we are responsive to the grace of Confirmation and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, we begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit. The tradition of the Church names twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity (cf. CCC, no. 1832; Gal 5:22).

You can read more from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults , order your own copy, or read questions about it at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website .

Copyright © 2006, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

St. Mary of Mount Carmel / Blessed Sacrament Parish

648 JAY ST., UTICA, NY 13501 – 315-735-1482

CONFIRMATION: What does it mean to me?

Last Updated on December 20, 2018 by Editor

Bishop Robert Cunningham of the Diocese of Syracuse conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 17 young people from our parish on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

Prior to that special ceremony, “More Good News” asked the candidates two questions: “What does Confirmation mean for me?” and “What will I do to become a practicing Catholic for the rest of my life?”

Here are their responses:

Isabella Cecilia Adamo

“The Sacrament of Confirmation is a very important step in my faith and in my life. It makes me feel more connected to God and leads me to become a better adult in the church.”

“I will continue to go to Mass on Sundays and sing in the choir. I will also cantor for Mass on occasion.”

David David Chan

“Confirmation means … that I’m committed to my religion and get closer to God.”

“I will go to Mass more often and read (the) Bible. I might go to Bible study camp to learn more about the Bible.”

Joseph Michael DiMasse III

“Giving yourself to God and Jesus; committing yourself to the Catholic Church.”

“Go to church every Sunday, say my prayers, give to people and be the best I can be.”

Nicholas Michael Elacqua

“The Sacrament of Confirmation is an important step in my faith for me. It’s a way for me to become closer to God and to build my faith.”

“I plan on becoming a Eucharistic minister and I will continue playing in the choir loft. I also plan to altar serve for special Masses.”

Antonio Vincent Fanelli

“It means a lot to me because it allows me to get closer to God. I finally become an adult in the church world and it makes my family extremely happy. It helps me get to the next step in life.”

“I will pray for my family and friends for their health and happiness. I will attend church to learn more and more about my religion. I will keep the gifts of the Holy Spirit in mind as I grow into adulthood and further.”

Joseph Joseph LaPaglia

“A transitioning in life of becoming a devout Catholic; committing myself to the Catholic Church.”

“I will attend Mass regularly.”

Austin Luigi McCarthy

“The Sacrament of Confirmation means I can get married in a church when I’m older; also, that I’m committing myself to our church and to the Lord.”

“I will go to church on a regular basis and pray at times of need or just to pray. Also, I will continue to read the Bible.”

Hannah Joan McCarthy

“Confirmation means completing Faith Formation classes but is only one step on a long journey of faith.”

“I will go to church as much as possible. I will also try to help as any many people as possible.”

Shar Kaw Sylvester Moo

“The Sacrament of Confirmation to me is accepting God at another level and helping the community and go to church … and pray for people who are in need. (Also), be part of the Catholic Church and have loyalty.”

“I will do my best to attend Mass every Sunday and help out in the Catholic community as well as I could.”

Lin Thun Sebastian Nya

“The Sacrament of Confirmation means I am committed to the Catholic faith. For me to complete Confirmation is the process of initiation into the Christian community. It will help and be my faith throughout my life.”

“I will attend Mass on Sundays and pray to God for help and forgiveness. I will help others in need and encourage them to attend church.”

Robert Peter Ollerenshaw

“The Sacrament of Confirmation means that I will be able to commit my life to my religion and practice my beliefs.”

“I will attend Mass regularly and try not to swear.”

Antonio Thomas More Ricco

“Confirmation is the continuation of my Catholic faith bringing me closer to reaching all sacraments. I will be able to be fully involved in my church community. It has allowed me to look inward and notice more about myself.”

“I will go to church every Sunday. … I will volunteer within the church to help out the parish.”

Fallon Elizabeth Siniscarco

“The Sacrament of Confirmation is very important to me and it makes me feel closer to God. I want to do God’s will and serve Him by becoming an adult in my parish.”

“I want to continue to altar serve for Holy Week and Christmas and become a Eucharistic minister.”

Russell Gregory Sortino

“The Sacrament of Confirmation means taking the next step to achieving spiritual enlightenment with my faith and being one with my creator as He passes through me on the fateful night of Confirmation.”

“I will make sure to continue going to church and participating in church activities. I love volunteering at the pizza fritta sales.”

Trent Sebastian Thomas

“I can get married in the church and that I also belong to the church. I am also giving myself to the church.”

“I will read the Bible. I will continue to go to church every Sunday and volunteer when I can.”

Trinity Philomena Ward

“Confirmation means becoming closer to God. It is an important step in your faith journey. After someone is confirmed, they are officially an adult in the Catholic Church.”

“I will continue to volunteer with the children in my church. I will also sing in my church and cantor.”

Prie Bee Philip Ya

“What it means for me is moving more forward to your faith.”

“I will attend Mass more and try to understand more about God’s word.”

University of Notre Dame

Ten Reasons Why Catholic Education Still Matters

10-reasons-why-catholic-education-still-matters---fb-graphic

Reverend Ronald J. Nuzzi, Ph.D. Director, ACE RISE (Renewing Identity, Strengthening Evangelization) offers ten reasons why Catholic schools still have an important place in our world.

1. An Incarnational View of the World Catholic School students learn that God is present and active in their lives and in the world. They learn to recognize the "footprints of God" in their daily experiences, especially in the midst of life's challenges. They develop a sense of "sacramental awareness". They see the signs of God's love around them, and become instruments of God's grace in their own neighborhoods, communities and the world. In an incarnational view of the world, there is no such thing as a secular subject as all learning helps to develop and bring to full bloom that image of God that is in each person. 2. Immersion in the Paschal Mystery Our lives are a series of small and not so small dyings and risings. In union with the Paschal Mystery, we realize that there is redemptive power in suffering, and in the power of the cross. In it lies the answer to the mystery of all of life's successes and failures. In the experience of the Paschal Mystery, we also realize the need for community. Like Jesus, we encounter our own Simon of Cyrenes to help us along the way. Wins and losses on the athletic field, As and Fs in class, and laughter and tears in our lives are the way we participate in Jesus' dying and rising. 3. The Value of Relationships as a Reflection of the Divine Catholic school students learn to experience God's grace and presence in their lives through their relationships with family, friends and teachers. The loving and supportive relationships they experience are reflections of the love and life-giving dynamic of the Trinity. As a community we celebrate our successes and achievements. We share grief and downfalls. We unite together in solidarity, and even challenge each other to become better reflections of the divine. We are made for community. 4. A Nuanced View of Scripture Catholic school students are given the opportunity to explore the beauty and richness of Sacred Scripture seen through the lens of faith and lived out in daily practice. They experience the ongoing revelation of God in Scripture as the One who leads the Israelites through the promised land, and who redeems them through His cross and resurrection. They also come to view the human person as created in God's image and likeness, and destined for eternal life. They learn to apply Scripture to their own lives as a tool for prayer and the true guide for virtuous living. 5. Civic Engagement In recent research, it has been reported that private school graduates are significantly more likely to actively participate in civic activities than their public school counterparts. Catholic Schools were ranked #1 in the percentage of graduates who actively participate in civic and community activities such as voting, volunteering, letter-writing to legislators, Catholic Concerns Day, and donations to charity, not just for a tax write-off, but out of a sense of the requirements of justice. 6. Service for the Common Good Catholic schools promote service as an essential component of their curriculum. Many Catholic schools have service programs from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Higher education programs such as the Jesuit or Dominican Volunteer Corps promote service at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Diocesan organizations such as Catholic Family Services provide resources and help to people from all walks of life. Catholic school students learn that since community is at the heart of who we are, there are no strangers, only brothers and sisters in the Lord. We have a responsibility to respond to the needs of others because we are all part of God's family. 7. Discipline as a Faith Expectation Catholic schools promote self-discipline through clarity of moral vision that is based on the Gospel. Students are challenged to be Christ-like in word and action. They are asked to examine their choices and action in light of the Ten Commandments and the Gospel law of love. They are given a theological foundation for ethical behavior. Students are not good because they act in accord with rules and expectations. Rather, because students are good, i.e. sons and daughters of God, they are expected to act and make choices that are in keeping with this dignity. 8. The Centrality of Arts, Ritual, Drama, Music to the Life of Faith Through Catholic education, students are exposed to the richness of the religious tradition. Music, Art, Literature, Drama and Ritual are rooted in the rich history of the Church, and find their truest glory as an expression of divine praise. 9. The Fullness of the Catholic Identity at the Heart of the Church Catholic education has always been at the heart of the Catholic mission. Catholic education, and the students who are the product of it, have been called the "greatest work of the Church". They have been entrusted with the fullness of faith and have been charged with the mission of evangelization. They are to go out into the world and share the gifts they have received, as doctors, lawyers, policemen, firemen, businessmen and women, teachers, priests and religious, all as Catholic school graduates. Catholic school graduates are a leaven in society, helping the broader community to be the best that it can be. 10. Personal Excellence as a Spiritual Goal Catholic school students learn that excellence is a response to God's blessings. Academic excellence is not a gospel value in and of itself. The Sermon on the Mount doesn't say "Blessed are you who get all A's." Education must have an altruistic orientation. Students learn so as to help others, and make a difference in the world around them.

Why Catholic Education?
Special Programs
Standards Referenced Grading

Knowing the Lord Jesus, walking with Him, studying with Him, serving with Christ, and sharing the table of the Lord Jesus is what prepares a person to be His witness to the world. - Bishop Jaime Soto, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento

Why do children go to school? You’re probably thinking, “That’s obvious. To learn, of course!” But is academic knowledge, alone, the end goal of the learning experience? What if the educational process could deliver on more than just one outcome? A Catholic education is a one-of-a-kind learning experience because it focuses on more than just academics. We believe that nurturing the entire person in mind, body, and spirit is necessary for a happy, healthy, and balanced life. Catholic Schools provide children with the invaluable opportunity to expand their knowledge, explore their passions, create community, strengthen their sense of self and come to know God all in one place.

Explore a few of the many reasons a Catholic School is the best choice for your child’s education:

THE CATHOLIC ADVANTAGE

A Catholic education is unlike any other learning experience. Why? Catholic Schools educate to develop the whole child . The educational process is an opportunity to cultivate the entire person by engaging the human need for physical, mental, social, and spiritual nourishment. It is the mission of Catholic Schools to do just that.

Catholic Schools understand the multi-faceted nature of child development and are heavily invested in the wellbeing of their students. In the state of California, school attendance is compulsory for children ages six through eighteen. Thinking of a school as a place where children are entertained, disciplined, kept busy, or babysat is just as much a disservice to them as it is to us. At a Catholic School, education is more than just a requirement or a means to prevent truancy. It is an occasion to celebrate learning, develop talents, create lifelong bonds, and to love and serve God every day.

Our teaching style is effective because it is comprehensive. Children in our Schools benefit from a learning experience that develops all of the physical, emotional, social and spiritual qualities integral to human health and happiness. We recognize that children are the heirs of our future. Brimming with wonder, joy, and a zeal for life, among us all it is they who have the brightest hopes and biggest dreams for the state of the world. Catholic Schools think highly of their students and have gratitude for children the world over, as they are movers and shakers with the power to determine the course of history.

Catholic Schools are proud to serve parents who desire the highest quality academic instruction for their children. Excellence in academics is the hallmark of a Catholic education. With an average student to teacher ratio of 13:1, an education with us is personalized, relevant and conducive to the success of each individual (NCEA). Routinely surpassing public schools in state- and national-level academic benchmarks, Catholic Schools encourage critical thinking, practical application, and creative problem-solving. 1 Because of our high academic standards, 99% of those students who attend Catholic high school graduate. And of those, 86% attend 4-year colleges. 2

In bringing children the best educational opportunities, Catholic Schools ensure that their academic curriculums reflect societal changes, especially those in technology. Diocesan Schools support the expanding role of technology in the educational experience and continually seek ways to integrate digital learning into the classroom experience. This pursuit also creates teachable moments where, in the spirit of Christian formation, students are not only taught how to operate technology, but also learn that it is our collective responsibility to apply this knowledge positively and respectfully.

Enrichment activities are fundamental to a well-rounded education. Catholic Schools laud the benefits of creative expression through mediums like visual art, music, and dance. Programs that support these talents are always woven into the Catholic School curriculum because they allow students to create, express, and experiment in healthy and empowering ways. Art is one of the ultimate unifiers. Human emotion is experienced and shared through movement and melody. Cultural distinctions are recognized and appreciated through the interaction of vibrant colors, sights and sounds. The solidarity instituted by music and art draws us closer as a human community under God.

Catholic Schools also recognize recreational and competitive athletics as sources of spiritual and physical enrichment. Sports programs promote the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle through physical fitness. Spiritual and moral development are fostered through teamwork, camaraderie, hard work and healthy competition in fun and positive environments. Above all, children learn valuable lessons in character formation when they must conduct themselves in situations where winning is not guaranteed. They learn how to cope with loss, and how to harness it as an incentive for growth.

A Catholic education is unique because it prioritizes community. You may be familiar with the phrase, “It takes a whole village to raise our children.” The truth behind this philosophy cannot be overstated. Everything we do and believe goes back to how we can best serve our children. Human psychology advises that success is maximized in inclusive environments where people feel like they are a part of a world or an idea that is bigger than themselves. When there is a culture of community around the educational process, children feel more positive, supported, and confident in their ability to excel personally and professionally. In fact, studies show that teacher commitment, student engagement, and student achievement are higher in Catholic Schools because we operate as communities rather than bureaucracies. 3

Community is a focal part of the everyday experience at a Catholic School. All mornings begin with sacred silence followed by school-wide prayer with all teachers, faculty, and students in attendance. At Mass, we worship together as faith-filled communities, thanking the Lord for giving us another day to enjoy our families, the many gifts we have been given, and the opportunity to be led by His grace. Each school activity, from sporting events to theatre productions, is preceded by prayer and the affirmation of community.

School-sponsored functions give life to our parochial communities. Parents and children participate in regular fundraising events and socials where friendship is celebrated, bonds are forged over delicious food and drink, and connections are established through faith and good fellowship. Regardless of personal viewpoints on worldly affairs, parents who seek both bright futures and the promise of salvation for their children already share something significant. There is no better foundation for community than the kindness and compassion demonstrated by Jesus Christ. As he is the basis of all that is just and good on this Earth, no matter what our differences or personal beliefs, it is in Him that we share our strongest bond and find greatest cohesion.

At a Catholic School, academic learning is not the only outcome of an exceptional education. The primary goal of a Catholic education is to prepare children for salvation. Students learn that God does not expect us to be perfect, or to tire ourselves by pursuing the hopeless venture that is perfection. What He wants most is for us to become our best selves. Giving glory to God is a lifelong exercise in acceptance, trust, and patience. When we choose to focus our energies on knowing and serving God, we can truly wash away our self-doubt and let go of the unhealthy and unachievable desire to be perfect. All that we are and everything that we do becomes more precious than a quest for vanity, fame or recognition when we aspire to serve God. We teach our children that becoming your best self has nothing to do with being perfect; it means honing your talents and transforming your strengths into a vocation that has a positive impact on society.

Catholic Schools are exceptional because they focus on informing and developing loving and productive citizens who care about the condition of their communities. Studies show that the emphasis Catholic Schools place on service and faith formation produces students who are more civically engaged, tolerant of diverse views, committed to service as adults, and less likely to be incarcerated than their public school peers. (Campbell, 2001).Children in Catholic Schools are not only called to be high academic achievers, they are also called to be loving disciples of Jesus Christ. That being said, academics do not take a back seat in the learning process. Instead, we believe developing the intellectual aptitudes God has given us is the best way to grow in holiness.

However, Catholic Schools also understand that the way a person chooses to exercise his or her knowledge is far more important than having knowledge itself. Therefore, we support character development, instilling in children ethical values that ultimately guide their decision-making process; from their personal, everyday behaviors to their chosen career paths. Moral conduct is built into the very fabric of school culture. Following the example of Jesus Christ, students are required to model Christian behavior by honoring the dignity of each individual. We encourage the expression of faith in word, thought, and deed.

Above all, a Catholic education forms compassionate yet judicious leaders who are prepared to rise up to the complexities of a dynamic and ever-changing world. Graduates of Catholic Schools have solid academic foundations, spiritual fortitude, strong moral convictions, and the desire to be civically engaged. Guided by God’s grace, we give students the tools they need to shape their futures and to become their best selves. As Catholic educators, we are humbled by the knowledge that our students move on to translate their spirituality, skills and scholarship into actions that transform the world.

1 Coleman, J., Hoffman, T., & Kilgore, S. (1982). High School Achievement: Catholic and Public Schools Compared. NY: Basic Books; Sander, W. (1996). Catholic Schools: Private and Social Effects. Boston: Kluwer Academic.)

2 McDonald, Dale, PBVM. Ph.D. and Margaret Schultz, Annual Statistical Report 2013-2014, National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA, 2014).

3 Marks, G. (2009). Accounting for school-sector differences in university entrance performance. Australian Journal of Education, 53, 19-38).

Protecting Our Children
About the Diocese
Councils & Commissions
Deaneries & Deans
Pastoral Center Directory
Strategic Plan
Bishop's Office
Black Catholic Ministry
Camp Pendola
Catholic Charities & Social Concerns
The Catholic Foundation
Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services
Catholic Herald Magazine
Catholic Schools
Catholic Scouting
Catholics with DisAbilities
Clergy Formation
Communications
Ecumenical and Interreligious Commission
Family & Faith Formation
Information Technology
Lay Ministry Formation
Lay Personnel
Marriage and Family
Migrant Ministry
Newman Centers
Respect Life
Safe Environment
Unbound Ministry
Youth Ministry
Young Adult Ministry
Weekly News
Mandated Councils
Church Forms
Diocesan Directory
Find a Parish
Faith and Values
Find a school

Oak Knoll School Blog

Why catholic education is important now more than ever.

Each year, January is a month packed full of New Year’s resolutions and quiet reflection, but this winter month also highlights the importance of Catholic education in the United States a the annual National Catholic Schools Week celebration takes place.

During National Catholic Schools Week, it’s prime time for Catholic schools to celebrate through various Masses, open houses, service projects and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Keeping this year’s theme in mind – “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service,” – there are several reasons why Catholic education is important now more than ever.

Why Catholic Education Is Important Now More than Ever

Safe, Caring Community

Especially during the continuing global pandemic, parents everywhere are seeking a safe and caring school environment for their child(ren). A Catholic school community ensures that your child will be taught the same values that they learn at home – have reverence for every person, treat others as you would want to be treated and live as Jesus did to help those in need. Many people view choosing a faith-based school as an extension of their families.

High Quality Academics and Spiritual Guidance

According to two studies released last spring from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), every year for the last 20 years, Catholic schools have outperformed public schools on NAEP tests – reading, math, science, computer literacy, geography and history. Catholic school students also in grades 4 and 8 are outperforming their public-school peers in math, reading, and science. Additionally, Catholic schools produce a higher percentage of high school graduates who go on to attend a four-year college and also typically see higher national graduation rates. Catholic school students, while also gaining a high-quality education, benefit from the spiritual teachings of the Catholic church, which are usually infused throughout the school day in religion classes and through active participation in serving their communities around them. In these pandemic times where our nation’s children are at a critical mental health crisis, quiet spiritual teachings and reflections can be highly beneficial.

Whole Child Education

Catholic schools place high emphasis on educating the whole child – meaning that they focus on strong academic achievement, but just as important is providing students with values and ethics that promotes the long-term development, wellbeing and success of children. Catholic schools spend time teaching children about the importance of their actions and behavior and treatment of one another as essential qualities in the learning process. Whole child instruction also aims to ensure each child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

Focuses on Serving the Community

A central benefit to Catholic education is that it devotes time to focusing on the needs of others most in need first, much like Jesus did in his own life. Especially in the age of individualism or “ Me Decade” where people focus on promoting themselves, Catholic education “broadens horizons helping children think of others and promotes community service” through various volunteer nonprofit service projects, dedicated community service days or other similar programs to help people who need assistance.

While Catholic schools were once exclusively made up of Catholic children and staff, today Catholic schools include and are welcoming to all families and all religions. Many families today seek to educate their children by embracing the differences of others, by serving those in need and educating the whole child in a safe and spiritual environment while, at the same time, providing the highest academic and spiritual standards.

Click here for more information about how Oak Knoll has celebrated National Catholic Schools Week in years past.

Topics: education , religion , independent catholic school summit nj , social and emotional learning

An Upper School ad for Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child

Interested in learning more about Oak Knoll School for your child?

Subscribe to Email Updates

Find anything you save across the site in your account

J. D. Vance’s Radical Religion

Republican Vice Presidential nominee J.D. Vance at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Vance wears a dark blue suit...

In all the commentary about Donald Trump’s choice of Senator J. D. Vance as his running mate—he’s the survivor of a tumultuous upbringing in small-town Ohio, a former marine, a Yale Law graduate, the author of the 2016 memoir “ Hillbilly Elegy ” and the hero of the 2020 movie adaptation , a convert from Never Trumper to fervent acolyte—one aspect of his biography that could prove of major consequence has received scant attention: his religion. He became a Catholic in 2019, and since then he has aligned himself with conservative-Catholic currents of thought that have already had profound effects on the Supreme Court—and, through the Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade , on American life broadly. Should Vance become the Vice-President, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett—all conservative Catholics—would have a Catholic ally of like mind in the executive branch. (President Biden’s Catholicism leans progressive, and is more devotional than doctrinal.) For now, Vance’s presence on the ticket represents the union of Trumpism and a movement that sees Catholicism as the embodiment of tradition, stability, and a top-down ordering of society, which would be enshrined through regime change. That’s a lot of symbolism to lay on a commitment of faith that a thirty-nine-year-old man made just five years ago, but Vance’s embrace of Catholicism is deeply bound up with his stated belief that religion has the power to shape the country.

Vance’s success with “Hillbilly Elegy” followed an intense period after his graduation from Yale Law, in 2013: working for the U.S. district-court judge David Bunning and for the giant Chicago-based law firm Sidley Austin; a stint in venture capital in Silicon Valley; marriage to Usha Chilukuri, a classmate who served as a clerk to Brett Kavanaugh, then a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. Vance has since characterized “Hillbilly Elegy” as the story of a “struggle to find stability” in his life; and in the book he presents religion as a force of stability which offsets the drugs, fractured families, serial romantic liaisons, and chronic unemployment that, in his view, had devastated his native Middletown, Ohio, and the rural Kentucky of his Scotch Irish ancestors. He observes that, though an “apocalyptic” outlook pervaded Middletown, “in the middle of the Bible Belt, active church attendance is actually quite low.” But he writes that “in the broken world I saw around me—and for the people struggling in that world—religion offered tangible assistance to keep the faithful on track.” His grandmother Mamaw called herself a “crazy bitch,” considered politicians “a bunch of crooks,” despised religious institutions and “loud and proud” devout Christians, and yet, in his recollection, possessed a confidence that “God never left our side.” He felt that she drew on this confidence as she raised him, while his mother, who was addicted to narcotics, cycled through relationships with feckless, angry men. His father, long divorced from his mother, found “a community of support” in a conservative Protestant church. Vance concluded that “religious folks are much happier” than others.

His conversion to Catholicism seems at once sincere and opportune. In an interview with Rod Dreher of The American Conservative , posted the weekend he was baptized, in August, 2019, Vance said, of Catholicism, “I’ve been reading and studying about it for three years, or even longer.” In 2016, he started a nonprofit intended to address the causes of opioid addiction and other social scourges. The next year, he joined a venture-capital outfit, led by the former AOL chief executive Steve Case, which focussed on identifying investment opportunities apart from the coasts. He was living in Columbus, Ohio, and travelling regularly to Washington, where Chilukuri Vance was a clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts. Around that time, he recalled in a 2020 essay, he had “a few informal conversations with a couple of Dominican friars”: one was Father Henry Stephan, at St. Gertrude’s Priory in Cincinnati, who had majored in politics at Princeton and served as an intern for Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain—a founding member, in 1960, of William F. Buckley’s Young Americans for Freedom, the crucible of the postwar conservative movement. (Stephan declined to comment for this article.) Those conversations led to “a more serious period of study.” He and Chilukuri Vance, new parents, had bought a house in Cincinnati, where each worked remotely. (By then, she was a lawyer at Munger, Tolles & Olson, a firm based in California.) He was baptized and confirmed by Stephan at St. Gertrude’s.

The 2020 essay is a chronicle of Vance’s conversion; it appeared in The Lamp , a Catholic journal, under the headline “How I Joined the Resistance.” When he entered college, at Ohio State, Vance writes, he was an atheist who read Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris. Two of the figures who changed his way of thinking, he explains, were St. Augustine, whose “ City of God ” he read at Ohio State, and the venture capitalist Peter Thiel , who gave a talk at Yale Law in 2011. Vance, in his essay, recounts being surprised by Thiel, whom he remembered denouncing the élite legal culture of which Vance was becoming a member, and, he writes, “arguing that we were increasingly tracked into cutthroat professional competitions. We would compete for appellate clerkships, and then Supreme Court clerkships. We would compete for jobs at elite law firms, and then for partnerships at those same places. At each juncture, he said, our jobs would offer longer work hours, social alienation from our peers, and work whose prestige would fail to make up for its meaninglessness.”

Thiel’s remarks, as Vance remembers them, were rooted in the thought of René Girard, a French-born polymath whose ideas Thiel had come across when he was a student at Stanford, where Girard was a professor. Girard, born in 1923, converted to Catholicism in 1959, and his texts are still best known among theologians and scholars of philosophical anthropology. One of his most influential ideas is that society is enslaved to a process of “mimetic desire” whereby people learn to want the things that others have, strive to have them for themselves, and then regard themselves as rivals when in fact they’re just imitating one another. Vance looked into Girard’s work, and over time, he writes in The Lamp , he came to see “mimetic rivalry” as an apt description for what goes on not only in places like Yale Law but in the meritocracy generally. The thrust of the essay is that becoming a Catholic was a means of defying the patterns of imitation fostered by the “meritocratic master class”—and, not coincidentally, what he saw as its way of inducing its members to believe that “Christians are rubes.”

Yet it could be said that in the years after law school Vance simply moved out of one élite and into another—and that he has thrived through mimetic rivalry. In Silicon Valley, he worked for Mithril, a venture-capital firm co-founded by Thiel. He wrote “Hillbilly Elegy,” appeared as a contributor on CNN, and wrote opinion pieces for the Times and The Atlantic . He ran for the U.S. Senate and won, bolstered by fifteen million dollars from Thiel. As a senator, he pivoted from harsh criticism of Trump to positions so closely akin to the former President’s that Steve Bannon suggested to Politico’s Ian Ward that Vance could be, as Ward put it, “St. Paul to Trump’s Jesus—the zealous convert who spreads the gospel of Trumpism further than Trump himself ever could.”

In the past few years, Vance has become a favorite of conservative Catholics. The Times’ Ross Douthat noted that he and Vance have been friends since “before he became a politician.” In 2021, Vance spoke at the Napa Institute’s “annual intellectual apostolic conference preparing Catholics for the Next America.” The next year, he gave a keynote address at a similar conference at Franciscan University, in Steubenville, Ohio, organized by the former New York Post and Wall Street Journal editor Sohrab Ahmari, himself a Catholic convert. One of the other participants was Adrian Vermeule, the Harvard Law professor (and a convert) who is a proponent of “integralism,” a scheme of governance that, as the Pepperdine University political scientist Jason Blakely observed in Commonweal , in 2020, “seeks to subordinate temporal power to spiritual power—or, more specifically, the modern state to the Catholic Church.”

In 2023, Vance took part in a discussion at the Catholic University of America with the Notre Dame political scientist Patrick Deneen, an advocate of “post-liberalism,” which, he explains in his books “ Why Liberalism Failed ” and “ Regime Change ,” is the view that liberalism has become an “invasive progressive tyranny” and so must be replaced by “a conservatism that conserves.” Vance greeted Deneen with a bear hug; during the discussion, Politico reported , Vance “identified himself as a member of the ‘postliberal right’ and said that he views his role in Congress as ‘explicitly anti-regime.’ ”

On the issue of abortion rights, Vance has been explicit—and inconsistent. As a Senate candidate, he called himself “100-percent pro-life,” opposing abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and supported a national abortion ban. Recently, Vance, in effect imitating Trump’s present views, has praised the Supreme Court’s ruling that the legality of abortion should be decided by the states. (“Alabama’s going to make a different decision from California. That is a reasonable thing. And that’s how I think we build some bridges and have some respect for one another,” he told Fox News on July 15th.) He has also spoken in support of the “abortion pill” mifepristone’s availability. (“The Supreme Court made a decision saying that the American people should have access to that medication,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “Donald Trump has supported that opinion. I support that opinion.”)

But the post-liberal resistance goes far beyond restricting legal abortion. The intellectual historian Mark Lilla spelled out its implications in a recent essay in The New York Review of Books . “The Catholic postliberals would like to establish (or reestablish) a more communitarian vision of the good society,” Lilla writes, “one in which democratic institutions would in some sense be subordinate to a superior, authoritative moral vision of the human good—which for many of them means the authority of the Catholic Church.” For Deneen, post-liberalism involves elevating “leaders who are part of the elite but see themselves as ‘class traitors’ ready to act as ‘stewards and caretakers of the common good’ ”—and to enact their views on abortion, marriage and divorce, euthanasia, the free exercise of religion, and other issues without the constraints of legal precedent or the democratic process. Evidently, Vance fits the bill. After learning of Trump’s choice of running mate, Deneen, in a statement, called Vance “a man of deep personal faith and integrity, a devoted family man, a generous friend, and a genuine patriot.”

God featured prominently at the Republican National Convention, and Vance’s childhood was recast as a redemption story; Vance, in his speech accepting the Vice-Presidential nomination, said proudly that his mother, Bev, who was in the convention center (seated next to the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson), has been nearly “ten years clean and sober.” The religious aspect of Vance’s American story may not be of particular interest to his running mate. But, if Trump is elected, it could bear on his public policy. After President Ronald Reagan took office, in 1981, he stocked his Administration with conservative Catholics steeped in the Church’s history of fervid anti-Communism—the Secretary of State, General Alexander Haig; the C.I.A. director, William J. Casey; and the national-security adviser, William P. Clark—who then helped shape policies backing Church-allied oligarchies in El Salvador and Nicaragua as necessary for the Cold War “containment” of Communism. Were the Trump-Vance campaign to prevail in November, the post-liberals who hope for a state informed by Catholic principles could perhaps have a channel to get their ideas into the West Wing. With Vance’s nomination, that process may already be under way. ♦

New Yorker Favorites

The hottest restaurant in France is an all-you-can-eat buffet .

How to die in good health .

Was Machiavelli misunderstood ?

A heat shield for the most important ice on Earth .

A major Black novelist made a remarkable début. Why did he disappear ?

Andy Warhol obsessively documented his life, but he also lied constantly, almost recreationally .

Why Donald Trump Picked J. D. Vance for Vice-President

Watch CBS News

Paris Olympics organizers say sorry for offense, but insist opening ceremony did not depict "The Last Supper"

Updated on: July 29, 2024 / 8:59 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The organizers behind the Paris Olympics apologized to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" during Friday's opening ceremony and provoked outrage by religious conservatives around the world. The organizers, however, defended the concept behind it.

Da Vinci's painting depicts the moment when Jesus Christ declared that an apostle would betray him. The scene during Friday's ceremony on the Debilly Bridge featured DJ and producer Barbara Butch — an LGBTQ+ icon who calls herself a "love activist." Butch was wearing a silver headdress that looked like a halo as she got the party going on a footbridge across the Seine. Drag artists, dancers and others flanked Butch on both sides.

As CBS News correspondent Elaine Cobbe reports, the specific part of the ceremony that caused the offense was, in fact, a scene depicting Dionysus, the Greek god of wine. It was reportedly based on The Feast of the Gods, a 17th century painting by Dutch artist Jan Harmensz van Biljert that hangs in the Magnin Museum, in Dijon, eastern France. The painting depicts an assembly of Greek gods on Mount Olympus for a banquet to celebrate the marriage of Thetis and Peleus. The figure seated at the table in the center has a halo of light behind his head.

Thomas Jolly, the opening ceremony director, insisted in an interview with France's BFMTV that "The Last Supper" was not the inspiration behind the scene, explaining that "Dionysus arrives at the table because he is the Greek God of celebration," adding that the particular sequence was entitled "festivity."

"The idea was to create a big pagan party in link with the God of Mount Olympus — and you will never find in me, or in my work, any desire of mocking anyone," Jolly said.

The "interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings," a post on the official social media account of the Olympic Games said by way of explanation.

But religious conservatives from around the world decried the segment, with the French Catholic Church's conference of bishops deploring "scenes of derision" that they said made a mockery of Christianity — a sentiment echoed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The Anglican Communion in Egypt expressed its "deep regret" Sunday, saying the ceremony could cause the IOC to "lose its distinctive sporting identity and its humanitarian message."

Prominent French far-right politician Marion Maréchal denounced the performance on social media.

"To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation," she posted on the social platform X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally.

In Romania, controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate were part of a protest against the Olympics next to the French embassy in Bucharest on Sunday. The Tate brothers criticized the Olympic Games for mocking Christianity during the opening ceremony and called on athletes to boycott.

Andrew Tate is awaiting trial in Romania on charges of allegedly forming an organized crime group, human trafficking and rape.

The ceremony's artistic director Thomas Jolly distanced his scene from any "Last Supper" parallels after the ceremony, saying it was meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy. Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps was asked about the outcry during an International Olympic Committee news conference on Sunday.

"Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance," Descamps said. "Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry."

Jolly explained his intentions to The Associated Press after the ceremony.

"My wish isn't to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock," Jolly said. "Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide."

Andrew Tate
Leonardo da Vinci

More from CBS News

53 intercepted drones among Olympics security challenges so far

U.S. swimmer Caeleb Dressel breaks down in tears after missing podium

Last-place sprinter uses Olympic stage to be "voice of Afghan girls"

Team USA wins first rowing gold in men's four since 1960

Supported by

An Olympics Scene Draws Scorn. Did It Really Parody ‘The Last Supper’?

Some church leaders and politicians have condemned the performance from the opening ceremony for mocking Christianity. Art historians are divided.

Share full article

A screen depicting a person painted in blue near fruit. Behind is a rainy Paris street with part of the Eiffel Tower and Olympic rings visible.

By Yan Zhuang

A performance during the Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony on Friday has drawn criticism from church leaders and conservative politicians for a perceived likeness to Leonardo da Vinci’s depiction of a biblical scene in “The Last Supper,” with some calling it a “mockery” of Christianity.

The event’s planners and organizers have denied that the sequence was inspired by “The Last Supper,” or that it intended to mock or offend.

In the performance broadcast during the ceremony, a woman wearing a silver, halo-like headdress stood at the center of a long table, with drag queens posing on either side of her. Later, at the same table, a giant cloche lifted, revealing a man, nearly naked and painted blue, on a dinner plate surrounded by fruit. He broke into a song as, behind him, the drag queens danced.

The tableaux drew condemnation among people who saw the images as a parody of “The Last Supper,” the New Testament scene depicted in da Vinci’s painting by the same name. The French Bishops’ Conference, which represents the country’s Catholic bishops, said in a statement that the opening ceremony included “scenes of mockery and derision of Christianity,” and an influential American Catholic, Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota, called it a “gross mockery.”

The performance at the opening ceremony, which took place on and along the Seine on Friday, also prompted a Mississippi-based telecommunications provider, C Spire, to announce that it would pull its advertisements from Olympics broadcasts. Speaker Mike Johnson described the scene as “shocking and insulting to Christian people.”

The opening ceremony’s artistic director, Thomas Jolly, said at the Games’ daily news conference on Saturday that the event was not meant to “be subversive, or shock people, or mock people.” On Sunday, Anne Descamps, the Paris 2024 spokeswoman, said at the daily news conference, “If people have taken any offense, we are, of course, really, really sorry.”

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

Want all of The Times? Subscribe .

VIDEO

What does the word Catholic mean? #catholic #romancatholic #catholicism
"You're Only Catholic Because You GREW UP Catholic"
Catholicism is the most beautiful religion in the World
Highschoolers are LEGAL actually 👍
Exploring the Meaning of Catholic Saints
Importance of religion in life English essay writing

COMMENTS

What my Catholic faith means to me
It means I have the freedom to speak to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit or say a "Hail Mary" whenever I feel the need to. When I got married and had children, it was even more important to me that they be introduced to the Catholic faith. When they attended St. Roch Grade School and then Roncalli, I always felt they were ...
Why are you proud to be Catholic?
Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda. "I am very proud to be Catholic, for I can share the Good News of our Lord and the true faith as an active member according to the teachings of the church. I am proud and blessed to be nurtured with the loving sacrament of the Eucharist and experience the mercy of God in the celebration of the sacrament of ...
The Importance of My Catholic Faith
As you can see, my Catholic faith is very important to me. God has blessed me with a wonderful life, wonderful friends and a big, happy, healthy family. My Catholic faith allows me to believe in God and his son, Jesus. That is why my Catholic faith is really important to me. The winning entry in the "Home Run for Catholic Schools" essay ...
Essay on The Catholic Religion
Essay on The Catholic Religion. The world has more than one billion Catholics and with the ever growing population, it will only get larger in number. To be a Catholic means to have complete faith in God and his divine grace. Having God's divine grace means to obey it and keep it holy as it was created by God and given to his people.
Catholic Religion: Beliefs, Practices, and History
The Catholic religion is monotheistic, meaning that Catholics believe there is only one supreme being, called God. The Catholic God has three aspects, known as the Trinity. The Supreme Being is the creator, called God or God the Father, who resides in heaven and watches over and guides everything on earth. He is known as the lord of heaven and ...
BEING CATHOLIC IN TODAY'S SOCIETY
BEING CATHOLIC IN TODAY'S SOCIETY. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Strangers in a Strange Land (Henry Holt, 2017) "Simply put, America can't be the way it once was." (Original italic.) This is not so much a lament as it is a reality check: Catholics upset with the culture can work to change it, but they cannot expect a return to more ...
Why Are You Catholic?
It does not mean other Christians cannot go to heaven. However, it does mean that there is something special about the Catholic Church. The Second Vatican Council, in the "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church," stated that the fullness of the means of salvation subsists within the Catholic Church because it is the Church Christ founded (No. 8).
Catholics explain the heart of what they believe
Corresponding essay: For this Catholic, real presence is the heart of Catholicism. In 1979 U.S. Catholic ran an essay titled " It makes a difference whether you're Catholic " and asked readers to tell us what being Catholic means to them. In 2010 we asked readers to chime in once more with their opinions about Catholic faith and identity.
Christian, Yes…But Why Be Catholic?
(1) Only the Catholic Church can trace its roots back to Christ Himself. Within a few short years of the Resurrection, the followers of Jesus began calling themselves "Christians" (cf. Acts 11: 26), and by the end of the first century, the word "catholic"—meaning "universal" —was applied to the Church. The idea of different (and sometimes competing) Christian denominations ...
Why I am a Catholic
As, for instance, (1) It is the only thing that really prevents a sin from being a secret. (2) It is the only thing in which the superior cannot be superior; in the sense of supercilious. (3) It is the only thing that frees a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age. (4) It is the only thing that talks as if it were the truth ...
What Religion Means to Me
What Religion Means to Me. It is generally conceded that in a world where material values seem to be dropping out of sight further and further day by day, there is a growing realization that something else is needed. Some of us even feel that amidst the many evils and sorrows and injustices which are the fruit of what we call the depression ...
You asked: What does the Catholic faith mean to you?
What does Catholic religion mean to me essay? To be a Catholic means to have complete faith in God and his divine grace. Having God's divine grace means to obey it and keep it holy as it was created by God and given to his people. The religion itself is based on this and the people take it very seriously. …
What Being Catholic Means To Me
Not to convince you or convert you, but simply to share with you what all of these Catholic traditions and beliefs mean to me, personally. This is not the church's textbook definition or a biblical explanation. This is my description of what living as a Catholic means in my own personal life. Being Catholic means...
Photo Essay: What My Faith Means to Me
BU photographer Cydney Scott has long wanted to capture the many ways members of the BU community express their faith. "One of the great things about being a photographer is that I have the privilege of stepping into aspects of life that are unfamiliar to me," Scott says. "Religious faith is one of them. Religion and faith give people ...
What Does It Mean To Be Catholic Religion Essay
Essay Writing Service. The Catholic tradition has been reinforced by the 'Oxford Movement'. An awareness of Catholic heritage entails being part of the universal Church of Jesus Christ in its fullest expression of faith treasured and continuous from the time of Constantine through the Middle Ages to today. "It has stressed the importance of the ...
The Importance of Community in Living Out Our Faith
The reason why a faith community is so powerful is that it follows the way God made us to live: not in isolation but in relationship (Psalm 133:1)! Through our faith community, we also learn the message of the cross as we see our brothers' lives transformed by Jesus in the nitty gritty events of the day. Jesus is the Word made flesh, and in ...
Religion: What Does Religion Mean to You?
You get there and realize that it's about faith, it's about optimism, it's about feeling a purpose in your life, it's about believing in something and it's about making yourself the best person you can be .". —Sophomore Julia Khan. " [Religion is] what guides in our decision making. It's our moral compass.
What my Catholic Education at St. Barnabas means to me
If you stepped through the front door of St. Barnabas School, a framed quote would catch your eye: "Let it be known to all who enter here: Christ is the reason for this school.". This statement is not just a morale-raising catchphrase. At St. Barnabas and all Catholic schools our mission is to be a witness to Christ.
Why is Confirmation important? What effect does it have on me?
The Spirit's gift of knowledge directs us to a contemplation, or thoughtful reflection, of the mystery of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as well as of the mysteries of the Catholic faith. We are drawn to meditative prayer, where we allow God to lead us while we rest patiently in the divine presence.
CONFIRMATION: What does it mean to me?
Trinity Philomena Ward. "Confirmation means becoming closer to God. It is an important step in your faith journey. After someone is confirmed, they are officially an adult in the Catholic Church.". "I will continue to volunteer with the children in my church. I will also sing in my church and cantor.".
Ten Reasons Why Catholic Education Still Matters
Reverend Ronald J. Nuzzi, Ph.D. Director, ACE RISE (Renewing Identity, Strengthening Evangelization) offers ten reasons why Catholic schools still have an important place in our world. 1. An Incarnational View of the World. Catholic School students learn that God is present and active in their lives and in the world.
Why Catholic Education?
A Catholic education is a one-of-a-kind learning experience because it focuses on more than just academics. We believe that nurturing the entire person in mind, body, and spirit is necessary for a happy, healthy, and balanced life. Catholic Schools provide children with the invaluable opportunity to expand their knowledge, explore their ...
What Does Religion Mean To Me Essay
These are the beliefs that make me who I am. They make me unique and they help me determine what I do with my life and how I act as a person. Religion is important to many people but for me not so much. Religion to me seems restricted. Overall, I believe in certain parts of religion and I also have some abstract thoughts, ideas, and beliefs of ...
Why Is Catholic Education Important To Me?
581 Words3 Pages. My Catholic education means so much to me, because if I did not have it I would not be the person I am today. I am so glad that I have the ability to attend a Catholic school, and also attend mass each week. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend a Catholic school and learn many things like I do.
Importance Of Catholic Education Essay
1907 Words. 8 Pages. Open Document. Why Catholic Education is Important to Me. Ever since I was little, I have felt that Catholic education has been the best fit for me. Catholic education is important to me because I am able to practice my faith and get an individualized education that will help prepare me for college and for real life.
Why Catholic Education Is Important Now More than Ever
A central benefit to Catholic education is that it devotes time to focusing on the needs of others most in need first, much like Jesus did in his own life. Especially in the age of individualism or " Me Decade" where people focus on promoting themselves, Catholic education "broadens horizons helping children think of others and promotes ...
J. D. Vance's Radical Religion
The thrust of the essay is that becoming a Catholic was a means of defying the patterns of imitation fostered by the "meritocratic master class"—and, not coincidentally, what he saw as its ...
What Does Religion Mean To Me Essay
What Does Religion Mean To Me Essay. Having reread my original autobiography I have realized how different my view on religion was then in comparison to now. Although I have never been extremely active in my religion I have gained a deeper understanding as to what it means to be Catholic. I had once thought that Catholicism was not a big part ...
Paris Olympics organizers say sorry for offense, but insist opening
The organizers behind the Paris Olympics apologized to anyone who was offended by a tableau that evoked Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" during Friday's opening ceremony and provoked outrage ...
An Olympics Scene Draws Scorn. Did It Really Parody 'The Last Supper
The drag queens' poses also resembled those of Jesus' disciples, he said, adding that the scene was a "very, very sacred image" to Christians as it represented the moment that Jesus ...