Customer Reviews

Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Anyone who follows any type of sports knows that the best teams or players, year in and year out are those that have most clearly mastered the fundamental basics of the sport. For years in American College football, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Alabama dominated the sport. These teams accomplished their goals, not by doing anything fancy or unusual but by simply lining up and running over their opponents. Put another way, they won by relying on the basics. Many Catholics, including myself could learn a valuable lesson from these football teams as we try to live our Catholic faith.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has written a playbook to allow us as Catholics to get back to the basics of our faith and to more fully appreciate the scriptural authority behind these core teachings of the Church. He does this in a very appealing and straightforward way that is easy to understand and very easy to read. There is no heavy theological jargon nor are there any unexplained Latin terms in this book and even someone who is totally unfamiliar with the Catholic Church will have no trouble grasping the Archbishop's points.

To his great credit, the Most Reverend Chaput takes on the issues he discusses head on and never swerves to avoid hurting someone's feelings. Almost any Catholic who reads this book will find that at least some of the author's arguments hit mighty close to home. The author also takes on the hard issues like abortion, contraception and suicide, issues that may be controversial in some quarters but which are at the heart of the Church's teachings on the sanctity of human life. The learned author also takes the time to explain in very clear terms some of the most basic tenants of the Christian faith and I found his point by point discussion of the Ten Commandments to be very enlightening.

The Archbishop does all of this while relating it to the world that we live in today. I found his analogy of two twentieth century films to be particularly poignant and to be charged with unpopular truth. Sometimes the truth hurts but it does us a world of good in the long run.

This book is highly relevant to the world today and especially to Catholics facing the challenges of the twenty-first century. The good Archbishop has given us a wonderful blueprint to follow as we try to live our faith and spread the gospel to the whole world.

The message of a recent Sunday's Gospel, St. Luke Chapter 10, poses the question "Teacher what must I do to be saved". The answer, contained within the two great commandments followed by the story of the Good Samaritan, parallels the challenge of St. Mark Chapter 10 in Living the Catholic Faith, Rediscovering the Basics by Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M.Cap. The question around which the Archbishop builds a viable plan for our journey from here to eternity is answered in St. Mark's Gospel. He lists several of the Ten Commandments and suggests "Go sell what you have, give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me". Archbishop Chaput says the first step to answer the challenge is "Breathe with both your lungs. Use your mind and your heart. Seek the truth with your brain and your heart and your soul."

The act of redemption having been accomplished it's been said that every person created was and is the fulfillment of a love story unique and unrepeatable. Hence, each person has incredible dignity and worth. The plan that exists for the journey home to God is available if we but only cooperate with it.

Tucked within just eleven chapters containing a total of 159 pages, this plan is presented by the Archbishop. He reaches back for basics as those listed in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, hoping that they are no longer on just our "to do" lists but activated now in our daily lives. Brief as the book is, he considers among many listings the commandments and sacraments.

An adequate review of such a book requires time because just a blink of an eye can cause one to miss a treasured word or two of this carefully chosen script. Each sentence of each paragraph is so electrically charged with meaning that it would be the reader's loss to miss even one word of this message.

The Archbishop's five-point plan suggests we must pray not just prayers of petition, praise and thanksgiving, but for listening to the will of God for each of us. But even in His will, we maintain our freedom of response with either yes or no. It is the sum total of these choices which we finally become.

The Archbishop has his readers return to formal training to recall a definition of prayer. He offers his favorite from a rather contemporary female Doctor of the Church. St. Therese of Lisieux says "For me, prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards heaven; it is a cry of recognition and love, embracing both trial and joy".

The the Archbishop suggests we read scripture to keep our "minds enlightened, our wills strengthened, and our hearts on fire with the love of God". He insists the Gospel is not confusing or complicated just difficult and demanding.

Being a voracious reader himself, the author sets the example for us to read, read, read by challenging us with names of many writers and works saying, "we can get lost in a good book". He encourages us to check out the Catholic Catechism and draws on two documents especially, from the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium and Gaudium et Spes. He quotes from lives of various saints, even the converted as far back as St. Augustine to the converted C.S. Lewis of more recent times. The Archbishop futher suggests we read from lives of saints whose endeavors are similar to our own.

Since we are missionaries by reason of Baptism and because "complacency is the enemy of mission", Archbishop Chaput advises that we participate in the Church's mission; never neglecting our families, giving of our time, talents, and treasures to our parish, diocese, or even if possible, to a broader missionary life.

All our efforts should be nourished with our participation in the Sacramental Life of the Church. A special account of the Sacraments of Initiation is accompanied by an entire chapter on the Eucharist.

By the motto on his coat of arms "As Christ loved the Church", adapted from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians the Archbishop declares his intent to work unselfishly for the Church. His often repeated phrase "faith is personal but not private" is his continual challenge to us.

The Archbishop exudes so much joy between the lines in his book that it isn't difficult to feel his enthusiasm to live each day built on the Gospel. In the spirit of evangelization of ourselves first, then the world we can fulfil the final command of Jesus Christ before His return to the Father. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations".

Wow, this book is realy great! The Archbishop has managed to pack a great deal of Catholicism into a tiny and easily manageable book. I would recommend it for all Catholics no matter what stage of the journey they are at.

I have bought many copies of this book for Catholic frieds. A couple of times, the book has been an overwhelming surprise, which shows that many Catholics don't know their faith. Both times however, the book has turned from their least favorite, to a favorite! I call that a great conversion tool.

Addressing both those Catholics who adhere to Church teaching and just need a refresher, and those Catholics are happy to be "cafeteria Catholics" accepting those tenets of the faith that comfortably fit their lifestyles while rejecting those they find challenging (or as one reviewer put it "out of touch") Archbishop Chaput presents a concise teaching of Catholic belief which is essential to these times. He explains what we believe, why we believe it and the negative repercussions of deviating from these parameters. He builds up belief from the theological to the practical. From what we believe about God to its significance in our daily dealings with our neighbor.

Contrary to his critics, Archbishop Chaput is not the least out of touch, in fact the book is peppered with annecdotes from popular culture as well as annecdotes from classical works. He very ably discusses current affairs, and he insightfully points out just where the world is going off-course.

Archbishop Chaput is one of the stars among the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. He speaks clearly, concisely and without fear of offending people with the truth.

This book is well worth your time.

If you've followed this bishop's talks and writings, you already know he's got a lot to say, and he says it very well. If this is your first encounter with his thinking, you're in for an inspiring read. Chaput has a friendly, vivid way of preaching and teaching that makes difficult ideas easy to understand. This is a great book for everyday searchers who want to make sense of the Gospel and the Church. It's the best introduction to Christianity and the Catholic faith I've come across in years. Highly recommended.

Non-Catholics or those in RCIA may be a little discouraged by his words at first. The title refers to the basics, yet he implores his readers to continue farther into lengthier volumes of Catholic doctrine. I've met the man. He's a wonderful speaker and he shows a genuine interest in those he meets. He packs the church. I would have rated it 5 except that I feel that the book is really geared for those who have taken more than the basic steps toward a deeper relationship with the church. For those people, myself included, this book only reinforces the need to be supportive of the motives and identity of the Catholic Church. Chaput's writing style is engaging and he manages to involve his readers in his points without resorting to the obfuscation of high bow theology. The price point is quite nice and this book works well for many types of readers who enjoy spiritual challenges. I'm buying more copies to give to my friends.

This is an easy to read book that is packed full of great principles, ideas, and instruction on meanings of the Catholic faith. I think that it would be treasured by anyone who read it. The chapters are broken down into clear thoughts and the author has you agreeing throughout each chapter. The subject matter is very important and the message is real. It taught me much about my faith. The book was given to me as a gift and I am now passing it on as one. This is definitely one of the best books on religion and the Catholic faith.

the archbishop of denver has written an excellent overview of why he is a catholic, and why the faith is alive and real to him after 2000 years. the tone is one of a good friend and not preachy. he is well versed in modern thought so the analogies are very current as well as apt.

the topics are discussed in a fresh way, not requiring one to be a bible scholar to understand what he is saying and why he is saying it. the archbishop has published many articles and his speeches have been circulated beyond catholic circles. his sincere love for his church and his vocation as an ordained minister comes through clearly. a great read for catholic and non catholic alike.

I read this in one sitting; in fact, I couldn't put it down. Chaput has a short, clear, very easy to read style that masks a lot of solid content. He's a good storyteller. He never rebukes. He makes Catholic teaching understandable in a fresh and persuasive way. The book makes you want to meet the man and hear more. I don't know if an author can do better than that.

This book seems, to me anyway, to be frequently comprised of sentences that lead up to deeply penetrating and thought provoking "illuminations". Oftentimes the reader is apt to see something that they've seen/considered before, but now with a brand new depth of insight ! __ The experience is startling and exciting ! - Read the book and see for yourself ?
Many sentences are gems, in and of themselves-the sort of material that you'd like to ingrain, so as to later - at the appropriately "called for" time-activate/make use of them.
It's with great enthusiasm and relish then that I heartily recommend the reading of this book - as it provides the reader with an opportunity to explore new depths of meditation, thus enabeling an exciting growth experience.