Customer Reviews

What Makes Us Catholic: Eight Gifts for Life

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I was recently talking with someone who had read Thomas Groome's WHAT MAKES US CATHOLIC. She said "I did not recognize the Church in this book." While this may sound like a good reason not to purchase the book, it was actually a ringing endorsement. This woman was recently returning to the Church and it helped her realize the richness of her faith, a faith that has been tested, and in recent years marred by scandal, but none the less a faith that at its best mirrors Jesus Christ.

While Groome himself is a professor of theology and religious education at Boston College, the work is not a catechism of sorts. It does not explicitly talk about what the Church teaches, but how the Catholic faith can shape a person. Groome focuses on eight areas that affect the lives of Catholics: grace, the sacramental way of life, community, scripture and tradition, social justice, reaching out to others, and spirituality. In each are he focuses on hat it means to live each of these areas, which for a Catholic is essential, since the Catholic faith is one that is based on lived experience (contrary to what some may think). Her also uses the gift of Catholic imagination, so much a part of Catholicism, but often neglected. The end result may be a Catholic faith that is not instantly recognizable, but if one looks through history and the way in which many Catholics live today, it is a Catholicism that is real and very much a part of human life.

The book was first published in 2002, just as the current scandal in the Church was making the headlines in newspapers across the country, and throughout the world for that matter. For many who read Groome's book at that time, it was a reminder of what the Church has to offer and why it needs to be saved. This alone makes the book a gift to the Church. From a spiritual point of view, it is a great book to re-infuse a person's faith and give it a fresh perspective. Catachetically it is a great book to be used in RCIA programs. It is a readable book that will be an important resource for years to come.

This book was a joy to read. Groome "unpacks" several key defining characteristics of the Catholic faith, including the sacramental view of God as present in the world around us, the thirst for social justice, the need to recognize and include people of all cultures. This book is a wonderful synthesis of what makes Catholics Catholic, and even though I was familiar with these ideas before reading the book, I found Groome's thoughtful explanation of each characteristic in its Scriptural and historical context to be particularly enlightening. Very refreshing was his empowerment of the laity to actively live their faith,and he offers many practical ideas on how to do so. Groome is also very honest about times when the Catholic church has fallen short of its own ideals, both in the past and in the present day, but the overall message is one of hope: the Holy Spirit is continuing to move throughout the Church and, as was stated at Vatican II, "as the centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly moves forward toward the fullness of divine truth." This book is truly a refreshing drink for a thirsty soul.

I picked up this book and initially LOVED the preface about a young man who had grown up in a traditional, Boston-Irish-Catholic family. He "automatically put down Catholic" when asked his religious preference on a hospital form but questioned whether that really held any meaning for him. When questioned why he didn't just put "no preference" or skip the question, the young man answered, "Aw gawd, I could never do that. And what if something went wrong during the operation? ... Yeh never know, yeh never know."
This rang so familiar to my own story:
I grew up in a Boston-Italian-Irish-Catholic family. (Redundancy?) My parents were non-practicing, so I never had a very good sense of what it really meant to be Catholic. I attended CCD and sometimes went to mass with my girlfriend in high school (who had to get a bulletin to prove to her mom she had been there!. Then I attended Catholic universities for undergrad and grad school, studying art history. Through art history, I was introduced to many of the saints, stories, and rites celebrated in the Churhc. Later on, I married a German-Catholic man from Ohio, who went to Catholic schools his whole life. We now have 2 sons, who attend Catholic elementary schools. Through them I have gained not only the saints and stories, as before, but also a genuine joy of the spirit of the mass of thanksgiving.
Now, my friends and family back in Massachusetts think of me as the "religious one" in the family. They have recently begun to come to me to ask questions that are very difficult for the average lay person to answer. They seek answers because they have lived, for the past 20 years in a culture which informs them that they "don't need to go to church to be Catholic," they "don't need to go through a priest to confess to God," they "don't need to" be Sunday mass-goers to be good people," and they are "more spiritual than when they attended mass." Now they ask me about the significance of Confirmation, about Annulment, and about the Church's stance on many issues. They are conduits of years of prevalent anti-Catholic misconceptions such as that which supposes our statues and rosaries are superstitious symbols. The old Boston-Italian-Catholic or Boston-Irish Catholic families have wandered so far from the Church, they ask what it REALLY means to be Catholic? In fact, 14% of people living in the North East list "no religious preference" when asked their religion.
Thomas H. Groome seems to have his finger on the pulse of the spirituality that lapsed New England Catholic seek. I loved the examination of the roots of "Catholic" to "katha holos," meaning "gathering in the whole," or "all are welcome," conferring an inclusion (rather than a universality) of the Church. I appreciated some of the chapters on Living as Graceful People, Taking a Sacramental View, Getting Together for Good, Mining the Treasury of Scripture and Tradition, Loving Beyond Borders, and (most appropriately for my purpose) Growing a Spirituality for Life.
On the negative side, I agree with other reviewers that the author tends to insert his very untraditional opinions in places. He not only mentions the future possibility for women to become priests but makes a serious plug for the income tax! Personally, I found the whole CHAPTER on "our" politics completely inappropriate for a book about "what makes us Catholic" and was disturbed that he used this outlet to further his own political agenda.
In all, I would consider the below book, Rediscovering Catholicism, a better read.Rediscovering Catholicism: Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star

Welcome to a celebration of what makes Catholicism beautiful. Boston College Theology professor and religious educator, Thomas Groome presents "What Makes Us Catholic: Eight Gifts For Life" as a passionate declaration of the Catholic spirit. This book attempts to describes eight distinctive emphases he says are shared by all Catholics, from Ted Kennedy to Pat Buchanan, from pop-star Madonna to Mother Angelica.

The book began in response to a quip in a bar. "Maybe you should write a book about that -- what it means to be Catholic, even after you've left the church" (xiii). "What Makes Us Catholic" is a book for those people of God who have hung up their rosaries and stopped attending Mass, but who have not left the spirit of Catholicism. The author describes his audience as ranging from the devout to the alienated, radical reformers to defenders of the status quo; from liberal baby-boomers who feel that Vatican II has been betrayed to conservative Gen Xers who wonder what the boomers are whining about. Groome suggests that today people don't disagree with the Church, they ignores it. While Groome is an engaging thinker with strong credentials, his all inclusive vision will probably not be well appreciated by conservative readers.

Groome begins by asking the "Big questions" of human existence, and then organizes the responses which have been drawn from the depths of Catholicism's rich legacy. Sacramentality, community; justice, an appreciation of human potential and fallibility; a reverence for tradition, universal care, a Catholic imagination, and a faith-based spirituality that permeates every day are the eight attitudes or qualities that mark the Catholic Christian. Each chapter begins with a personal story illustrating the particular way of thinking, which is further explained in the chapter. Sewn within the warm narration are reflection questions. Each chapter then concludes with suggested practices to exercise that particular quality of faith.

Groome presents what he sees as the best of the Catholic tradition, downplaying the hierarchy and emphasizing aspects he finds more palatable to contemporary tastes such as the Church's affirmation of all great religions and inclusiveness. Catholic Christianity is marked by an overwhelmingly positive attitude toward the human condition and the world. Life is to be celebrated and enjoyed, cherished and defended. The Catholic faith insists that people are essentially good, drawing a contrast with the Calvinist emphasis prevalent in America which stresses our totally fallen nature. Because it is free of religious jargon the book will not intimidate those who feel they have little theological background. It would be an excellent discussion starter for adult education programs, faith sharing groups and youth retreats.

It is written for those who are searching for essential values, for people who, if it really came down to it, might want to put their faith to work. "What Makes Us Catholic: Eight Gifts For Life" is for those who treasure their Catholic heritage even though they don't practice the Catholic faith as they should. Sensitively written with an ecumenical spirit this book should appeal to non-Catholic readers and practicing Catholics as well.

Groome's new book on the Catholic community could also, it seems to me, be a portrait of the ideal 'catholic' community: that is, the Church, wherever it finds itself, behaving as the koinonia it was intended to be. The Church is a beloved community, an event more than a place, in which the Holy Spirit unites humans with one another and with God in bonds of love that then radiate outwards to embrace and heal the rest of the world. In reminding Roman Catholics of their essential witness, Groome has reminded Christians of all denominations of their essential calling.

How different the world would be if catholics (Roman and otherwise) took seriously the proclamation that God is present in the world, thereby making the everyday holy and properly eliciting forth from us reverence and awe, a passion for social justice, and such a deep-seated joy in the "little" (sacramental) things of life that our consumerist mania would drop by the way! Groome's book aims to help us recapture this vision. His anecdotes, prayers, exercises are helpful rather than maudlin or pietistic.

A very good book for Lenten meditation, but an even better one, I suspect, for Pentecost: what better time to reflect on the true nature of Church and koinonia? Highly recommended.

This book should not be considered an authoritative guide into "what makes us Catholic". Rather, this seemed to be one man's personal, watered- down Catholic opinions. He does not echo or boldly state the Church's teachings, which is invaluable toward the end his book's title suggests. I wanted a book that would help me delve deeper into the beauty of being Catholic. I was sorely disappointed.

What Makes Us Catholic? by Thomas Groome is a book that is being read by many in our diocese at the suggestion of diocesan leadership. A book that is promoted to such a wide variety of Catholics and is recommended for formation and discussion groups should be faithful to and respectful of church teaching. Groome's book does not fit either category.
The author negatively portrays most Catholics as struggling with the Church and it's teachings. The over use of inclusive language in this book is very cumbersome. When I went to the index to find how Groome handled different "hot" topics I found references to statements like these:
(p.102) It would appear that the Western church is insisting upon celibacy and maleness for priesthood at the expense of people's access of Eucharist - so central to Catholic identity and spirituality.
(p.114) There can be problems in making an argument from nature to favor society or social arrangements. For example, there has been much gender and racial bias in how the dominant culture has interpreted "nature." As late as 1880, the Massachusetts Medical Society argued that women were unsuited `by nature" to be physicians. This is not unlike the argument that the Catholic Church still makes against women becoming priests.
(p.263) " Catholics can have an air of know-it-all, acting as if ours is the only and completely true faith, replete with all the answers. Surely, this is more the sin of pride than a truly catholic spirituality. Some of the hubris is encouraged by a teaching magisterium that typically sounds absolutely certain in its pronouncements, as if faith is no longer a "leap" and all can be assured. The joke rings true that when the Catholic Church finally agrees to ordain women, the pronouncement will begin with, "As we have always taught..."
There was no attempt made to present the Catholic Church's point of view. These statements give us a glimpse of the author's attitude toward church leadership/authority.
The book has good points but it looses its credibility when statements like the above are made. I cannot find justification in recommending a book that is unfaithful to church teaching. The author is a master storyteller. It is too bad that the stories tend to be negative toward the church. One review I read actually stated, "However, despite the author's claim that he writes for Catholics "who span the spectrum," his views may alienate more conservative members." The reviewer is right. Where are the stories of life long Catholics who love the Catholic Church and have a respect for the authority of the "Keys," as given by Christ to His Catholic Church? Where are the stories of protestant clergy converts who study their way into the Catholic Church not because it is one of many good churches but because it is the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church.
Wanting to end on a positive note, I would like to recommend Matthew Kelly's book, "Rediscovering Catholicism" as one that will help us to love, live and better understand what it means to live out our treasure filled Catholic faith.

I just finished Thomas Groome's "What Makes Us Catholic" and found it to be worthwhile reading. Groome describes a good priest as one who 'companions people like a soul friend and serves the community's spiritual hunger through Word and Sacrament... enabling the gifts of all to work well together--with "holy order".'

Primarily, though, the book is about each person's call to holiness, regardless of station in life, and how our Catholic faith assists us in that life long journey.

I've added to my "to do" list Groome's suggestion of writing a personal foundation prayer or morning offering as described on p. 202.

A soundbite for this book would be "choose for life for all".

I purchased this book, before I really knew anything about Catholicism. When I entered the Church last year, from the Anglican church, and actually studied the Faith objectively, I began to read this book. The author is a classic cafeteria Catholic, picking and choosing various teaching and discarding the rest. Take for example this statement: "Remember too, that there are three major expressions of Catholic Christianity, each with it's own distinctiveness - Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy and the Roman communion." There are a numble of obvious blunders here in light of what the Church really teaches. 1) Anglicanism is not recognized by the Catholic Church as an "expression" of the historic Church, but rather an "expression" of the English Reformation, caused by Henry the VIII who placed himself as head of the church in 1533 resulting in excommunication. After this time, Protestant influences made it necessary for the Church to officially refuse recognition of Anglican sacraments. 2) Eastern Orthodoxy (big O, as opposed to Eastern Rite orthodox Catholics in full Communion with Rome) is not recognised as an "expression" of the Church's full unity, due to the schism of 1054 resulting in their excommunication. Unlike the Anglican church, however, Orthodox Sacraments are recognized because they were not affected in any way, shape or form from Protestanism.

There are other comments such as how terrible it is we have no women priests. Jesus Christ was a man. Christ breathed on 12 Apostles giving them authority......they were all men. Sure, there were women disciples of Jesus who followed Him faithfully, but they were not included among the 12 Apostles which God Incarnate bestowed authority, and was passed down through Apostoloc Succession. Therefore, I'm afraid the author is out of his league. Christ is the Revealer, and we are His humble mail carriers. Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College says it well: "we do not have the right to edit God's Mail." and that includes this author. Beware of the labels, for there is only one Catholic Faith. There isn't, as the author suggests, a "liberal" Catholic, or "Conservative" Catholic, but only "Catholic" Catholic. As the Redemptorist Fr. Pablo Straub says: "Jesus didn't say on this Rock I will build my debating society." Those attempting to change the Church of Christ, the Catholic Church, into a relativistic debating platform such as this author, need to at least have enough respect to give the Church the last word on Her objective stances. The author has failed in this regard.

I bought this book because the nun that teaches religious classes highly recommended it when I was asking alot of questions. I can't say I thought it was that great and it gave answers that I really didn't feel were quite comfortable with. But if a nun believes in it I could sure be wrong.