Being Catholic: How We Believe, Practice and Think

by Archbishop Daniel E Pilarczyk

This book is…an act of witnessing, a testimony to the generosity of God that Catholics experience in accepting and living out the gift of faith that Christ has bestowed on them.—from the Introduction

A bishop is not only a spiritual shepherd but a teacher. In Being Catholic Archbishop Pilarczyk teaches in clear, concise language the basic beliefs and practices of Catholics and what shapes a Catholic's thinking. The book discusses:

HOW WE BELIEVE: Believing Catholic is a matter of knowing, understanding and responding to a story-the true story of God's love for us. It offers "the fundamentals that have to be there if thinking and practicing Catholic are going to have any appeal or make any sense."

HOW WE PRACTICE: Reflections on the behaviors that express our faith and our membership in the Church, such as going to Mass, receiving the sacraments and raising children Catholic. By being a practicing Catholic, we strengthen our behaviors so we can proclaim them to others.

HOW WE THINK: A series of thoughtful, pastoral and heartfelt reflections on all aspects of our lives in the world, seen through the eyes of one deeply faithful to the tradition and teachings of the church. Topics for "Thinking Catholic" include respect for life, spiritual maturity and a universal Church.

Genres: Religion, Catholic

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book for an online course I took. The course was seriously disappointing in its lack of depth and content, but this little book was ok. It reads more like a series of sermons than a theology text, so if you want a book that helps you examine your personal faith in the context of Catholicism without sacrificing orthodoxy, this is a good choice. But, like sermons, it’s very light on the theology and referencing. The author is a Catholic Bishop so he leans on that authority to make statements that provoke reflection and reflect the teaching authority of the Church, but as somebody with a strong academic and formerly Protestant background, I found myself frustrated with repeated assertions without supporting evidence.

If you want a book that will explain difficult teachings to you, this is not it. If you want a book of rules about Catholicism, this is also not it. It doesn’t need to be either (if you want the latter, Catholicism for Dummies is actually excellent and holds a nihil obstat). Just know what you’re getting going in, bring your prayer journal along for the ride, and be prepared for dense sentences where each one reflects centuries of theological thought and inspires personal reflection.

Three stars because as a book it lacks something, and there were many deeply controversial and complicated statements that I wish had been unpacked (but perhaps this is unfair, it’s not really within the scope of this book to explain things like the history of the filioque clause). But, it is highly readable and spiritually very sound. Recommended for devotional, not theological, reading.

[Lori Kincaid Rassati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archbishop Pilarczyk was the former Archbishop in our home archdiocese and more importantly for this selection, the former rector of our seminary where I work. The men in seminary at the time have tremendous admiration and respect for him. Given that, I wanted to read something he wrote.

This book is organized into 3 sections-- how we believe, how we practice and how we think. Each with short chapters which cover a multitude of subjects in a basic, but thought provoking way.

I found each chapter reinforced my faith and challenged me to be more. I intend to buy copies for my children to help them organize their faith and hopefully strengthen it as well.

No wonder Archbishop Pilarczyk was so admired. I'm sorry I never met him.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for a class. Great review material. Author should be very familiar to Dayton/Cincy people.

[James Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've called this cliff notes for the catechism. Definitely learned some things and appreciated the framing of the rest!

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another school related book, for the UC Dayton courses offered and required for teachers in parochial schools. If you want a barebones explanation of Catholicism, this is it. It is a weighty and often dry book, particularly for readers well-versed in their faith but at the same time, it is insightful in enabling discussion in the tenets of the faith.

[Daniel Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it to be a great teaching tool to help me better understand my new faith.