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Catholic Hipster: The Next Level: How Some Awesomely Obscure Stuff Helps Us Live Our Faith with Passion
Do you have what it takes to become a next-level Catholic hipster? Building on the overwhelming popularity of The Catholic Hipster Handbook , Tommy Tighe is back with a new cast of fellow hipsters—including Haley Stewart, Samantha Povlock, Matthew Sewell, Fr. Damian Ferrence, and Patrick Neve—to share overlooked saints, forgotten prayers, and profound practices that define the countercultural Catholic lifestyle, inspiring you to live your faith in radical ways. The Catholic Hipster Handbook successfully defined Catholic cool. In Catholic The Next Level , editor Tommy Tighe and his squad of hipsters delve even deeper into the Church’s countercultural 2,000-year history and kick it up a notch by helping you answer the call to act on your beliefs. The book is divided into three parts that challenge you to live the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love. Each contributor introduces a forgotten saint and prayer and provides a suggestion for living the beautiful quirkiness of the Catholic faith. Topics Covering the intellectual, practical, and intrinsically hipster, Catholic The Next Level has something for everyone. Whether you want to be challenged, called to serve, or shown something new about your faith, you’ll end up embracing all that’s cool about Catholicism and having a more personal relationship with Christ and his Church.
224 pages, Paperback
Published November 8, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 18, 2019
This book was not exactly what I was expecting. And that was a surprise, because I began my review of, The Catholic Hipster Handbook the exact same way. I really enjoyed volume one. And did not expect a follow-up. And according to the author neither was he. And yet he has delivered another great read. I had seen it mentioned by so many people that I was certain it would be something I would like and purchased it without realizing that it is an anthology with 13 contributors when you included Tommy. Sort of a modern-day group of apostles plus a Paul. But there are 39 articles in the volume compared to 27 books in the new testament. Some contributed as few as 2 pieces and Tommy contributed 6.
The contributors are:
Fr. Damian Ference
Haley Stewart
Holly Vaughan
Jackie Francois Angel
Julie Lai
Kaitlyn Facista
Katie Prejean McGrady
Matthew Sewell
Patrick Neve
Samantha Povlock
Sr. Brittany Harrison, F.M.A.
Theresa Zoe Williams
Tommy Tighe
And only one of the contributors other than Tommy repeat from the first volume.
And the sections in this book are:
Introduction
Part 1: Living with Faith
Part 2: Living with Hope
Part 3: Living with Love
Conclusion
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
About the Contributors
Each chapter follows the same format, the main article, cool saint, forgotten prayer, and a Living the Faith activity. When I started reading book 1 I could not tell if it was satire, sarcastic, or real devotion. My wife often comments that sarcasm is lost on me, so it took me a few chapters to figure it out. This time I knew going in it was written from a place of deep faith, deep devotion, and desire to grow in living that faith.
I found I really enjoyed the book, even more so than volume 1. I take the authors and the articles at face value. I give it a solid 4/5 stars. With book one I waffled between 3 and 4 stars. This time I wavered between 4 and 5, and finally settled on a solid 4, and would give it 4.5 if it was possible. I read fairly widely, and I read a lot, but again with this volume I was unfamiliar with most of the contributors prior to reading this book. In fact, other than Tommy and Sr. Brittany Harrison from volume 1 I only knew one of the other contributors. Like the last time I have started following a few of the contributors on social media because of their contributions to this book.
I have known a few Catholic Hipsters, going back to a college and Careers group at Saint Mary's Cathedral in Kingston Ontario in the late 80's and early 90's. Hipsters before being a hipster was cool. What I loved most about this book was that it comments on several trends in the Catholic community today, some that are growing and others with longer standing. I really appreciated the section 'Forgotten Prayer' and also 'Cool Saint' the activity sections are good also.
I really appreciate that this book is called the next level and not just Volume 2. For that is my feel. This book goes further up and deeper into living the faith. The articles in the order they appear are:
Honor the Sabbath: Learning to Pause the Noise in Our Lives to Hear God
Healing the Sick and Raising the Dead: Just Your Average Catholic Hipster
Jesus, I Trust in You (Easier Said than Done)
Observing Ember Days
First Mass, Last Mass, Only Mass
Third Orders: Extreme Hipster Catholicism
There’s More than One Way to Pray a Rosary
The Song of Songs: The Mass in the Old Testament
J. R. R. Tolkien: Catholic Hipster
Guitars and Organs
Deck the Halls with Weird Old Testament Ornaments, Fa La La La La, La La La La
Lectio Divina: The Art of Sacred Reading
Fasting: Not Just for Diets
They Don’t Call Us a Universal Church for Nothing!
Bringing Catholic Twitter into the Real World
Punk Rock Catholicism (aka Tattoos)
Becoming Inklings
Human Formation for Every Catholic
I’ve Got That Grief, Grief, Grief, Grief Down in My Heart
Catholic Feminism (aka Things Popes Said That No One Talks About)
The Early Church Was the Catholic Church
You Must Wait Three Days to See the Pope
Chalk on the Door: House Blessings
Social Justice in Every Sip
Getting into the Spirit of Michaelmas
Servant Royalty
Hipster Mom: Working Catholic Mom of Nine
The Art of Accompaniment: Journeying with Others in Faith
The Catholic Worker Ethic
I’m Not a Regular Catholic; I’m a Cool (and Prideful) Catholic
The Catholic Idea That’s Key to Gender Equality
How to Make a Flannery O’Connor Pilgrimage
Catholic Bees
NFP, Yeah You Know Me
Co-Creating with God
Making All Things New
St. Andrew, an Apostle before It Was Cool
Attraction: Hormones Meet Theology
Heroic Friendship
This is an excellent read. But be warned, if you read it you will be challenged and changed. I doubt many could read this book and not be impacted by several if not many of the articles. And I will likely circle back and reread it in a few years, at a different point in my life and benefit from it in a different way.
This is an easy read and very accessible. I would say it is even accessible for teens and tweens. So, could be a good study for a youth group. What I loved most were the prayers and saints presented. Overall a very refreshing read, but I must state again it will challenge you. So give it a read and take your hipsterness to the next level.
Read the review on my blog 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
The contributors are:
Fr. Damian Ference
Haley Stewart
Holly Vaughan
Jackie Francois Angel
Julie Lai
Kaitlyn Facista
Katie Prejean McGrady
Matthew Sewell
Patrick Neve
Samantha Povlock
Sr. Brittany Harrison, F.M.A.
Theresa Zoe Williams
Tommy Tighe
And only one of the contributors other than Tommy repeat from the first volume.
And the sections in this book are:
Introduction
Part 1: Living with Faith
Part 2: Living with Hope
Part 3: Living with Love
Conclusion
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes
About the Contributors
Each chapter follows the same format, the main article, cool saint, forgotten prayer, and a Living the Faith activity. When I started reading book 1 I could not tell if it was satire, sarcastic, or real devotion. My wife often comments that sarcasm is lost on me, so it took me a few chapters to figure it out. This time I knew going in it was written from a place of deep faith, deep devotion, and desire to grow in living that faith.
I found I really enjoyed the book, even more so than volume 1. I take the authors and the articles at face value. I give it a solid 4/5 stars. With book one I waffled between 3 and 4 stars. This time I wavered between 4 and 5, and finally settled on a solid 4, and would give it 4.5 if it was possible. I read fairly widely, and I read a lot, but again with this volume I was unfamiliar with most of the contributors prior to reading this book. In fact, other than Tommy and Sr. Brittany Harrison from volume 1 I only knew one of the other contributors. Like the last time I have started following a few of the contributors on social media because of their contributions to this book.
I have known a few Catholic Hipsters, going back to a college and Careers group at Saint Mary's Cathedral in Kingston Ontario in the late 80's and early 90's. Hipsters before being a hipster was cool. What I loved most about this book was that it comments on several trends in the Catholic community today, some that are growing and others with longer standing. I really appreciated the section 'Forgotten Prayer' and also 'Cool Saint' the activity sections are good also.
I really appreciate that this book is called the next level and not just Volume 2. For that is my feel. This book goes further up and deeper into living the faith. The articles in the order they appear are:
Honor the Sabbath: Learning to Pause the Noise in Our Lives to Hear God
Healing the Sick and Raising the Dead: Just Your Average Catholic Hipster
Jesus, I Trust in You (Easier Said than Done)
Observing Ember Days
First Mass, Last Mass, Only Mass
Third Orders: Extreme Hipster Catholicism
There’s More than One Way to Pray a Rosary
The Song of Songs: The Mass in the Old Testament
J. R. R. Tolkien: Catholic Hipster
Guitars and Organs
Deck the Halls with Weird Old Testament Ornaments, Fa La La La La, La La La La
Lectio Divina: The Art of Sacred Reading
Fasting: Not Just for Diets
They Don’t Call Us a Universal Church for Nothing!
Bringing Catholic Twitter into the Real World
Punk Rock Catholicism (aka Tattoos)
Becoming Inklings
Human Formation for Every Catholic
I’ve Got That Grief, Grief, Grief, Grief Down in My Heart
Catholic Feminism (aka Things Popes Said That No One Talks About)
The Early Church Was the Catholic Church
You Must Wait Three Days to See the Pope
Chalk on the Door: House Blessings
Social Justice in Every Sip
Getting into the Spirit of Michaelmas
Servant Royalty
Hipster Mom: Working Catholic Mom of Nine
The Art of Accompaniment: Journeying with Others in Faith
The Catholic Worker Ethic
I’m Not a Regular Catholic; I’m a Cool (and Prideful) Catholic
The Catholic Idea That’s Key to Gender Equality
How to Make a Flannery O’Connor Pilgrimage
Catholic Bees
NFP, Yeah You Know Me
Co-Creating with God
Making All Things New
St. Andrew, an Apostle before It Was Cool
Attraction: Hormones Meet Theology
Heroic Friendship
This is an excellent read. But be warned, if you read it you will be challenged and changed. I doubt many could read this book and not be impacted by several if not many of the articles. And I will likely circle back and reread it in a few years, at a different point in my life and benefit from it in a different way.
This is an easy read and very accessible. I would say it is even accessible for teens and tweens. So, could be a good study for a youth group. What I loved most were the prayers and saints presented. Overall a very refreshing read, but I must state again it will challenge you. So give it a read and take your hipsterness to the next level.
Read the review on my blog 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!
March 28, 2022
Loved this second collection as much as the first. I've got a reading list of recommended theology and new aspects of my natal religion to look into. It's such an inspiration to see young Catholics with the same spiritual love I only associate with my grandmother. I left the Church feeling like it didn't offer what I wanted, and am returning to it with the knowledge that--like everything else in life--you get out what you put in. Highly recommend to Catholics, Christians, and the God-curious.
November 18, 2019
Confession: this book lured me in purely by the use of the phrase "Awesomely Obscure Stuff" in its title. I'm not sure where exactly I fall on the Hipster scale... I mean, I raise chickens. I shop at Farmers' Markets. I buy used and vintage clothing and often make my own. I listen to music on vinyl. But Twitter scares me, and I'm quite prefer my husband's face clean-shaven. So I think I'm just old-fashioned, not cool. It's a fine line, isn't it?
On the Catholic scale however, I'm a rosary-toting, Butler's-Lives-of-the-Saints-memorizing, Pope-quoting freak. When I was a kid--and still now, to some extent--nothing made me happier than digging up "Awesomely Obscure Stuff" about my faith. When all my homeschooler friends were dressing up like St. Therese or Cecilia or Francis (I mean, they're cool, but everyone's heard of them), I draped sheets over myself as St. Emerentiana. Or St. Marina the Monk. (You should look them up. They're awesomely obscure.)
But Catholic Hipster: The Next Level isn't all about reaching into the forgotten annals of our past and pulling out gems like these--even though it does so, and well. Ultimately, it's a guide for life as a Catholic in the modern world. It shows that we can be steeped in tradition and still love our neighbors. That we can simultaneously embrace Twitter and Latin Hymns and social justice. That being who we were created to be might look like madness--but that it's also very, very cool. And that if you do so, you won't be alone.
On a more specific note, I'd like to end by pointing you in the direction of a few of my favorite essays from this volume:
"I've Got That Grief, Grief, Grief, Grief Down in My Heart," by Tommy Tighe (a reminder that true Joy doesn't look like what you might expect)
"Catholic Feminism (aka Things Popes Said That No One Talks About,)" by Samantha Povlock
The Art of Accompaniment: Journeying with Others in Faith," by Sr. Brittany Harrison
"I'm Not a Regular Catholic; I'm a Cool (and Prideful) Catholic," by Julie Lai (10-year-old me at those All Saints' Day parties could have used this one)
"Catholic Bees," by Haley Stewart
"Co-Creating with God," by Theresa Zoe Williams
"Heroic Friendship," by Kaitlyn Facista
On the Catholic scale however, I'm a rosary-toting, Butler's-Lives-of-the-Saints-memorizing, Pope-quoting freak. When I was a kid--and still now, to some extent--nothing made me happier than digging up "Awesomely Obscure Stuff" about my faith. When all my homeschooler friends were dressing up like St. Therese or Cecilia or Francis (I mean, they're cool, but everyone's heard of them), I draped sheets over myself as St. Emerentiana. Or St. Marina the Monk. (You should look them up. They're awesomely obscure.)
But Catholic Hipster: The Next Level isn't all about reaching into the forgotten annals of our past and pulling out gems like these--even though it does so, and well. Ultimately, it's a guide for life as a Catholic in the modern world. It shows that we can be steeped in tradition and still love our neighbors. That we can simultaneously embrace Twitter and Latin Hymns and social justice. That being who we were created to be might look like madness--but that it's also very, very cool. And that if you do so, you won't be alone.
On a more specific note, I'd like to end by pointing you in the direction of a few of my favorite essays from this volume:
"I've Got That Grief, Grief, Grief, Grief Down in My Heart," by Tommy Tighe (a reminder that true Joy doesn't look like what you might expect)
"Catholic Feminism (aka Things Popes Said That No One Talks About,)" by Samantha Povlock
The Art of Accompaniment: Journeying with Others in Faith," by Sr. Brittany Harrison
"I'm Not a Regular Catholic; I'm a Cool (and Prideful) Catholic," by Julie Lai (10-year-old me at those All Saints' Day parties could have used this one)
"Catholic Bees," by Haley Stewart
"Co-Creating with God," by Theresa Zoe Williams
"Heroic Friendship," by Kaitlyn Facista
November 23, 2019
This is a great follow-up compilation that talks about living the Catholic faith with PASSION in different ways. Each piece has a personal story, Cool Saint, Forgotten Prayer (not all of which are forgotten), and a Living the Faith blurb. This is for trads and non-trads and is like another cozy place for Catholic twitter to hang out.
My only issue with this book is that when talking about "his" as God's the H isn't capitalized. I guess that's a personal issue though.
Living with Faith [in today's world]
- Honoring the Sabbath, charisms, mass, and the Old Testament
- I love Julie Lai's words on the mass
- I learned quite a bit of information on Third Orders from Holly Vaughn
- Meditate with Patrick Neve on the Song of Songs at Mass (without music)
- Tolkien's information didn't seem to be edited as well as all of the others, and I don't know why. Still, it's a GREAT read, and now I want to reread LOTR and "The Hobbit," even though I was so bored the last time I reread them.
- I like that we can be trad with hip music
Living with Hope...
- ... in universality, diversity, community, humanity, and our history
- The tattoo piece by Theresa Zoe Williams made me smile
- I love Tommy's words on joy in grief
- I LOVE the Catholic Feminism piece by Samantha Povlock
- The Pope Gregory information by Matthew Sewell is fascinating (and the 'Catching Foxes' pocast reference made me hear it in my head)
- Servant Royalty by Theresa Zoe Williams is a beautiful reminder of our royalty as God's children
Living with Love (random pieces)
- In how we model faith and joy, in accompaniment, in voluntary poverty
- Julie Lai on pride and humility is a great introspective piece
- Samantha Povlock on Gender Equality is PHENOMENAL. This is especially because of the argument that a lot of modern feminism reduces women to essentially be men and censors the differences
- Learn of bees with Haley Stewart
- Get more reading material!
My only issue with this book is that when talking about "his" as God's the H isn't capitalized. I guess that's a personal issue though.
Living with Faith [in today's world]
- Honoring the Sabbath, charisms, mass, and the Old Testament
- I love Julie Lai's words on the mass
- I learned quite a bit of information on Third Orders from Holly Vaughn
- Meditate with Patrick Neve on the Song of Songs at Mass (without music)
- Tolkien's information didn't seem to be edited as well as all of the others, and I don't know why. Still, it's a GREAT read, and now I want to reread LOTR and "The Hobbit," even though I was so bored the last time I reread them.
- I like that we can be trad with hip music
Living with Hope...
- ... in universality, diversity, community, humanity, and our history
- The tattoo piece by Theresa Zoe Williams made me smile
- I love Tommy's words on joy in grief
- I LOVE the Catholic Feminism piece by Samantha Povlock
- The Pope Gregory information by Matthew Sewell is fascinating (and the 'Catching Foxes' pocast reference made me hear it in my head)
- Servant Royalty by Theresa Zoe Williams is a beautiful reminder of our royalty as God's children
Living with Love (random pieces)
- In how we model faith and joy, in accompaniment, in voluntary poverty
- Julie Lai on pride and humility is a great introspective piece
- Samantha Povlock on Gender Equality is PHENOMENAL. This is especially because of the argument that a lot of modern feminism reduces women to essentially be men and censors the differences
- Learn of bees with Haley Stewart
- Get more reading material!
November 25, 2019
Mother Teresa once told a group of priests: "Celebrate this Mass as if it is your first Mass, your last Mass and your only Mass". Tommy Tighe has written a beautiful exposition on this statement. It is probably easier for converts to do this, even if their first Mass was way back in their adolescence or even childhood, but great advice for everyone. This book is full of excellent advice for how to live your Catholic faith, interesting anecdotes about saints and suggestions for prayers. I loved it.
However, it is directed mostly to a young American audience. At the risk of being thought old-fashioned, I think that some of the advice was really too self-consciously 'cool'. For example, I didn't agree with the suggestion about considering a religious tattoo. The fashion of tattoos comes and goes over the years, and it can still be dangerous to get one, and a risk to career prospects, as well. Apparently, it can be even more dangerous to get tattoos removed!
Apart from this, it is a great book for all Catholics.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review
However, it is directed mostly to a young American audience. At the risk of being thought old-fashioned, I think that some of the advice was really too self-consciously 'cool'. For example, I didn't agree with the suggestion about considering a religious tattoo. The fashion of tattoos comes and goes over the years, and it can still be dangerous to get one, and a risk to career prospects, as well. Apparently, it can be even more dangerous to get tattoos removed!
Apart from this, it is a great book for all Catholics.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review
January 13, 2020
I was so excited to get this book in the mail! Why? Because is the first book I’ve ever received for free from a publisher in exchange for my (honest) review.
I really loved it although I had a hard time getting into it when I got started. I think that’s just because I didn’t set aside time to read in the midst of a lot of other things.
Tommy and his 12 or so contributors talk about all things Catholic. Most of them I had some slight knowledge of, but I always appreciated the prayer and saint portion of the chapter.
The book is broken up into three sections of about 10 or so chapters each. Each chapter has a reflection by one of the contributors, a cool saint related to the topic, a forgotten prayer related to the topic and/or the saint, and a living the faith section where you can put this new thing into action.
It’s a great accompaniment to trying to figure out how being Catholic is different than every other Christian and practically the opposite of the world. It was a great collection of writers that were short, to the point, and able to inspire me to consider a few new things.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really loved it although I had a hard time getting into it when I got started. I think that’s just because I didn’t set aside time to read in the midst of a lot of other things.
Tommy and his 12 or so contributors talk about all things Catholic. Most of them I had some slight knowledge of, but I always appreciated the prayer and saint portion of the chapter.
The book is broken up into three sections of about 10 or so chapters each. Each chapter has a reflection by one of the contributors, a cool saint related to the topic, a forgotten prayer related to the topic and/or the saint, and a living the faith section where you can put this new thing into action.
It’s a great accompaniment to trying to figure out how being Catholic is different than every other Christian and practically the opposite of the world. It was a great collection of writers that were short, to the point, and able to inspire me to consider a few new things.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 16, 2019
An interesting book, full of food for thought and well written. I appreciated the clarity of exposition and the style of writing.
I discovered new things and had a lot to think about.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I discovered new things and had a lot to think about.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
November 27, 2019
Fun book! Insightful and full of zeal. I preferred the first, but I’d still recommend this to others! <3
March 9, 2020
Every bit as fun as the first Catholic Hipster book! A great way to expand your repertoire of prayers, saints and odd historical knowledge, pick it up and read it for fun and reference.
July 22, 2021
A great list of many things that make being Catholic beautiful.
February 3, 2022
Another book full of treasures from many perspectives in the Church! ❤️
February 17, 2022
First, I should point out that I received this book as a gift and only got about half way through it, before I lost my patience.
That being said. This is a good introductory book for maturing Catholics, who are interested in the history and historical practices of famous (and not-so famous) Catholics by studying short little essays and stories.
Personally, I have moved onto another level and am now exploring more advanced topics. So, this book didn’t do much for me.
That being said. This is a good introductory book for maturing Catholics, who are interested in the history and historical practices of famous (and not-so famous) Catholics by studying short little essays and stories.
Personally, I have moved onto another level and am now exploring more advanced topics. So, this book didn’t do much for me.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews