Catholic Identity

One of the autumn rituals in the Cincinnati area for 8th graders and their parents is deciding which area high school to attend. We have 17 Catholic high schools to choose from. Some are single-gender, some are co-ed. Many are run by the archdiocese, but then we have a Jesuit high school for boys, and several high schools for girls run by various groups such as the Ursuline Sisters, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and the Sisters of Mercy. And then you can choose from several very good non-religious high schools, and if you are in the suburbs you have great public high schools.

So our 8th graders take the entrance test, we tour the schools and fill-out applications, and then in early January the acceptance letters go out. Soon after that, I assume, the first bills for tuition. So this past Saturday was the day the standardized entrance test was administered. My older son, Nicholas, was taking the test at St Xavier high school, the Jesuit school and the one he very much wants to attend. While he was doing that, I was at a parent meeting where the school's staff were having an information session. One of the questions posed by a parent got me thinking, and the wheels in my mind have been turning on it since then. He asked a question about 'Catholic identity'; he had heard other parents say that they felt their sons lost their Catholic identity while going through this high school. The question made me wonder just what is 'Catholic identity?' It also made me think about several other things – but I want to stay on-topic! I'll get to those other things another time.

I believe there is a Catholic way of looking at the world, of living in the world. We don't all do it perfectly, that is sure. Now someone will want a definition of that – what is the Catholic way of looking at the world, or what is the Catholic way of living in the world? I don't have answers for those right now, and I feel that the answers could fill a few books. But my curiosity is also in the link from this Catholic way of being to what people term as Catholic identity. Just what is that? It seems to me that it is linked to one's culture – an American Catholic identity probably looks different from an Asian Catholic identity. And then there are Catholic identities influenced by various spiritualities in the church – Ignatian and Franciscan for example. Ultimately, it seems to me that Catholic identity is just a reflection of our internal spirituality; it's going to have some commonality among people, but ultimately it is individual.

Comments

[Mike L]

I remember after I graduated from Xavier that my mother thought that college had ruined me since it had taught me a different set of ethics than she believed in, mostly that my center of focus was now on my wife and children and not on her. Today, I think that there is a great diversity of thought and action in the Catholic Church, and that it is difficult to find any one common thread that obviously links us together. Being only slightly cynical I wonder if we lost the visible Catholic Identity when we gave up the requirement to abstain from meat on Friday. I say only slightly cynical because I do think that was one way that the world recognized us a unique group, and I wonder if even more Catholics followed that practice than going to mass on Sunday, and I believe it was pretty unique to American Catholics.

I will be interested to find out what others think of as unique and universal to Catholicism, what really ties together all of us that think of ourselves as Catholic. There will be those that come up with ideas that try to limit who they think should be called Catholic, but I am not interested in such divisive ideas, I want to hear what ties us together, not what divides us.

Hugs t all,

Mike L

[KiwiNomad06]

We never ate meat on Fridays here in New Zealand either.... I used to love fish and chips night ;-)
I struggle with the fact these days that I do still have some "Catholic identity" even though I don't 'believe' too much and haven't received Communion or Reconciliation for over 30 years....

[Talmida]

Interesting that the Friday requirement was so connected with our catholic identity.

Vatican II released us from the artificial penance of eating lobster or salmon, but NOT from the requirement for Friday penance. We are still obliged to keep Fridays, but are expected to choose an appropriate personal penance - perhaps an extra act of charity or piety if we don't want to abstain from meat.

Unfortunately, because the penance was made personal, it became invisible, and the next generation did not learn from observing their parents as their parents had learned from observing the previous generation.

I've re-instituted meatless Friday suppers in my home for that very reason -- so that my kids learn that some kind of penance is required. They can (and I hope they do) choose a personal penance to express their acknowledgment of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, but the house is serving macaroni.

And to be perfectly honest, I DO feel that it contributes to our identity as catholics, although I'm not quite sure why. I think, Steve, that it might be the complete opposite of what you said about national cultures: it's because meatless Fridays are NOT Canadian, or American, or French, or Indian. Meatless Fridays connect me with the communion of saints, with catholics present and past from all nations and cultures.

And maybe that's the core of catholic identity -- the sense of connection with the communion of saints?

[crystal]

Not growing up Catholic or ever going to a Catholic school, I don't really know what a Catholic ID is like, apart from the kind of scary stuff I heard about Catholics as a kid :-).

About Catholic colleges, I wonder if there's a tension between turning out a "Catholic" student or a well-educated student. I saw an interesting post on Catholic universities at Michael's blog.

[jim]

In the 40s and 50s, the only clue I had of Catholicism was derived from attending church with my aunt a couple of times. The Latin element was a mystery to me, the kneeling at the pew and the back-and-forth finger excercise on one's chest-interesting, and the size and pomp of the sanctuary, itself, left me in awe. Truthfully, however, with my only other religious history being experienced within a Lutheran denomination, I confess to finding a feeling of reverence in the Catholic service never before encountered. Other than that, though, I'm not so sure that I ever thought of Catholics as having their own "identity" any more than I, in later years, believed Pentecost to be set apart by anything other than the Holy Ghost, which, having come to realize such reality of the Third member of the Trinity, I honestly believe He was just as present in those times shared with my aunt. Our reaction to His manifestation may vary according to our "culture", but He remains "I am" and is the only "identification" any of us need...

[Steve Bogner]

Mike - A couple things come to my mind that tie Catholics together and contribute to a common identity - the creed and the Eucharist. But I think they have become too routine for many, too politicized by some, and under-appreciated by many.

Kiwi! Meatless Fridays were not practiced by the time I was old enough to remember anything; but anyway, I'd often rather have fish than meat so it wouldn't be much of a penance for me. But I do see how it would add to a communal identity.

Hi Talmida - I can see how meatless Fridays would pull together various Catholics, and the link with the communion of saints. I like the practice you've started in your family.

Crystal - I like the perspective you bring, having come to the church as an adult. Hopefully, Catholic schools strive turn out both good Catholics (a loaded term, I know) as well as good scholars; both can certainly be done, I think. But as Michael's post points out - there is more than one way to be a Catholic school (elementary, high school or college-level).

Hi Jim! You raise a great point, I think - why do we even need such a common outward identity? But then, something that is common and tangible in a community can have a way of reinforcing individuals, of strengthening the community via the individual. But then again, common identity gone awry can lead to a lot of damage.

[Patrick]

Hi Steve.

I think the question of a Catholic identity needs to look firstly at the word catholic. My dictionary uses words like universal and inclusive. Now when I think of the term Roman Catholic I meet with a contradiction. Roman is very specific and exclusive. The complete opposite of universal and inclusive. And there's the rub, as we say. Catholicism is a dichotomy. It is everything ever created and also that which is uncreated. For me to be a Catholic is to be part of all B-E-I-N-G. It is to be one in God's Creation and God-self. And outside of all being there is nothing.

Yes I know I am so to speak splitting hairs or some such. But for me to be Catholic is to recognise and accept my being of one being in God. As said elsewhere, awe-filled and wonderful. "We believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church", I pray when I say the Nicene Creed. I know for me that is the key part of this prayer. That I belong to a Creator who is of one diversity of being and who invites me to share this Good News, with anyone who cares to listen. Oh what a gift to receive!

Patrick

[Nick Wagner]

The angst over how we identify ourselves as Catholic seems to have arisen in response to the postmodern attitude of many younger Catholics. It is no longer enough to simply assert that they must go to Mass every Sunday and that Catholicism is the one true religion. They don't find those assertions compelling. Truth is, I don't think most older Catholics do either.

Here's what's compelling about Catholicism for me.

1. The sacramental life. By that, I mean a spirituality that flows from the ritual celebration of the paschal mystery. In the liturgy, we tell the story of our faith in an imaginative and evocative way that converts hearts. That is, when the liturgy is celebrated well. When it is celebrated well, young people find the liturgy to be authentic, and it engages them in a deeply spiritual way.

2. The communion of saints. The idea that we are linked spiritually and are one with all who have gone before us is a great source of strength for me. I think this should be especially compelling for young people who are immersed in the social networks of the Internet.

3. The universality of the church. This is akin to the unity of the communion of saints. But we really do have to work harder at demonstrating our love for each other. This is the primary reason young people reject the Catholic lifestyle as authentic. If we can't get along with each other, how can we have any credibility?

4. The Incarnation. This, for me, is the foundational mystery of the church. When God becomes human, the human condition is radically altered from mired in sin to exalted in grace. And, it seems to me, this is the message we have been least effective in delivering. We are the people of good news, the bearers of hope, and the agents of liberation. Yet too often we seem dour, afraid, complacent, or unconcerned. Here is where the children can lead us. The next generation, more than any previous, is more other-centered than self-centered.

For a little bit on what Cardinal William Laveda finds compelling, go here: http://teamrcia.com/2007/03/31/four-essential-doctrines-liturgy/

Nick

[Mark Mossa, SJ]

One of my housemates worked at St. X before coming here to Boston, and thinks very highly of it.

Good luck to your son!!

Mark

[wayne]

as a non-Catholic, I am wondering why no one has mentioned Mary. also do you see yourselves as more open to spirituality, saints, and to miracles? I do and think you are blessed for it.

[Jeff]

Hi Steve,

Interesting comments by everyone. Funny that you should mention a Jesuit High school and complaints about a loss of Catholic identity. I love the Jesuits, but I do recall my cousin Bob telling me that he used to go to confession weekly until he attended Boston College High school. Being cussed at by old Jesuits, burned out on teaching too long, was a sort of disillusionment for him.

You close out by mentioning individual choice, and I think the irony there is that Catholicism does (or should) have more of a communitarian ethos than the hyper-individualistic ethos we commonly have here in the USA. There's a sense that we are all in this journey together, For example, in our speech it is "Our Lord", "Our Lady", not "My Personal Lord and Savior". I think the best of our tradition tends to avoid extremes. We try to see "and", rather than just one side or another. Man is fallen, but not depraved. Faith and works are both important, Scripture and Tradition, Revelation and Reason, etc...

A lot of people wince for some reason when they hear the name Thomas Groome, but I think his book 'What Makes Us Catholic' was pretty much on the mark.

Here is his List of Nine Things, distilled down:

1) Positive understanding of the person

2) Committed to community

3) Sacramental outlook

4) Catholics cherish Scripture and Tradition

5) Catholics embrace holistic faith

6) Commitment to justice

7) Universal spirituality

8) Catholics are 'catholic'(as in universal)

9) Devotion to Mary

[Steve Bogner]

Patrick - Yes, I can see what you're saying - being one, while being many/universal. I like that aspect of Catholicism!

Nick - You write 'If we can't get along with each other, how can we have any credibility?' - Amen to that! And, the communion of saints compared to a social network - I like that too.

Thanks Mark - It's all just a waiting game now :)

Wayne - Looks like you just had to wait a bit for Jeff to mention Mary. But yes, Mary and the saints are part of Catholic identity. Miracles seem to have taken a smaller role lately, unfortunately.

Jeff - Good points, thanks. There is a stronger sense of 'we' vs. 'I'. Groome's list a great - I think it is very much on the mark.

[novena]

One thing I try to do is to consciously think of myself as a Catholic American instead of an American Catholic. It may seem like spitting hairs, but the adjetive has the power to change and modify the noun. My being a Catholic should not in any way be changed because I am an American. However, my being an American should be modified greatly because of the type of American I am. I am a Catholic American which is very different from any other kind of American. Or it should be.

[Steve]

Steve, the phrase "Catholic identity," when used in the vetting of high schools and universities by the parents of potential attendees, has taken on a life of its own among some very conservative Catholics. It is code sometimes for total agreement with official Church teaching -- in opposition to the post-Vatican II roles of the laity (especially lay women) in church leadership and ministry, and in preference for teaching of the Cathechism over attention to pressing social justice issues. I've heard the phrase used dozens of times on conservative Catholic radio programs by people who opine that university Y or seminary X lacks a "truly Catholic identity." The teaching of ethics at that school might be robust; the campus church might be packed; yet the people referring to "Catholic identity" often have something very different in mind. I have no way of knowing, of course, what the individual at your meeting intended the phrase to connote, but that's what the phrase seems to mean in very conservative Catholic circles: a somewhat legalistic (rather than relational) interpretation of what Catholicism is all about.

Steve M.

[Steve Bogner]

novena - That's a great point; well said.

Steve M - I agree with you. It was really a loaded question; if a parent is worried about the school's Catholic identity, there are several other schools they can look at and choose from.

[Alida]

I was meanadering through blogs and came upon yours. Interesting. I've been really struggling lately, not with my faith but with being Catholic. What I've found is that it isn't that easy to pack up and just leave. My friends have reccomended wonderful Christian Churches, but I'm not at home there. Catholic Identity for me is so pain and simple. I can walk into any Catholic Church in the states or Europe or Mexico or even Cuba(I attended mass there in 1979.)and even if I don't speak the language I am home. It follows, the liturgy of the word, the offering etc. You can say you are Christian and that identifies your Saviour. You say you are Catholic and that identifies your Saviour, your beliefs, your rituals, your rites of passage etc. You are right to day it is a culture.

There is comfort for children in routine. The is comfort for me in Catholic rituals.

[Alida]

Sorry about the typos...I detest typos!

[Steve Bogner]

Alida - Thanks for visiting! There are so many times I wish there was a spell/grammar checker in the comment boxes!

The rituals do comfort me, too; they do provide a sense of being 'home' most anywhere in the world.