I Like Being Catholic
Treasured Traditions, Rituals, and Stories
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- $179.00
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- $179.00
Descripción editorial
A celebration of the treasured traditions, rituals, and stories that run through the bloodstream of American Catholics
For Andrew Greeley, it is the reverence of Christmas night and the exultation of Easter morn. Martin Scorsese, like many others, remains grateful for the nuns who rapped his knuckles but built his self-esteem. Mary Gordon recalls the sense of lightness that follows confession; Vince Lombardi, the strength he derived from Mass; and Christopher Buckley, the role St. Thomas More plays in his writing.
I Like Being Catholic brings together the memories, thought, and hopes of famous Catholics and ordinary parishioners, lapsed and "good-enough" Catholics, and those who have devoted their lives to the faith. It captures their abiding ties to and deep affection for the Church and offers the wide-ranging, sometimes surprising views on the good things that come with being Catholic.
This is not a book of theology. It is about the beauty at the heart of Catholicism. It is about what Teilhard de Chardin called "the chosen part of things." It is about family and community, the value of Catholic education, the significance of sacraments and milestones, and the cultural impact of Catholicism—there are lists of the ten best Catholic novels, the ten best Catholic movies, ten Catholic heroes of the twentieth century, ten good reasons to raise your kids Catholic, fifty things Catholics like best about being Catholic, and much more ...
I Like Being Catholic is a book for all those who have ever called themselves Catholic. It is a book of warmth, affection, humor, and love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This book's resolute title and upbeat chapter headings promise a positive, apologetic approach to Roman Catholicism, and its essays do not disappoint. Longtime religion publisher Leach and Catholic author Borchard have edited a glowing collection of Catholic testimonial essays, fond remembrances of childhood church and parochial school days, loving prayers and descriptions of favorite Catholic rituals, traditions, prayers, saints and cultural influences. Bestselling novelist and priest Andrew Greeley sets the tone with his enthusiastic opening essay, "It's Fun to Be Catholic," which extols Catholicism as both a "religion of festivity and celebration" and a uniquely communal "religion for everyone." The ensuing chapters consist of a wide array of topically arranged contributions from clergy and laity of all ranks, walks of life and degrees of renown. Side by side are accounts from Saint Francis, Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa; from Yogi Berra, Gary Cooper, Mary Higgins Clark and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy; and from ordinary electricians, innkeepers, parents and children. Leach and Borchard provide structure, connecting insights and a few brief essays to coordinate this multifaceted, highly favorable presentation of Catholicism. These laudatory essays are generally inspiring and educational to read, but the collection's perfectly positive picture omits any significant awareness of undeniable contemporary church dilemmas, such as declining church membership and vocations, or disagreements regarding "relevant" worship styles versus traditional Mass.
