Wherever The Catholic Sun Doth Shine…
The prolific Anglo-French writer Hilaire Belloc once said,
“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine there’s always laughter and good red wine.”
This quote stands as one of my favorites from the rough personality that I have admired since first being introduced to his work. I mean, what’s there not to like about the man whose “Cautionary Tales for Children” bears such titles as “Matilida: Who told Lies and was Burned to Death,” or “Jim: Who ran away from his Nurse and was Eaten by a Lion?” If you have never explored his writing and appreciate staunchly orthodox Catholicism amidst a satirical style and intellectually sophisticated vocabulary, than I highly recommend you do!
When I am discussing my faith I tend to focus solely on the theological. I want to head down a different path this time and consider the cultural. Whenever those of us who consciously engage in evangelization look out upon the Catholic landscape, we usually see a different between those who genuinely back up their profession of faith with their interior conversion and those who do not. We sometimes label this latter group as “cultural Catholics” – those who were raised in the faith, participate in the exterior life of the Church, but perhaps do not desire any personal involvement with Jesus Christ. I fear that by making this distinction we run the risk of discrediting the power and influence of culture within one’s faith life.
Culture can be, and often is, a vehicle from which faith is passed down. Very few people come into the fullness of truth through intellectual discourse, no matter how carefully and prayerfully prepared such discourse might be. I find that more often people are first disposed to opening the door of their hearts to God’s Grace through encounters with other people. My own reversion story involved meaningful friendships with people who genuinely knew Jesus on a personal level. They acted different from others. This reflection has inspired me to see that there is a Catholic culture. Rather, it is the manifestation of Catholic Truth within the various cultures of the world – perhaps most noticeable that if Italians, Irish, Hispanics, and others.
Catholic culture knows the meaning of working hard and playing harder. It knows the value of worshiping as a family on Sunday morning and enjoying each other’s company around great food and drink on Sunday night. Catholic culture appreciates the little things and the things that require great patience. It finds expression through great art, architecture, music, and dance. Catholic culture knows how to respect authority. It knows how to draw the Lord’s minsters into one’s family by seeing them as their “Father.” Catholics know unity, being a part of a family 1.7 billion members strong and spread all over the world. It knows how to come together and stand before God in the one Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Truth is, I love being Catholic. I love the surety of the Truth that I discovered through theological study, but the real day-to-day experiences of joy lie in the hands of the amazing, nourishing, values-based, and heartfelt interactions with people. I love the Catholic culture.
It is perhaps interesting to consider the modern culture in which we all find ourselves. The dignity of family is fading. Commitment is a commonly held and socially expected fear. We want our food fast and portable. We want the path of least resistance. We want our buildings built quickly and efficiently to keep up with demand. We want our music cookie-cutter and electronic. We rather our dancing be void of respect and emotions of the heart so as to better testify it’s role as a vertical expression of a horizontal desire. We blame authority for the woes of the world. We fulfill our civic duty through a few Facebook memes and yet find ourselves too busy to vote.
The culture of today is directly proportionate to the state of today’s faith. While I continue to pray for the conversion of the whole world, I cannot help but hold an appreciation for “cultural Catholics” who continue to live in the proud tradition of our ancestors; a tradition that I truly believe God uses to preserve His Truth so as to be available whenever a heart is ready to receive it.
Till next time…