“Catholic” was never meant to be a subcategory like exists,
for example, in the fiction genre. There
is fiction, and then under that are subcategories of children’s, or romance, or
adventure, or what have you. In a
similar way it was not intended that there be movies or books or music and then
a subcategory of “Catholic”; or healthcare or marriage or science with a
Catholic version. Catholicism is a world
view, a way of seeing existence, a way of existing. It is one of the reasons it is called
Catholic, it is universal; all times, all places, all peoples. It is given to us to help us live, not be an
odd duck appendage to another way of life.
That is not to say that every book that is supposed to be
about the rosary. A murder mystery can
be a great Catholic book. Not every
movie has to be about Fatima. A
futuristic movie about going into space and discovering a new planet can be a
good Catholic movie. Ideas on healthcare
are not about making everyone a papist; it is about making good choices,
upholding the dignity of all, and what it means to be fully human. But as soon as there is a Catholic (or
Christian) category, it can be ignored.
Catholics too may be reluctant to engage their Catholic way of life into
their works and efforts for the exact same reason: Catholic means that
healthcare initiatives are only good for and relevant to Catholics. Social justice ideas stamped Catholic means
that they can considered arcane and limited to only 2 billion people on the
planet rather than something that is meant to help all people thrive.
“Catholic” is about bringing the one, the true, the good,
and the beautiful into all that is done.
The best Catholic movies were made by atheists who were not trying to do
so. Some of the best Catholic books that
I have ever read were either decidedly not about Catholics or were written by
non-Catholics. Conversely much of the
best science we have enjoyed has come from priests. All of them reached a larger audience because
they did not subcategorize themselves, but were decidedly still Catholic in
nature even when it has been via negativa.
Catholic is not a Sunday activity. It is a cultural way of living.
3 comments:
I still find no reference to our Holy Fathers frequent, what some may consider "schocking" remarks--I'm confused--don't they merit some discussion--is anyone awake on this blog?--sincerely, nancy ulricj
Thank you Father. I need to be reminded of what it means to be Catholic. "Catholic is about bringing the one, the true, the good, and the beautiful into all that is done."
I am catholic, now I will strive to do catholic.
Stephen Stone
Amen! to “Catholic is about bringing the one, the true, the good, and the beautiful into all that is done."
Can you explain what "via negativa" means? I know it means negative road, more or less, but I still don't understand the meaning of it as an expression, for example, as you used it.
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