On Being Catholic

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Summary: ON BEING CATHOLIC is engaging and thought provoking.
Review: Having grown up in an evangelical protestant home, I recently began to look into the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church to expand my understanding of christianity. At the outset of this search, I found ON BEING CATHOLIC, a thought provoking and entertaining account of the core doctrines of Catholicism. Thomas Howard's literary style is engaging and at times, actually melodic. He expresses his genuine love for the church in a manner more reminisent of a love poem than a dry elaboration of doctrine and dogma. Having converted to Roman Catholicism from a similar protestant background as myself, his depictions of the rituals and traditions woven throughout the Roman liturgy created a deep hunger to incorporate these elements in my devotional life. It is rare to find a book that stirs the heart as well as feeds the mind as greatly as ON BEING CATHOLIC. In the tradition of CS Lewis and GK Chesterton, Howard has produced a work that makes faith a life encompassing adventure rather than an emotional leap into darkness.I would recommend his book to any person seeking to better understand what it means to believe in a world that has lost its faith.

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Summary: A beautiful and illuminating picture of Catholicism
Review: Howard was a shining star among Protestant Evangelicals until his conversion to Catholicism in the 1980s (described in his earlier book, _Evangelical is Not Enough_). This decision shocked his former compatriots, some of whom attacked him rather severely for it. Howard had already written several books on Christianity--some dealing with his hero, C.S. Lewis--and has continued to write books discussing aspects of the Catholic faith. This work is a beautiful and illuminating description of what it means to be Catholic, written by one who spent much of his life outside the Church. As a result, it has much within its pages that will benefit Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Howard's gift for making complicated issues clear has led some to call him "America's answer to C.S. Lewis."

Howard's approach to Catholicism is deeply rooted in his former life as a Protestant Evangelical, and indeed, he still has a great love and respect for that period of his spiritual development. This is by no means an anti-Evangelical book. Howard often prefaces each chapter by outlining the objections that Protestants hold regarding each topic, which allows him to illustrate Catholic beliefs with greater clarity while still retaining what is good about the Evangelical approach. The fact that he once shared these objections gives added weight and authority to his discussion and shows how deeply Catholicism has been misunderstood by many Christians. Howard's tone is always optimistic, always passionate, and always informative. He brings to this book a clear love for Christianity in general and for the Catholic faith in particular that readers of any faith will likely find contagious. Catholics will come away with a greater understanding of the beauty and grandeur of their ancient faith, while non-Catholics will learn what Catholicism is really all about. Each of its most important traditions is carefully explained and summarized, and Howard does not assume that the reader is already informed on the subject. The chapters on the Mass (in which Howard walks the reader through it) are particularly good, as are his wonderful chapters on man's religious nature and on the importance and meaning of the Crucifix.

If you have heard a lot of bad things about the Catholic faith but want to find out more for yourself, this book is an excellent place to start. Howard is a clear, insightful and penetrating writer of great learning who believes very strongly in his subject, and his enthusiasm is evident on every page. He brings with him all the excitement and wonder of a convert who has discovered for the first time the Catholic faith as it really is, finding that it is a far different thing from what he had always heard and assumed. This is a gloriously lucid and informative elaboration of what it means to be part of Christ's Church.

Rating:
Summary: Thought-Provoking
Review: Howard, a convert, reflects on the topics of Man's Nature, Unity, Eucharist, Going to Church, the Mass, the Gospel, Salvation, Prayer, Mary, Humanity, Hiddennes, Tradition, Freedom, and the Crucifix. All are very thought-provoking reflections that nail what it means to be Catholic. His views on things are so beautiful, at times, I wanted to cry. This book should be read by all active Catholics, pew potatoes, and Protestants who are considering conversion/married to a Catholic. However, it is not apologetics and wouldn't be that good for other groups of people.

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Summary: Light on Theology, Heavy on Reflection
Review: I've been reading a lot of heavy theology lately, a lot of patristic sources, a lot of Greek and Hebrew and Latin word studies, and a lot of philosophical arguments for the Catholic Church. This book gets past the technical, and into the experiential.

I'd not been exposed to Howard before this book, but I've since read his *Evangelical is Not Enough* and *Lead, Kindly Light* as well. I love his style. The way he strings his words together, the vocabulary he uses, and the reflective style would lead one to believe that he might very well be British, and that he might very well have been sitting in a big comfy chair with a cup of tea while he wrote this, and that he might even be C.S. Lewis, reincarnated.

If you're not a Catholic, this book will give a quick glimpse into the "family living room," and show you what Catholicism is all about from a practical view. If you are a Catholic, this book will remind you what it's all about, or, will give you a vision of what it all SHOULD be about in your own life if it's not already.

Yes, it's light on theology, in a sense. He DOES address the Mass, the Eucharist, Mary, etc., but not by saying, "Ok, well, let's look at this Greek verb here, conjugate the infinitive participial imperative tense..." Instead, he looks at these issues in light of the Incarnation, and shows how the Catholic Church only follows the logic of the Incarnation perfectly. He doesn't come at you saying, "Look, I'm going to prove something to you here," and so you're not on the defensive. When he explains it, you just sort of say, "Oh... duh, that makes total sense. How could it be any other way?"

Very comfortable book, like a good pair of slippers. You owe yourself a cup of tea, a warm fire, and a chapter of this book.

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Summary: This book is a feast
Review: On Being Catholic is one of the most beautiful, winsome books on Catholicism that I have ever read. Howard bridges the cultural and theological gap between Protestants and Catholics in a most appealing and gracious manner. I would recommend this book to anyone for whom the Catholic Church is a Big Unknown, whether that be a "cradle Catholic" or a seeker from another tradition. You will not be disappointed.

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Summary: The Catholic Faith for the Soul!
Review: Thomas Howard is a former evangelical, turned Anglican, turned Catholic, and an editor-at-large for Christianity Today. His Evangelical credentials were very impressive, and so is his case for the Catholic Faith. Howard does not sling Scripture at the reader, nor does he attempt to do fundamentalist-style apologetics. Had he done this I probably would have put it down after the first page.

Howard's style reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis'. When I first read of this comparison on the back cover I was dubious. However, his writing is laced with references to classical literature and a variety of philosophies. His knowledge of secular and Christian thought is quite impressive, as is his Latin and English vocabulary. Like Lewis, he seamlessly and clearly articulates his thoughts in a way that is quite beautiful without being superficial. Like Lewis, he also handles objections to his ideas as he writes, anticipating the objections various types of readers might have. While it is likely that Lewis will be read long after Howard, this is no reason to dismiss the importance of what Howard has to say.

For me, what makes his work so impressive is that he appeals to the deep need that humans have for tradition, religious encounter, symbol, sacrament, ritual, etc. Much of the book is based not on cold logic, but on human need and longing. A good example is when he explains the need that humans have for ceremony and ritual, and how eventually we "give external shape to what is in our hearts." He explains how when we internally remember a birthday, we give visible and external shape to this inner matter through common birthday rituals like candles, cakes, and presents. These rituals do not supersede the inner reality, but give meaningful shape to it. Being a former Protestant, he knows the common objections, and can understand the reasons why many Protestants fear and distrust the Catholic Church. He is then in a good position to answer these objections as well, and like Lewis, he uses Scripture and the Fathers without misusing them.

While addressing various Catholic topics (including Mary, Going to Church, the Crucifix, Tradition, the Mass, and more), he never resorts to attacks against other faiths. Most Orthodox (and to a lesser extent Anglicans) will find that he is really defending their Faith as well, since it is so similar to that of Catholics. As I read this book, I could sense his love for those elements of the evangelical faith that led him to the Catholic Church, and his love for Evangelicals. And it is not just the fake, "I love you so I scream the truth at you" either. Don't think he compromises the Catholic Faith though; he is traditional. When he deals with "Are Catholics Saved?" he explains how Catholics live and breathe the gospel in Mass (Divine Liturgy), in traditional prayers, in Confession, and so forth. He addresses the Protestant language of salvation that often seems foreign to Catholics, like the question "are you saved?" He assures his Evangelical readers that even if Catholics don't initially understand the question as framed, they are certainly "saved." This was a favorite chapter of mine.

Overall, this is a very compelling book that explains why being Catholic is the fullest Christian option, i.e. why the Catholic Faith appeals to humanity's basic and deepest spiritual needs. Of course while explaining his love for the Catholic Church, he also deals with common objections along the way. His explanations may even bring tears to your eyes. For example, the profundity of his language for the Mass as the "threshold that lies between time and eternity" captures quite well and quite beautifully the historic Church's position. If apologetics books (which of course have a place too) leave you cold, read this book. It gets at the heart of being Catholic!