Now That You Are a Catholic: An Informal Guide to Catholic Customs, Traditions, and Practices, Revised and Expanded

Rating:
Summary: The Basics of the Catholic Faith.
Review: The title of this book may be a little deceptive because much of what is covered by Father Kenny will be very familiar to the new Catholic. For example, a good bit of the RCIA process is discussed and since the new convert will have just passed through this process the explanation offered here would be somewhat repetitive. Most of the information contained in this book should in fact be covered as the new convert passes through the RCIA.

For someone contemplating conversion or just beginning the RCIA process however this book could be an invaluable resource. As mentioned above, much of the RCIA process is discussed which will help the candidate a great deal as they pass through this process. Things a Priest or sponsor might take for granted about the process are clearly explained and knowing what to expect is sometimes half of the battle.

Many other topics are also discussed that will be of great help to anyone contemplating a move to the Catholic Church. Most people don't think too much about buying a Bible for instance but for someone who is new to Christianity it can be a daunting task. It can also be very perplexing to a lifelong Protestant who is converting but Father Kenny very clearly explains what to look for and the differences between the Protestant and Catholic versions. Also covered in a concise but clear manner are Catholic marriages, Confession, Catholic organizations, the liturgical year, funerals, religious orders, and the Mass. All these things can be very confusing to the new Catholic but are clearly explained in this book. Much to his credit, Father Kenny even takes the time to discuss various tensions within the Church. This is probably not something that the new Catholic needs to focus on but this book will help prepare the reader for when they are faced with these debates and this is something they will eventually have to face.

This is a short book and it covers none of its topics in great detail but is more of an introduction to Catholic life. Not just life in the Church is covered, but also the day to day life of a Catholic. Occasionally Father Kenny fails to mention that some Catholic practices that are no longer required by the Church are still practiced by many of the faithful and assumes that all Catholics have conformed to the more lax standards which is not always the case. For example, the Church has dropped the requirement of abstaining from meat on all Fridays, only requiring this practice on certain Fridays through the year. Many Catholics however, myself included, still feel compelled to honor this tradition as a reminder that the crucifixion occurred on Friday. Maybe the good Father doesn't want the Church to seem too rigid to new members of the faith but things like this should be pointed out in this type of book.

Overall this is a very good book and also a very helpful one. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Catholic faith. Afterwards the reader might want to delve more deeply into some of the subjects covered but this book will go a long way toward introducing you to Catholicism. Many books covering religious subjects raise more questions than they answer but this book will lay a solid foundation and create a desire for further study. It is no wonder that this little book has sold so many copies.