Culture

For several weeks now I have been contemplating exactly what constitutes "Catholic culture". I think during different points in history, Catholic culture has meant different things - but there must be some common ground.

Europe, for several centuries had a Catholic culture almost by default, because all of Europe was essentially Catholic - at least in name.

A persecuted Church, such as in Rome in the early years of Christianity, or as in England during the 16th and 17th century had their own culture which was not dominant in society, but underground.

Immigrants to the Americas brought a European Catholic Culture that was adapted to their new circumstances as a discriminated-against minority in the Americas.

Each of these 'Catholic cultures' were somewhat different, but they had common ground, in fact the basis for the culture - The Eucharist, the Faith, the sacraments, the Church, etc.

But what about the periperals? What else constituted Catholic culture? And what should Catholic culture be today in our circumstances, (our circumstances are a secular soceity built on protestant ideals, which is under a tension to either return to the protestant roots or to continue the path towards secular paganism.)

In the next few blogs or weeks, whichever comes first, I would like to explore what a Catholic culture should look like in our present circumstances - that is what kind of culture will prepare our own souls for Heaven and be so attractive as to help transform the overall culture in America.

Stay tuned ... and feel free to add with your own ideas, From the small holding in Bethune...

Oremus pro invicem!