American Catholic Experience

1
American Catholic Experience
2
What is Catholicism?

• Much in common with other Christians, but
• Distinctive pattern of
• Sacramentality
• Mediation
• Communion

3
Sacramentality

• Greeley world full of hints of God
• Physical matter presents/mediates divine
  realities
• 7 Sacraments all involve physical matter, like
  water, bread, or oil
• They cause what they signify make grace
  present
• Basis if God is found in all things, then all
  matter is capable of mediating divine presence
• incarnational principle God became human

4
Mediation

• Belief all experiences of God must be mediated
  through people, stuff, etc.
• Grounding as embodied beings, people always
  learn through their senses
• The infinite (God) is encountered in the finite
  (world)
• God makes this possible for the sake of human
  beings, not vice versa
• As such, clergy and saints help one encounter
  God.
• They are not barriers, but can pray for you and
  help you.

5
Communion

• In a special way, God is encountered in people
  gathered together
• Jesus where two or three are gathered, I am
  there (Matt. 1820)
• Second Vatican Council Christ is truly present
  in the people gathered for worship
• Therefore community is essential for encountering
  God
• Why have a Sunday obligation? Access to grace
  of sacrament is mediated in the community.
• Salvation is fundamentally love, which is
  community

6
Comparisons

• How is American Catholicism like American
  Protestantism?
• What are distinctive characteristics of both?

7
For next time

• Before reading, list what you know and think
  about Judaism
• After reading, list what you have learned,
  especially what is different from your
  pre-conceptions
• Point how is Jewish self-understanding different
  from Christians views of Judaism?
• Big point how has America been important for
  Jewish experience?