The Catholic Intellectual Tradition: an opportunity to learn more

I would like to begin by thanking The Record for their receptivity to printing a weekly column titled “Catholic Thought and Action.” The intent of the column is to deepen the knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Intellectual and Social Tradition among the student population. While many students are Catholic, many are not. There exists an opportunity, then, to share this tradition with all who are interested.

The Catholic Intellectual Tradition starts with the beginning of Christianity. It includes a community of thinkers who hold several axioms. First, reality is intelligible because there is an underlying unity to the cosmos. Second, Jesus Christ, as the Word, is the interpretive lens through which this unified reality comes to be known. Third, ideas generated in the broader culture (e.g. philosophy, science) can be integrated into Catholic thought. Catholics do not live in silos and therefore appreciate what is happening beyond their Church.

The social teachings of the Church engage the social, economic, environmental and political contexts of life. As embodied creatures, our daily lives are mediated by these contexts. These teachings provide guidance for action, including human dignity and rights, social justice and positive change in society and the Earth. The Catholic intellectual and social tradition at its best is cosmic and comprehensive and imbued with a penchant for dynamic development.

The phrase Catholic intellectual, for some, may sound oxymoronic in a secular age. Some view religion as the absence of intellect and relegate faith to ignorance and superstition. The great Benedictine monk St. Anselm—philosopher, theologian, archbishop, Doctor of the Church—contended, however, that faith involves seeking understanding. Built into faith is a capacity for cogitation. It also involves a reflection that occurs in the heart, to paraphrase the Book of Sirach, which highlights the affective dimension of faith.

Faith, though, can also be accompanied by doubt. In the Gospel of John, when the apostle Thomas declares that he needs to see the wounds of the risen Jesus to believe, Jesus does not reject Thomas’ desire or shame him in front of peers, but rather offers him his wounds. The God revealed in Jesus Christ does not compete with us. The Catholic intellectual and social tradition, then, is shaped by a deep desire and yearning to respond as whole beings to God’s loving invitation to relationship.

Future articles will engage subjects like secularism, community, consumerism, social justice, faith and science, liturgy and sacrament, truth, identity, power and authority, Creation and habit formation. While my personal interests will be involved, I value hearing from students. What are you struggling with? What gives your life meaning and purpose? What are your hopes? What are your fears? What kind of articles might you like to see? Catholic theologian David Tracy promotes a view of theology as conversation. Similarly, I invite responses and questions, since they will enable my Catholic Benedictine faith to develop and grow and will also make articles relevant for readers. Peace.