I remember how in elementary school religion class was a joke, and in middle school it was mediocre. By the time I reached high school though, theology became an actual class. Now I had to work for our grade. The class on Old Testament studies was fascinating, but had to be crammed into a single semester. What a shame that it was merely a survey of the Old Testament! So there was content that we either could have taken a closer look at or could have looked at for the first time. Unfortunately, the content of most of the other courses was not up to par. I even recall moments when teachers would get their facts wrong about a church teaching. I learned far more outside of class than in it. Some semesters, I felt as if I were not even in a theology class, but a general humanity course with God occasionally tossed in.
One theology class remains in my mind the most, “Why am I Catholic?” How come after attending Catholic schools for most of my life was I just now finding this out in twelfth grade? The title of the course was troubling because it appeared to imply that they had not properly instructed us in the faith. “Why am I Catholic?” was an elective on how to defend and explain our beliefs. “Beginning Apologetics” would not have been nearly as alarming a title. Despite the name, we learned a great deal, not just for enlightening non-Catholics and even non-Christians, but Catholics themselves. A more challenging course, but incredibly useful. Often, people will say that if one wants to get easy points in a religion class just put down, “Jesus loves me” and the teacher cannot mark such an answer as wrong. In my apologetics class however, if anyone would say that then they would have to answer why and how we know this. I truly grew in this course and continue to do so today. It provided me with a solid foundation for defending the faith and how to find the answers to questions that I do not know. Every Catholic should take a class like this.
Something that I could not help but notice about the theology classes in high school was the lack of teaching about the Church’s stance on morality and culture. When forming our conscience, for the most part asked us what our own opinions on certain ethical issues were, but did not paint a full picture of what the Church specifically stated about them. Yet even when we were occasionally told what church teaching actually was, our teachers typically gave us paper thin answers. Plenty of my fellow classmates asked tough questions that teachers never addressed. To many of my peers, our religion was just a naïve set of rules of what we could and could not do, instead of something liberating and completely radical compared to the world’s false promises that never satisfy (Soucy). Instead of lists of what was and was not acceptable, we needed a more in depth study of the logic and reasoning behind God’s designs. He does everything for us out of love. “I want to give you the very best-please allow be to bring it to you” (“Are you a Date, or a Soul Mate? Finding the one”).
If our school wanted fidelity of the youth to the Church then why did it encourage us to create our own morals apart from God’s laws? This is cafeteria Catholicism, picking and choosing what to believe and not believe in the faith just like choosing what to eat and not eat in a cafeteria. The theory of teachers offering students non-directive “values clarification” or encouraging students to make their own ethical decisions, was encouraged by psychologist Dr. Carl Rogers. “Decades later, Dr. Rogers openly admitted that this method of teaching was a huge mistake. He recognized that when adults fail to pass on solid direction and clear values, then the young people are left without a compass” (Can’t we accept that people have different values when it comes to sex?). Many have used the phrase, “blinded by faith” when in reality it opens one’s eyes to where one is meant to go for the good of oneself, others, and especially God. When walking along the journey of life, those who toss away the map and compass so that they can make their own way will most likely get lost or put themselves in grave danger.
The world presents us with so many values that are contrary to the faith and we need to know how to respond to it. Often, modern day culture tries to manipulate us with its own way of thinking and how easy it is to get swept away with its misconceptions and lies. After graduating from high school and moving onto college I am surrounded by people who ask difficult questions and who think very differently from how the Church does. I wish that we had been taught how to respond to such matters. Many Catholic school students are at high risk for not just infidelity to the Church but of leaving it all together after graduation. We need rock solid preparation.
One problem I noticed that our high school had was “Cool Catholicism,” particularly at mass. For the time that he was there, our school’s priest rarely gave us a homily after the gospel reading. Whenever guest priests came did we receive it. Instead we were usually given funny skits by fellow classmates that had nothing to do with the scripture readings that day. Whatever lessons supposedly presented to us was shallow and uninteresting. Our theology teacher told us that we do not attend mass for entertainment, yet we viewed parodies of popular movies and television shows that appeared to be more concerned with entertainment than enlightenment. On more than one occasion, moments of sexual humor were even thrown in. All of these spectacles are already present in the world but we youth hunger for what the world cannot give us. “In fact, the culture we live in is the source of most of our problems” (Soucy). Why would a doctor ever give a patient more of a virus that they already had instead of medicine?
Some may argue that our school wanted to relate to us so that they could get the message home. If this is true, then how come after mass my peers would not be discussing how the homily challenged them or made them really think. There were no converts, just kids laughing at the skit. No one took it seriously because they had to resort to using humor to get them interested in their faith. Gimmicks, bells, whistles, goofy catch phrases, “relating to teens,” and attempting to be “cool” just look silly to young people. Quite frankly, this is not evangelizing but soul begging. “Please please look over here. Please pay attention at mass. We’ll give you whatever you want. WE GRAVEL AT YOUR VERY FEET” (“The Power of Modesty”). The whining and graveling, however, is not the slightest bit attractive to young people.
Giving the Church a makeover implies one of two things. Either the Church is not good enough for the youth or the youth are not good enough for the Church as it already is. Each claim insults the other’s dignity. Did Christ not value them so much that He gave His own life for them both? His bride the Church is breath-taking in beauty and she calls her children to greatness. “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity” (1 Tm 4:12). Downplaying and watering down the faith are the same as looking down upon the Church and even the youth themselves.
During my freshman year, the whole school gathered in the gymnasium to listen to a guest speaker. The last topic that he discussed was the Miraculous Medal of Our Lady. After telling the story behind it and the special graces that one receives by wearing and even kissing it, he offered them to anyone who wanted one. Suddenly, a great multitude of teenagers excitedly rushed down for a medal. I was so surprised to witness such an event. Practically everyone got one that day. I wondered why it happened and one day the puzzle fit together. They were finally told what they all wanted to hear-the truth and nothing less.
What else do the youth want? The most successful youth programs are centered on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist- where they can freely bring Jesus their hopes, dreams, questions, pain, and receive strength from Him (Soucy). Young people are yearning for Our Lord’s love and presence in this troubled world (Soucy). Eucharistic Adoration on campuses has been proven to increase the amount of mass attendants-and not just on Sundays, as well as the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the people going to daily Rosary (Soucy). Also, the youth desire to be challenged. Pope John Paul II attracted such large multitudes of young people from around the globe-particularly to World Youth Day. “What was it about this man that would incite youth to travel for thousands of miles, sleep in primitive settings, go without food and water, and shed tears at the mention of the name ‘John Paul II’ ” (Colette 20). Clearly, something drew young people to this older man. The answer is found in his own words to a group of youth in St. Louis that was broadcasted on television. “Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you and he expects great things of you” and not a single dry eye was found in the arena or from television viewers (Soucy)! Pope John Paul II displayed his love for the young, possessed a sincere trust and enduring faith in them, but also encouraged them to rise up to take on the challenge of holiness, despite the world’s great obstacles. What an excellent example for anyone who desires to evangelize the youth!
I dream of a reform in the catechesis of young people and even adults. One may reply that one cannot convert all of the schools and I agree, but even just having one solid school will make all the difference in the world. Others may be touched and inspired by the reform and spread it. Even if no one else takes notice of merely one orthodox school, generations to come may be transformed for years to come.
Works Cited
“Are you a Date, or a Soul Mate? Finding the one.” The Pure Life. Hosts Crystalina and
Jason Evert. EWTN. Irondale, AL. 2007.
“Can’t we accept that people have different values when it comes to sex? We need to be
Realistic-times have changes since the Bible was written.” PureLoveClub.com.
2007. Electric Pulp. 25 April 2008
Colette. “One of a Gazillion Stories.” John Paul II, We Love You: World Youth Day
Reflections 1984-2005. Ed. Barbara A. Murray. Winona, MN: Saint Mary’s
Press, 2005. 19-24.
The New American Bible. Ed. Hartman, Canada: World Bible Inc., 1987.
“The Power of Modesty.” The Pure Life. Hosts Crystalina and Jason Evert. EWTN.
Irondale, AL. 2007.
Soucy, Jon. “What do Catholic youth want?” Adoremus Bulletin Vol. VI, No. 4 (2000): 1
par. 17 Oct. 2007
