Letters to a Young Catholic: The Art of Mentoring.

Letters to a Young Catholic: The Art of Mentoring. LETTERS TO A YOUNG CATHOLIC: THE ART OF MENTORING GEORGE WEIGEL BASIC BOOKS, 2004 $22.95, 208 pages Weigel offers young Catholics reflections on a pilgrimage throughthe Catholic world, focusing on what had a great influence on his ownunderstanding. As the official biographer of the recently deceased PopeJohn Paul II Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan Paweł II) born Karol J��zef Wojtyła(helpinfo), Weigel's is a voice in the Church demanding attentiontoday. Weigel shares inspiring stories about heroes of the faith,prayerful prayer��ful?adj.1. Inclined or given to praying frequently; devout.2. Typical or indicative of prayer, as a mannerism, gesture, or facial expression. places worth visiting, wise insights from our tradition, andplenty of anecdotes from history. The author's travels andreflections center mainly on the Holy Land, Rome, Poland, England,France, and the United States United States,officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . Weigel writes first of his own introduction to, or perhaps,"osmosis osmosis(ŏzmō`sĭs), transfer of a liquid solvent through a semipermeable membrane that does not allow dissolved solids (solutes) to pass. Osmosis refers only to transfer of solvent; transfer of solute is called dialysis. " into Catholicism. Remembering what it was like togrow up in Catholic schools in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Weigeltells us about many familiar stories that those of the generation sharefrom this era: identifying themselves by their parish, using aLatin-derived vocabulary, memorizing the Baltimore Catechism A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, Prepared and Enjoined by Order of the Third Council of Baltimore (or, simply, the Baltimore Catechism) was the de facto standard Catholic school text in the United States from 1885 to the 1960s. , wearingschool uniforms, observing meatless Fridays, and famously, being taughtby vowed women religious. There were no doubts about Catholic identityduring this era, which has led many to describe this time as a ghettofor the Church. Weigel responds, The real question is not whether you grow up in a ghetto, but whether the ideas and customs and rhythms of your particular ghetto prepare you to engage other ideas and customs and life experiences without losing touch with your roots. (p. 9) Weigel concludes that Catholics should have a different vision ofthe world if they believe the truths they are taught growing up. One of these truths is the historical reality of St. Peter, thefisherman that Jesus chose to follow him and lead the early Church.Weigel takes the reader immediately to the heart of Rome, St.Peter's St. Peter's or similar terms may mean:Places St. Peter's, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland St Peter's, Guernsey St Peter's, Kent, United Kingdom St Peters, Leicester, Leicestershire, a suburb of Leicester, England Basilica, where one can visit the Scavi and see his mortalremains under the altar. In another chapter on Rome, Weigel retells thestory of how the Sistine Chapel came to be with all of its controversyand essentially how we are God's creation. Weigel writes one morechapter about Rome from his visit to Camp Verano that focuses on adeeper explanation of the meaning of suffering and dying from theChristian perspective. Weigel points out the relevance of truth today inpeople's lives by referencing a comprehensive study of 20th-centurymartyrs that concluded "more Christians gave their lives for Christin the twentieth century than in the previous nineteen centuries ofChristian history combined" (p. 188). Christianity cannot lose touch with its own roots; therefore,Weigel offers us tours and stories of the Holy Land. The author visitsSt. Catherine's Monastery for the Greek Orthodox that was built bythe Emperor Justinian in 527 A.D. on the northern slope of Mount Sinai.Here, Moses encountered the burning bush, received the Ten Commandments,and made the covenant between God and the people of Israel. Weigel alsotakes us into Jerusalem to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Thisis the church built on the traditional site of Calvary, where Jesus wascrucified, anointed after he was taken down from the cross, and whereMary received his body as depicted in the Pieta. Weigel writes about avisit to the Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion, the place that tradition hasMary falling asleep. Since these places have such a remarkableimportance for Christianity and considering that most people will neverget the chance to visit, it is at least somewhat satisfying to have theopportunity to read about them. As for the other chapters, Weigel writes a few chapters about theCatholic intellectual influence of England, giving special attention toCardinal Newman, G. K. Chesterton, and Evelyn Waugh. Weigel writespassionately about Poland because of John Paul II's vocation, thewitness of Father Jerzy Popieluszko's stand against the communistgovernment, and the Jagiellonian University students who gather everySunday night for Mass in the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. Moreover, onecan learn the amazing story of how Chartres Cathedral in France wasrebuilt. Finally, Weigel recommends visiting St. Mary's Church St. Mary's Church, or St. Mary the Virgin's Church, or other variations on the name, may refer to: AzerbaijanSt. Mary's Catholic Church, Baku GermanySt. Mary's Church, Berlin St. Mary's Church, Fuhlsb��ttel, Hamburg St. inGreenville, South Carolina For other places with the same name, see Greenville.Greenville is a mid-sized city located in the upstate of South Carolina. It is the county seat of Greenville CountyGR6 , and the Old Cathedral in Baltimore forexperiencing Catholicism in the United States. Overall, this book is interesting; however, the title, Letters to aYoung Catholic and the subtitle, The Art of Mentoring, leads thereviewer to ask a few questions, since obviously the author is trying toinspire and to form young Catholic minds. First, why write an entirechapter on Cardinal Newman to young Catholics and not even mention oneof his greatest works, The Idea of a University, when it is one of theclosest experiences to his audience? Surely, most readers either studiedat a Catholic university or participated in Newman centers at othercolleges and universities and would be interested in thoughts on thesubject. Second, many young Catholics are strong advocates for theChurch's social justice teachings, particularly in the US and LatinAmerica; however, Weigel shares no stories on the subject. As theofficial biographer of the most prolific writer and theologian on thesubject in history, it is perplexing per��plex?tr.v. per��plexed, per��plex��ing, per��plex��es1. To confuse or trouble with uncertainty or doubt. See Synonyms at puzzle.2. To make confusedly intricate; complicate. and disappointing that Weigel doesnot mention this as shaping his understanding of Catholicism. Finally,of all the Christians who made their mark in Rome over the past 2,000years, why choose to highlight the life and tragic death of an Americanseminarian sem��i��nar��i��an? also sem��i��nar��istn.A student at a seminary.Noun 1. seminarian - a student at a seminary (especially a Roman Catholic seminary)seminarist whose spiritual last will and testament was to offer his"all for the conversion of non-Catholics in Virginia. This is whatI live for and in case of death what I die for" (p. 178)? It would take a lifetime to duplicate the experiences Weigel hashad in the Catholic Church, and still, only the rarest individual couldcome close. Add all of the author's studies of the Catholicintellectual tradition, and one truly has a unique mind for youngCatholics to learn from today. Moreover, young Catholic teachers wouldbenefit from reading the stories of the Catholic tradition andWeigel's reflections for their own ministry of mentoring. Reviewed by Bradden R. Kluesner Bradden R. Kluesner teaches physical education at St. CharlesBorromeo School in Port Charlotte, FL.