I know what it is to doubt.
I wasn’t taught to trust Church teaching. In fact, I grew up doubting the Church’s intentions on everything.
As a young adult, I was skeptical of the control the Church sought over my choices. Consequently, I rebelled against the Church’s teaching and her authority.
Have you ever doubted that the Church didn’t have your best interests in mind? Perhaps all the rules and regulations seem heavy handed? Maybe you’ve been tempted to leave because of that. I know have.
The true intentions of the Church
So, here’s a quote for those who have a hard time trusting. In the prologue of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 25, there’s a message that sums up the Church’s motive for everything:
The whole concern of doctrine and its teaching must be directed to the love that never ends. Whether something is proposed for belief, for hope or for action, the love of our Lord must always be made accessible, so that anyone can see that all the works of perfect Christian virtue spring from love and have no other objective than to arrive at love.
This itself is a quote from the preface of the catechism written after the Council of Trent in 1566, the Roman Catechism. It’s over 500 years old and yet the message is still fresh and exciting today. Everything the Church does, all that she teaches, all that she seeks to be is oriented to this–the love that never ends!
Sometimes all we see are the externals
If you understand this one thing, you understand a TON. The purpose of the Church is to grow and nurture the presence of God within us.
When we think of the Church, we tend to think of the externals–the Pope, bishops, priests, rules and regulations. This “exterior life” of the Church is important. It supports and protects the “interior life.”
The exterior life is to the Church what the skeleton is to the body. The skeleton protects the body and gives it structure. Our lives are maintained by our internal organs. But without the skeleton, vital organs are left unprotected. They have no framework to be maintained.
But it’s all about the internal
But the real mission of the Church is in the interior life. Jesus is present and active through the sacraments, liturgy, teachings and relationships. He is pouring his divine life out into those who are united to him through Baptism and the Eucharist.
In this way, the effects of original sin are gradually undone. Our lost relationship with God is restored and all of creation is once again infused with God through us.
Through doctrine, the mysteries of God’s life transform our thinking. The grace to believe and live these truths is transmitted to us through the liturgy and the sacraments. The commandments and moral laws reshape our character and conduct to be more in union with God. And, our hearts and minds are reoriented to God through prayer.
Catechetical Takeaway
St. Augustine said it even earlier. In his youth he had serious doubts about the Church as well. However, in opening his heart and mind to Catholic Truth, he found the love and fulfillment he searched for all his life. In the year 405, speaking to catechists he wrote:
“With this love, then, set before you as an end to which you may refer all that you say, so give all your instructions that he to whom you speak by hearing may believe, and by believing may hope, and by hoping may love” (The First Catechetical Instruction, pg. 24).
The Church is not out to limit freedom, spoil fun, make life miserable, overpopulate the world or control you. The Church is out to make the divine life of God understandable and accessible to everyone. Everything is oriented toward that goal–the love that never ends.
When you doubt the Church, try to understand the deeper reality. It may open up a whole new reality as it did for me.
What do you think? Disagree? Have more to add? Let me know in the comments!
“I wasn’t taught to trust Church teaching. In fact, I grew up doubting the Church’s intentions on everything.”
Wow. I grew up thinking the Church was another mother. I didn’t always like what she said, and didn’t always obey, but it never occurred to me to doubt her affection or authority.
I’m luckier than I thought.
Yes you are my friend!
“The exterior life is to the Church what the skeleton is to the body. The skeleton protects the body and gives it structure.”
Nice. Kids love stuff like skeletons.
And the externals, which most kids are familiar with, serve as springboards to teach the kids the truth which lies behind them. In class I constantly refer to externals as the tips of icebergs; we learn about all the ice below the surface which supports that bit that sticks up.
Hey that iceberg analogy awesome! I love that!
I didn’t think about how the externals could serve to explain the truth behind them, but I guess you’re right. If you explain the reason why they’re there, you can explain the truth that underlies them. Very cool!
“If you explain the reason why they’re there, you can explain the truth that underlies them.”
Yes! As a general rule I always start with something physical about faith (miracles, sacraments, Moses rod, incense, you name it; get the kids to tell me what they can about it; and then go into the invisible stuff behind it.
I like that approach. Move from the physical/tangible to the spiritual/intangible. The catechism says something about that too in speaking of catechesis on the sacraments. You’re a sacramental catechist!
Like St. Augustine, I find that a bit of age and wisdom helps. I think we can all remember a time when we were young and anybody over age 20 were out of their minds. Like my pastor says often about the Church :she’s older and wiser than we are”, so I just go with it.
I know someone named Michael Davis, who is indeed like St. Augustine.
He and his buddy should be catechists like Marc and me.
Fuhgeddabout quiche; real men teach Catechism.
Amen!
Yeah, that’s kind of my approach now too. I’ve fought and argued my point many times only to be proven wrong once I researched it and figured out the truth. Guys way smarter than me have been at this for centuries. Now, I just realize the Church is right and that I just don’t know the answer yet. In time, I usually find it! So, I just trust. It generally works out better.
Thanks for commenting Michael!
Since I converted, I think this comes more easily to me than those who were raised in the Church since the 1960’s.
Yeah, I guess the 60’s were just made for rebellion. Unfortunately for me, I was growing up at a time when that culture and mindset were at their peak. I got the full brunt of the suspicion and doubt for authority that was sown in the 60’s.
Thanks for the comment!
Hey I know some one named Christian…..
I always say half jokingly, when someone asks me why I’m catholic, I say “I’m just way to tired to come up with anything new” 🙂
Marc,
This is a great post. Mind if I share it with my catechists? You give some great catechetical reflections on the Church. Thanks!
Absolutely William. Please do share it! Thank you!
I think it’s OK to doubt the Church sometimes. We go through doubt and questioning. It’s okay to have our own opinions, as long as we aren’t trying to make ourselves the authority.
For instance, I’m sure before Vatican II, there were lots of people who thought Mass should be in the vernacular. Did that make them sinners? Was it wrong for them to think that *before* the Church decided it? I don’t think so. We are called to be followers of Christ, not blind automatons.
Doubting, questioning, those are all things that are part of life, like you pointed out with St. Augustine. I think you are right that we should look at the Church’s intentions, at believe that they are always for the best. Sometimes they aren’t, because the Church is made up of sinners, and so as followers as Christ we should always be praying for our Church. And we should remember too that the laity is just as much a part of the Church as the clergy – we can decide to make the Church about love, too.
The handmaid of faith is doubt.
And pride, the refusal to humble one’s intellect, is the definitive sin.
I think you’re right. Doubting is a part of life. Sometimes doubt can be good if it leads you to investigate what you believe and why you believe it. In the case of teens, at that time in their lives, they’re figuring out if they really believe. They’re transitioning from believing because their parents believe to what they really believe. In that case, if they come to a certitude on their own, they really own their faith.
While this is true I think a certain amount of trust is involved in believing as well. You probably won’t be able to figure everything out. There’s some things that you have to just trust on until you get the answers. A common thing I see is that adults will pick and choose practices based on what they believe. If they don’t understand a doctrine or think it’s right, then they decide it must not be true for them. This can cause problems.
However, I understand this as well. I’ve been there myself. Sometimes things just take time. And, I’m sure God’s okay with that. I just want to reassure anyone who is having those doubts that it’s alright to trust. The Church, in her doctrine, will not steer you wrong…ever. You can trust that the Church has your holiness in mind.
Of course, it’s very possible for people in the Church to let you down. Clergy, religious and lay staff are sinners and make mistakes. It’s likely someone in the Church will let you down at one time or another. But don’t confuse that with the Church in her essence, her teaching and her worship. These are guaranteed by the Holy Spirit and will always point you to the truth.
Thanks for the comments! I liked the perspective.