More On "Stickiness" and Catholic Culture

The Catholic faith has a "stickiness" to it when people are exposed to many things that are part of our Catholic culture. Just as the parables and the images that are presented in the Bible help us to absorb our faith, so to do many other traditional Catholic practices help weld our faith to us. Some of the those practices might be central to the faith like the sacraments; others may be of minor importance in and of themselves, but they all work to establish and strengthen our faith. The Holy Spirit is at the center of it all. But the adult community must help the young increase their faith experiences.

When kids are only exposed periodically to the Catholic faith they may have little cultural or traditional experience with it. They are overwhelmed with secular cultural images and experiences, but have almost no Catholic cultural experiences. Not surprisingly, they are not growing up in the faith at all.

The ethnic traditions of faith for many Americans have been dissipating as we become more homogeneous not only in our ethnicity, but also in our Christianity. Blended traditions can often cherry pick a few tenants of faith and culture, essentially making for a weak stew that offers little nourishment.

Some parishes focus on instilling the faith in our young and have built programs to help cement the faith. We need that cultural stickiness to help develop a lasting faith. We need a culture of faith.

Historically, this is not the first time in the United States that the Catholic Church was challenged to renew the faith in its people. In the post Civil War Era, industrialization was leading to a more secure although austere life for Americans of all faiths. Men suddenly found themselves in completely different lifestyles than their fathers who had been adventurous immigrants and pioneers. The struggle to survive independently by one’s own wits and strength under God had been replaced by a life greatly influenced by secular business and industry. Men began to join fraternal organizations to foster a sense of belonging. Often, these societies had some type of chivalrous foundation, but they also had secret initiation rites and rituals, which gave them the feel of religious organizations. Many were concerned that these secular organizations could serve in some way as a replacement for faith organizations.

Father Michael McGivney was a young Irish American priest who lived in the second half of the 19th Century and created the Knights of Columbus. He was born in Waterbury Connecticut of Irish immigrant parents and he lived from 1852 to 1890. Like many priests of his day, he worked tirelessly for his flock and died at a young age. More than anything else, McGivney was a parish priest who saw problems and set out with endless enthusiasm to do something about them.

The families that McGivney served faced many problems. Alcoholism was rife and the churches of the day were instrumental in setting up Total Abstinence societies(TAs) that encouraged an alcohol-free lifestyle. These clubs also served to help create a place for young people to come together socially. Plays were produced and performed offering the young members an outlet for expression. In response to the horrific problem of immigrant families with fathers working themselves to death, McGivney began applying what he already knew about organizing and planning to create a new Catholic fraternal organization that would offer a substantial benefit to its members who became ill or died. It would take a few years, working through some resistance and inertia, but in time, Father McGivney established the Knights of Columbus with a group of laymen friends.

Today the Knights organization remains the foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society helping families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs. However, in most parishes today, the Knights are better known as a service organization providing needed support and services to the church. The Knights of Columbus has over 13,000 Councils and 1.7 million members.

Today, youth ministry programs at parishes are working to provide that cultural "stickiness" that helps draw and retain youth to the faith through many activities like youth Masses, concerts, clubs, musicals and missions. Education is also an important component, but there is much work that needs to be done.

Image of Father Michael McGivney from St. Mary's Spiritual Center, Baltimore, MD

Catholic Culture Provides "Stickiness"

Stickiness is a term used to describe how a particular action, communication or experience tends to be remembered -- to stay with someone. It is heavily used term today in marketing circles, but it is also useful for religious discussions as well.

Religion in its most stark and unencumbered state can be difficult for children to absorb and none to easy for adults either. Jesus overcame the "stickiness" problem by using beautiful imagery and parables to evangelize those around him. And his teachings so beautifully recounted in the Bible have helped us absorb and remember the principles of our faith. The Old Testament is also rich in images, stories and poetry.

Catholic traditions build off our Judea-Christian heritage and are enriched by cultural forces from many ethnic groups. The enormous Irish Catholic immigration that came about as a result of the mid-19th Century Famine must have had a huge impact on U.S. Catholics. But establishing the Catholic faith in the United States wasn't easy and it didn't happen over night. The original waves Irish famine immigrants were poorly educated in their own religion and it took a huge influx of Irish priest to establish schools and parishes to educate the masses. An Irish Catholic renewal in Ireland itself in the late 19th century helped insure that later Irish immigrants were better schooled in their faith.

In the same era, other immigrant groups were being educated as well and it was not unusual for Europeans to help sponsor Catholic institutions in the United States. Funds from Germany and other places came into the United States to build schools and churches to keep the Catholic faith alive in our "wilderness."

Religious persecution in Europe took many forms and both Protestants and Catholics took part in them. In the United States, Catholics were more likely to be targets of intolerance. Thus, Catholic religious leaders were aggressive about setting up Catholic Schools. It occurred to many that Catholic identity could easily be lost in a country that was predominantly Protestant. The Catholic school system developed and grew. In no small part, the priests and nuns who operated the Catholic schools saw to it that children were educated in the faith.

Bible stories certainly would play a big part in that education, but so would all the sacraments, the ceremonies, the rituals, and other rich aspects of the faith practice. A Catholic call to action would be important. The practice of the Catholic faith would be a large part of everyday life. There were morning, noon, evening and bed time prayers. There was abstinence from meat on Friday and fasting for mass each week. Every Sunday was a day for church and during Lent and Advent many would attend each day. There was the Family Rosary, nightime Novenas, First Fridays, and holy days. Guardian Angels stood at the ready each day. Saints were asked to intercede on all manner of troubles and affairs. The Blessed Mother was called on regularly.

In houses there were crucifixes, religious paintings and First Communion photographs. Each spring, a May altar was set up in a prominent place in the house. Catholics proudly displayed their faith to everyone.

The Faith was also directed externally to helping others--the Corporal Works and the Spiritual Works of Mercy are examples of how Catholics were taught to take action for others.

All these things helped provide a "stickiness" in Faith.

Stained glass window from Immaculate Conception Church,Cottonwood, Arizona.