Book illustrates joy of the sacraments

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“The Joy of Being Catholic: A Resounding Affirmation of Our Faith,” by Mitch Finley, a Crossroad Book, the Crossroad Publishing Company, New York, hard cover, 118 pages, $12.95.

SALT LAKE CITY – If you crave the kind of book that keeps you warm on a cold day, try Mitch Finley’s “The Joy of Being Catholic: A Resounding Affirmation of Our Faith.” Here is a celebration of being Catholic that makes us all a “sacrament; a carrier of the creator’s love.”

Finley takes each element of every sacrament and explains it in detail, and reminds us all of our own, personal relationship with God. His section on the Eucharist, for example, recalls the traditional language of Christ at the Last Supper, the bread and wine become the Holy Body of Christ, his “whole person.”

This lovely, hardcover book is peppered with illustrations from classic paintings and Christian drawings on which to meditate. And on page 12 are the words we all wish to hear: “Explain to me your love for your beloved, and I will explain the Mass to you.”

Taking each sacrament carefully on its own, Finley creates a book that would be the perfect gift for new members of the Church. He describes the Sacrament of Confirmation as “the fullness of the Holy Spirit,” and the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) as the sacrament that, “We know it’s important to make it up not only with the people we hurt. We also need to ask forgiveness of the God who gave us the freedom that allowed is to do the freedom that allowed us to do what we did, the freedom we misused….”

After the sacraments, Finley takes us into stories of Scripture, then the community of saints, “walking together in splendor.” He has a special affinity to many of the saints, telling their stories completely and well. These stories give us something for which to strive, people we can admire and share the road to heaven.

This new version of “The Joy of Being Catholic,” originally published in 1996, is rich in theology and gives the opportunity to “revel in the Scriptures.” He describes the Gospel writers as people who were compelled to write. “Unlike Plato or Shakespeare,” he writes, “the Bible is divinely inspired and humanly written. For Catholics,” he explains, “the New Testament sheds light on the Old Testament and vice versa.”

Finley shares with us his joy in being Catholic, his growing closer to God, no matter what heartaches or worries. “A deep source of joy for Catholics is the fact that Jesus taught by telling stories and we have these stories still,” he writes.

Through this book we might be able to see ourselves as the Good Samaritan, the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair, and Simeon, who waited to die until he saw the Messiah.

“The Joy of Being Catholic” is an excellent book to teach us the Scriptures for prayer, or lectio divina. I recommend that a slow read through the text, pausing for silent prayer, and meditation on the lines that have a special meaning to you.