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Living the Catholic Faith: Rediscovering the Basics
Addressing the difficult question of what it means to be a Catholic in the twenty-first century, Archbishop Charles Chaput offers a sound, contemporary vision for understanding the teachings of the Church and shows how you live them out with a spirit of love and obedience. How can you experience a fresh, active spiritual life? Find out as you rediscover the vital basics of Living the Catholic Faith . A Servant Book.
160 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
4 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
About the author
Charles J. Chaput
22 books78 followersCharles J. Chaput was born September 26, 1944, in Concordia, Kansas, the son of Joseph and Marian DeMarais Chaput. He attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grade School in Concordia and Saint Francis Seminary High School in Victoria, Kansas. He joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, Saint Augustine province, in 1965.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Saint Fidelis college seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania in 1967, he earned a Master of Arts in religious education from Capuchin college in District of Columbia, in 1970. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970.
Chaput received a Master of Arts in theology from the University of San Francisco in 1971. He served as an instructor in theology and spiritual director at Saint Fidelis from 1971-1974 and as executive secretary and director of communications for the Capuchin province of Saint Augustine in Pittsburgh from 1974 to 1977.
In 1977, he became pastor of Holy Cross parish in Thornton, Colorado, and vicar provincial for the Capuchin Province of Mid-America. He was named secretary and treasurer for the province in 1980. He became chief executive and provincial minister three years later.
Chaput was ordained bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 26, 1988. Pope Saint John Paul II appointed him archbishop of Denver on February 18, 1997, and he was installed on April 7 the same year. As a member of the prairie band Potawatomi tribe, Archbishop Chaput was the second Native American to be ordained bishop in the United States, and the first Native American archbishop. He chose as his episcopal motto: “As Christ Loved the Church” (Ephesians 5:25).
Pope Benedict XVI appointed him archbishop of Philadelphia on July 19, 2011. He was installed as the 13th bishop and ninth archbishop of Philadelphia on September 8, 2011. In 1999, building on the efforts of his predecessor in Denver, Archbishop Chaput founded Saint John Vianney theological seminary, an affiliate of the Pontifical Lateran University. From 1998 to 2011, Archbishop Chaput has ordained 71 men for the Archdiocese of Denver. He ordained nearly half of the diocesan priests in active duty for the archdiocese.
In 2002, assisted by his auxiliary bishop José Gomez, Chaput founded Centro San Juan Diego in response to the pastoral and educational needs of the growing Hispanic community in Colorado. He later co-founded the national Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL) and helped in the founding of ENDOW, a leadership initiative of Catholic women to “Educate on the Nature and Dignity of Women.” He was also instrumental in creating the Denver-based Augustine Institute, an independent, lay-run graduate school for the formation of lay Catholic leaders, catechists and evangelizers. Archbishop Chaput served on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 2003-2006. Duties included religious freedom fact-finding missions to China and Turkey, and annual reports monitoring global trends in religious liberty mandated by 1998 federal law.
In 2005, he was named a member of the official U.S. delegation to Cordoba, Spain, for the “Conference on Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance,” sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The national Becket Fund for Religious Liberty awarded him the 2009 Canterbury Medal for his work in advancing religious freedom.
Archbishop Chaput served on the Board of Directors for The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (1994 – 2009) and the National Catholic Bioethics Center (1993 – 2006). He serves on the board of directors for Eternal Word Television Network, Birmingham, Alabama (1996 – present); The Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado (1998 – present); St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Northern Colorado (1999 – present); Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Northern Colorado (1998 – present); The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (2001
After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Saint Fidelis college seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania in 1967, he earned a Master of Arts in religious education from Capuchin college in District of Columbia, in 1970. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 29, 1970.
Chaput received a Master of Arts in theology from the University of San Francisco in 1971. He served as an instructor in theology and spiritual director at Saint Fidelis from 1971-1974 and as executive secretary and director of communications for the Capuchin province of Saint Augustine in Pittsburgh from 1974 to 1977.
In 1977, he became pastor of Holy Cross parish in Thornton, Colorado, and vicar provincial for the Capuchin Province of Mid-America. He was named secretary and treasurer for the province in 1980. He became chief executive and provincial minister three years later.
Chaput was ordained bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota, on July 26, 1988. Pope Saint John Paul II appointed him archbishop of Denver on February 18, 1997, and he was installed on April 7 the same year. As a member of the prairie band Potawatomi tribe, Archbishop Chaput was the second Native American to be ordained bishop in the United States, and the first Native American archbishop. He chose as his episcopal motto: “As Christ Loved the Church” (Ephesians 5:25).
Pope Benedict XVI appointed him archbishop of Philadelphia on July 19, 2011. He was installed as the 13th bishop and ninth archbishop of Philadelphia on September 8, 2011. In 1999, building on the efforts of his predecessor in Denver, Archbishop Chaput founded Saint John Vianney theological seminary, an affiliate of the Pontifical Lateran University. From 1998 to 2011, Archbishop Chaput has ordained 71 men for the Archdiocese of Denver. He ordained nearly half of the diocesan priests in active duty for the archdiocese.
In 2002, assisted by his auxiliary bishop José Gomez, Chaput founded Centro San Juan Diego in response to the pastoral and educational needs of the growing Hispanic community in Colorado. He later co-founded the national Catholic Association of Latino Leaders (CALL) and helped in the founding of ENDOW, a leadership initiative of Catholic women to “Educate on the Nature and Dignity of Women.” He was also instrumental in creating the Denver-based Augustine Institute, an independent, lay-run graduate school for the formation of lay Catholic leaders, catechists and evangelizers. Archbishop Chaput served on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 2003-2006. Duties included religious freedom fact-finding missions to China and Turkey, and annual reports monitoring global trends in religious liberty mandated by 1998 federal law.
In 2005, he was named a member of the official U.S. delegation to Cordoba, Spain, for the “Conference on Anti-Semitism and Other Forms of Intolerance,” sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The national Becket Fund for Religious Liberty awarded him the 2009 Canterbury Medal for his work in advancing religious freedom.
Archbishop Chaput served on the Board of Directors for The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. (1994 – 2009) and the National Catholic Bioethics Center (1993 – 2006). He serves on the board of directors for Eternal Word Television Network, Birmingham, Alabama (1996 – present); The Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado (1998 – present); St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Northern Colorado (1999 – present); Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Northern Colorado (1998 – present); The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (2001
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 6, 2017
I love Archbishop Chaput's writings. Though this is an earlier boook of his I just read it this week. I'm helping out at an RCIA class (instruction for adults who want to be Catholic) and felt I needed a refresher. There's a lot in the Catholic faith and I think we all need good reminders. I would recommend this book to any serious Catholic who wants a refresher and especially to those discerning the Catholic faith. Chaput is an incredibly decent and caring man. But he does not sugarcoat Catholicism. He does not dodge difficult issues. I'd also sugges that anyone who want to understand our faith better this is a great place to start. Also, for those who are interested in the way the Church should engage the secular culture I would highly recommend Chaput's "Render Unto Caesar." Simply an incredibl work.
January 1, 2018
good reboot of priciples of faith. many things i already knew, but it was good to hear them again with more detail amd context
June 11, 2017
This book was so profound and I want to read his entire bibliography. If you are experiencing a drought in your Catholic Faith, if you want a deeper understanding of what Catholics believe, or of you need a spiritual check up this book is for you.
Mother Miriam of Immaculate Heart Radio recommended this book to a caller on her radio program. She described this book as a book that really helped her in her conversion and understanding of Catholicism. It's a remarkable book that has shaken my faith life for myself. I want to grow and live in Christ. Bishop Chaput is a wonderful writer. He is clear and concise.
Mother Miriam of Immaculate Heart Radio recommended this book to a caller on her radio program. She described this book as a book that really helped her in her conversion and understanding of Catholicism. It's a remarkable book that has shaken my faith life for myself. I want to grow and live in Christ. Bishop Chaput is a wonderful writer. He is clear and concise.
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March 22, 2014Great book!Much deeper theology than I was expecting, but very enjoyable to read. Tied in nicely with the That Man Is You! (TMIY!) program. Highly recommend for those looking for a refresher in the Catholic faith.
April 18, 2011
This was assigned reading for my adult confirmation class. It was a very easy read and it helped make sense of many of the Catholic Church's beliefs & practices.
February 17, 2018
Sometimes best to re-understand the Catholic faith in more basic terms. This book is great for not only stating what we believe but emphasizing on how we MUST LIVE IT.
September 12, 2018
I love the content of this book, but it was a little dry to get through.
October 1, 2019
Archbishop Charles J. Chaput has written a playbook to allow us as Catholics to get back to the basics of our faith and to more fully appreciate the scriptural authority behind these core teachings of the Church. He does this in a very appealing and straightforward way that is easy to understand and very easy to read. There is no heavy theological jargon nor are there any unexplained Latin terms in this book and even someone who is totally unfamiliar with the Catholic Church will have no trouble grasping the Archbishop's points.
To his great credit, the Most Reverend Chaput takes on the issues he discusses head on and never swerves to avoid hurting someone's feelings. Almost any Catholic who reads this book will find that at least some of the author's arguments hit mighty close to home. The author also takes on the hard issues like abortion, contraception and suicide, issues that may be controversial in some quarters but which are at the heart of the Church's teachings on the sanctity of human life. The learned author also takes the time to explain in very clear terms some of the most basic tenants of the Christian faith and I found his point by point discussion of the Ten Commandments to be very enlightening.
The Archbishop does all of this while relating it to the world that we live in today. I found his analogy of two twentieth century films to be particularly poignant and to be charged with unpopular truth. Sometimes the truth hurts but it does us a world of good in the long run.
This book is highly relevant to the world today and especially to Catholics facing the challenges of the twenty-first century. The good Archbishop has given us a wonderful blueprint to follow as we try to live our faith and spread the gospel to the whole world.
To his great credit, the Most Reverend Chaput takes on the issues he discusses head on and never swerves to avoid hurting someone's feelings. Almost any Catholic who reads this book will find that at least some of the author's arguments hit mighty close to home. The author also takes on the hard issues like abortion, contraception and suicide, issues that may be controversial in some quarters but which are at the heart of the Church's teachings on the sanctity of human life. The learned author also takes the time to explain in very clear terms some of the most basic tenants of the Christian faith and I found his point by point discussion of the Ten Commandments to be very enlightening.
The Archbishop does all of this while relating it to the world that we live in today. I found his analogy of two twentieth century films to be particularly poignant and to be charged with unpopular truth. Sometimes the truth hurts but it does us a world of good in the long run.
This book is highly relevant to the world today and especially to Catholics facing the challenges of the twenty-first century. The good Archbishop has given us a wonderful blueprint to follow as we try to live our faith and spread the gospel to the whole world.
May 16, 2019
Packed full of information of the basics of our Catholic Faith and like a little handbook on how to carry it out. Archbishop Chaput is awesome because he gives you the faith straightforward. It got dry and redundant in places but overall a great book to hand to confirmation teens through Adult RCIA and for any Catholic who wants a recap of their faith. I can see why many RCIA programs make this a required reading.
February 16, 2022
Not a bad text, just not my cuppa tea when it comes to works relating to the faith.
September 30, 2024
Wonderful book to encourage Catholics to grow in the Faith
November 15, 2024
This book was okay. The teachings were all true and decently put. It is very basic. A good refresher or beginner book for someone interested in Catholicism. There are better options out there.
December 25, 2024
The third of the four works by Archbishop Charles J Chaput, OFM Cap. A must read for all Catholics.
June 8, 2014
A good and comforting book.
March 30, 2012
I love this book. I use it in my prison ministry programs.
July 4, 2013
This book covers the many facets of what it means to live a Catholic life.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews