What Is The Church?

by Regis Martin

Both with deep insights and gentle humor, Dr. Martin shows us the role that the Church plays in our everyday lives. This book will confirm and inspire the faith of both the "cradle Catholic" and the convert, as Dr. Martin combines personal meditation with the best that has been said and written about the Church.

Genres: Theology, Christianity

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Ian]

A good theological reflection on his life substantiating the Church’s teachings.

[Susan]

I really enjoyed this book - not just because it has helped me to understand his overall approach to the class and his first few lectures, but also because he brings the concepts to life with entertaining stories and with quotes that have inspired me to want to read the works by his sources as well...for example, T.S. Eliot, G.K. Chesterton (his book Orthodoxy, where he speaks of the "democracy of the dead") and of course the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, which we will be studying later in the course.

Expanding on Eliot's concept that we should learn from and build upon the work of our ancestors whose shoulders we stand on, Martin points out that "it is Christ Himself on whose shoulders we stand - and the Church's, which He founded and which ... aims to prolong that strength of supernatural presence and power in time."

Later in the book, Martin reminds us that each individual "must stand before the world as witness to the resurrection and life of the Lord Jesus and a symbol of the living God."

[Janine Brouillette]

Regis Martin reflects on the nature and mission of the Church, 40 years after Lumen Gentium. He reminds of that the church is not just buildings and organizations but a mystery which brings Christ to the world and conveys holiness and truths Christ wishes to impart to them. Nourishment for many. Prayer or talking to God is difficult for many people who are always hooked up to technology and are uncomfortable with quiet and stillness. Liturgical life begins with learning stillness. Martin describes What and Who is the Church. He explains, one can not have God for his Father unless you have the Church for your Mother.

He reminds us that we owe courtesy to our ancestors, we must love someone or something to really know them. You must become vulnerable to whatever truths Christ wishes to impart to you. Theology is about God. God is always in advance of our arriving, he has gone before us in order to accompany us from the start and will be there when we reach the end.