What Matters Most: Empowering Young Catholics for Life's Big Decisions

by Leonard J. Delorenzo

What if we taught young people that they can measure success by how they follow Christ rather than by how much money they make or where they go to college?

In What Matters Most, University of Notre Dame theology professor Leonard J. DeLorenzo urges youth ministers, teachers, and parents to help young people redefine success in light of their call to discipleship—completely saying yes to God.

In Luke's account of the Annunciation, Mary offers a true model of discipleship for young people to follow. Her example will empower them to make choices about how to live their lives as a courageous yes to God in everything they choose—just as she did.

DeLorenzo, who served as the long-time director of Notre Dame Vision—a program designed to help young Catholics find their true calling as disciples of Jesus—shows how Mary exhibited four habits that will guide young people to make important life
DeLorenzo includes personal stories from his experience as a father and working with youth and young adults with spiritual wisdom to equip teachers, mentors, pastoral ministers, and parents to reexamine the way they encourage and help form young Catholics approaching significant life choices such as college and jobs. He presents ways to remedy spiritual deficits in these young people created by cultural realities such as the fast pace of tech-driven lives and the looming pressure to succeed with worldly accomplishments.

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 2, 2018

About the author

Leonard J. DeLorenzo, Ph.D., teaches theology at the University of Notre Dame, where he also directs Notre Dame Vision within the McGrath Institute for Church Life. He was born on the East Coast (New Jersey), spent part of his childhood in the South (Tennessee), grew up for the most part on the West Coast (California), but has lived in the Midwest longer than anywhere else (Indiana). His travel beyond these quarters of the United States includes leading pilgrimages to Italy and Malta, as well as journeying somewhat regularly to the edge of the observable universe in a planetarium where he works collaboratively with a professional astronomer and astrophysicist.

DeLorenzo is the author of Witness: Learning to Tell the Stories of Grace that Illumine Our Lives (Ave Maria Press, 2016) and Work of Love: A Theological Reconstruction of the Communion of Saints (University of Notre Dame Press, 2017). He is currently editing a volume to which he is also a contributor dedicated to Dante, Mercy, and the Beauty of the Human Person (forthcoming from Cascade Books).

Reviews

[Caitie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is rooted in Scripture, structured around practical advice, adorned with some beautiful saint stories (some I'd never even heard of!), and laden with the footprint of Mary's fiat. When evaluating our effectiveness as Catholic educators, youth ministers, instructors and even parents, it's so important to determine what the young people we work with need! This book is the answer to that dilemma. DeLorenzo is one of the most rich Theologians of our time, understanding not only the what (his notes and bibliography section is as long as a chapter!), but the how! Every Catholic leader, whether working with young people or not, should read this and it would benefit even those trying to lead themselves in holiness! A++++!