Book reveals how there is ‘Catholicism Everywhere’

Do you know where the phrase, April’s Fools Day, comes from?
Did you know the Catholic Church invented the hospital?
Do you know who the first bishop of the moon is?

By reading “Catholicism Everywhere” you can find the answers to these questions and learn about many other “expressions of contributions Catholics have made in our culture.”

You will learn about the origin of football’s “Hail Mary” pass; the priest, Dr. Alois Alzheimer (the Catholic champion for patients with dementia), who put forward the “Big Bang Theory”; and other fascinating links the Catholic Church and its members hold with various aspects of our culture.

“Catholicism Everywhere” is a marvelous book written by Helen Hoffner, a professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, an educational consultant, member of the Domestic Schools Advisory Board of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and experienced educator.

Hoffner takes us beyond traditional Catholic culture (Mass, the sacraments, relics, music, etc.) and puts us in touch with many fascinating examples for just how deep Catholicism is ingrained into our society. Whether sports, science, entertainment or some other element of culture, this book offers plenty of captivating insight for the interrelationship between our daily lives and Catholicism.  

The book is broken into 19 chapters, each with a title representing a specific element of culture, such as health care, Catholic education, gardening, sports and others. The content for each chapter consists of a brief, clever narrative on various aspects related to the chapter title. Each chapter also contains several marvelous, attention-grabbing illustrations provided by Dana Regan.

I love how the content consists of snippets, rather than lengthy paragraphs, and how easy it is to go back and forth in the book to re-read on specific aspects of interest, whether it might be related to Catholic fashion, Catholic education, food, the arts or one of the other cultural elements.

I also like how the book is designed in a way that allows the reader to start on any page and pick and choose a topic that piques their curiosity.

The Catholic Church and its members have made magnificent contribution to our culture, and reading this book we find many great examples as to just how significant the contribution has been. Reading “Catholicism Everywhere” helps us “connect our work, our play and our daily habits with the vibrant, culture, and prayers of the Catholic Faith.” In fact, my wife and I have decided to purchase a copy of this fantastic book and use it as an educational and conversation resource with family members.

John H. Dolezal is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.