The Need for Parish Intellectual Life

A book I highly recommend on this subject is The Intellectual Life, by Fr Antonin-Dalmace Sertillanges, OP, a French philosopher and spiritual writer.

From Crisis

By Thomas Griffin

The intellectual life, if shaped by the faith, will be the food of mental prayer.

Aristotle once wrote that “all men by nature desire to know.” This is how he began the introduction to his Metaphysics. This is the pursuit of philosophy, but it is lived out inside the heart and mind of every human being. We all crave answers because our mind is created to receive the truth. That is why the truth captivates us.

These principles have been validated in my experience over the last two years at my parish. 

We began something called “Sunday Conversations” several years ago. These occur once a month after one of the Masses. We offer coffee and light refreshments for the few dozen people attending a 30-minute talk on a variety of topics. A handout is prepared with a traditional outline of the definition of the topic, its importance for one’s life of faith, and how to incorporate it in a way that will deepen one’s relationship with Christ. 

Some recent topics include the scientific evidence for the afterlife, how the “little way” can change your life, and the dying wish of Jesus. Parishioners come hungry for primary resources about the Faith as well as the chance to speak about questions on their mind regarding the topic following the session. 

Due to the growth and consistency of the Sunday program, we looked for an even more specific way to enrich the minds of parishioners in an academic way. So, we began “The St. Rose Institute.” These are free theology-style courses that are offered three times a year. We meet three Tuesday evenings in a row and investigate the Faith in an intelligent manner. The initiative was promoted as one of the more, if not the most, intellectual type of evangelization event that we host. The response has been edifying in both numbers and impact.

First, the numbers. We have had dozens of parishioners sign up for each of the sessions that we hosted. The majority of them attended all three lectures. The age range has varied, with the median age being much lower than other events. Some college and even high school students have attended. There has also been more of a male presence at these events than other ones we have hosted. In addition, we have found that parishioners from other parishes have begun to join us as well. All around, the attendance has proven to exceed expectations and be very well-rounded.

Second, the impact has been phenomenal. Parishioners tend to bring their friends or loved ones along for these evenings more than they do for other events I am a part of. This is despite the fact that these are one-hour-long lectures with six-to-eight pages of classic-style notes used for the handout. When the sessions conclude, many attendees remain behind with questions or comments, which leads to organic opportunities for Catholics to foster true community. All around, these classes have revealed that many Catholics in the pews desire more depth to what they’re receiving about the Faith.

Ultimately, the sessions have been successful because of the hunger of the human mind for truth and because of the specific topics chosen. 

Those who are experiencing a call to deeper conversion are convinced that following Jesus must impact their lives outside of mere Sunday Mass attendance. Those attending these evenings are looking for practical ways to enrich their daily prayer lives. And they are looking for the answers to questions that human beings have always contemplated: Who am I? Where did I come from? How do I know if God is real? Did Jesus really exist? How can I meet God today?

These questions arise in the larger group setting of these offerings; but, more frequently, they come up in the one-on-one conversations that come about in the aftermath of these nights: The parishioner who hangs around until the end of the night to ask that personal question that relates to a Church teaching. That young person who sends an email to ask how he or she can become more involved in the life of the parish. That older parishioner who tells you that they have been Catholic their entire life but never knew the reason why they should believe in that teaching or how to meet Christ personally. 

We have offered courses on the Sacrifice of the Mass, apologetics, and the saints. These were very detailed talks that a typical non-churchgoer might find meaningless or too abstract. And yet, the turnout was great and the feedback was beautiful. Many attendees never knew the sacrificial nature of worship, the reasons for belief in the divinity of Jesus, or how the saints reveal the heart of Jesus. Those who come to these nights are open to being wrong about their preconceptions. And, more importantly, they are thirsty for how the new things they will learn can enhance their knowledge about being Catholic. 

The Institute has shown me that when you offer the invitation for people to receive the truth that Jesus spoke about and that our Catholic Faith teaches, people will come—and they will be transformed. The message they hear impacts them because Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The human search for answers is the search to encounter the living Christ, and that is why the parish intellectual life is critical. 

Without it, conversions will remain dormant. Jesus desires for us to know Him deeply not superficially. Without the intellectual pursuit of the Faith, conversions will remain surface level. Jesus desires our entire selves: heart, mind, and soul. 

So, if you have the proper background to teach the Faith, consider having a conversation with your pastor about organizing some Institute classes. If you don’t feel that you are able to lead such discussions, approach your pastor and ask if he can initiate evenings in a similar vein. Doing so, even if the numbers begin small, will undoubtedly renew the lives of those attending. It will also prove that we all hunger for the truth, and we are all called to know Christ more deeply. 

That is why we need the parish intellectual life.