The term cultural literacy was advanced by E.D. Hirsch, Jr. in his bestselling book, Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. He made a very concrete proposal that included words, persons, events, works of art, places, and concepts needed to be an intelligent and well-functioning adult in American society.
Aside from the particular merits and drawbacks of Hirsch’s theory, the general point rings true. If you are to be a functioning member of a particular group, there is a base level of knowledge and experiences that are required for full initiation and enculturation into that group, which enables a fuller participation in the life of that group. Every group has a particular purpose and function, which would dictate what needs to be known and experienced to thrive in that group.
When it comes to Catholic life, Christopher Dawson articulated a concept similar to cultural literacy, though he spoke of it in more organic terms. In his book, The Crisis of Western Education, he advanced the idea that we need initiate people into Catholic culture, understood as the living and spiritual community of believers expressed in unbroken fashion throughout time and history. He recognized that there has been a breakdown in the transmittance of Catholic culture to contemporary generations.
There are primary elements needed for the transmission of Catholic culture. You cannot live the Catholic life apart from God’s revelation and grace, which we find primarily in the Mass and sacraments, Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and the teaching of the Church, authoritatively expressed in the Catechism. This is the foundation of initiation into the spiritual tradition of the community of the Church, which is the Body of Christ and the family of God.
We should ask, however, if this foundation is enough. Although we must have this spiritual foundation, we are sacramental beings (body-soul unities), who live in the midst of the world. To have a Catholic way of life we also need exterior practices to express and live our faith in an embodied way. This includes learning how to pray, knowing and imitating the saints, forming our imagination through literature and art, shaping our home life and work through faith, and serving others in the world.
To live as Catholics in a secular society we have to form literacy in the great tradition we’ve inherited through the Church. Our children need to learn about the saints and their teaching, should be formed in the great beauty of Catholic art, and learn to become cultural creators in their study, work, and vocation. I want to continue to explore Catholic literacy on this site. I have a very basic list to begin here, but I want to continue building out this concept of Catholic cultural literacy in its various dimensions and will use this blog to explore the figures, events, and artifacts of Catholic culture.
I hope you can contribute as well by submitting comments and messages of what elements you think should be included.
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