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A review by annelisa614
From Willow Creek to Sacred Heart by Chris Haw
5.0
I’ve spent the last year really struggling with my Catholic faith, to the point where I’ve debated leaving the Church altogether. This book, particularly the last three chapters, was helpful in, as the subtitle says, rekindling a love for the Catholic Church. There are points I would push back on, for sure. But there are points that gently pulled me back towards the Church. There was never a feeling that I was reading Catholic propaganda, designed to convert me into the most devout Catholic. (In fact, the opposite is true; Haw demands critical thinking about the Church from those within it, his self included.) Haw’s ethos as an author, the way he has walked the walk and the journey he’s gone on, contribute to this feeling.
Since the pandemic started, my Catholic identity crisis has been put on hold as more pressing issues arise, so I anticipate returning to this book later, when the most pressing issue in my life is whether or not I should attend Mass each week. That being said, the themes of loving what is broken, of fixing a broken institution through love, of being critical of while still enjoying a tradition, of changing your mind, and of forgiveness (amongst others) are still very helpful at this moment in time.
Since the pandemic started, my Catholic identity crisis has been put on hold as more pressing issues arise, so I anticipate returning to this book later, when the most pressing issue in my life is whether or not I should attend Mass each week. That being said, the themes of loving what is broken, of fixing a broken institution through love, of being critical of while still enjoying a tradition, of changing your mind, and of forgiveness (amongst others) are still very helpful at this moment in time.