This article gives 7 ways of writing Catholic articles
and posting in Catholic blogs
Though there is no one way of writing the perfect Catholic article, there are
certain patterns of writing we can follow by which we can write simple but
in classic style - one that can appeal to the popular visitor of the
Net. This article will present a few styles by which Catholic articles and posts
in Catholic blogs can be patterned after. The article gives 7 ways of how one can
write simple Catholic articles that will help many to understand the Catholic
faith.
* * * Writing in Classic Style Entails a Sense of Tradition * * *
Using a theological method
For those who may have the opportunity of obtaining theological training,
it is good to construct articles according to a particular theological method.
The method this webauthor will use is the SEE-
JUDGE-ACT method of doing theology. If articles are written according to this
theological construct, then the method is as follows: The phase of
'SEEING', deals with looking at our human or world experience. A certain national
event or global happening can be the focus of the SEEING. Second is the
the 'JUDGING' process. The experience in SEEING is evaluated according to
the Judaeo-Christian standards we have always known. The questions asked
in this evaluation is: "What does the Bible have to say about this?"
"What does Church teaching have to say about this?" Then after this judging
process, the next step is making an ACTION. In this process, we make decisions
as to how we can respond to what has been judged in the manner of
Christ - looking at all the possibilities where we can apply our Christian
faith to the experience and situation.
If we write our Catholic articles according to this theological construct, then
three paragraphs would be the core of our article. One each for SEE-JUDGE-ACT.
We can add an introduction at the beginning and a summary at the end to cap it
all.
Teaching a method of prayer, a spiritual exercise, a certain spirituality
This is probably the easiest of Catholic articles to write as we can write it
step by step. It is like giving a method for a prayer
exercise and then making brief descriptions for each. For example, we can write
about how to pray the rosary. Or we can teach how to make the Stations of the
Cross. We can also teach methods of meditation and contemplation - as
taught to us by many saints in our Church. The length and
the flow of the Catholic article depends on how we outline the steps.
Write historical, biographical,
and hagiographical sketches
This would be probably the most interesting types of Catholic articles, because
they can be descriptive and written in a story-like manner. For historical sketches,
we can take a particular period in our Church history that interests us. We can narrate
what happened during those years and do some bit of historical analysis in order
to add intellectual content to the story. One of the most colorful eras of our
Church history is the Renaissance, the leadership of Innocent III, the witness
of the mendicant orders, the missionary jaunts to the New World of the religious
orders, and the story of the Crusades. These are just examples of what we can
write historically.
For biographical sketches, the most popular to write about now is the life story of
our late Holy Father, John Paul II. You do not need to put in all the historical
details of his life. Writing in a casual way may prove to give
even more emotional appeal and spiritual impact than simply giving the facts of
his life.
For hagiographical sketches, this is even more interesting to write about. If
we are keen to write about the miracles and legendary feats of the saints and the
martyrs of our Catholic tradition, then for certain hagiographical sketches can
interest our readers and give them a feeling of inspiration from what they will
learn about them. Most interesting to write about are the martyrs - those who
followed Christ even to the point of shedding their
blood and dying for Christ and His Church.
Teaching aspects of
a spirituality
Many of us have gone to Catholic colleges and universities who are managed by
religious orders such as the Jesuits, the Dominicans, the Augustinians, and
the Franciscans. Being educated by them, we learn a lot
about what they believe in: the person of Christ and how they follow Him in
a specific way. From our experience of being taught by them, we can also write
Catholic articles that outline certain aspects of their spirituality: their style
of prayer, their apostolate or work, their contemplative methods, their concepts
of God, of service, of Kingdom, of poverty, chastity, obedience, community, love,
simplicity, love for the poor, education, and so many other aspects which we can
relate and reflect upon. If we contextualize their spirituality to present day
and contemporary Christian living, then we can also see how they live out the
Eucharist, Marian devotion, mission and what path to holiness their spirituality
is taking at this time.
Analyzing a moral issue
When analyzing a present moral issue, we must be careful not to cause too much
controversy with our Catholic articles. Being objective and analytical will
help us stay along the right course of discourse in writing. We certainly have
to state the stand and teaching of the Church. We can mention why certain sectors
of society are causing the moral controversy and issue, and analyze in an objective
way why they are espousing a cause that is contrary to what the Church teaches and
believes in. When writing subjects that tend to be controversial and moot, it is
best to not only be objective but to be tactful and diplomatic in our writing.
The moral issue is in itself already embroiled in many highly strung emotional
entanglements. The only way to soothe and to calm down these high tension
situations is to be very objective and analytical.
Reflections on a Scripture
passage
This is perhaps the richest, the most profound, the deepest, and the only
Catholic article that will really form us and help others too see the goodness and
the splendor of truth that is in our Catholic faith. If
we make our reflections on Scripture with allusions to Church teaching and also
include how they are correlated to what is happening now in the our world and
in the Church, then we are truly doing a service to our readers and subscribers.
And the more we focus our reflections on Scripture, the more we will reach out to
a wider audience - including non-Catholics and other Christians. However, mention
of certain aspects of our Catholic tradition in our Scripture reflections will
also make them aware of the beauty and splendour of truth in Catholicism. It is
our duty to make the reflection as attractive as we can so as to make the message
understandable to even those who may have not come into contact with the Gospel
message as often as we do.
Expounding on a catechetical
teaching
This is perhaps the most exacting of all the Catholic articles to write about.
It is exacting because we must be faithful to the words and the terms and the
meaning which the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches all the faithful.
Before we embark in the writing of such Catholic articles, we must really study
well first our own Catechism. And in our study of the Catechism, we must study
it in whole because we might teach something out of context. Writing Catholic
articles in this regard entails a great responsibility on our part. As much as
is possible, we must make as many direct quotations from the Catechism as we
can so that we may not lose sight of the right direction by which the Church
wants us to know about the Catholic faith.
Writing Catholic articles
need not be very formal;
it could be just plain posts in blogs
All that was mentioned above has been discussed in a rather formal manner and
thus calls for a formal kind of writing. However, we can do the above in a less
formal way - more discursive, more conversational, more diary-like, more personal,
and more of a story-telling manner. And this we can do in our Catholic blogs.
It is not difficult to start a blog. In fact, this is the easiest thing to do.
It advisable that before anyone really embarks on writing serious Catholic articles,
one must start first with blogging the Catholic faith with personal reflections
and with one's own experience as a Catholic spouse, son, parishioner, religious,
priest, professional, and so forth. There are many blogs by which you can use
for free. This article will mention three: SEO-Blog; Bloglines; Blogger