What is orthodoxy?

Thank you to those who have posted comments: 

One of the comments defined what orthodoxy is in the Catholic Encyclopedia: here is the definition:

Orthodoxy (orthodoxeia) signifies right belief or purity of faith. Right belief is not merely subjective, as resting on personal knowledge and convictions, but is in accordance with the teaching and direction of an absolute extrinsic authority. This authority is the Church founded by Christ, and guided by the Holy Ghost. He, therefore, is orthodox, whose faith coincides with the teachings of the Catholic Church. As divine revelation forms the deposit of faith entrusted to the Church for man's salvation, it also, with the truths clearly deduced from it, forms the object and content of orthodoxy.

My aim (with God's help) is to show how I believe this is to be integrated into authentic Catholic life.  I will share my journey in several posts, the first being here.

I opened this blog the other day seeking to create an opportunity for people to chat on what their faith means to them. I had mentioned that being Catholic means to be Orthodox. I would now like to elaborate on what that means.

Being an orthodox Catholic in “orthodox” circles may mean 1 of 2 things. It could mean that all the “rules” are being followed, which is part of what orthodoxy is. The other meaning, which is fuller, is when one fully assents to the teachings of the church unwaveringly. However, I have come to understand, through personal experience, that this is not enough.
Back in 1995, I had a rather dramatic experience of conversion. I felt God’s presence come into my life in a way I had not felt before. Without getting too detailed, I began to take up the study of theology and I would read all kinds of Catholic books because my passion for the faith was insatiable. However, I also began to realize something else. I was saying a lot of prayers everyday, and I felt compelled to say them to the point where it would stress me out if I wasn’t praying them. I would have to say all these prayers on all these holy cards, and because I was becoming more familiar with the “rules” of the church, I had to make sure I was following them to a tee. In addition, I was beginning to take notice of others, and if they weren’t doing exactly what I was doing, well they were in trouble, because I was RECITING ALL THESE PRAYERS AND FOLLOWING ALL THESE RULES! And THEY WERE NOT! They were SINNERS, while I was becoming this great SAINT! I was SACRIFICING! What were they doing!? Well they obviously were not as holy as I was, so I was obviously HOLIER THAN THOU! While they would all be burning in HELL, I would be boasting from my well-deserved place in HEAVEN!

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Has anyone met someone like this? Look at that closely, and you will see that God is not mentioned anywhere other than the first sentence of the last paragraph. Who was I really impressed with? God, or MYSELF?

Well, what happened to me? Did I change? Am I still that judgmental, holier than thou, self-righteous person? Well, I will tell you that although I still struggle with sin, the Lord has helped me to grow and change beyond what is written above. In my next post, I will describe how God has helped me to grow and change. I will preface it by saying that although the “rules and rituals” of our faith are wonderful and so needed, they must be interwoven into the most important orthodoxy there is: allowing the grace of the sacraments and the light of revealed truth to help in forming a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, in and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Until my next post, God Bless you all!

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,



Joe Sweeney