Sharing God’s gifts
CHARLOTTE — A doctorate in Sacred Theology does make you a bit of an expert when it comes to the Catholic faith. But it takes a gift for teaching to make the faith come alive in the pages of a book.
In his new book, “The Sacraments: Discovering the Treasures of Divine Life,” Father Matthew Kauth takes the seven sacraments of the Church and illuminates the scriptural foundation and the spiritual realities of each and how they are necessary to living a happy and holy life.
Father Kauth was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Charlotte in 2000. Over the years he felt the Lord calling him to develop his love for preaching and teaching, and in 2012 he became a definitively promised Dominican.
He is now the rector of St. Joseph College Seminary in Charlotte and also serves as a professor at Belmont Abbey College, where his seminarians work towards their undergraduate degrees in philosophy.
“I have always enjoyed teaching,” Father Kauth says. “Certainly the charism of the Dominican order is to pass on that which you have contemplated; to hand on that which you have contemplated. I love that, because that is what you do when you teach. You are speaking to people about your own life with the Lord, both in study and in prayer.”
Father Kauth notes that writing books is another way to share what God has allowed him to glean from his studies and experiences, and to share all that he has learned with others.
“I am charged to do that as a Dominican – to be able to reach the faithful, even though I am not as much of a public person anymore (as the rector of the college seminary),” he explains.
Conor Gallagher, president of TAN Books, approached Father Kauth and asked him to write a book on the sacraments in the same style in which he preaches. Gallagher wanted it to be for the people in the pews, not intellectuals necessarily. He wanted a book that can enkindle one’s love of the sacraments.
Father Kauth originally declined the offer due to his hectic schedule. But divine providence would intervene for both men.
Father Kauth was looking for ways to fund the college seminarians’ Capstone course, which is a 10-day trip to Italy to see some of the treasures of the Church and to bring their philosophical and classical language studies to a pinnacle, so he agreed to write the book to help bridge the gap to fund that program for the students.
“I took the spring break (from his teaching duties at Belmont Abbey) and wrote for about seven days,” Father Kauth says. “I read some books before I wrote it, but for the most part I just sat there and wrote it.”
After completion of the book, Gallagher asked Father Kauth to film a video series on “The Sacraments” as well.
“I flew to Milwaukee and filmed a series of videos on ‘The Sacraments.’ We shot every one of those videos over the course of two days,” he recalls.
Father Kauth says he is open to creating more materials to help instruct the faithful in the future.
“I think the faithful of the diocese are very fortunate that we have so many wonderful priests,” he says. “I think that the faithful do get a lot of solid teaching (here).”
Father Kauth adds that he believes “a lot of us (priests) would be open to doing more things like this if the faithful were to say they want more of this on specific topics.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior Reporter
Order a copy
At www.tanbooks.com: Order a copy of “The Sacraments: Discovering the Treasures of Divine Life”