In an age marked by spiritual ambiguity and denominational fragmentation, Why I Believe: The Beauty and Truth of the Catholic Faith by John L. Fontana emerges as a bold yet tender invitation to rediscover the core of Catholic belief. Written by a trauma nurse, grandfather, and seasoned catechist, this deeply personal book offers a fresh, humanized case for Catholicism—rooted in both lived experience and centuries-old tradition.
For John L. Fontana, belief isn’t theoretical. It is biographical. As a child of Mount Carmel Heights in Abbeville, Louisiana, his faith was imprinted early—shaped by local tradition, family devotion, and the enduring witness of Catholic educators. But this book doesn’t romanticize faith. It acknowledges doubt, confusion, and even estrangement. Fontana’s journey traverses the trauma of divorce, years of religious study, medical missions in Guatemala and Mexico, and profound spiritual experiences, including his interactions with patients who’ve had near-death visions. Through it all, the author never stops seeking the heart of truth.
Why I Believe is not a polemic or theological manual. Rather, it is a series of heartfelt reflections structured around core Catholic doctrines—Confession, the Eucharist, the authority of the Church, Heaven, Purgatory, and more. Fontana contrasts Catholic tradition with other denominations not to condemn but to clarify. With sincerity and courage, he invites readers to examine why Catholic teachings on topics like transubstantiation or purgatory are more than ritual—they are spiritual lifelines.
One of the book’s most affecting moments recounts Fontana’s reaction to Sister Helen Prejean’s Dead Man Walking and his own struggle to understand mercy for convicted criminals. Through this lens, he writes about grace not as a lofty theological term but as a disturbing, necessary truth that reorients our sense of justice and love.
Fontana’s medical background adds a unique layer. His firsthand accounts of suffering patients—some nearing death—lend gravity to the book’s reflections on mortality, eternity, and the soul’s longing for God. His time teaching CCD for ten years to tenth graders further grounds the work, showcasing his ability to translate complex truths into accessible dialogue. This is catechesis written from the field, not the ivory tower.
Readers of Why I Believe will encounter not only doctrine, but also beauty: saints, sacred art, and centuries of tradition that speak of a Church built not merely by authority, but by suffering, sanctity, and community. In these pages, Catholicism is not a dry institution but a living body.
“Faith, like any relationship, grows through questioning and searching,” Fontana writes. And so this book invites both believers and skeptics alike to walk with him—through history, heartbreak, and ultimately, toward hope.
Why I Believe: The Beauty and Truth of the Catholic Faith is available now through major online retailers.
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