ABSTRACT
Catholicism will be analyzed from a sociological point of view, that is: as a world view, as a well-rounded definition of reality which entails a set of final values that constitute the fundamental objectives that must guide human behavior and social life; as an interpretation about God, human nature, and the types of relationships among men and between men and God; and as a formal organization, that is, the Catholic Church. This chapter analyzes the conceptual elements of Catholicism that result in peculiar traits of a lifestyle that limits or enhances the possibilities of the elderly in order to satisfy their needs and aspirations. Catholicism makes it bearable through some representations and ideas that give a general definition of man and his environment. This notion of identity is particularly necessary in situations of threat, uncertainty and breakdown, because it provides a set of instructions as to how the situations are maintained or repaired.
