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My faith in the Church — 4 Comments

  1. I have made some of the same observations that you have, Fr. Jay. Holy Mass attendance, children being dropped off for Religious Education yet never attending Holy Mass and lukewarm, politically correct “talks” from the pulpit. Ski trips, family weekend getaways, basketball games and sleepovers all trump attending Holy Mass by my students.

    My 5th grade CCD students don’t understand the concept of sin (I am not permitted to use the word “Mortal” when teaching about sin and I have been told to only use the phrase “serious sin”), the necessity of the sacrament of Confession, the Eucharistic Fast, reverence in God’s House, and even chewing gum and messing with their cell phones during Holy Mass. When I try to instruct them properly, parents complain to me and if I stand firm, I am accused of “making this stuff up as I go along”. They complain to the Pastor who asks me to back off on “traditional” teachings and to just follow the textbook. The textbook is protestant in nature at best and is written to the tune of “let’s all get along and love one another”.

    The parents are indifferent to their responsibilities of educating their children about Catholic teachings, tradition, the Holy Sacraments, Holy Scripture, the Saints, etc. Attending Holy Mass for many is simply something to do when there’s nothing else going on. We tried an adult education program at my Parish (which I have since left and stopped teaching at) and three people came to the first session. I prepared one hour talks on 20th century Saints, The Holy Sacraments, the symbols and titles of our Holy Mother Mary, the Precepts of the Church, basic Liturgical Latin and one or two other topics. My work now falls on deaf ears. I’m frustrated that I spent an enormous amount of time fulfilling the requirements to become a Certified Catechist in my Diocese (the Diocese of Manchester) and I was limited to how I could teach the faith to the point that I left my Parish.

    So, I do understand your comments, Fr. Jay and things can only get better as I believe we’re either at or near the bottom of the slope. I keep my faith in our Lord and I continue to “Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry”!

  2. Father:

    Regarding your assessment of our Church, I sadly agree. There is little more to be said. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen said it succinctly: “People today want a Christ without nails.” To further quote this great man, “nothing meaningful ever enters the world without substantial struggle and sacrifice.” Until we embrace these truths, the decline will only continue. However, I believe there are signs of hope. In their unhappiness, people will continue to search for answers and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and our Church, they will find the inner serenity and peace they so desperately need in the love of God and service to others. We must also remember that this period of time, as painful as it is, is only a short time in history. God always has the final word and the future has yet to be written. Let’s keep praying!

  3. The rotten fruits of the Second Vatican council and the Novus Ordo Missae being imposed on Catholics of this generation are obvious! We are reaping them and it’s undeniable! The heresy of Modernism has swept through the Church and still is and it is leaving devastation of every kind in it’s wake! Sacrilege is being committed at every Mass where Communion in the hand is allowed! Particles of the Sacred host are falling from hands onto the floor or God knows where to be trampled on. The Church floors are vacuumed or swept and put into bags or dust pans and thrown into the trash and brought to the city dumps, where Jesus Christ,Body ,Blood, Soul, and Divinity resides as well as in the Tabernacles!! Are our hearts broken yet?! The DOGMA of Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus which every Catholic is BOUND to believe is denied in favor of a false ecumenism which preaches not “conversion”,but convergence with false religions! At least some people can remember a time when the Church flourished, my youngest memories of Mass as a 5 or 6 year old is guitars and tambourines and songs from Godspell! I could go on and on, but my hands are tired! USQUEQUO DOMINE??!! How Long O Lord?!!

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