Having been born in the 60s, I have no strong recollection, beyond some overheard conversations, of what it must have felt like to witness the tearing down of everything. It must have felt to many that all was ending and that God must surely act to defend His Church from the destruction.
Alas, it was not to be and the destruction continued, most people just cared less.
As a child with no recollection of what came before, I still had a sense of loss. It is hard to explain, but I knew something was wrong. Ask my family, they will tell you that I have always been like this, of course they would say it mockingly.
I also wondered why so many people, at that time, failed to see it for what it was. They smiled and called it the new springtime even as everything died around them. They called it opening the doors and letting fresh air into the Church, as everybody inside choked on the smoke of Satan. How did they not see what was happening?
I have often wondered what it must have felt like to live through that era. I wonder no more. In fact, I think that perhaps today’s high speed death spiral may be worse in some ways. Having never been through it before and unable to see its logical end, many well meaning Catholics perhaps opened themselves up to the false optimism of that era.
Today, having seen what the last 50 years has wrought, I have, we have no such luxury.
Today is not 1970, but I sometimes imagine I feel as some must have felt back then. I know some people and I am acquainted with more people who are really struggling in this time. I know that so many ‘Catholic’ pundits and wannabe pundits would mock them for their worries even as they celebrate every novelty and heresy that infects the Church as, you guessed it, a breath of fresh air.
I can see it. I can see it so clearly. The only question that remains is whether this time, the Lord will act.
I have often pondered this question. Will I live long enough to see the Church fully transmogrified into syncretistic modernized mess it seems hellbent on becoming or will the Church be rescued by the Lord.
As I said, I have often wondered what it must have felt like. I don’t wonder that anymore, I know now. The only thing I wonder now is when God will choose to act and rescue us, His Church, from us, His Church.
We have partied on the train tracks for so long, we delude ourselves into thinking them abandoned. But the train is coming, I can see the light in the distance and I know with certainty it will arrive. I cannot tell how far out is the light of the train and I can’t say how fast it is moving. But it is coming, of this I have no doubt.
When will others see it and will it be too late?
As a blogger, I pray and ask for guidance. Lord, should I just pack it in and just focus on getting my family through this time. Or, should I be shouting the obvious from the rooftops, even though I know I will continue to be ignored and vilified. I don’t know, I guess I will keep praying.
**Note. If you don’t sympathize or understand this post, that’s fine. Just let it go please. Anyone who chooses to use the comment box to mock me and my fellow travellers will be deleted and likely banned. So again, just let it go please.
April 29, 2014 at 9:02 pm
It's game over pretty much. I guess I can see why you would say there's no point in blogging anymore. Either you see this stuff for what it is or you don't at this point. Of course, I thought that after all of Francis' horrific interviews so one never knows.
April 29, 2014 at 9:08 pm
The one thing that everyone seems to forget is "the gates of hell will not prevail" can mean no one is left but the Pope and a couple of his followers. Let's not delude ourselves into thinking that the higher ups can play with teachings, modernize and socially engineer extra-biblically. Because at some point, "The Church" will no longer be "The Church" Our Lord spoke of.
I'm not sure where it will be, but if the Vatican goes secular, She won't be there.
April 29, 2014 at 9:09 pm
First Communion was the last of the Turidentine era. I also grew up amidst the viet nam war, the pot culture, and the institutionalization of abortion on demand.
A very small remnant stayed faithful.
Thank you, BVM, all was not lost.
April 29, 2014 at 9:10 pm
I was born in '85 and joined the Church recently as a convert. Now I love tradition and have been reading the Saints for many years, and in fact own a Tridentine missal and Latin Breviary. It took me a while to accept Vatican II as it had got such a bad press from traditionalists. But I soon came to understand that to follow the Pope and the Magisterium is to trust in their leadership, wisdom and insight, and that my own limited viewpoint could not compare to the college of Cardinals. Basically, it is to trust the structure and hierarchy of the Church; I like the Novus Ordus mass, and viewed the Traditional schismatics (saying, for example, that NFP is a mortal sin) with great scepticism. So I was won over to the modern view of the Church, especially since mysticism is still highly valued, which was the main element I cared about.
April 29, 2014 at 9:14 pm
Soooooo yes. And please don't be silent. The world, and the Church, need your voice.
April 29, 2014 at 9:24 pm
I was a youth in the 1960s, so I have some first-hand knowledge of what happened. Our family was typical for this times. Seven children (considered medium size) who all went to the local parish and Catholic school.
As a child, we dressed up for Mass and, yes, mom always had a rosary curled around her hand, and dad gazed intently at what was happened in the sanctuary – it was a contemplative gaze that I never experienced in him outside of the Mass. The choir was beautiful, and helped us to feel as though the angels were around us. At least for an hour every week, we felt like we were in heaven.
Parish life was vibrant, with lots of spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts. We even rang doorbells, selling lightbulbs, to raise money for our sports teams. The parish was our second home.
I entered my Catholic high school, and the devotion and love for our faith was prominent there as well. It was right after my freshman year that everything changed. The many nuns in full habits became 3 nuns with a small veil on their heads. The "religious resource center" was stripped of all books and furniture, and a bean bag was thrown in the middle of the room for us to come in and "chill" anytime we liked. We went from weekly Mass to Mass once a semester … that nobody looked forward to.
Back in my home parish, Mass on Sunday was disturbing, to say the least. We went from dressed up and sitting near the front, to wearing jeans and tee shirts – arriving late and leaving early – as we hoped to find seats as far in the back as possible. The "Folk Group" was just simply annoying, and our new family tradition became listening to mom complain about the music every ride home in the car. Our family devotional life vanished over night, and we kids found more and more new ways to "ditch Mass" and go for joy rides to kill time.
We became almost entirely detached from parish life, and immersed ourselves in just about any worldly pleasure we could find.
Breath of fresh air – not so much.
April 29, 2014 at 9:37 pm
¿Y quién eres tú para juzgar?
April 29, 2014 at 10:08 pm
In 1966 God was kind and patient enough to permit me to be baptized into the Faith at the age of 18. Within a few years, as I learned more, I realized that the Church, which once informed culture, now followed the culture – Notre Dame de Peter, Paul, and Mary. The loss of the Tridentine Mass, the purging of parish libraries, the precious felt banners, the folk masses, the drum sets, the desperately trying to be cool priests — I knew those things were wrong, but I didn't have a reference as to why and how.
/
And then I lived long enough to read a young Catholic blogger write that "baby boomers" (me?) deserved death for Vatican II, which began when I was an ignorant Methodist boy of 13.
/
Yet, life does go on, and the Faith will go one, despite the inadequacies faithful (like me!). Goofy emperors, Henry VIII, Napoleon, von Bismarck, Hitler, Mussolini, the KGB and its Hochhuth propaganda – none of these things prevailed against the Church. They can't. We were given a Promise in that.
April 29, 2014 at 10:24 pm
Pat, not Matt. Big difference. One is a super conservative Catholic blogger. The other is a dark and brooding presence who looks with the unblinking eye on all, and finds them wanting.
April 29, 2014 at 10:26 pm
"I can see it. I can see it so clearly."
Sure. Of course you can.
In history, particularly the history of the Church, what sort of person said things like this? It's a fair question.
April 29, 2014 at 10:28 pm
Patrick, I've enjoyed your blog over the years and hope you continue to write. Yes, it's very easy to be confused and discouraged right now, but keep your eye on the big picture: Christ is risen and wants to spend eternity with us in heaven. If that's not a reason to be joyful then I don't know what is.
I'm not trying to dismiss your concerns, as I share many of the same. But, despite the fact that it often seems like the sky is falling all around us, we still have access to the sacraments on a regular basis. That's more than many of our ancestors can say.
For me personally, I found that stepping away from the "opinion-oriented" traditional blogs has helped immensely. Reading these blogs was always very depressing and not bearing fruit in my spiritual life. I continue to read CMR because many of your posts contain levity and discussions about family life, which I appreciate.
We need more Catholic male bloggers who are joyful in the writing. I hope we don't lose you!
April 29, 2014 at 10:29 pm
He has been given a great and terrible burden by God, given only to one out of millions. Some see a burning bush. Some are struck down off of their horse. Some start a blog. It's roughly the same thing, with the same implicitly conveyed authority.
April 29, 2014 at 10:30 pm
Equating the TLM crowd with the remnant who remained faithful to Christ. And you wonder why the Pope has such harsh words for the TLM crowd? "Thank you, Lord, that I am not like this publican…."
April 29, 2014 at 10:33 pm
Well, I'm just wondering when Pat is going to stand up, take charge, and actually do something. It's all fine to blog, but what does that really accomplish? No, it;s time for him to live out his mission, stand up, and take power away from his Bishop so Pat can wield it righteously. God helps those who help themselves, right? Well, if Pat wants God to save the Church, maybe that's why God sent Pat. I'm sure there's a vacant building nearby, and I'm sure some fellow travelers will go along. Pure and righteous worship is still possible, you just have to have the stones to stand up, defy the Bishop, say 'Non Servaim!' in a clear voice, and leave.
Go ahead.
I dare you.
April 29, 2014 at 10:35 pm
It SO resonated with me where you said "As a child with no recollection of what came before, I still had a sense of loss. It is hard to explain, but I knew something was wrong." Born in 1959, that's *exactly* how I felt growing up, not about the Church (I wasn't raised Catholic) but about our whole society.
As faithful Catholics, though, we must live in hope. We've read the end of the book! If you need some additional bolstering, read up on Our Lady of Good Success or listen to the Lighthouse talk on her. Key words: in the end, her Immaculate Heart will triumph, and it appears that this will take place soon. Pray and fast and pray and fast and pray and fast and it will eventually all be well.
April 29, 2014 at 10:35 pm
Yes to your account. I, and many others feel the same. Pray, fast, and focus on the true Faith. That is all we can do. These are very trying times.
April 29, 2014 at 10:35 pm
See my above post. You still have a chance to set things right. You just have to find an empty building, elect Pat pastor, and you can fix every single problem in your own midst. How could it go wrong?
April 29, 2014 at 10:36 pm
Let's not delude ourselves into thinking that Pat would include the Pope in that group.
April 29, 2014 at 10:38 pm
Shout, yes shout, but why shout within the Church where, to quote Rebecca above, it's 'Game Over'? You need to have the courage of your convictions that you know better, than you can do a better job, and go found a Church where you can do things right. Like I said above, if Pat had the courage, he'd do it.
April 29, 2014 at 10:39 pm
Right, but what power does a lay person with a blog have? If things are this dire, Pat would have the moral right, nay, responsibility, to strike out on a new path, where his clear vision of God's will is untainted by the corruption of Vatican II. So go ahead. Go.