- This crisis did not start with Pope Francis.
- This crisis will not end with Pope Francis — and it won’t end with you.
- Many people are just now awakening to the nature of the crisis,
- Our job is to help guide them. People just waking up to the distress of this papacy may not yet have realized how they got here.
- Don’t trip up somebody headed your way.
- Remember, somebody gave you the red pill too. You can’t give what you haven’t received.
- You weren’t born with infused knowledge of the Syllabus of Errors.
- Sisyphus says, “Don’t make enemies of those generally pushing in the same direction. “
- Our actual enemies don’t care one bit where you are on the Catholic spectrum.
- Scandal must be exposed, but don’t relish in it. That’s what our enemies do.
- Some sincere Catholics are in crisis and are tempted to break unity in various ways. Tell them the truth. But be patient with them. Be kind to them. They didn’t make this mess.
- The liturgy is key to understanding the break and key to the restoration, but many people have known nothing else. Give them time.
- The Novus Ordo is not good, but some of the Catholics who attend it are. Better than you, maybe. Priests too.
- This is going to get worse before it gets better. Souls are the mission.
- Being right is great. Being kind is better. Be both.
- You know that diocesan priest who learned the TLM and who every Sunday drives an hour each way to say the mass for you? While he doesn’t do it for you specifically, make sure to say thank you anyway. Over beer is even better.
- Be grateful for the generations that helped preserve the true faith through this crisis but didn’t live to see the triumph of the Church. You may end up being one of them.
- Remember to always include hope. Our Lord sent His Mother to warn us of this crisis, but She also reminded us of our hope in Christ. This crisis will end. Her Immaculate Heart will triumph in the end. Hope is key.
January 7, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Brilliant. Thanks.
January 7, 2019 at 9:16 pm
Bravo!
January 7, 2019 at 9:40 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
January 7, 2019 at 9:58 pm
Well said and just what I needed to hear, thank you!
January 8, 2019 at 1:41 am
“The whole course of Christianity from the first . . . is but one series of troubles and disorders. Every century is like every other, and to those who live in it seems worse than all times before it. The Church is ever ailing . . . . Religion seems ever expiring, schisms dominant, the light of Truth dim, its adherents scattered. The cause of Christ is ever in its last agony.” In short, our times are not particularly unique in offering temptations against belief or in trying the souls of Catholics. There will always be scandals. Perhaps there even need to be scandals. as something the Lord allows to purify his elect. "Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. " (Matt. 18:7)
January 8, 2019 at 1:29 pm
Everything with is nice to keep in mind. I did just want to give one correction. The party that said, "they did not make this mess". I believe we are all responsible for making this mess by our lack of parayerspif nothing else and we need to take responsibility for it.
January 9, 2019 at 5:02 pm
True to some degree.
January 8, 2019 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for the article. As a recent covert to Catholicism in 2015, I am soured by what is going on in the church and I am on this journey toward tradition. It's the thing that moved me toward the faith. I went to my first TLM recently even though I was lost with the Roman Missal. I know many faithful who feel like I do and are moving toward the pre-Vatican II faith. It is so hard to find the TLM, the FSSP is over an hour away. So keep praying for us as well.
January 9, 2019 at 1:46 am
I know a family of 12 (10 kids under 15) that travel 75 mins every Sunday for an 8:30am Mass.
Its not ideal and your travel will surely be a cross to bear, but it is one that Christ will certainly appreciate!
If that family of 12 can do it, we all can.
January 8, 2019 at 4:22 pm
Not sure why my comment was deleted. It was in no way offensive or inappropriate. Pat?
Rather, just pointing out how unfair it is to keep saying the "real Catholics" attend TLM. Those at a NO mass are "less good".
How can the Church be both "real and Catholic" (TLM) and a total farce at the same time (NO mass)? Isn't it one or the other?
January 8, 2019 at 10:37 pm
"Rather, just pointing out how unfair it is to keep saying the "real Catholics" attend TLM. Those at a NO mass are "less good". " I didn't say that, I said the opposite of that.
January 8, 2019 at 5:39 pm
This is a manifesto of sorts and every believing Catholic who seeks the salvation of their own self, family and friends, and especially who sees the need for restored true missionary outreach {which is the call of the Church!} to the lost needs to meditate on it.
Well done.
January 9, 2019 at 2:00 am
Well said Patrick. Hold Fast!
January 9, 2019 at 5:26 am
Just brilliant!
January 9, 2019 at 3:11 pm
Yes, we need to keep our heads cold and our hearts burning with love for Christ. Everything pass away but the eternal love of God who always keep his promises.
January 9, 2019 at 8:11 pm
A very good list and hopefully those that need to read it, do so. The majority of the folks at my Chapel are great Catholics, but we also have a few that scorn newcomers and seem to want the Church all to themselves.
My only complaint with the people just waking up, is that some act as though this just happened, while others seem to act as though it is they who cracked the case open. It would be really nice to see credit given where credit is due. Such as to the Holy and saintly Archbishop Lefebrve, the SSPX, the Remnant, John Vennari and Catholic Family News, Michael Davies, and other hero's, Giants of the Catholic Faith never afraid to stand up for the truth. I pray and hope those that are gone are interceding for us up there with the other angels and saints. I certainly think they are.
January 14, 2019 at 4:33 pm
I couldn't agree more. I am a convert to Catholicism precisely into the traditional form back in 2009. All the fighting both historical and today, particularly on the Internet is just silly. Every time I meet a Catholic who prays the creed and means it, I know I'm in the company of any ally not a enemy. Do they cross all the Ts and dot all the Is probably not, but do any of us?
January 16, 2019 at 7:46 pm
Well said Patrick