Wondering about this one a lot lately. A priest once said to me cause I could not in heart and soul agree with him or the ‘teaching’ of the ‘Church’, “either you are a Catholic or you are not. There is no in between.”
Been wondering about this place, what you read, ‘hear’ and recently the views of others on other more ‘traditional’ places about people here, especially priests. That priests say such things about each other is seriously depressing. Shows a wholesome lack of any real maturity – not least spiritually.
People, priests and religious too, good people here who are feeling dejected and depressed. It’s no wonder.
Being away from all of this for a long time I wonder now what it is I imagined I needed to come back to. Been deluding myself lately. There is a lot of hurt that leads to anger, anxiety and depression. What kind of spirituality is that. What kind of ‘truth that sets free’. Talk of love of the Church. What was, is this ‘church’ so loved ? What aspects of it so loved.
I see and read a lot, from the more traditional Catholic, that people who are not happy, don’t like it as it is, should leave. It is their ‘church’ and I don’t feel any great need or desire to take from anyone their wish, need to practise their faith, Catholicism as they believe is best for realising the best in them as human beings. Don’t feel a need to go to another church either. I heard a priest at Mass yesterday waffle about a ‘liberal agenda’. The voting in ROI on children’s rights. He is within his rights to express his opinions and beliefs. I don’t share them. He’s in charge. We are meant to follow his lead if we are to be true to the Church. ‘Practising Catholic’. I can’t understand a mindset that would wish to revert to a spirituality of fear, guilt and shame. If we are always to depend on the spiritual ‘father’ – practise Catholicism, I don’t see how we can grow up, go from milk to solid food. Especially if father’s milk is sour.
I am growing more convinced that those who suggest leaving are right. Giving, perhaps without intent or realisation, ‘good counsel’. When we find no peace – wipe the dust and walk. That’s not meaning to suggest that the others are wrong or meaning any harm or lack of peace. Just that life is not meant to be lived in a state of perpetual tension, conflicted. In anger, dejection, rejection and depression. Truth sets free. Maybe the truth for some is ‘take up your bed and walk.’ Dump the ‘ritual’istic comfort blanket that can smother as well as comfort, and just leave. .
It seems to me that the “Year of Faith” and “New Evangelization” should focus on what Jesus, the Christ, taught us and not be centered on the customs and traditions of Old Testament Judaism. The new charism of spirituality that Jesus announced is joy-centered, hope-focused, and neighbor-dependent. Freedom, enthusiasm for love, and relationship with Jesus as the Christ replace the old ideas of sacrificial offering, rituals, and devotion to the law. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.
The New Evangelization should not focus on Mass attendance numbers, participation in sacramental rituals, and clerical functions and enrollment figures but rather on taking care of the downtrodden, those in poverty, and the uneducated in our midst. Those workers form a Christian community of service configured around the reality of Jesus who lives in their midst through their work. He is not found in ritualistic ceremonies and rote liturgies.
Be creative, free, and joyful if you would seek out the Risen One! As the Jesuit priest, Teilhard de Chardin, wrote ” May the Risen Christ keep me young for God’s greater glory. Young, that is: smiling, optimistic, active, and perceptive.” Time to get out and use the new wineskins!
Wondering about this one a lot lately. A priest once said to me cause I could not in heart and soul agree with him or the ‘teaching’ of the ‘Church’, “either you are a Catholic or you are not. There is no in between.”
Been wondering about this place, what you read, ‘hear’ and recently the views of others on other more ‘traditional’ places about people here, especially priests. That priests say such things about each other is seriously depressing. Shows a wholesome lack of any real maturity – not least spiritually.
People, priests and religious too, good people here who are feeling dejected and depressed. It’s no wonder.
Being away from all of this for a long time I wonder now what it is I imagined I needed to come back to. Been deluding myself lately. There is a lot of hurt that leads to anger, anxiety and depression. What kind of spirituality is that. What kind of ‘truth that sets free’. Talk of love of the Church. What was, is this ‘church’ so loved ? What aspects of it so loved.
I see and read a lot, from the more traditional Catholic, that people who are not happy, don’t like it as it is, should leave. It is their ‘church’ and I don’t feel any great need or desire to take from anyone their wish, need to practise their faith, Catholicism as they believe is best for realising the best in them as human beings. Don’t feel a need to go to another church either. I heard a priest at Mass yesterday waffle about a ‘liberal agenda’. The voting in ROI on children’s rights. He is within his rights to express his opinions and beliefs. I don’t share them. He’s in charge. We are meant to follow his lead if we are to be true to the Church. ‘Practising Catholic’. I can’t understand a mindset that would wish to revert to a spirituality of fear, guilt and shame. If we are always to depend on the spiritual ‘father’ – practise Catholicism, I don’t see how we can grow up, go from milk to solid food. Especially if father’s milk is sour.
I am growing more convinced that those who suggest leaving are right. Giving, perhaps without intent or realisation, ‘good counsel’. When we find no peace – wipe the dust and walk. That’s not meaning to suggest that the others are wrong or meaning any harm or lack of peace. Just that life is not meant to be lived in a state of perpetual tension, conflicted. In anger, dejection, rejection and depression. Truth sets free. Maybe the truth for some is ‘take up your bed and walk.’ Dump the ‘ritual’istic comfort blanket that can smother as well as comfort, and just leave. .
It seems to me that the “Year of Faith” and “New Evangelization” should focus on what Jesus, the Christ, taught us and not be centered on the customs and traditions of Old Testament Judaism. The new charism of spirituality that Jesus announced is joy-centered, hope-focused, and neighbor-dependent. Freedom, enthusiasm for love, and relationship with Jesus as the Christ replace the old ideas of sacrificial offering, rituals, and devotion to the law. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.
The New Evangelization should not focus on Mass attendance numbers, participation in sacramental rituals, and clerical functions and enrollment figures but rather on taking care of the downtrodden, those in poverty, and the uneducated in our midst. Those workers form a Christian community of service configured around the reality of Jesus who lives in their midst through their work. He is not found in ritualistic ceremonies and rote liturgies.
Be creative, free, and joyful if you would seek out the Risen One! As the Jesuit priest, Teilhard de Chardin, wrote ” May the Risen Christ keep me young for God’s greater glory. Young, that is: smiling, optimistic, active, and perceptive.” Time to get out and use the new wineskins!