What's Bringing So Many Catholics Home? (Part 1) [Catholic Caucus]

Zenit.org ^ | May 4, 2010 | Andrea Kirk Assaf

[Salvation]

**the stability that an institutional, liturgical church offers. **

A lot of people like this a lot.

And then the opposite side of the coin that is said often by Protestants is that it’s only empty ritual.

[Salvation]

I attend a Novus Ordo Mass and your analysis does not work in my parish.

Although I coordinate the EMHC for Daily Mass — I always try to get one or two men in there with Father.

I think it’s a point of respect and tradition on my part. Sometimes the men aren’t there and we have to put in women. I don’t see that as being disrespectful to men.

[Leoni]

Not having women "all over the sanctuary" is one thing. How about all the others:

Your parish is not "feelings oriented (oriented towards women, effeminate), insipid sermons written for children, and people hugging and kissing strangers during kiss of peace", and it does focus on :

"Teaching hard truths, challenging men to LIVE the Faith,inspire in men fear of God, teach it's members that contraceptives are a mortal sin of the worst order, instruct families not to watch Desperate Housewives and such, teach the parrishioners to come to mass to save their soul from eternal perdition, go to mass to love, honor and serve God"?

Can a woman know if something is too feelings oriented? EXAMPLE: Holding hands, or holding ones arm out during the Our Father is feelings oriented, moreover, it's Protestant feelings oriented and unmanly.

[AnAmericanMother]

One of the problems is that it's a variation on Gresham's Law (bad money drives out good) -- women drive out men.

It's not that women are bad (hey, I are one), but the sort of personality many women evince in a service situation tends to drive men away. Men want serious, manly, coordinated work that they can call their own. Women tend to be a bit noisy and fluttery, not as solemn in their execution of their duties, and they DO boss the men around. Men hate that, and rather than tell the women to hush they just leave.

Historically we saw this happen in teaching. In the church, it's happened with altar servers -- if you don't take elaborate precautions, as our parish did, to keep the boys in. We still have a few male EMHCs, but they are few and far between and mostly the husbands of women who are also EMHCs.

But men are not reluctant to serve -- we have plenty of ushers, and we actually have more men than women in the choir. Men just don't work well in double harness with women. They need their own niche to work in the style that they are comfortable with.

[r9etb]

And then the opposite side of the coin that is said often by Protestants is that it’s only empty ritual.

True ... but that's not the fault of the liturgy.

[Chickensoup]

I will tell you what isnt bringing this Catholic home. Spent a week at a silent retreat. When leaving one of the nuns was talking about her upcoming celebration in Rome. She was going to Rome to celebrate with her “companion.” When queried further she became coy. Then I looked at her hands. Many orders have the women wearing a plain wedding band on the third finger of their left hands as a indication that they were pledged to Christ. She had the band on the third finger of her right had. Many lesbians do that.

I am done.

[AnAmericanMother]

Don't give up. Those kooky sisters (who were allowed to run wild by heterodox bishops) are dying off. Their orders are dying too.

But the orthodox, faithful orders of sisters are booming. BXVI is replacing the bishops who caused the trouble in the first place. Young priests are extremely orthodox and faithful.

Already we are seeing a tremendous change. Don't give up just as things are turning around.

[melsec]

Very nice to watch - it certainly pushed a lot of emotional and spiritual buttons. Found myself a bit emotional at the part where the little girl is making her first communion. Brought back memories of my own! Is that the Holy Spirit or just a longing for a simpler time or both?

I suppose I can only answer those questions for myself but here, at least, I can ask them out loud.

Blessings

Mel

[melsec]

“Already we are seeing a tremendous change. Don’t give up just as things are turning around.”

You are so right - St. Paul tells us to run the race - that means keep going till the end!

Mel

[Bigg Red]

I watched the video on the home page. I was more interested in reading the text. Quite a promising movement. God bless this fellow.

I have members of my family that I would love to see come back to the faith. Prayers continue.

[annalex]

Thank you fro your analysis. This is a similar composition devoted entirely to St. Denis. You can see how possibly it influenced the Flemish master's work.

Calvary and the Martyrdom of St Denis

Jean Malouel, completed by Bellechose

1416
Panel transferred to canvas, 161 x 210 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris

Source

[Salvation]

On FR now.

What's Bringing So Many Catholics Home? (Part 2) [Catholic Caucus]