They Aren't Coming...

Photo: 'Saint Sebastian' - Gerrit van Honthorst

Mass was hard for me today. There was not traditional Corpus Christi hymns or chants. There were improper liturgical colors used. There was a general lack of reverence for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. But worst of all there was a heretical homily that denied the True Presence repeatedly and attempted to explain the "Mystery of the Eucharist" as a symbol of community and unity. It was hard.

What makes things worse is that this wasn't some anomoly or surprise. This is common practice. This is regular. This is our experience. Some suggested that we write the Archbishop, others suggested that we form some sort of group to interface with the parish, some suggested that we seek help from outside the parish... but they aren't coming...

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The Battle that wages...

This battle wages not just within our parish but across the world. The Catholic Church is under attack, and it is under attack from within. The Smoke of Satan has wafted into the sacred halls of our churches and homes and clouds and deceives the minds of those we meet and greet every day. No one is coming to save us, so we must prepare ourselves for battle and strategically engage the enemy only in manners in which we can assure victory.

This means for many of us, looking ourselves in the mirror and asking and answering hard questions about ourselves. This means studying and learning our faith - not to pass some test but so that we can go out and actively live the faith of the Catholic Church - to live as Christ. I will not let the wickedness and snares of the Devil keep me down, I will not be defeated, and I will not succumb to complacency. Our resolve is tested in times of deep despair and destruction - it is how we rise above that shows our commitment to our cause. It is how we face adversity that shows our love for that which we desire, in this case Christ and his bride - The Church.


So I will try to avoid complaining on my blog about things like this. Instead, I will use these instances of difficulty as catalysts for Catechesis. I will attempt to use my situation for good - I will try to inspire others to be better Catholics. This won't be by anything I do or create, but by attempting to follow the instruction of Christ and the Church. If I succeed, I will succeed in becoming the man I have been called to be, and through that effort others will see the truth of Christ in me, and I will become a conduit for truth and love - thereby making them better, not because of me but because of God.

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It is light, that darkness most fears

For those that despair because they aren't coming... neither to save us, help us, or fix the brokenness; worry not. You see, it is light that darkness most fears. We, with the help of our Guardian angels, the intercession of the Saints, and through the devotion to our Blessed Mother will receive the light and truth of Christ - and HE will stamp out the darkness of despair deceit. So let us rise up an walk in truth and light. We must make hard choices and choose to live in the truth of God and His Church. We must reject sin, temptation and the lures of Satan. We must cast off the world and its hedonistic pleasures and put on the cloak of Christ and His love and truth.

They aren't coming... but we are, and we bring a fiery sword of truth and justice. We will be a force to be reckoned with... and we will be victorious!

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