AmericanPapist Comments
Thomas,
Spot on.
One note, you wrote -
"I'm not saying there's a silent majority here, I'm saying there's a very vocal minority. But passionate minorities change culture too, and often, sooner. And my thousands of young readers don't waste time."
Creative Minorities!
Some years back, then Cardinal Ratzinger took up historian Arnold Toynbee’s theory of historical change, that a "creative minority" of men and women, convinced of the truths of the faith, can radically transform society.
You are part of the Creative Minority. Welcome to the club ;-)
thanks patrick, i've added your helpful adjective to the phrase. im also keeping "passionate" because i think it captures the specifically "youthful" contribution, or should.
Dear Thomas,
I am writing from far away. I'm a Catholic lady from the DRC, living in Kenya, and now finishing a PhD in Spain, as I hope to go back soon to Africa. I've come accross your blog while looking for news about the Holy Father's trip to your great country. I had just red the article on the generation GAP and was wishing a young American could respond to it, and waow, you did and so well. Congratulations, keep up the good spirit, you are so right passionate and creative minorities do change things. I will pray a lot for your work and, of course, for the Pope´s visit.
Everytime I have dealings with seminarians these days (and there are more to be dealt with these days then there have ever been in my 3 decades on earth!) I am always amazed at how very orthodox and enthusiastic they are.
The future is bright, and the young folks out there are going to be the ones to close the gap themselves.
Will someone please let Richard McBrien know all this is happening. On second thought, don't let him know--he's in the dark and he'll always be in the dark. Be a good idea, however, to let your diocesan newspaper know. (PS: if McBrien's column runs in your diocesan paper, call for its removal.) Ad multos annos, BXVI!
Saturday, we took our sons to a Canadian seminary to serve a sung Missa Cantata in the extraordinary form at the seminary chapel. Faculty, seminarians and priests were all enthusiastic. They even all knelt to receive Holy Communion! Afterwards they were all very positive and much impressed. In fact one of the priests came and asked the lowly altar servers about how many times the priest should be incensed. He said their was a debate going on among them about this! This was a seminary where Kool-Aid and some other equally illicit form of bread was often used to confect the Sacrament, as well as clown Masses. Even the bastions of liberalism are experiencing breaches in their fortifications.
Thank you Thomas for making it so easy for us to keep up with the Holy Father, his trip to the U.S. and for keeping our faith at the top of our screens!
The most insightful comment of the week:
"the men coming into the priesthood are attracted to orthodoxy and tradition; and the same applies to catholic youth who stay within the Church. In other words, if you don't think being Catholic is important, you aren't very likely to stay. If you do stay, especially in today's hostile climate, it's a good bet you believe in what she teaches and strive to live it."
What a positive outlook for the future of the Church.
I like the comment about a flock "wresting with what it means to be Catholic." Come again? Literate Catholics already know what it means to be Catholic. What dissident idiot wrote this?
I am one of those fired up/orthodox Catholics entering seminary to be a priest. I loved your post, but I almost think its best to let them be shocked these next 20 years at what happens within the Church. Our Church should be smaller, but way more holy, much like the early Church.
I agree with you about the youth in general as well. Many of the people in their 20s who actually attend Mass at my Church also pray a daily rosary, believe in chastity, and believe in the teaching authority of the Church. In fact we annoy the heck out of some of the parishoners and staff who have been their forever and have been more left-leaning.
You're so right on, Thomas!
And so are you Thomas Howes!
Most of the young Catholics I know are faithful. The unfaithful, mostly don't bother to remain Catholics in more than name only, if that.
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