In every thread where someone posts a concern regarding morality of purity, some people always pop up and say ‘Catholics aren’t called to be puritans’. Frankly, I find it offensive. You definitely aren’t speaking for all Catholics. I’m a big believer of the teachings of St Alphonsus and I wonder what he’d say to that! :knight2:
What do you think?
Dear Rocks_91,
Cordial greetings and a very good day. Thankyou for bringing this important and very relevant topic to our notice.
Unfortunately, dear friend, the call to personal sanctity and separation from the godless world does have a tendency to be equated with Puritanism by many contemporary Catholics. Puritanism seems to elicit some quite derisory and frivolous remarks, which is jolly hard to fathom given that Catholicism with its great ascetic tradition has much in common with Puritanism. Thus both are concerned with living a godly and righteous life, which includes abstaining “from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (I Pet. 2: 11). Moreover, along with the Puritans, Catholicism would acknowledge that separation from the godless world is a requirement involved in the call to holiness, which is a call to
all Catholics and not just for a few thoroughgoing ultra spiritual types - “The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes” (
Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 20), which obviously cannot be acheived if there is worldly conformity.
What, I think, is important to grasp, dear friend, is that much of the antagonism levelled against 'Puritanism is really more about a refusal to face up to the call to personal sanctity and separation from the godless world. This is the elephant in the room and I firmly believe, given the Laodicean times in which our lot is sadly cast, that there needs to be more rational and less flippant discussion on this very serious topic. However, many cultural Catholics have adopted a hand in hand with the world type of religious practice which is desirous to cling on to as much worldly pleasure as is possible. This is a very comfortable, less rigorous, approach to religion but sadly makes little or no demand upon one in terms of the earnest pursuit of holiness. Of course our religion was never intended to make us melancholic and there is certainly a place for innocent merriment and
wholesome leisure activities, for God hath given us all things richly to enjoy in moderation. However, our chief concern should be focusing our minds upon more nobler things that will be conducive to fostering holiness, not making us more earthbound in our outlook (cf. Phillip. 4: 8). As Catholics we should not dote upon worldly pleasures and pursuits (some should be avoided altogether), but rather growth in holiness, depth in prayer, giving to the poor and seeking a more intimate communion with Christ, ought to be the aims which fill our horizon. Does not St. Paul exhort us thus: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3: 1-3)?
Historically, both Catholics and Puritans have recognized the necessity of avoiding some forms of worldly self-indulgence that simply do not comport with the pursuit of holiness. However, this did not and does not automatically mean embracing the Manichean idea that the world of matter,physical life and sensory pleasure is valueless or, indeed, evil. Neither did it automatically mean adopting negativity towards *all *literature, the arts and all producing and enjoying of beauty. This is, unfortunately, a knee-jerk reaction from either earthbound cultural Catholics, or converts to the Church from a Reformed Evangelicalism, where the Puritan vision of the Christian life remains highly influential. The fact is that the image of Puritanism as held by many modern Catholics has much disfuguring dirt upon it that needs to be scraped off. Many informed men now freely admit that your typical Puritan was not some fierce joyless prigg and social extremist, but rather a sober and self-denying cultured citizen. However, the sterotypical image that the Puritans were comic and pathetic in equal degree, being naive and superstistious, overscrupulous, majoring on minors and an unhealthy world-denying, dies jolly hard. If it be said by way of response that they were Protestants separated from Holy Mother Church theologically, I would heartily concur. Nevertheless, it does not follow that they have got absolutely nothing whatsoever to teach Catholics about personal sanctity and separation from the godless world. They, like the Catholic Saints, were devout and earnest men who were concerned with persevering unto the end, zealous to confirm their call and election (cf. II Pet. 1: 10,11). Correctly realizing that this mortal life was a state of probation, their chief pre-occupation was not pleasure seeking but the godly pursuit of holiness, so as to prepare themselves for Heaven and the enjoyment of the beatific vision of God in Christ. Given the ease and luxury with which Western Catholics are surrounded, surely the Puritans exemplify holy living and in
this respect at least are worthy of emulation?
God bless and hope that is some food for thought, dear friend.
Warmest good wishes,
Portrait
Pax
)