Do you have hope for the Church?

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have you not heard we win in the end, Glory be to God.
 
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I’ve read the book, spoiler warning Christ triumphs in the end.
 
I pray. If I feel discouraged (which is often) I pray even more and remind myself that (1) God hears and answers my prayers (maybe not when or how I want or expect) (2) the whole message of the Bible contains hope and (3) when I get that gentle caress from heaven (something unexpected - often small but encouraging), I give thanks.

If discouraging signs, sadden, upset, or discourage me, then if it causes me to pray harder and/or more often, then the discouraging signs are a blessing (I know that seems a bit odd or peculiar but that is with me). Plus it means I have to prayer harder and put more effort into the ministries I have been called to serve in - I can’t force or make children grow in faith, but I would rather be the best fertilizer I can be, than be weedkiller (which kills every plant).
 
At any point in time in Christian history, how many were truly faithful? Jesus said ‘when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’ so it is prophetic. Only a few faithful sustain the world.
 
You do well. Strong faith and trust in God. Prayer works miracles.
 
yes, I do, there are many yong people on fire for their faith still. and Jesus promised to protect his church, and everything that is happening was predicted to happen anyways, God knows what he is doing, that I am sure of, even if we don’t always know the reasons or understand why certain things happen
 
Personally, I have a feeling that the pendulum will start to swing back in my lifetime. I believe that people will become disillusioned with the ideologies of the world, some of which are starting to parody themselves, and look to the Church as one of last remaining bastions of common sense.
What I am worried about is how bad things will have to get before then, both for the Church and in the political climate. I’m always afraid that people will get killed for not upholding the status quo before we get there.
 
I’ve just been to Mass. Well attended, as usual. We had a visiting priest, who gave an excellent homily and said a very reverent and beautiful Mass. He told us at the end that it was his first time in this particular sanctuary, but that he was not alone, and pointed out the brand new altar server, Harry, who has also just made his first communion these past couple of weeks. He said to Harry, “Was it scary?” A small nod. “Was it good?” A big nod and a big smile. “You just wait 'til you’re a priest!” 😍

So yes, I have hope. We have good priests, we are learning to be bold in praying for and encouraging new priests, and the gates of hell with not prevail. Pray, make sacrifices and be faithful to the Sacraments.
 
Actually this is a great time to be Catholic. Our Lady said the final battle will be an attack on the family. We are in a battle and should be honored.
 
I have hope in the new evangelization. I see it bearing so much fruit. What a time to be alive! God raises up the saints we need for these times. You don’t have to look far.
 
In Scripture, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will never leave the Church.

Part of the issue, we can start to believe that faith leaves room for grey areas.

Knowing what we are told and shown, helps: faith, hope and love.
 
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I always keep this promise uppermost in my mind. Our Lord promised this, and therefore I know the Church will be safe from error, invasion and destruction.
 
Jesus promised the Church would not fall, so it won’t. I fear for individual souls, and have pity on those who fall away, but I have no fear at all for the Church herself.
 
Hi. Some of the the struggles are the same, some along the same lines, while some differ due to the times - the types of struggle will in part also depend on whereabouts in the world one lives.
 
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Of course. Jesus says He will be with us until the end so that’s all there is too it. If you look at the church history some of that stuff right in the beginning is terrifying, so these times may be bad but I dont think they top those times. The church has survived all that which serves to tell me only one thing, no ways would it have done so without God so it can survive anything until God says time is up. I find that comforting, that I am not in control and even these fancy politicians aren’t in control. Our God is, what a relief.
 
RCIAGraduate said:
Especially in light of demographic trends, particularly in the Western World. If I may ask, how do you deal with such discouraging signs?
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Consider this example. Then ask yourself, what time in history would I prefer to live in.

Bishop Ignatius of Antioch Syria, a direct disciple of St John the apostle, was ordained Bishop by the apostles ~68 a.d. He was arrested ~107 a.d. for being Catholic and in particular a Catholic bishop. He was being sent to Rome to be thrown to the lions in the Coliseum. Have you ever gone to the zoo and witnessed lions being fed? I have. In the lion house, which is all cement, (no acoustics to absorb sound). The cages surround the inside of the building which was round… like the coliseum. The crowd is in the middle surrounded by hungry lions who KNOW it’s time to be fed.

As the big cats are waiting, one starts to growl. Then another and another and another. Then they start to roar. It’s low and loud. And all of them roaring, it vibrates every part of you as you look squarely at them and they look squarely at you.

Ignatius writes this in his letter to the Church of Rome.

"I shall willingly die for God, unless you hinder me. I beseech of you not to show an unseasonable good-will towards me. Allow me to become food for the wild beasts, through whose instrumentality it will be granted me to attain to God. I am the wheat of God, and let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ… "[ch 4]

Epistle to the Church of Rome

Put yourself in his spot. Try to imagine stepping into the coliseum, hearing all the noise, and also knowing cats don’t necessarily kill their prey quickly.

This kind of persecution of the Church lasted for another 200+ years after this. But quite frankly, persecution of the Church over history, has never stopped. But obviously there are times that don’t compare to certain times in history
 
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More than hope, I know that the Church will be fine, in fact it’s fine right now. We are guaranteed an infallible Pope, and we are guaranteed that hell will not prevail against the Church. Read Matthew 16 about this.
 
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