Does anybody else feel that tough times are truly ahead?

[chero23]

I do tend to agree with those who have posted and said that times will always be tough. I mean could you have imagined living back at the turn of the 20th century. Wars were going worldwide, then World War 1 happened killed millions. The Russian Revolution occurred which brought atheism, abortion was almost mandatory, then when Stalin took over he had a lot of his own people killed. Back here in the US the great depression ocurred, then the bloody Spanish Civil War which was a training ground and opening scene for World War 2.

Or how bout in Europe when the Black Plague hit, didn’t more than half of the population died bc of the Plague?

Times will always be though, but remember what Jesus said to us, prayer is a strong weapon. If we can all say at least a rosary, or Chaplet of Divine Mercy or Stations of the Cross a day, if we all at least make that effort to say one of those prayers once a day, I believe God will help us.

 

[albertd]

chero 23,amen!

 

[Diana_Catherine]

That’s GREAT, Schatsl that you reconize the warfare our soul battles at age 15. Someone like you can make a difference for the good in the world. Always put God 1st and do everything for the honor and glory to God! God bless!

 

[VirtusTransitus]

The very darkness in American culture (and modernism everywhere) is what drove me back to the church like moth to the light.

Progress assumes a positive direction. Progressives mistake movement for progress. Our culture is moving without direction - randomly guided by the whims of popular opinion, not morality. Not true charity.

I’m just thankful I made it back to the light.

 

[mymamamary]

**You know, when I read an article like this, I can’t help but take the rose colored glasses off and say that humanity is on a downward spiral:

cnn.com/2012/10/25/us/new-york-officer-cannibalism

Sure cannibalism has always existed, however, why is cannibalism becoming the new norm? Perhaps when we sacrifice our Young on the Altars of “Choice”, “Convenience” and “Pleasure”, then I think that we lose the respect for every other kind of life out there. We are no better than the Aztecs. We are disgusted by what they did, but really, How much more different are we? We don’t even let the Child be born before destroying Him/Her in the Womb of His/Her Mother, the Place that should be the safest, is now the most dangerous. **

**Yes, Society is on a highway to hell. As my old Spiritual Director said: “This is an age of great sinners, and great Saints”. Which are you gonna be? **

 

[mymamamary]

The very darkness in American culture (and modernism everywhere) is what drove me back to the church like moth to the light.

Progress assumes a positive direction. Progressives mistake movement for progress. Our culture is moving without direction - randomly guided by the whims of popular opinion, not morality. Not true charity.

I’m just thankful I made it back to the light.

**Amen. You raised a great point. Humanity says that it is progress, however the question becomes, in progress for what? What is the ultimate goal of humanity? This is why atheism gives me a logical =/= disconnect. I just can’t fathom on how people could continue towing logic (Butchering logic is what they are really doing) with this kind of thinking. I think, think and think, then when I get to the tenets of Atheism and the whole sphere of “moving forward” I can’t fathom it. Logic cannot cross the gap of the two.

I hate seeing Pappa Benedict go. He was such a strong voice against the faulty notion of Relativism. I can’t believe how people can claim to follow a self-refuting theory. I really can’t. **

 

[Diana_Catherine]

The very darkness in American culture (and modernism everywhere) is what drove me back to the church like moth to the light.

Progress assumes a positive direction. Progressives mistake movement for progress. Our culture is moving without direction - randomly guided by the whims of popular opinion, not morality. Not true charity.

I’m just thankful I made it back to the light.

Welcome back. I returned back several years ago.

I agree with your statement. I recently read where Matthew Kelly said the three destructive mentalities today are:

Individualism – The ultimate concern for self. “What’s in it for me?”
Hedonism – Placing pleasure as the ultimate goal and aim of life. “If it feels good, do it!”
Minimalism – Striving to exert the minimum effort and receive the maximum reward. "What is the least I can do…

This is the direction our society is headed. This is the attitudes and as you said it is not charitable and as the Church fights this and teaches and continues to follow the truth times will get harder. You can already see it happening.

 

[mymamamary]

Welcome back. I returned back several years ago.

I agree with your statement. I recently read where Matthew Kelly said the three destructive mentalities today are:

Individualism – The ultimate concern for self. “What’s in it for me?”
Hedonism – Placing pleasure as the ultimate goal and aim of life. “If it feels good, do it!”
Minimalism – Striving to exert the minimum effort and receive the maximum reward. "What is the least I can do…

This is the direction our society is headed. This is the attitudes and as you said it is not charitable and as the Church fights this and teaches and continues to follow the truth times will get harder. You can already see it happening.

Yes, Holy Mother Church is drawing the lines on the battle-field. Hence the reason people love the Church. They know that the values of the Church are not the values that modern culture shares, yet they love Her values all the more because of this.

 

[atheistgirl]

Yes, Society is on a highway to hell.

Most religious commentators I’ve read have a high degree of hope infused into their writings.

They fundamentally like people, and society.

For someone considering the priesthood, whose sole purpose as I understand it is to lead people to God, and thus heaven, and administer the sacraments, I have to say I find your persistent and consistent negativity quite surprising.

Society is not on it’s way to hell.

Must people, most of the time, in most places, are fundamentally good and contribute positively to the society they form.

Sarah x

 

[ephesians4]

Most religious commentators I’ve read have a high degree of hope infused into their writings.

They fundamentally like people, and society.

For someone considering the priesthood, whose sole purpose as I understand it is to lead people to God, and thus heaven, and administer the sacraments, I have to say I find your persistent and consistent negativity quite surprising.

The perception that there are lots of people whose lives are given over to licentiousness and wickedness is not only quite right, the desire to get in there on the front line, lead them out of their problems is as positive and hopeful as you can get.

A person is not being negative if in seeing a problem they also have a constructive and kind solution in mind that they would personally take part in implementing.

 

[atheistgirl]

The perception that there are lots of people whose lives are given over to licentiousness and wickedness is not only quite right,

I disagree - it’s not quite right.

A person is not being negative if in seeing a problem they also have a constructive and kind solution in mind that they would personally take part in implementing.

I’ve not read anything constructive, or for that matter, kind, in terms of solutions from MMM posts. Most posts lately have been full of negativity and histrionics.

Sarah x

 

[wxornot]

I disagree - it’s not quite right.

I’ve not read anything constructive, or for that matter, kind, in terms of solutions from MMM posts. Most posts lately have been full of negativity and histrionics.

Sarah x

Negativity is sometimes almost comfort for some people. When people today say that the end is near or we’re heading down the road to hell…you’ve got to wonder what people thought during the plagues. After all…a third of the western world died right before their eyes and they had no idea why.

 

[ephesians4]

ephesians4;10419077:

The perception that there are lots of people whose lives are given over to licentiousness and wickedness is not only quite right, the desire to get in there on the front line, lead them out of their problems is as positive and hopeful as you can get.

I disagree - it’s not quite right.

I think that’s quite sad, really. Perhaps you don’t know what those words mean, or are oblivious to human nature or the teachings of the church.

It should at least, if you are discussing stuff in good faith, be obvious why this can be seen to be the case in religious terms.

the desire to get in there on the front line, lead them out of their problems is as positive and hopeful as you can get.

A person is not being negative if in seeing a problem they also have a constructive and kind solution in mind that they would personally take part in implementing.
atheistgirl;10419136:

I’ve not read anything constructive, or for that matter, kind, in terms of solutions from MMM posts. Most posts lately have been full of negativity and histrionics.

Except you drew reference specifically to the poster’s interest in the clergy, and I was pointing out that far from being negative, that’s rather constructive and kind - which is obvious if you read/quote the whole comment.

 

[atheistgirl]

Perhaps you don’t know what those words mean,

I do.

or are oblivious to human nature

I’m very in tune with human nature.

or the teachings of the church.

I’m quite well aware of Catholic Church teachings after two years here.

It should at least, if you are discussing stuff in good faith, be obvious why this can be seen to be the case in religious terms.

There was a broad sweeping hysterical statement made society is going to hell.

It’s not.

From a religious point of view, perhaps some think so, but as I said, I’ve read a lot of religious blogs that don’t share that depressing view and have a much more positive and upbeat assessment of modern society.

And they’re quite right.

Except you drew reference specifically to the poster’s interest in the clergy, and I was pointing out that far from being negative, that’s rather constructive and kind - which is obvious if you read/quote the whole comment.

Being ‘‘interested’’ in the priesthood is neither kind nor constructive.

It’s just an interest.

I’m interested in medicine.

That doesn’t make me kind or constructive.

Now, if I graduated med school and practiced medicine in an underdeveloped country as a volunteer with a charity that would be different.

But all the medical and nursing books in my library don’t make me a kind or constructive individual.

It’s what I ‘‘do’’ that matters.

Sarah x

 

[youkokun]

I’ll be praying for the next Pope to pick up where Benedict XVI left off: someone with a passion for defending the faith, guarding against modernism and relativism. Speaking as a 20 year old, I was attracted to Catholicism because I saw unabashed truth. It needs to be proclaimed, not compromised. We’ve got to pray and support our doctrine through our lives! God make haste to save (help? srry forgot) me!

 

[ephesians4]

**

 

[Diana_Catherine]

I’ll be praying for the next Pope to pick up where Benedict XVI left off: someone with a passion for defending the faith, guarding against modernism and relativism. Speaking as a 20 year old, I was attracted to Catholicism because I saw unabashed truth. It needs to be proclaimed, not compromised. We’ve got to pray and support our doctrine through our lives! God make haste to save (help? srry forgot) me!

 

[mymamamary]

I disagree - it’s not quite right.

I’ve not read anything constructive, or for that matter, kind, in terms of solutions from MMM posts. Most posts lately have been full of negativity and histrionics.

Sarah x

What can a 17 year old, with no insurance, and no job do constructively? What can a 17 year old say that I haven’t said in High School?, with charity and patience at that. What Can I do when even saying “I believe homosexuality is wrong” can be considered hateful? I would try to fix the problem if I had the means. A mechanic who wants to assemble a car, as much as he desires to assemble one, if He doesn’t have wrenches, sockets, ratchets etc., then he cannot put the car together. Thats like me. I don’t have the means (yet) to do anything. I still have mid Grade 12 to get through, what else can I do? I’m exasperated enough already due to other concerns, what else? I’m at the point of desperation at most times, what else can I do?? If I say something, either no one listens, or they take it the wrong way. I’m always getting bashed, but in reality, I’m very gentle and soft spoken in school. I’m not “preachy” by any means, although I do share some of my concerns from time to time, yet they fall on deaf ears. What else can I do??

 

[mymamamary]

I do.

I’m very in tune with human nature.

I’m quite well aware of Catholic Church teachings after two years here.

There was a broad sweeping hysterical statement made society is going to hell.

It’s not.

From a religious point of view, perhaps some think so, but as I said, I’ve read a lot of religious blogs that don’t share that depressing view and have a much more positive and upbeat assessment of modern society.

And they’re quite right.

Being ‘‘interested’’ in the priesthood is neither kind nor constructive.

It’s just an interest.

I’m interested in medicine.

That doesn’t make me kind or constructive.

Now, if I graduated med school and practiced medicine in an underdeveloped country as a volunteer with a charity that would be different.

But all the medical and nursing books in my library don’t make me a kind or constructive individual.

It’s what I ‘‘do’’ that matters.

Sarah x

**Now, I need some pragmatical evidence that society is bettering itself. People are content to say that we are improving, Really? Is that so? cnn.com/2013/02/27/us/new-york-officer-cannibalism

Is this a sign of a better society? or when a maniac rips through a school killing 26 5 year olds and 1 adult, and then kills himself? If you can provide me evidence that we are getting better as a society, then I will believe You.

usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/13/dumb-and-dumber-study-says-humans-are-slowly-losing-their-smarts

I’m not just interested in the Priesthood, I want to be a Priest. However, What I can “Do” at this time is limited. I haven’t even graduated yet!! How on earth could I do anything about it now???

Yes, I’m defensive, touchy, exasperated and frusturated. Sure we’ve developed medically, scientifically and technologically, yet that is no guarantee of a kind heart. How many people still care about each other? Enviromental laws are getting stricter and stricter, yet humans are being slaughtered via abortion every day. We protect the animals (Which we need to do), yet disregard our fellow human beings. Due to the increase of techonology, my generation is become “dumb”, and its not me thats saying it. Its our teachers. My generation is for the MOST part ignorant of what is going on. Notice the keyword “MOST”. The Human Heart has become cold to the need of its fellow man. In the middle east, Women are still seen as objects, likewise in the west with pornography. Sure, it may not sound like wrong to you, but porn has turned women into objects. A man who watches porn, starts to see the women walking on the street as objects as well. The morally relativistic mindset of the culture will be its undoing. Moral relativism isn’t logical and it doesn’t work. **

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Maybe what you need to do is spend more time in silence, being still in the presence of God instead of perusing the Internet looking for evil in the world.

Are there no families around who would appreciate a young man’s help with chores or baby-sitting or some other task?

Does your community have a nursing home or some other type of “elder-care” community? Many elderly people are very socially isolated and would love to have a young person interested in hearing their story.

You ask what you can do, there is lots you can do, and it starts with being present, really present, to the people in your life, right now!

We are all called to become that Whom we receive. We are the working hands of Christ in the here & now.

Remember the words of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta-
“We can do no great things, only small things with great love”

Now, I need some pragmatical evidence that society is bettering itself. People are content to say that we are improving, Really? Is that so? cnn.com/2013/02/27/us/new-york-officer-cannibalism

Is this a sign of a better society? or when a maniac rips through a school killing 26 5 year olds and 1 adult, and then kills himself? If you can provide me evidence that we are getting better as a society, then I will believe You.

usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/13/dumb-and-dumber-study-says-humans-are-slowly-losing-their-smarts

I’m not just interested in the Priesthood, I want to be a Priest. However, What I can “Do” at this time is limited. I haven’t even graduated yet!! How on earth could I do anything about it now???

Yes, I’m defensive, touchy, exasperated and frusturated.