Does anyone truly believe anymore?

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I’ve been struggling with this for a few weeks now. I feel like my faith is being affected by it. I try to focus on other things, but my mind is always dragged back to this.

A brief glance over the news forums reveals a lot:
  • Catholic hospital to allow transgender surgery after being sued
  • 7 more deadly sins???
  • 9-Mar-08 - Little Rock Diocese Retracts Criticism of Komen Fundraiser
It seems that time and time again The Church stands up for something, and we cheer, and think finally it’s going to come out alright, and then she rolls over after a little bit of pressure. Or that the heirarchy is spending time on frivilous matters like that absurd “Ten Commandments for Drivers” that came out a while back, or adding 7 new sins that were already covered in the orginial 7 Deady Sins.

It seems that the mass is in shambles, nobody thinks the aesthetics matter, we’re cosntantly bending over backwards to please heretics, schismatics, pagans, protestants, and a bunch of other groups who’s opinions and beliefs don’t matter.

All of this has me asking “Does anyone really believe anymore?” Does the heirarchy? Does the Laity? I’m not trying to be judgemental, I’m trying to be honest, and believe me I’m including myself in these statements. I wonder if I believe. Do I really think Christ is up there? Can Mary really hear me? If so why does all of this keep happening?

Where’s the beauty and piety that so seemed to drive the Church before? The great reigning question seems to be “How much can I get away with?” rather than “How much can I do for Him?” If priests still believe why are they not offering Masses that bring out every possible bit of glory for God? Why do they not preach on the evils of contraception, and abortion, the reality of Hell and the need for confession?

I think I just need to hear some testimonies that people still believe, and that the Church still exists.
 
I’m not familiar about the others, but the “7 new sins” article is not what it sounds like. It is just the Church acknowledging as sin more modern behaviors, like deliberately committing new forms of pollution.

I have read an awful lot of articles lately that have misrepresented the Church. I think the one about Pope Benedict vindicating Luther had to be the most far-off.
 
Sure, there are many who are devout catholics. You’ll find them at weekday Mass, in the third orders, in the Curia, and elsewhere.

This world is a filthy world and always has been. Those who recognize that, have no problem believing Satan is the problem and Christ is the answer.
 
You need to distinguish between the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ and the “the Church” as the insitutional organization which consists of both good and bad people.

Take an active role in providing yourself with positive aspects of the Church and a good understanding of the crisis we are in.

Books:

G.K. Chesterton--chesterton.org (pick a book!)

Bishop Sheen, --Peace of the Soul, Rock that fell from Eternity, Seven Capital Sins.

How the Catholic Church built Western Civilization by Thomas Woods,

Triumph: The Power and Glory of the Roman Catholic Church,

Video:

Passion of the Christ: Definitive edition with commentary by Gerry Matatics, Mel Gibson, Fr. John Bartunek.

Bishop Sheen- Live is worth living, Immemorial Tridentine Mass

What we have Lost–study of the Crisis

available to watch online: paramedicgoldengirl.blogspot.com/2007/01/what-we-have-lost-and-road-to.html

Youtube: Traditional Latin Mass

Audio:

Michael Davies–various Keep the Faith, Bernard Janzen

Malachi Martin --Interviews with Bernard Janzen

Bishop Williamson of the SSPX “Faith in Crisis” Series. -B. Janzen

Charles Coulombe & Williams Biersach Fireside Chats–Catholic Treasures.
 
People do believe. Honest. I still hear the preaching you talk about, just few and far between.

As an example, not all Catholic hospitals are like the one you read about. Indeed, one has recently sacked its board of Directors because they tried to “un-Catholic” it!

What does St Peter say? “Brethren, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour : whom resist, stedfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5. 8, 9).

The Devil does tempt us. Often with things that mean the most to us, and even getting upset in our faith can be a kind of temptation. Be firm. Be loving. Don’t get to upset. 🙂
 
I had the pleasure of talking with a brother from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal this weekend, and I can assure you that yes there are still people that believe. Take a look at this ariticle and then look around there web site. As for me I am off to Adoration.
 
Unfortunately, this is not a new question. Even before our Lord came, the prophet Elias complained to God (1 Kings 19) that “With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant: they have thrown down thy altars, they have slain thy prophets with the sword, and I alone am left, and they seek my life to take it away.” God told him to appoint Eliseus as his successor, “And I will leave me seven thousand men in Israel, whose knees have not been bowed before Baal, and every mouth that hath not worshipped him, kissing the hands.”

Our Lord Himself laments and questions as to whether or not he will find any faith left on the earth when He returns again in glory.

In the 16th century, Pius IV feared that all was lost because of the protestant revolt. But then God rose up some of the greatest saints in history to spearhead the counter-reformation.

I agree with you that things seem to be discouraging today on many fronts. But we must remember that we are not going to be judged on what others have done around us, but upon what we, ourselves, do. So keep the faith!

Some general advice: (1) Don’t attend Mass at a parish that isn’t following the Church’s rubrics unless you have no other choice. Try to find a reverent NO Mass, a TLM, or an Eastern rites Catholic Church in your area. (2) Don’t believe the liberal media, who have absolutely no understanding of the faith, yet try to report on Catholic doctrine. Limbo has not been abrogated (the Theological Commission, which has no authoritative weight, admits that limbo remains a theological possibility, but prefers to believe that God finds some extra-sacramental way for children who die without Baptism to go to heaven; both possibilities are acceptable and with the bounds of the Church); the ecological “sins” were, again, not taught by an arm of the magisterium, and Luther, who caused “irreparable damage to the Church” according to the very words of St. Teresa of Avila, will never be “rehabilitated” or canonized. (3) Try to associate with some other committed Catholics who will support you in growing in the faith. (4) Focus on your relationship with the Lord, and leave God to judge and fulfill His promise that the gates of hell shall never prevail against His Church.

God bless,

Fr. Boyd
 
Check out this new order of nuns, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. They’re bursting at the seams with young vocations and are just wonderful. I attended a retreat at their school this past December. Well worth the drive from Northeast Ohio to Ann Arbor, Michigan to sleep in the 3rd grade classroom in a sleeping bag. Eucharistic Adoration was part of the retreat (we each signed up for an hour), as were the Sacrament of Confession and the Mass.

sistersofmary.org/

~~ the phoenix
 
I understand that you are dispondant & frustrated, reading your thread was how I felt and still feel some.
But satan is only trying to discourage you to loose faith.
We must pray harder for the church and people because there are alot of people loosing their souls. Maybe there is even a touch of pride involed because we know better and want to yell out “I know I’m right!” But God is with you and what he wants is for YOU or Me to become more Holy.
I was a great sinner commiting mortal sin on a regular basis but I couldn’t seem to stop. And all the while I was frustrated and angry by the so called “catholics that did not know anything,” that was not for ME to judge others but to look at my own sins.
What cured me? One night I was crying in my room and spoke to God with complete ernest, I said “God without you I can’t possibly stop and only a miracle from You can I end this horrible sin.” Well I was given that true miracle and its been aleast a half year and I’ve had no inclination to sin like that again!
Everytime I think about it I cry and thank the lord and just try a little harder to be a true Catholic.😃

God Bless; Kathy
 
I wouldn’t *truly believe *anymore if I was still subjected to having to go to the NO. In fact, that is exactly what happened to me…I lost all feeling of being a Catholic. I searched for answers until I found the SSPX…I am now happier than I have ever been in my life and through much reading have re-educated myself in my faith.
 
I sometimes wonder if Pope John Paul II the Great was leaning towards the Eastern Church for more than ecumenism. It strikes me odd because until Him I knew nothing of it. I even left the Catholic Church thinking there might be something true to this accusation of it being the “whore of Babylon”. I even went to a seminary and was scandalized by many things. It challenged my faith to the core and led me to beleive all this stuff was made up to manipulate us in the middle ages. I thought the quotes from the early church fathers were made up. It struck me peculiar that there were no more early church documents available or said to be locked in some dark room in Rome. My wife’s family not only showed they beleived in their faith, they beleived it so much that they bent over backwards to “save me”.

Long story short, after many years of asking all the right questions that pop up if one is truly seeking truth, I discovered a protestant website with these ancient documents. Amazed, feeling like I had struck a gold mine, and scared at the same time that I might find out that none of the Christian religions are true, I jumped into the first one…“didache”. I read the writer talk about the proper way to baptize…preferred running cold water, then warm if no other, then pooring…POORING!!! That’s heresy…then I looked at the probable date it was written… How could that be…? Long story short …I jumped from a restoration movement after 17 years into a fun but disturbing Mega Non-Denominational Bible Church, faith only…which we couldn’t handle, and discovered something we didn’t understand before. The church is apostolic but it couldn’t be the Catholic Church, they are so dumb! No body knows what the Catholic Church teaches and it seemed that there was a different answer for every different priest you asked a question. …that is if they’d even try to answer. I just knew it must be the Orthodox Church…

Long story made short…Jimmy Akin said “would you leave Peter because of Judas”… Other comments about the various heresies in the early church caused me to question many of the teachings and low and behold I lucked out, my wife insisted on Catholicism, primarily cultural reasons. I loved the eastern liturgies and wished that the TLM would come back that my dad boasted about. Or at least find a good orthodox NO with good priests…BINGO!!! We hit the JACK POT. We got it all, but not without an initial search. I knew that in time my wife would let go of it once she discovered what I already knew about Catholics, cafeteria ones. Illicit behavior and poor clergy. I thought she’d run to the East with me. But with time, I learned the deeper problem had existed always. It’s not new. I also got enough reading time to realize problems outside primacy of Rome’s Biship. I learned that Orthodox have similar devotions to saints and even Mary, THEOTOKOS. Although I learned a lot, I realize I’m Catholic and make an effort to teach all of those around me what I’ve learned. Read, read, read. Have faith in Christ. Read the Liturgy of the Hours and it will help make you holy. Devotion to the blessed mother. Just don’t give up. It’s real alright. We’ve given up our families to be here and had to make sure before we made the jump.
 
Rawb said:
All of this has me asking “Does anyone really believe anymore?”

Where’s the beauty and piety that so seemed to drive the Church before? The great reigning question seems to be “How much can I get away with?” rather than “How much can I do for Him?”

I think I just need to hear some testimonies that people still believe, and that the Church still exists.
Click to expand...
I think a lot of it has to do with individual parishes and individuals themselves.

My parish has five Masses each weekend. One Spanish, one guitar, and three organ. The church building was built in 1905, and other than a few modern ammeneties (lights, plumbing, etc) you would hardly know the difference. Well, ok, the Communion rail is gone.

As a “child of the sixites”, I look at my church, inside and out, and I see the same church that I grew up with. Stained glass windows with pointed tops, pews in straight rows, stained and well maintained woodwork, tabernacle at the center of the rear wall of the altar…I think you get the picture.

Obviously, some of you attend far more modernistic churches. But, you can’t judge the whole barrel by one apple. Are things a little sloppier than they used to be? Do altar servers wearing chartruse green crocs at Stations bug me? Absolutely, but I have my own sins and failures to worry about. And for the record, I’m still trying to figure out which direction I’m supposed to be genuflecting during Stations 😛

And that’s when I realize that I’m a true believer. God has a way of slappin us down when we get a little too big for our britches.

👍
 
Rawb said:
I’ve been struggling with this for a few weeks now. I feel like my faith is being affected by it. I try to focus on other things, but my mind is always dragged back to this.

A brief glance over the news forums reveals a lot:
  • Catholic hospital to allow transgender surgery after being sued
  • 7 more deadly sins???
  • 9-Mar-08 - Little Rock Diocese Retracts Criticism of Komen Fundraiser
It seems that time and time again The Church stands up for something, and we cheer, and think finally it’s going to come out alright, and then she rolls over after a little bit of pressure. Or that the heirarchy is spending time on frivilous matters like that absurd “Ten Commandments for Drivers” that came out a while back, or adding 7 new sins that were already covered in the orginial 7 Deady Sins.

It seems that the mass is in shambles, nobody thinks the aesthetics matter, we’re cosntantly bending over backwards to please heretics, schismatics, pagans, protestants, and a bunch of other groups who’s opinions and beliefs don’t matter.

All of this has me asking “Does anyone really believe anymore?” Does the heirarchy? Does the Laity? I’m not trying to be judgemental, I’m trying to be honest, and believe me I’m including myself in these statements. I wonder if I believe. Do I really think Christ is up there? Can Mary really hear me? If so why does all of this keep happening?

Where’s the beauty and piety that so seemed to drive the Church before? The great reigning question seems to be “How much can I get away with?” rather than “How much can I do for Him?” If priests still believe why are they not offering Masses that bring out every possible bit of glory for God? Why do they not preach on the evils of contraception, and abortion, the reality of Hell and the need for confession?

I think I just need to hear some testimonies that people still believe, and that the Church still exists.
Click to expand...
I hear you. Try being on a campus where even those Catholics who care about their faith enough to be leaders in the Newman Community make a point at the retreat to remind each other “not to talk about our weekend parties around Father.” 😦 And then they can’t seem to understand why you’re upset…

But there are signs of hope. There is a small core group of us young Catholics who are devoted to the faith and orthodoxy.

I guess I believe that the crisis we seem to have now means that we’re going to see a generation of saints rise up to bring back the lost, and teach the holy way.

And I hope that’s just not wishful thinking on my part. 🙂
 
Love_is_Patient said:
But there are signs of hope. There is a small core group of us young Catholics who are devoted to the faith and orthodoxy.

I guess I believe that the crisis we seem to have now means that we’re going to see a generation of saints rise up to bring back the lost, and teach the holy way.

And I hope that’s just not wishful thinking on my part. 🙂
Click to expand...
I’ve seen it too. I know it can be discouraging to see abuses, irreverence, and apathy in the faith. All the more reason the be move visible as a faithful Catholic. Don’t hide your lamp under a basket.

Its not how things are today as opposed to the past. Remember- Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tommorow. I AM who AM.

Don’t lose hope.

sistersofmary.org/

I actually know a young woman in this order and her older sister is in a Franscican order. There is hope!
 
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