My generation did not evangelise enough, says Pope

[_Abyssinia]

Cradle Catholics have not done enough to show people that God exists and can bring true fulfilment to everyone, Pope Benedict XVI has told a group of his former students.

“We, who have been able to know [Christ] since our youth, may we ask forgiveness because we bring so little of the light of his face to people; so little certainty comes from us that he exists, he’s present and he is the greatness that everyone is waiting for,” the Pope said.

The Pope presided at a Mass yesterday in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, during his annual meeting with students who did their doctorates with him when he was a professor in Germany.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, a regular participant in the Ratzinger Schülerkreis (Ratzinger student circle), gave the homily at the Mass, but the Pope made remarks at the beginning of the liturgy.

The Vatican released the text of the Pope’s remarks today.

catholicherald.co.uk/news/2011/08/29/my-generation-did-not-evangelise-enough-says-pope/

 

[SpeakInSilence]

I love this Pope. I believe he is doing great wonders for the Catholic Church, and I hope to see it grow under his leadership and direction. Plus he writes some darn good books.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Repentance from our Sheppards is the only way out of this. Weep, they must weep and beg God for forgiveness and return to the Liturgy that God ascribed to His Church.

God will look at us again. but only if we repent of the offenses we have commited against Him for so long.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Cradle Catholics have not done enough to show people that God exists and can bring true fulfilment to everyone, Pope Benedict XVI has told a group of his former students.

“We, who have been able to know [Christ] since our youth, may we ask forgiveness because we bring so little of the light of his face to people; so little certainty comes from us that he exists, he’s present and he is the greatness that everyone is waiting for,” the Pope said.

The Pope presided at a Mass yesterday in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome, during his annual meeting with students who did their doctorates with him when he was a professor in Germany.

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna, a regular participant in the Ratzinger Schülerkreis (Ratzinger student circle), gave the homily at the Mass, but the Pope made remarks at the beginning of the liturgy.

The Vatican released the text of the Pope’s remarks today.

catholicherald.co.uk/news/2011/08/29/my-generation-did-not-evangelise-enough-says-pope/

The holy father knows that our misery is related to the Liturgy. the Worship of God. yet it seems so hard for him to change this. Why?

 

[Dale_M]

A related topic in the US is the decline in the number of adult converts to Catholicism. Coupled with the decline in baptisms, and declining rate of fertility among US Catholics, the result is a Church which would be shrinking if not for immigration.
Msgr Charles Pope:

Some will be quick to blame the liturgy, others the sex abuse scandal. But CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) and other studies show little correlation to these issues.

The biggest issue is secularization. Our wider culture has become secular as never before. Back in the 1950s and before when the Church was stronger in numbers, so was the culture also more religiously observant. Most Americans were expected to have a church home and attend regularly. God was spoken of more in public settings and there was more of a sense that we were accountable, one day to God.

[E]ven among Catholics who still attend and are supportive of parish life to some extent, there are often problems with secularization. For many, the spiritual life is not their priority. Thank God they still attend Mass, but their first priorities center more around career, houses and possessions, and they are more focused on getting their children in a good college and career than handing on the faith to them.

blog.adw.org/2011/08/number-of-converts-to-catholicism-continuing-to-decline-you-know-what-to-do/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=number-of-converts-to-catholicism-continuing-to-decline-you-know-what-to-do

Msgr Pope says the the answer is simple, but the work is difficult. We all must evangelize, particularly to those who have left the Church: friends, neighbors, relatives.

 

[wisdomseeker]

First we need to see the changes in our Leaders, then the people will follow. that is how works and not the other way around.

When they repent, people will repent and follow. we need faithfull teachers to lead the people of God into the Truth and Truth only and not mix message from different minds.

 

[Ursus_luteolus]

I will always feel great sorrow for people of faith. The emptiness you always feel and try to fill with an illusion. Always haunted by a never ending fear of death and an insatiable desire for eternity. So selfish and self-centered that you cant imagine a world without you, or even that the world was not created for you. There is reason believers shine no light, you only have lies and hatred for your true ephemeral self.

 

[Gallowglasser]

I will always feel great sorrow for people of faith. The emptiness you always feel and try to fill with an illusion. Always haunted by a never ending fear of death and an insatiable desire for eternity. So selfish and self-centered that you cant imagine a world without you, or even that the world was not created for you. There is reason believers shine no light, you only have lies and hatred for your true ephemeral self.

Got any evidence to back your claims?

I’m gonna say no, you don’t.
You are possibly correct however, about some religious people. Perhaps a minority, perhaps a majority.
But assuming you’re a mortal human being, you don’t have any possible way of knowing that every person “of faith” in the whole world is being gripped by these fears and desires and opinions that you speak of. You can’t know the soul of any other human being.
Your words are empty and meaningless, and only serve to reinforce your own faith in unbelief.

To get back to the topic, I agree with the Pope.

 

[Nec5]

First we need to see the changes in our Leaders, then the people will follow. that is how works and not the other way around.

When they repent, people will repent and follow. we need faithfull teachers to lead the people of God into the Truth and Truth only and not mix message from different minds.

Bingo. They are called “leaders” for a reason.

 

[Cat]

First we need to see the changes in our Leaders, then the people will follow. that is how works and not the other way around.

When they repent, people will repent and follow. we need faithfull teachers to lead the people of God into the Truth and Truth only and not mix message from different minds.

I think we need to examine our own heart and repent of our own sins. We will not be held accountable for the sins of our leaders, but our own sins.

And how often in history has change originated with a regular person, and then spread to the leaders. St. Catherine of Sienna and St. Teresa of Avila come to mind.