O
Ockham
Guest
"*Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct 1, 2010 / 12:25 pm (CNA).- Bishop Jorge Lozano of Gualeguaychu in Argentina warned this week that relativism in the faith is what leads many to seek their own individual well being in religion and consider it a “feel-good” solution.
“We are in a climate of narcissism and hedonism, and we run the risk of being led by a self-referential conscience, in which the ‘I’ becomes the center of the universe and the only thing that matters is what ‘I’ feel like doing, what ‘I’ want, what ‘I’ desire, like someone who is constantly staring at themselves instead of looking at others,” he explained.
“This can happen at a community level also,” the bishop said. “There are communities that are hedonist and only care about themselves, without taking into account the other communities around them.”
This is a kind of relativism that invades the faith, he continued, and leads people to say, “I live the faith my way, the way I see it.” “We sometimes here this said at family gatherings or among our friends. Someone says I am of this religion or I see the faith like this because it works for me, etc. Or someone says, ‘What’s important is that you feel good,’ as if religion were some kind of medicine for an upset stomach, a sentiment for self-satisfaction,” the bishop stated."*
catholicnewsagency.com/news/religion-isnt-a-feel-good-solution-teaches-argentinean-bishop/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
When I read the bishop’s words I thought about the two forms of the Roman Rite. Considering how the Novus Ordo was originally designed to be ad orientum and in Latin with Communion in the traditional manner, what happened? How did it get to its current state and why is it so often abused? How did the changes come about and who drove them? I think the bishop has identified the culprits and is encouraging a ‘reform of the reform’ in order to bring more people back to God.
“We are in a climate of narcissism and hedonism, and we run the risk of being led by a self-referential conscience, in which the ‘I’ becomes the center of the universe and the only thing that matters is what ‘I’ feel like doing, what ‘I’ want, what ‘I’ desire, like someone who is constantly staring at themselves instead of looking at others,” he explained.
“This can happen at a community level also,” the bishop said. “There are communities that are hedonist and only care about themselves, without taking into account the other communities around them.”
This is a kind of relativism that invades the faith, he continued, and leads people to say, “I live the faith my way, the way I see it.” “We sometimes here this said at family gatherings or among our friends. Someone says I am of this religion or I see the faith like this because it works for me, etc. Or someone says, ‘What’s important is that you feel good,’ as if religion were some kind of medicine for an upset stomach, a sentiment for self-satisfaction,” the bishop stated."*
catholicnewsagency.com/news/religion-isnt-a-feel-good-solution-teaches-argentinean-bishop/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
When I read the bishop’s words I thought about the two forms of the Roman Rite. Considering how the Novus Ordo was originally designed to be ad orientum and in Latin with Communion in the traditional manner, what happened? How did it get to its current state and why is it so often abused? How did the changes come about and who drove them? I think the bishop has identified the culprits and is encouraging a ‘reform of the reform’ in order to bring more people back to God.