Renewing the Church

[Sir_Anthony]

This week is the 50th anniversity of the opening of John XXIII symbolically opening the window to “let in some fresh air.” The last 50 years have certainly seen a major crisis of faith at least in the West.

I feel that the Church has lost a lot of energy in the last 50 years. (at least in the West) Obviously, the Council was implemented incorrectly as the Pope has said, and we are taking bold strides to regain and reform “the reform” if you will. What are some ideas that can help to reform and renew the Church at the local level, but also at the diocesan and papal levels.

Also, I am 23, and well I always hear about how charismatic and youth oriented John Paul II was, and though I like him. I didn’t have the same opinion of him as other people I know. but I am really very fond of Benedict XVI more so than JPII, and I wonder if there are any other young folks like me who feel this way.

 

[Trishie]

Come Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

O my Lord, send You Spirit to renew the face of the earth!

 

[Trishie]

Rebuild Your Church

Jesus, send Your Holy Spirit to renew Your Church through grace and human labour. Inspire an escalating influx of authentic vocations to priestly, religious and lay apostolates. Protect and build up Your Church through mutual love, so that the gospel is witnessed and received amongst our families, our communities, and our world. Overcome in us that decline of worship and service into token observance, religiosity or neglect.

We have clung to materialism, sensuality and ease, therefore punish ourselves by their tenacious hold upon our lives. This strangles peace of soul and impoverishes human relationships, fostering discord and injustice amongst us. Please send the Holy Spirit to inspire us with faith and mutual charity.

We have clung to our own will and preferences, thus punish ourselves by inability to rise above our limited selves into the freedom of Your love. We choose worldliness—even many of us who are consecrated to You—rather than to commit ourselves to Your love with unconditional trust.

Liberate us from imbalance regarding human appetites so that we respond to relationship with gospel love. Overcome in us the influence of immoral and unchristian values normalised by convenience, by custom, by literature and by media.

Let us recognise our true relation to You and to each other as children of God. Thus, imbue us with reverence towards the sacredness of human life from conception to enfeebled old age, for we live in a society corrupted by accepted forms of injustice and murder.

Let Christ’s forgiveness, healing and peace flow through us. Rescue us from our apathy, agnosticism and atheism and from our search for instant miracle where You desire patient trust. Convert those who live religiously but without genuine faith. To those who do believe, grant deepening faith that leads us into generous commitment and loving service.

Allow Your Holy Spirit to purify and strengthen us in love, faith, hope, in justice and harmony, granting us true conversion within Your Mystical Body. Thank You for Your gift of each other in Church, our God.

 

[muffinmojo]

Another young person here who infinitely prefers Benedict XVI to John Paul II (though I love both, make no mistake =] )

 

[narrowpath]

Definitly lke PB16!

I read JPII’s life story, and think he was an amazing Pope…

 

[Cruikshank_s]

How are we to strengthen the Church? Better catechesis. Us Catholics need to take a proactive role in our own spiritual development. We need to know and learn our faith! Someday, the vast majority of our generation will wake up and wonder when God left their lives… then even later on they’ll realize it was them who did the leaving. That’s Im afraid how it will all end up, we have to get lost a bit in order to be found.

So often we accept being spoon feed “mush”, for Christ’s sake please give me the meat!

As for John Paul II vs. Benedict XVI… I have to admit, I loved John Paul, he was definitely my papa, but he never really drew me. Ya know? On the other hand Benedict has been the most influential man in my life since the day he was elected. It was him I believe that called me to and allowed me to develop and explore my traditional faith. Ecclesia Dei was an “ok you may enter”, but summorum pontificum was a bold and inviting plea to come and eat your fill! I would follow and defend this pope to my death! He has given me so much to be thankful for! He of all men really opened the windows to “let in a little fresh air”

 

[BayernAnhaenger]

How are we to strengthen the Church? Better catechesis. Us Catholics need to take a proactive role in our own spiritual development. We need to know and learn our faith! Someday, the vast majority of our generation will wake up and wonder when God left their lives… then even later on they’ll realize it was them who did the leaving. That’s Im afraid how it will all end up, we have to get lost a bit in order to be found.

So often we accept being spoon feed “mush”, for Christ’s sake please give me the meat!

As for John Paul II vs. Benedict XVI… I have to admit, I loved John Paul, he was definitely my papa, but he never really drew me. Ya know? On the other hand Benedict has been the most influential man in my life since the day he was elected. It was him I believe that called me to and allowed me to develop and explore my traditional faith. Ecclesia Dei was an “ok you may enter”, but summorum pontificum was a bold and inviting plea to come and eat your fill! I would follow and defend this pope to my death! He has given me so much to be thankful for! He of all men really opened the windows to “let in a little fresh air”

Word.

I, as a 21 year old (now), never really had an “attachment” per se to JPII. I knew he was Pope, and I knew he was Polish. However, I’ll never know what he did during his time as Pope, so he’s not really “mine”.

Pope Benedict XVI, however. He’s the man who came on the cusp of my “re-discovery” of the Catholic Church (I really got into the Church when he was elected). I’ve followed him and his writings, and his travels. He is, by far, a pope I can call “mine”, if I may do so.