The Church: What happened to the call to holiness?

[puzzleannie]

holiness does not lie in how many Masses you attend, rosaries you say, prayer groups you join, or bible studies you teach. these are the tools not the proof of holiness. Do you know the struggles these “Sunday pew warmers” have in their daily lives that they meet with fidelity and quiet suffering? Do you know how many are living in loveless marriages but remain faithful? Do you know who has a child in prison, despair or embroiled in a harmful lifestyle and is concentrating all their energy on helping that child? Do you know who is exhausted by balancing child care with caring for an elderly sick parent? Do you know who has to make courageous moral decisions every day on the job? Do you know who is risking life and health for the welfare and safety of the community and the country? Do you know who is laboring under an immense burden of clinical depression, mental disorder, psychological maladjustment, physical pain? True holiness is not observed and seldom has outward manifestations so it is not surprising we do not make note of it in our fellow parishioners.

 

[KathleenElsie]

JoyToBeCatholic:

Btw, I do realize that there are people who are serious about their faith outside of religious orders. Typically though, once someone makes that commitment, they look for a community of like-minded people for mutual encouragement and fellowship.

**The reason for this might well be that those that are serious about the faith are made outcasts and thus seek others like themselves. **

My family has been greeted by Sunday only worshipers with “thank you for visiting.” We think it is the veils, skirts and men’s ties. The few who go to weekday Mass know us and we are more likely to fellowship with them.

On the other hand. I work in retail with the public. I dress modestly because of my belief. I try to show others the Love of our Lord and Church. Some of the clothing that people wear out into public is an embarrassment, both the public and other employees, and if you seem to notice they become irate? When someone asks me about my clothing I gladly tell them it is out of respect for God.

It can be sometimes be hard to listen to the language of even the small children (some of them go to our parish) in public. I do ask other employees not to swear as it bothers me. This is mostly why we stay to ourselves when we have free time. It allows us to get away from uncomfortable situations.

**Hope this explains why some of us (no we are not Holier then any one else) keep to ourselves. **

 

[Orionthehunter]

puzzleannie:

holiness does not lie in how many Masses you attend, rosaries you say, prayer groups you join, or bible studies you teach. these are the tools not the proof of holiness. Do you know the struggles these “Sunday pew warmers” have in their daily lives that they meet with fidelity and quiet suffering? Do you know how many are living in loveless marriages but remain faithful? Do you know who has a child in prison, despair or embroiled in a harmful lifestyle and is concentrating all their energy on helping that child? Do you know who is exhausted by balancing child care with caring for an elderly sick parent? Do you know who has to make courageous moral decisions every day on the job? Do you know who is risking life and health for the welfare and safety of the community and the country? Do you know who is laboring under an immense burden of clinical depression, mental disorder, psychological maladjustment, physical pain? True holiness is not observed and seldom has outward manifestations so it is not surprising we do not make note of it in our fellow parishioners.

This is beautiful puzzle. And I also agree w/ Not Worthy in that spreading the Good News is not a spectator sport. In my parish of one Priest and 1,000 families, if we expected Father to be responsible for everything, we’d be a place of too little, too late, too chaotic.

I live by the theory of I can’t change the world but I can change my little corner of the world and I define my corner at its smallest. If I can just help Father and the Holy Spirit invigorate two people in my parish such they will then help invigorate two people, this only has to be repeated 10 times (1x2=2, 2x2=4, 4X2=8, 8X2=16, 16X2=32, 32X2=64, 64X2=128, 128X2=256, 256X2=512, 512X2=1024, 1024X2=2048) until my entire parish is a paragon of holiness. And if my wife is doing her part (she does more than her part compared to me), it takes half the time.

 

[setter]

puzzleannie:

holiness does not lie in how many Masses you attend, rosaries you say, prayer groups you join, or bible studies you teach. these are the tools not the proof of holiness. … True holiness is not observed and seldom has outward manifestations so it is not surprising we do not make note of it in our fellow parishioners.

A very insightful post, that I am sure is the product of a lived faith experience. I find that much holiness of life and virtue is muted to the casual observer. It is unfortunate that there is not more structured opportunity in parish life for those of more mature and seasoned faith to regularly mingle with and mentor those of blossoming faith and holiness. I do believe that there can often be too much independence (versus a healthy interdependence) in Catholic parish life.

I will note that as far as the pastor and other parishoners is concerned, you cannot give what you do not have regarding holiness and virtue.

 

[Veritas41]

setter:

A very insightful post, that I am sure is the product of a lived faith experience. I find that much holiness of life and virtue is muted to the casual observer. It is unfortunate that there is not more structured opportunity in parish life for those of more mature and seasoned faith to regularly mingle with and mentor those of blossoming faith and holiness. I do believe that there can often be too much independence (versus a healthy interdependence) in Catholic parish life.

I will note that as far as the pastor and other parishoners is concerned, you cannot give what you do not have regarding holiness and virtue.

Very good points. Reminds me of a quote by Hans Urs von Balthasar, “He who doesn’t listen to God has nothing to say to man.”