Why so little zeal?

[MariaChristi]

I guess I am lucky where I live. My precatechumenate instructor is a very devout fellow, has a zeal for Jesus Christ and truly does seem to want people to fall in love with Him. He prays the rosary daily, and also does some of the liturgy of the hours.

Dear Mycosil,

Thanks for your reply. It sounds as if the Lord has provided you with some solid help in your precatechumenate instructor. If you read the blog, however, I think you’ll see that the Lord speaks in the book of Revelation to 7 churches and only 2 are faithful. In the parable of the talents, Jesus speaks to individuals and so each of us must continue to grow spiritually by His Grace or the Universal Church suffers. If you haven’t read the blog yet, I hope you will read it prayerfully and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

 

[jaimeleglise]

Thanks, Micosil. I truly appreciate it. God bless you.

 

[StudentMI]

I can identify with a lot that has been said in this thread. We have a clique at our parish that I was hoping the new priest would kind of dethrone but it’s turned out otherwise. The clique is very liberal as have been the past several priests. While there are some devotional groups that pray the rosary or perform adoration of the Eucharist, they are small. Even when I was in RCIA it wasn’t until after the Easter Vigil that the instructor mentioned the rosary and prayed a decade with us, and she did it wrong. She was more into her new age type meditations. When I helped on a retreat after being confirmed she spoke enthusiastically about the enneagram.

So, it’s a bit disheartening. I’ve thought about switching parishes for those reasons and others. A few people suggested, after I shared my feelings, that I join the parish council to try to give my thought on things. I’ve decided against it, as the liberalism at the parish is so entrenched. I’d fight a losing battle and I can tell you nothing would change.

 

[MariaChristi]

Check out St. Paul Street Evangelization website. I hope they come to Boston soon.

Yes, we are to bring Christ to the four corners of the earth. We can’t let the consecrated religious do all the work.

Dear jaimeleglise,

I am familiar with St. Paul Street Evangelization. They are fairly new as an apostolate, and I hope that by God’s Grace they continue to grow spiritually and in number and bring forth great fruit for the glory of God and the good of His Church.

Did you read my husband’s blog? While we are grateful for the zeal we do see, the blog is asking us to ponder why there is so little and also what may be one of the most serious of the root causes. I hope you will read and ponder especially the scripture which are given in illustrating the capital sin of spiritual sloth. See HERE

 

[MariaChristi]

When the church looks more like a corporation or worldly organization with its PR managers, and things done to look like the rest of the world so that it can be popular and liked and ‘cool’ among all… yeah, then its lost and most likely severed its touch from Christ Jesus.

Galatians 1:10 ►

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Dear AnneElizabeth.

Thanks for your reply. Pope Francis in a morning homily preached on 1 Tim 6:10:

The love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs.

More than once he has specifically warned Bishops and Priests to beware of having a “CEO” attitude rather than that of a “Shepherd”. He has repeatedly warned all of us not to be worldly!

It is heartbreaking to see how unconcerned so many are who call themselves Catholics! I hope you read my husband’s blog, because while greed is one of the dangers we face, the blog speaks of another of the seven deadly sins which is perhaps even more subtle and so it goes less recognized but all of us can be guilty of spiritual sloth. I hope you will read the blog, if you have not already read it. See HERE

I noticed that you call yourself an “unsure Catholic” and I hope you will, by God’s Grace become more sure of Jesus Who founded only One Church. Despite the many branches which may not be bearing good fruit at this time, and despite the lack of zeal we may find, Jesus is Faithful to His Bride, the Catholic Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against her. We can be sure of Him and we can remain in His Love, as the Gospel yesterday reminded us.

We have been baptized into Christ and it is He, and not the world we are called to follow.
We cannot seek to please men, as hypocrites or Pharisees, if we truly seek, the Will of our Father, as Jesus did. It is not easy to walk on the narrow way, but we can be sure, by His Grace, if we follow Jesus Who is The Way, the Truth and the Life.

 

[MariaChristi]

I can identify with a lot that has been said in this thread. We have a clique at our parish that I was hoping the new priest would kind of dethrone but it’s turned out otherwise. The clique is very liberal as have been the past several priests. While there are some devotional groups that pray the rosary or perform adoration of the Eucharist, they are small. Even when I was in RCIA it wasn’t until after the Easter Vigil that the instructor mentioned the rosary and prayed a decade with us, and she did it wrong. She was more into her new age type meditations. When I helped on a retreat after being confirmed she spoke enthusiastically about the enneagram.

So, it’s a bit disheartening. I’ve thought about switching parishes for those reasons and others. A few people suggested, after I shared my feelings, that I join the parish council to try to give my thought on things. I’ve decided against it, as the liberalism at the parish is so entrenched. I’d fight a losing battle and I can tell you nothing would change.

Dear StudentMI,

Thanks for your reply. By your username, I’m wondering if you are a “student of Militia Immaculata” inspired by St. Maximilian Kolbe. I’ve consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary also; first as a teenager using St. Louis De Montfort’s method and prayer of Total Consecration, and then years later also praying St. Maximilian’s prayer of Consecration. Both these great Marian saints are gifts to the Catholic Church and through the Church to the world.

Yes, the condition of many members of the Church is very disheartening, but we need to keep our faith, hope and charity strong through the intercession of Mary. Pope St. John Paul II told Servant of God Frank Duff (founder of the Legion of Mary): “Remember, victory will come through Mary”. Both men wrote that reading St. Louis De Montfort’s True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin was a turning point in their lives.

This Wednesday, God Willing, we will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. We know Mary said that in the end, her Immaculate Heart would triumph – mysterious words, prophetic words we have yet to see fulfilled. Is God waiting for us, His Church, and particularly those in a special way devoted to Mary, to crush the head of satan? How many of us are heeding Mary’s call for prayer and penance.

My husband’s blog (I hope you have read or will read it) which was the impetus for this thread points to Scripture and prayerfully listening to God’s Word for a better understanding of our spiritual battle. See HERE

We need to remember Jesus began His public ministry with the message:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17)
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15)

Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Your Faithful, kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love. Overshadow us, that we may spiritually carry Jesus as Mary carried Him physically to all who are in need of Him. Enable us by your power truly to repent of our sins and make reparation for our sins and the sins of the world, enable us to believe in Jesus and carry on His mission as His Church, His Body, given for all. Mary, Mother of the Church pray for us.