Your Thoughts Please

[CMAT]

Hello everyone,

I am new to Catholic Answers Forum and for the last couple of days I have been reading over many of the topics posted. Some of the Threads were questions I have been wondering about for years. Thanks to all of the many knowledgeable members for their (name removed by moderator)ut on what is still, or should be, acceptable during Mass.

I am a cradle Catholic in my mid fifties. Many changes have taken place in the church, especially pretaining to the Mass over the years. It just seems that there is less and less reverance shown to Almighty God: standing and receiving Holy Communion in the hand, Eucharistic Ministers handling the consecrated Host, shorts, mini skirts, flip flops as attire, girl alter servers, gum chewing during Mass, excessive talking/gossiping before Mass, just to name a few. I have to wonder if Catholics all over the world have as little respect for God and His house, the church, as Americans do?

Although I would never leave the church and know that the Catholic church was instituted by Christ and is the one true church, I see so many non-Catholics with much more respect for God and their faith. What is the answer my friends, or is there one? It’s just so heart breaking when many priests and nuns can’t even be looked upon for answers because they are part of the problem. I have to wonder if this is why so many Catholics leave the faith and join other religions.

If anyone out there can shed some light please do so. In the mean time, I’ll keep praying and following the lead of good Pope Benedict XVI.

 

[Gemmaologist]

Hi CMAT!

I’m sorry to hear that you’re very frustrated with your parish! It is difficult to see parishoners not respecting our Churches, the sacraments, and even other parishoners.

Sadly, I don’t have a solution, but I wanted to sympathize with your concerns. Hopefully, some of the well-versed veterns of this site will be more helpful in that regard.

While I don’t personally disagree with female altar servers or your concerns about communion, I do agree that too many parishoners dress inappropriately or chat too much during prayful times.

Remember that it may not seem like doing much, but I believe in leading by example. I’ve many times noticed a fellow parishoner showing great reverance and made an effort to act in the same manner.

 

[THurifer2]

Hang in there CMAT. The bad times are coming to an end. Younger Catholics (the ones who are serious about Catholicism) are much much more “traditional” “Conservative” than the Boomers (who are the bunch who made the big mess)

THings are on the upswing.

 

[grandfather]

Hello everyone,

I am new to Catholic Answers Forum and for the last couple of days I have been reading over many of the topics posted. Some of the Threads were questions I have been wondering about for years. Thanks to all of the many knowledgeable members for their (name removed by moderator)ut on what is still, or should be, acceptable during Mass.

…

If anyone out there can shed some light please do so. In the mean time, I’ll keep praying and following the lead of good Pope Benedict XVI.

The Church has been through a very difficult dark time. Things do seem to be improving in many ways and places, but in some areas things are still going poorly. THere is light at the end of the tunnel, but it will be a struggle to get there.

 

[CMAT]

Thank you to those who’ve replyed to my Thread so far. Good to know others are experiencing many of the same feelings. THurifer2, I pray that you are right about the young Catholics being more conservative then our generation of “Boomers”. I’m sad to say that there’s not much evidence of it in my parish. But as Grandfather noted, the Catholic church has gone through some dark times, but this is Christ’s church, so we have to keep believing that she will triumph in the end. A special thanks to Gemmaologist for reminding me to lead by example and hope that others will follow. God bless you all.

I’m still wondering though if the church is experiencing these problems in Europe and other parts of the world as much as it is in America?

 

[grandfather]

Thank you to those who’ve replyed to my Thread so far. Good to know others are experiencing many of the same feelings. THurifer2, I pray that you are right about the young Catholics being more conservative then our generation of “Boomers”. I’m sad to say that there’s not much evidence of it in my parish. But as Grandfather noted, the Catholic church has gone through some dark times, but this is Christ’s church, so we have to keep believing that she will triumph in the end. A special thanks to Gemmaologist for reminding me to lead by example and hope that others will follow. God bless you all.

I’m still wondering though if the church is experiencing these problems in Europe and other parts of the world as much as it is in America?

Today I went to Divine Liturgy and a beautiful young woman about 25 yers old told me after months of discernment she has made a commitment to religious life in a traditional order that wears full habits. Vocations are on the upswing a sure sign of grace.