Woke Culture

Dear Father,  

Last week in your parish update, you made the statement to the effect, you don't want to miss this weeks homily.  I heard you, tuned in, and was not disappointed.  I was inspired by your words on the topic of dwindling church attendance.  You offered a number of reasons, not the least of which is Covid.  The schedules that we as a culture have become accustomed to, children in sports, busy work schedules that necessitate chores on Sunday.  I think you asked the question before you laid out possible causes, "How did we get here?"   Without being conscious of the question, this is exactly what I have been asking myself, praying about, asking God.  I would like to offer you my perspective.    

My mediation has led me to ask, "What is the error of our day?"  My conclusion with great confidence is moral relativism.  Again, "How did we get here?"   Where did this start?  I take it back to Renee Descartes and his "famous" statement, "I think, therefore I am."  In sarcasm, I say, I hope he was stoned.  This is nonsensical.  The church rightly states that man can know God by reason alone.  Descartes has upended this, since in his thought, my reality is my own and that may be very different from your reality, therefore there is no absolute truth to be known.  Maybe it's not all bad, since it has led me to how I identify myself today.  I am skinny!  Of course, that is not reality, but it is my reality.  No one can judge me on that one!  I like to make that joke, it makes the facing of cultural realities easier to bear, and it shines light on the insanity of thought.  Imagine how far this has led, our government has now given us the right to change our sexual identity.    

One more example, which I have heard from the esteemed Jesuit, Rev. James Martin.  He was interviewed a couple weeks ago by NPR's Ari Shapiro.  Here's a link if you care to read:  https://www.nprillinois.org/post/jesuit-priest-how-faith-informs-bidens-leadership#stream/0  

He was asked to speak about how Joe Biden's, "deep catholic faith", is different from someone like a Amy Coney-Barrett.  His response: "Sure. It's a big church. Catholics - the Catholic Church is not a monolith. And so we have Catholics who are Democrats and Republicans, who are progressive and traditional, who are conservative and liberal. And I would say that Amy Coney Barrett's Catholicism - they're both Catholic, and they're both sincere in their Catholicism - stresses some things and not other things or - and the same with President Biden. So - you know, on the fundamentals, they agree. But it's a different way of being Catholic, I would say."  

What a great display of moral relativism, and we will see more examples in the days ahead.  My truth is mine, and it's okay if it is different from yours.  Forget the questions raised and sought in regards to revealed truth for the last two thousand years and beyond, our intolerant culture has rejected the very notion.  This relativistic attitude espoused by the likes of Martin, I believe prompted Archbishop Nuemann from Kansas City to say: "We must pray and fast that the President will have the integrity to acknowledge that his actions in seeking to codify Roe V. Wade and impose tax funded abortion violate the most fundamental of all human rights. We must pray and fast that the President will cease attempting to confuse people about Catholic teaching by trampling on the sanctity of human life while presenting himself as a devout Catholic."  Martin's words like Biden's actions are a clear cause of confusion.  There is one place alone where confusion comes from, as Jesus said, "Let your yes mean yes, and your no mean, anything else is from the evil one."  (Mathew 5:37)  Thanks be to God Bishop Nuemann also reminds us of the appropriate action and the tools at our disposal: prayer, fasting, and a firm resolution in the truth. Full text:  https://www.usccb.org/prolife/archbishop-joseph-f-naumann-opening-mass-2021-national-prayer-vigil-life  

If the logic of Descartes's is the fundamental problem, then I believe we can also find the answer to it's dissemination in the words of Our Lady in 1917, when she said, "Russia will spread its errors throughout the world."  These words I have long known, but today I see clearly how they have been accomplished, something that I would have thought conspiracy theory not long ago.  Bella Dodd, born a Jew who was brought into the church through Bishop Sheen, was a communist before her conversion.  In a Senate Subcommittee Hearing in 1953 she testified to how she was approached by communist organizers in 1935 because of her work to organize teachers, she went on to testify that after she accepted their help and she worked with them, how our high schools and universities were infiltrated in our country through teachers unions.  Her full testimony:  http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/bc/senate_1952/dodd_3.html  She also testifies Russia  had done the same to our seminaries by planting homosexual priests in them in the 30's..  The same infiltration can be seen in Hollywood as well as our media.  These bastions of liberal thinking have caused so much division.  Division, another hallmark of the work of the evil one.  

So, if error is the problem, then truth is the solution.  Not any truth, the Truth personified in our Savior.    

I have also asked the question, "Are we are in the time of Great Distress?"  I reserve judgment on that for the time being.  But I am aware that we are in a period of trial in the world, which will grow, as current political ideology and decisions are stripping our country of self sustenance and giving it to our enemies.  If America suffers, then so too will the rest of the nations.  We the United States, this great experiment in democracy and freedom, is being dismantled before our very eyes.  The unsurpassed time of distress, as revealed in the Book of Daniel, whether it speaks of events which have already happened like the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D., or if it speaks of future events (actually I think both), there is   understanding to be gained for sure.  The time of great distress spoken of in chapter 12, as with any good word, is filled with an abundance of hope. ."...those with insight shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament.  And those who lead the many to justice shall shine be like the stars forever."  (Dan. 12:3)  The insight, I believe is nothing less than the understanding for the reason that, "Many shall be refined, purified, and tested, but the wicked shall prove wicked; the wicked shall have no understanding, but those with insight shall."  (Dan. 12:10)  The need for purification comes from the fact that we as a culture, the church, the world at large have moved away from God from Truth.  As a loving father, God is letting us go our own way like the prodigal son.  He hopes that when we have hit our bottom we will comes to our senses and come back to the house of our father where there is abundance.  (Luke:11-32)  In meantime, if we understand this discipline of the Lord, we will not be shocked nor will we reject it.  As the author of Hebrews says: "My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges."  Endure your trials as "discipline"; God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline?"  (Hebrews 12:5-7)  If we know what is happening, we need not fear.    

Back to scant church attendance.  I believe these things must happen.  God will never get in the way of our free will.  I believe we are entering a time, and indeed are there, that the enemies of the church within and without are now made visible.  These wolves in sheep's clothing will be the instruments of the purification.

Cardinal Karol Wojtyla said these words during the 1976 Eucharistic Congress in Philadelphia:  

"... we are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel versus the anti-Gospel. This confrontation lies within the plans of Divine Providence; it is a trial which the whole Church, and the Polish Church in particular, must take up. We all realize it is not an easy matter, and a great deal of it depends upon the outcome on the Vistula. I think that Polonia is perhaps the most aware of it, and it seems to me that other layers of American society are less enlightened in this respect and simply eliminate this problem from their sphere of interests. Polonia, which shares Poland's sentiments, feels the significance of the confrontation going on at the banks of the Vistula. It is a trial of not only our nation and Church, but in a sense a test of two thousand years of culture and Christian civilization with all of its consequences for human dignity, individual rights, human rights and the rights of nations. All these are affected by the confrontation. As the number of people who understand the importance of this confrontation increase in Poland and America, we can look with greater trust towards the outcome of this confrontation. The Church has gone through many trials, as has the Polish nation, and has emerged victorious even though at a cost of great sacrifice."       

From The Kosciuszko Foundation Newsletter.  Vol. XXXI, No. 2 (301), 1976-77 (last paragraph page four, ending on page five) Link: https://sharonkabel.com/files/JPII1976Newsletter_excerpt.pdf  

Only JPII could narrow the discussion to its very essence so succinctly.  He says the battle is against human dignity, individual rights, human rights and the rights of nations.  Today we are losing liberty in our country and around the world due to abortion, the loss of free speech, intolerance, and the right to protect our sovereignty as a nation, for even patriotism is looked upon with distrust.  Jesus espousing the greatest of all commandments said,  "love our neighbor as ourselves."  (Mark 12:31)  This principle applies to ones own nation.    

It looks bleak.  It will get much worse before it gets better, church attendance and beyond.  What are we to do?  My heart tells me I must remain faithful to God and to convert with an ever greater sense of commitment.  I must trust, after all, we know which side will win.  Our Lady's Heart will triumph!  Do not be afraid of coming sacrifices to be made. We need not do any of this alone, as if we could, in a word from John Paul II, "Open wide the door of your your heart to Christ."  In regards to others, those who are lost, deceived, or complicit in error we must live and conduct ourselves in speech and action, with a firm resolve to the truth in a spirit of charity, and we will fulfill the word from Daniel and "lead the many to justice."  It's an exciting time to be alive, we have the opportunity to "shine like the stars!"  We will have great opportunities to give the reason for our hope.  May we follow the advice of Peter who said, "But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame."  With God's help, and the help Our Lady and Queen we shall do so.