Greetings!
Sometimes I wonder if Satan — the cunning divider — uses debates within the Church to turn our focus inward and keep us from sharing the Good News with our neighbors. Pope Francis recently released a letter reversing the rights of all priests to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass and assigning discernment to local bishops. If we spend more time engaging in criticism of this decision than we do accompanying our neighbor through their suffering, we need to adjust our priorities.
More often than I care to admit, my thoughts can be a form of spiritual entitlement: “I want Father to preach about x”; “It’s not fair that a virus can deter Communion on the tongue”; “I refuse to sing these cringey contemporary worship songs…” Then, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me that all aspects of our lived faith are gratuitous gifts from God. I did nothing to deserve daily access to the Sacraments when so many through history — and even now — do not. While theological and liturgical issues are worth deep discussion, they are not the Great Commission given to us by the Lord Himself. I’m going to challenge myself to spend more time affirming and serving those around me than I do reading commentary on Church politics.
Yours in Christ,
When we are young, we need the guidance of mentors. We never really outgrow that need for guidance, but at some point, a change must take place if we are to reach maturity. Instead of always being the one who is guided and mentored, we become the ones who provide the guidance and mentoring to others. Sarah Pelrine is a bona fide young adult Catholic, but one who is quickly moving into what it means to be an adult Catholic, a mature disciple.
Pope Francis makes extraordinary changes to Extraordinary Form
Read a break-down of what the Holy Father wrote, why he wrote it, and what it means for our local Church. The Pillar has a great wrap-up of the latest events here: