Do most Catholics compartmentalize their faith? Is Catholicism something we do like going shopping for groceries, tending to our lawn, or getting our homework done? It is one more activity we do to be a good person? Do we say we believe in God, go to Church on Sundays when it is easy enough because we know Jesus will forgive us? To me it feels like the Second Vatican Council ended up accomplishing the opposite of its intent in its implementation. We were called on to be a holy people.
Balthasar said that Christ is the last thing, not so much because Christ absorbs us, but because everything, us, the world, the cosmos are brought up to the plain of glory in Jesus Christ, where all things are transformed in Jesus. Isn't our task to do what we can now to bring about glory? Can we truly say that the way most Catholics live their lives now is the effect of a metanoia, conversion, and transformation of being into God? Where is God calling us, and how can our families and parishes jump into the deep?
3 replies to this topic
#1
Brother Adam
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- Church Scholar
- 15,252 posts
thou art holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
#2
dominicansoul
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- St. Hasa Perm
- 13,768 posts
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us...we need it
- Catholic
Posted 07 May 2012 - 06:56 PM
Brother Adam, this is a subject for deep meditation... and even an examination of conscience...
After all that we can say and do and discuss...what it boils down to is our relationship with Jesus Christ... reform begins with teh individual... if I wish for the church to change the world ... I have to live my life knowing Jesus... to know Him is to obey His commandments... so many of us say that "yes, i am a good person.." or "yes, I am a Christian..." but we easily compromise our actions to satisfy our own selfish desires...
...this is the challenge... not to become worldly and disappear into the maddening crowd, but to be a light on a hill... to live our lives "perfect as Our Father in heaven is perfect..."
...its not impossible---Jesus says so!
After all that we can say and do and discuss...what it boils down to is our relationship with Jesus Christ... reform begins with teh individual... if I wish for the church to change the world ... I have to live my life knowing Jesus... to know Him is to obey His commandments... so many of us say that "yes, i am a good person.." or "yes, I am a Christian..." but we easily compromise our actions to satisfy our own selfish desires...
...this is the challenge... not to become worldly and disappear into the maddening crowd, but to be a light on a hill... to live our lives "perfect as Our Father in heaven is perfect..."
...its not impossible---Jesus says so!
- Brother Adam, Archaeology cat and Basilisa Marie gave this props
#3
Groo the Wanderer
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- Church Militant
- 4,696 posts
I Can Change My Own Title Now
Posted 07 May 2012 - 09:01 PM
we cannot be Catholic only on Sunday. Christ sent us into the world to be Catholic 24x7
- Archaeology cat and dominicansoul gave this props
#4
Papist
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- Church Militant
- 10,044 posts
acta non verba
- Catholic
Posted 08 May 2012 - 09:02 AM
I think I do compartmentalize, somewhat. I think it is b/c I am so anal-retentive.
DS hit it pretty close for me. I strive to be holy. If I succeed, the source of my holiness is Jesus Christ through His Church. Me evangelizing is the way I live my Catholic life. And I always need to be prepared to give reason for the hope within it me. And as Groo says, this is around the clock, 24x7x365.
DS hit it pretty close for me. I strive to be holy. If I succeed, the source of my holiness is Jesus Christ through His Church. Me evangelizing is the way I live my Catholic life. And I always need to be prepared to give reason for the hope within it me. And as Groo says, this is around the clock, 24x7x365.
- dominicansoul gave this props
