I get where you’re coming from, some Catholics are miserable and act like Pharisees but I don’t agree with the idea that just because there are “sad” Catholic means “happy” people in habitual mortal sin can grow closer to God even if they don’t repent. That’s just not true by definition. Yes Francis’ tone was welcoming to some but it was also hurtful to many who tried to be loyal to the Church. And yes Benedict gave the controversial Regensburg Address but I don’t think he was harsh at all, he simply spoke the truth that needed to be heard and the world will always hate that. Popes depictions by the media are also driven by an agenda and any Pope who is clear is going to be labeled as evil even if he is the gentlest holiest man.
You can’t repent from mortal sin before understanding who Jesus is, how much God loves you and wants to restore you and bring you into Oneness with the One who is Love. I was raised blatantly anti-Christian and vocally hated Christians…Until I was 20 and God worked through my best friend at the time, a guy who identified as gay, to tell me about the gospel of God’s great love for the world…that God Himself became human to suffer and die for me to reconcile me to Himself with a greater love and intimacy than I could fathom. And not only that but He wants to carry my deepest pain, shame, brokenness, and give me His life to live in me. And THEN (craziest of crazy wonder) feed me /sustain me with His body and blood). I argued for awhile
with my friend about sin (the concept itself), but ultimately I gave my whole being to God and Jesus radically changed my life. Have I still been a hot mess at times? Of course. Has His faithfulness transformed me. Absolutely. But I would have never gotten there (unfortunately) in the average Catholic parish and especially not in a TLM where unfortunately I have yet to meet a Catholic who understands that God’s grace absolutely transforms you and leads to a joy you can’t help but share. I’m still not sure why “traditional” and “joyful” are mutually exclusive nowadays. Bottom line: it’s God’s kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).
I love your comment and am so glad you’ve met Jesus, that he is (or is becoming) your friend.
It is important to realize that God, being God, can reach into any life and bring any person to repentance whenever he chooses. (You might be interested in the many mid-East muslims who are becoming Christians because Jesus appears to them in their dreams.) Many people come to repentance through beginning to come to know Jesus, but that’s only the first, toddling steps. We come to know and love Christ by following him, by reaching the moment when we ask, Where else would we go? By being able to say to him, I’m yours to do with as you please.
Jesus does work through us sometimes*; God loves to give us a part: when we are bursting with Christ’s joy, we attract others, even curmudgeons. It’s vital that we share Jesus’ love but we must remember that he is the one whom the stones would praise if we didn’t. All we need to do is our part (which will always be tiny) and trust him to do everything else.
I see what you are saying about the difference between Francis and Benedict's strategies here. But the problem with Francis' strategy is that he combined it with an almost pathological hatred of those who wanted to deepen their faith. There was no attempt at reconciliation with those who wanted to practice the traditional faith: just unending petty spite and insult.
Good read! Part of the barrier between myself and Papa F was that centuries of gloomy Irish Catholic genetic selection have made me the kind of person who isn't motivated by joy or intimacy, but rather duty and tradition. Papa was often confusing to me, but I'm grateful for the opportunity he gave us to challenge our assumptions and think outside the box.
Thanks for this, Stephen. I loved Francis, and I think you put your finger on why. Definitely miss him. I pray whoever is next will continue to preach this spirit of joy in Christ.
Your flamin’ hot take is correct, and I’m not sure why it could be controversial that Christ’s love changes you. Hopefully it’s not.
I get where you’re coming from, some Catholics are miserable and act like Pharisees but I don’t agree with the idea that just because there are “sad” Catholic means “happy” people in habitual mortal sin can grow closer to God even if they don’t repent. That’s just not true by definition. Yes Francis’ tone was welcoming to some but it was also hurtful to many who tried to be loyal to the Church. And yes Benedict gave the controversial Regensburg Address but I don’t think he was harsh at all, he simply spoke the truth that needed to be heard and the world will always hate that. Popes depictions by the media are also driven by an agenda and any Pope who is clear is going to be labeled as evil even if he is the gentlest holiest man.
You can’t repent from mortal sin before understanding who Jesus is, how much God loves you and wants to restore you and bring you into Oneness with the One who is Love. I was raised blatantly anti-Christian and vocally hated Christians…Until I was 20 and God worked through my best friend at the time, a guy who identified as gay, to tell me about the gospel of God’s great love for the world…that God Himself became human to suffer and die for me to reconcile me to Himself with a greater love and intimacy than I could fathom. And not only that but He wants to carry my deepest pain, shame, brokenness, and give me His life to live in me. And THEN (craziest of crazy wonder) feed me /sustain me with His body and blood). I argued for awhile
with my friend about sin (the concept itself), but ultimately I gave my whole being to God and Jesus radically changed my life. Have I still been a hot mess at times? Of course. Has His faithfulness transformed me. Absolutely. But I would have never gotten there (unfortunately) in the average Catholic parish and especially not in a TLM where unfortunately I have yet to meet a Catholic who understands that God’s grace absolutely transforms you and leads to a joy you can’t help but share. I’m still not sure why “traditional” and “joyful” are mutually exclusive nowadays. Bottom line: it’s God’s kindness that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).
I love your comment and am so glad you’ve met Jesus, that he is (or is becoming) your friend.
It is important to realize that God, being God, can reach into any life and bring any person to repentance whenever he chooses. (You might be interested in the many mid-East muslims who are becoming Christians because Jesus appears to them in their dreams.) Many people come to repentance through beginning to come to know Jesus, but that’s only the first, toddling steps. We come to know and love Christ by following him, by reaching the moment when we ask, Where else would we go? By being able to say to him, I’m yours to do with as you please.
Jesus does work through us sometimes*; God loves to give us a part: when we are bursting with Christ’s joy, we attract others, even curmudgeons. It’s vital that we share Jesus’ love but we must remember that he is the one whom the stones would praise if we didn’t. All we need to do is our part (which will always be tiny) and trust him to do everything else.
Absolutely! It’s been 25 years following Him now, half my life, and every day, in every sorrow and joy, it is a wonder.
I see what you are saying about the difference between Francis and Benedict's strategies here. But the problem with Francis' strategy is that he combined it with an almost pathological hatred of those who wanted to deepen their faith. There was no attempt at reconciliation with those who wanted to practice the traditional faith: just unending petty spite and insult.
I don't disagree. But that is secondary.
Good read! Part of the barrier between myself and Papa F was that centuries of gloomy Irish Catholic genetic selection have made me the kind of person who isn't motivated by joy or intimacy, but rather duty and tradition. Papa was often confusing to me, but I'm grateful for the opportunity he gave us to challenge our assumptions and think outside the box.
I can respect that
Thanks for this, Stephen. I loved Francis, and I think you put your finger on why. Definitely miss him. I pray whoever is next will continue to preach this spirit of joy in Christ.