Two years ago my husband made the decision to take control of his health by doing P90X, a ridiculously intense workout system that takes 90 days to complete. Instructor Tony Horton invaded our home for three rounds {9 months, give or take}. He then moved onto Insanity with Shaun T. and has recently started Insanity – The Asylum. If you think I’m promoting these programs, you’d be wrong. I look at Tony and Shaun and see that while they are the guide for the program, you have to be a willing participant and follow it to a “T” if you are going to get the maximum benefit. They are unchanging in their approach because they have a tried and true method. They are unapologetic. They want you to “Bring It” or “Dig Deeper.” Anything short of that is a waste of your time.
So, you can imagine how the following exchange would go between Shaun T. and one of the participants on the video:
Participant: “Um, so, I was wondering if you could be nicer to me and expect less because I have no reason to ‘dig deeper.’ I just want to do this program my own way…except I want the same results that you obviously work hard for.”
I won’t even answer for Shaun T. because I imagine it would be lots of yelling and ugly words, followed by suicide drills. Lots and lots of suicide drills.
How does this really tie into our Faith? Well, a great deal of what I cherish about the Faith is its pragmatic, logical approach to life. The Truth of our Faith is static, unchanging. It does not rely on our belief. It is a tried and true system, but like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it.
The Church has always taught, maintained and guarded the Truth through the centuries. Even now, when the secular world wants Mother Church to bend and sway to meet a temporal demand, She resists and holds fast for a reason. What people often fail to realize is that the Church doesn’t have the authority to change what Christ left us.
I had an epiphany once that had to do with the current trend among mainstream American Catholics. Now, I don’t want to divide folks into categories but what I’m writing begs a distinction between two different approaches to worship. To follow what I’m saying, I need to address the two types. There are those who are orthodox – folks who strive to follow the teachings of the Church in spite of their shortcomings or lack of understanding. These are people who are not necessarily “holier-than-thou” or “sanctimonious,” but average people. They stumble and fall daily in their walk with Christ. They strive for obedience despite their objections. They humble themselves before God and realize He knows best rather than their flawed self. Then there are those who are heterodox. A sad reality in our culture is that Catholics have too often succumbed to the pressure and adopted the mentality of non-Catholic influences – society, secular news, non-Catholic family members, anti-Catholic mindsets, work, etc. It has wedged itself into how we want to be catechized – as if we had a choice in the matter! If our Faith is our identity, our heritage, our family, we have simply lost our way as American Catholics.
It’s time to reclaim our Faith, friends.
Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ
Our priests are our spiritual coaches. If we are going for the best spiritual results {i.e. heaven} we should be no less satisfied than someone committed to a rigorous workout program. In fact, we should be dedicated to spiritual workouts more than an exercise program. Come on now! We’re talking about the other side. The Glorious friendship with God in His heavenly kingdom. Eternal happiness. Are you getting excited at that thought? You should be! This is why it is of utmost importance that our priests deliver the Truths of our Faith, to inspire us to learn more and live in accordance with our Faith. Let us allow ourselves to be nurtured and fed God’s True Word, which is rooted in His love. We should feel so on fire that we would follow our priest to hell to put out the furnace. So, where are we falling short?
We can’t choose to live in willful defiance of what the Church teaches. What does that mean for our souls? What would we rather have? Eternal happiness with God? Or, are we willing to trade it in for the temporal pleasures that come along with any of the things that reject the tenets of the Faith? Are we “going for the gold” in all things that have a definite shelf life here on earth or are we putting energies into things that are going to give us the greatest reward we could possibly imagine in the next life?
If you, or someone you know, believe in the following, it is time for a spiritual overhaul:
- Missing Mass without a valid reason is fine and not a mortal sin – False
- Missing Mass while on vacation is always ok…you get a vacation from Mass too – False
- Confession is unnecessary {including thought processes of “I can take it straight to the Big Man and be ‘ok’” or “I don’t need a priest to confess my sins”} – False
- An annulment is a Catholic divorce – False
- Not being a good steward of our earthly resources is ok – False
- Being divorced, in a relationship and receiving Communion without an annulment is ‘ok’ – False
- There are “special circumstances” that allow any good and practicing Catholic an exemption from the ‘no birth control’ rule – False
- Being in a state of mortal sin KNOWINGLY and receiving communion anyway is ok – False
- Unbaptized babies go to Limbo – False
- Moral relativism is ok because God will reward us with heaven/grace no matter what we do – False
- Annulments cost too much and some good people just can’t afford to pay their way out – False
- Communion is bread and wine – False
- We can do whatever we want, go to Confession and it’s all good – False
- All poor people need is to pull themselves up by their boot straps – they don’t need charity – False
- Catholics can live together before marriage – False
- The Pope can change the view of the Church on abortion, birth control, women priests, living the homosexual lifestyle – False
- You don’t need to follow the rules of the Church, just the ones that speak to your conscience. A well-formed conscience just means that you thought about it a lot, and not necessarily that you kept studying what the Church teaches beyond RCIA or Confirmation – False
- We should not be concerned with the well-being of illegal immigrants – False
- You can be a “good Catholic” and dissent from major if not most of what the Church teaches – False
- NFP is just Catholic birth control – False
- Tithing is for Protestants – False
- Believing in and/or cooperating with abortion either materially or formally does not affect my ability to be a “Catholic in good standing” – False {this particularly applies to politicians who are at the greatest risk of scandal and putting their soul in peril due to their public platform of placing the “common good” above their duty to Christ’s Church first}
- I don’t need Mass because I am a good person – False
Ask yourself, am I being challenged to be a better Catholic or am I simply complacent with what I know? If the answer is no to the first, then roll up your sleeves. We’ve got work to do, and I’m anxious to share with you. Until next time…
So well written! It’s amazing how we can be sticklers for some things and yet in our faith, where we should be the most diligent, often we pick and choose what “works best” for us instead of what “is best” for us. We all have shortcomings and we all fail at times but we should all be striving to give God our very best and to obey his laws. Thank you for posting such a wonderful article! I hope many will take it to heart!
How refreshing! Our hearts can recognize truth. Thanks for the challenge, and to Austin Catholic New Media for thinking of all of us as worthy enough to go for the gold.
Harsh words, and ones I think many Catholics need to hear. Thank you for writing this.
You know, I needed to read this today. I have been reading a lot of catholic blogs lately as I’ve struggled with my faith. And you are right. Since I do not believe most any of your points above, I do not belong in the catholic church any more. This will probably upset my husband (though he knows it is coming) and will definitely upset my parents and probably half of my siblings, but it’s true. I do not believe that communion is anything more than bread and wine, that birth control is wrong, or that catholics have any more light to shed on salvation than any other christian denomination. So while it was probably not the goal of your post, thank you for clarifying my path.
Kristine: I have asked the PTB of ACNM to create an e-mail specifically for situations like this. My door is always open, and I often counsel people who have doubts about the Faith. You aren’t alone in your struggle. My e-mail is martina{at}austincnm{dot}com. I’ll look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for your honesty.
Kristine – In reading through Martina’s post, I didn’t see anything that
implied that a person in your position should leave the Church. In
fact, I think Martina would say quite the opposite — it’s time to “dig
deeper” in the Faith in which you already belong, not run away from it. I
think we’ve all been in a position where we just weren’t sure what we
believed. That doesn’t mean that it’s time to throw in the towel.
Instead I challenge you to open up your mind and spend a period of time truly educating yourself on *why*
the Church teaches what she does — starting with her claim that she is
*the* Church established by Christ and guided into *all* Truth by the
Holy Spirit. This is, in fact, the most important claim of all, because
if this claim is true, then the rest of them *must* be. If this claim
isn’t true, well, then who can really say what else might be false as
well — and you’d be right to be skeptical of all the other stuff!
(Hint: The claim is true ;)). I challenge you to, at the same time, pray fervently each day that the Lord will open your eyes and show you His Truth. He will not disappoint you if you ask with sincerity and humility (in other words, being open to the idea that maybe you are wrong in what you believe). I pray that God pours his grace upon you should you decide to challenge yourself in this way.
I’m sorry what I wrote influenced you, Kristine, to leave the faith. I am an adult convert from atheism because I discovered that Catholicism has rich, compelling reasons for why it teaches what it does that are rational, historically consistent, and biblically-based. Have you truly studied the issues you’ve struggled with, or have you let your “feelings” be your guide? Too many Catholics who don’t understand why contraception is wrong or how we can know the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus will walk away without ever investigating for themselves the reasons behind these teachings.
The only last thing I would add is that if you really believe Communion is just bread and wine, you have not read about Eucharistic miracles. About the people whose terminal illnesses or disabilities disappeared upon the monstrance being passed in front of them. A blind woman whose optic nerve had withered had her sight restored at Lourdes after the Eucharist was processed before her–but examinations showed her optic nerves were STILL WITHERED. God gives us mountains of evidence that not only does he loves us, but that the fullness of truth is to be found in the Catholic faith. It’s there…are you looking for it?
Sorry… meant to say, “what Mrs. Kreitzer wrote”
Kristine, I hope you will dig deeper if you believe in God and heaven is your ultimate goal. Regarding the Eucharist, I think that is an issue of faith. Some days, even for the most devout, it is so hard to imagine that the Eucharist is *the* body and blood of Jesus. However, we are asked by our faith to believe not because we see it, but because we simply say, Amen. That is all we are asked. We are not asked to prove it or examine the evidence of it. We are simply asked to leave all our doubts at the altar. And if you allow yourself to do this, you will experience communion as it was intended. TOO many catholic’s approach the altar without knowing and really believing what they are doing and they do not experience the fullness of the faith experience that we have in the Eucharist. Allow yourself this experience. Go to confession and allow yourself to believe that God’s mercy will forgive whatever you are sorry for. Then go to communion and allow yourself, give yourself the privilege of really believing that you are about to receive the body and blood of Christ. Then bask in the warmth of communion with our Lord.
And with the birth control issue, that is an issue of fear and control. Research the church’s position on birth control. Find out why it is considered a sin. Meet with a priest and discuss your concern. This is an area of our life where we are asked to put our faith into action. And those who do let go of that control experience a profound increase in faith and blessings. In this and in all areas of our life we are asked to let go and let God.
Peace
Tremendously well put! Couldn’t agree more!
Well, it’s been a week, and I have to say that I’m saddened that Martina hasn’t come back to reply to Kristine’s comment. I’m sad that instead of clarifying that Martina’s litany was more reflective of what catechized catholics should be reminded to adhere to, no, this post wasn’t meant for her.
Instead, I see paragraphs in defense of Martina instead of charitably thinking that Kristine is making a decision that may leave her without a place to go.
She didn’t need “you should.” She needed “we love. The Church loves.”
And I think the best example of charity came from Kristine herself who let Martina off the hook in the first place with “So while it was probably not the goal of your post, thank you for clarifying my path.”
She showed appreciation and a release of culpability.
Many others just wrote a CYA for Martina, and with Martina herself not coming back, I don’t know what to think.
Even if she leaves, Kristine is still part of our Church, and we owe it her and to God to not barrage her with a list of “well thens” and doctrinal truths she obviously isn’t familiar with (otherwise, she wouldn’t left).
I don’t think this is what Jesus would have wanted. He spoke in parables, not “in doctrine,” to those who were just beginning .. this was just very, very sad.
I’ve watched all week… and nothing.
I pray we all — including me — remember to pray and think of everyone who may be watching and every angle from which our posts may be perceived, lest we scandalize the least of us — before we begin to write.
Katrina, God bless you on your journey. It begins within you, as you’ll find God there in your heart and soul.
The Catholic Church is a teaching church and offers us the sacraments to help us better “know” and “feel” God within us, and it’s something no other church offers. That’s what makes us different.
God bless you. I’m thinking of you, and will always think of you when I think of spreading God’s message online.
God bless everyone of us.
I think your reading of everyone’s posts as “defending” Martina and a “CYA for Martina” (on top of the way that you condemn Martina in the first place) is itself uncharitable. That’s not how I read those post at all… but then of course I am one of those supposed cheerleaders for Martina who apparently has very little concern for Kristine.
I think it’s a pretty big leap to suggest that this entry was the sole reason for Kristine’s leaving {if that’s what she has decided}. If culpability is assigned it must then reasonably assigned to both parties. The theme of the post is one that should inspire everyone, not just those who strive for orthodoxy, to do better in our walk with Christ. Our approach to our faith should never presume our “cup is filled.” None of us is exempt from that approach.
I spend a great deal of time in communication with those who consider leaving the Faith, have already left the Faith or who are actually considering becoming Catholic. The theme of inspiring us to be more than we currently are, is reasonable and expected. I don’t think the bullet list is anything to perceive as “scandalizing” but rather an examination of where we are {all Catholics}, particularly when we live in an area known for its liberal slant and moral relativism. Catholics who are doing their best to live out their Faith are doing so upstream in our area.
So, rather than feeling like we should leave the Faith, it begs a more inward approach. If someone is put off by a list, there is something more at work than a simple blog entry.
<>
It is quite a
stretch to construe this well-written piece as an invitation to leave the
Church! I did not read Kristine’s post as a sincere attempt at finding the
truth but rather as a snub at a Church she has already decided to leave.
<>
A person making the above
statement has very fundamental issues with the Catholic Church and some of Her
very basic teachings.
You’d have to reach really far
to perceive Marina’s words as anything other than what they are – an invitation
to dig into our rich Faith and find the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of what we believe and
practice. I causes one to pause and consider whether or not they are truly
living out the tenets of the Church left to us by Christ Himself.
These tenets are not optional nor are they debatable – they are what anyone who
calls themselves Catholic should aspire to. Are we perfect? Certainly not, and
I’d dare say from her thorough delving into the topic, Martina does not believe
herself unblemished either. We must set the bar VERY high if we are to aspire
to be the saints that Jesus calls us to be. Easy? NO! But a lofty goal builds a
better Catholic!
<>
While this could be taken as a
cry for help, it reads more like a sarcastic farewell to a Faith already
abandoned. Should be pray for Kristine? Absolutely! Would we prefer that she
dialog rather than bidding us farewell in one fell swoop? Yes! If Kristine is
seeking the Truth sincerely perhaps she will return to this blog and give
others with a more steady footing in their Faith to share the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’
of what Christ’s Church teaches. God bless her and all of those who are
struggling!
‘You
know, I needed to read this today. I have been reading a lot of catholic
blogs lately as I’ve struggled with my faith. And you are right. Since
I do not believe most any of your points above, I do not belong in the catholic
church any more.’
Kristine has made quite a
stretch if she construes this well-written piece as an invitation to leave the
Church! I did not read Kristine’s post as a sincere attempt at finding the
truth but rather as a snub at a Church she has already decided to leave.
‘I do not believe that
communion is anything more than bread and wine, that birth control is wrong, or
that catholics have any more light to shed on salvation than any other christian
denomination.’
A person making the above
statement has very fundamental issues with the Catholic Church and some of Her
very basic teachings.
You’d have to reach really far
to perceive Marina’s words as anything other than what they are – an invitation
to dig into our rich Faith and find the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of what we believe and
practice. I causes one to pause and consider whether or not they are truly
living out the tenets of the Church left to us by Christ Himself.
These tenets are not optional nor are they debatable – they are what anyone who
calls themselves Catholic should aspire to. Are we perfect? Certainly not, and
I’d dare say from her thorough delving into the topic, Martina does not believe
herself unblemished either. We must set the bar VERY high if we are to aspire
to be the saints that Jesus calls us to be. Easy? NO! But a lofty goal builds a
better Catholic!
‘So while it was
probably not the goal of your post, thank you for clarifying my path’
While this could be taken as a
cry for help, it reads more like a sarcastic farewell to a Faith already
abandoned. Should be pray for Kristine? Absolutely! Would we prefer that she
dialog rather than bidding us farewell in one fell swoop? Yes! If Kristine is
seeking the Truth sincerely perhaps she will return to this blog and give
others with a more steady footing in their Faith to share the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’
of what Christ’s Church teaches. God bless her and all of those who are
struggling!
Sorry, I don’t understand where the strange formatting is coming from. I’m having internet problems today :-/
This is for No One, who wants to know why the author has not come back to “defend” her article.
I’m a writer, too, and have published articles on faith in secular sources and religious ones. I always have “detractors” and people who misunderstand what I’m trying to say and if I spent time defending myself against every erroneous interpretation of my work–which people are wont to do–I’d never have time to live out my primary vocation of wife and mother. I can see plenty of good reasons why the author didn’t return–the first being, others have already articulated a charitable response to Kristine, many times over. And second, perhaps she wrote Kristine privately. I don’t think any author has the “duty” to return and personally respond to every person who comments on her article.
Jesus did not “speak in doctrine?” Really? Perhaps you missed what he said in John 6 about the Real Presence. Or what he said about remarriage being adultery. Or everything else. The idea that Our Lord never offered us any doctrinal or moral guidance is absurd and not in any way a Catholic line of thinking. The earliest Christians understood his oral teachings, as well as the guidance they received by the Holy Spirit at Pentacost, as doctrinal, which is why they issued the Didache, considered the first “creed” of Christian teachings that outlines moral and immoral behaviors.
As for how we ought to have responded “in love” to Kristine, what would you suggest is more loving than inviting her to investigate the TRUTH of the Catholic faith and surrender her will to it? Should we have said, “We love you, Kristine, and are happy you’re leaving the faith so you can live with integrity. Have you checked out Buddhism?” Love is wanting the best for the other–and the best for her to remain attached to the Catholic Church so she can receive the grace of the sacraments to help her get to heaven. It is NOT just wishing her the best in her “spiritual journey,” which reeks of moral relativism.
I’d also suggest that No One seems to be baiting the author, as if she has a personal ax to grind. If you do, take it elsewhere–that attitude is not in any way edifying to those who may be reading this article and these comments.