YET ANOTHER PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH

The latter half of the 20th Century witnessed an unprecedented decline in religious affirmation and practice among the nations of the Western world.

The reasons for this are many and varied.  However, accompanying (if not the cause of) the downward spiral of religious fervor, were the many of the technological and mass media revolutions inspired and driven principally by the Internet.

These changes profoundly impacted the way people think and act, perhaps forever.  And nowhere are these changes accepted nor have they been assimilated than in the lives of young people, the future generations of secular society and the Church.

Scientific research has proven how critical the formative years of childhood and young adulthood are for establishing a person’s adult religiosity.  And sadly, the scientific community is late in coming to the realization of the fundamental role the family plays in the formation of cultural and societal values.  Sadder still, the Church seemingly forgot the same truth as it appropriated to itself(by way of the Catholic school primarily) the role of “first teacher” of children in the ways of Faith by allowing parents to abdicate their rightful duty and obligation to form their children by their own Christian example and practice.

The unfortunate result is that the decline in religious practice is almost certain to continue for many years to come, as the more practising older generations gradually die off and the resolutely non-practising generations “behind them” will not be replacing them.

There is no doubt about it:  Western cultures have lost their once established Christianity.  As a result, the Church is facing a situation in which a culture is in the process of lapsing back into a position where, for the most part, Christ is unknown. And this, of course, describes Western Europe and America today.

The Church has been aware of this ominous trend for decades.  It was one of the motivating reasons why Pope St. John XXIII convened Vatican Council II, attempting to “breathe fresh air” into the Church, reading the “signs of the times” and updating (aggiornamento) the Church’s conversation with the modern world.

In the more than six decades than have transpired since Vatican II, the Church has struggled to formulate what the terms of that conversation should be.  Even now, the Church is not entirely sure what it is that needs addressing.

Pope St. John Paul II spoke of a “new evangelization”.  Yet, the concept remains an elusive one.  Of what does or will this consist?  Catechesis? Sacramental preparation? Youth ministry? Parish community life? Liturgical music? Some, all or none of the above?

These are questions that Church leaders have scarcely begun to formulate, let alone seriously attempted to answer. 

But time is running out as succeeding generations are assuming positions of responsibility without a Christian underpinning to the judgments they make or the values they espouse.

The future is not a bright one for the Church.  

The truth is that the path toward that future will be slow and gradual, sometimes painful, and marked by long periods of (real or imagined) failure or futility. 

Furthermore, while in no way diminishing the importance of what this present generation can achieve, the likelihood of our seeing much to show for it is not hopeful.

Lest we become overly discouraged, however, let us remind ourselves that the Church is, first and foremost, the Bride of Christ Himself.  We have every reason to believe that the Lord loves His Bride and will protect and sustain her, that He will be faithful to her “in the good times and the bad”, in spells of “sickness and health”.

Fortified by that conviction, let us pray for the Church, the world’s singular hope!  Even as we observe the trials and tribulations, the disappointments and divisions, let us contribute what is admittedly the most powerful assistance within our power to offer:  let us pray for the Church each and everyday, asking the Holy Spirit to guide and protect her.

The existence of the Church lies in the power of the Divine Will.  We can either resist that Will or encourage its fulfillment by our obedient and prayerful submission.

And so, allow me once again, to conclude yet another post with this constant prayer:  Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful and kindle in us the power of Your Love!