Recently I have heard many iterations
of the same sentiment, especially in the social media world, that the Church is
“failing” us. Sometimes in the Internet realm, as a Catholic, I feel like a
stranger in a foreign land. When I read these articles I feel like being
Catholic is something laughable or outdated. It seems like it is better and
more acceptable to identify yourself as practically anything other than
Catholic and pro-life. I see people
using these secular sources and media outlets to understand what the Church is
saying on matters. Yet would anyone go to the United States Catholic Conference
of Bishops’ website to see how the Phoenix Suns are doing? Even if the USCCB
did comment on the Suns most people would go straight to the source to get
their information.
I see so much confusion and anger
towards the “Church” in the world, yet primarily the Church is made up of us,
her members. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church it says “’The Church’ is
the People that God gathers in the whole world. She exists in local communities
and is made real as a liturgical, above all a Eucharistic, assembly” (CCC 752).
The Pope, bishops and priests lead us but the people are the tangible
manifestation of the Church in the day to day realities of life. If people are disappointed
in the Church, it is up to us as Catholics to show them Love and Charity, “This
is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one
another” (John 13:35). The sacraments, from which we constantly draw strength
and grace, aid us in this endeavor.
Priests are the face of Catholicism
to many people. We all know the tragic stories of priests who have fallen into sin.
But what never makes the front page of the paper, or even page 15, what no one
mentions in their Facebook statuses, are the faithful priests who are doing
their best and glorifying God every day, who sit in the confessional for hours
every week, who visit the sick, sit with the dying, sacrifice time with their
families and friends to be with their parishioners; priests who wake up early
every morning to start their day in prayer and stay up late to end it in the
same way. Yet they rarely have someone to witness and write about these daily
heroic acts of love.
I know that priests are human, I
lived with one. My big brother became a priest two years ago. We expect priests
and the church to be made up of perfect, sinless members, yet they are human. I
have heard it said many times – if you want better priests, pray for them; they
are praying for you.
There are so many good, holy,
Catholic people I encounter the more involved I become with my parish. People I
see patiently waiting in the confession line every week. The couples faithfully
using Natural Family Planning instead of contraception, who love it and talk
about how it is helping their marriage thrive. I see men and women who have experienced
the pain of divorce but continue to lead holy lives, going to mass every Sunday
and being embraced by our community. The other day I saw a lovely woman from
our parish waiting for the bus so she could take Holy Communion to the people
in a senior living community, when she herself lives in an assisted living home
and doesn’t even have a car. All of these people are trying to live the faith
not because they feel oppressed by it but because they love it, because it is
making their lives better, and because they have a sincere love for Jesus. They
see goodness and the message of Jesus Christ being faithfully spread by the
Catholic Church. It is hard not to stand in awe of convicted people doing their
best every day and living lives that are pleasing to the Lord. So much beauty
is found in those who fill our churches.
The Catholic Church has provided
such joy and truth in my life. The teachings I have struggled with
understanding the most, once looked into (using the Catechism, Scripture,
talking to priests and other reliable sources) I have come to find make the
most sense in a truly beautiful and completely rational way. The sacraments
have been a source of grace, aid and joy to me throughout my life. Yes, it is
hard sometimes, “How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to
life” (Matthew 7:14), but like any commitment or worthwhile relationship it
requires work and dedication. As G.K. Chesterton said “The Christian ideal has
not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left
untried,” No matter where I have been in the world and no matter what day it is
I have always been able to find a church with open doors, and for that I am
eternally grateful. The Church is not failing, it is alive and well, and if
ever we feel it is then we should look inward and discover what it is that we have left untried.
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