fr paul's blog

The Task Before Us.
When we talk of the crisis of the faith in our times, when we desire the true renewal of Christian life we must not put or hope in any outward solution.  For the struggle in which we are engaged is a spiritual one against the heresy of Modernism.  This system of thought believes that the Church must accommodate itself to the world by changing the essentials of faith given to us by Our Lord in sacred scripture and tradition.  It finds refuge in endless changes and projects, always avoiding a truly supernatural faith as witnessed in the lives of the Saints.  Of the unknown saints, the good and humble men and women of the past, who lives their lives in humility and hiddenness.
The face of the Church is the face of Christ and it is a thing of beauty.  No Church reform that is not faithful to tradition, to a supernatural faith, can draw souls to that beauty.  Rather a distoration a rupture takes place.  Nothing lasting has or will come from this as we see all around us.  The springtime of renewal that was promised decades ago has become the chill winter of discontent.  Everywhere the "experts" began making change after change thinking in making a pact with the values of the world it would win respect and be listened to in the marketplace of babel.
The way to go is another:  "Thus says the Lord:  Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls"
Jeremiah 6.V16.
The way of the ancient path is that of working every day in the education of souls to live the Mass faithful to holy tradition.  To help everyone to understand its sublime beauty, the face of Christ.
Intelligent fervent priests are needed, able in prayer, study and sacrifice to teach, help and support their people to rediscover this divine beauty so that they can strive to be saints passionate for the work of God.
Human games of continuous change are the sign of the bored man, always in search for the latest novelty, always restless, never still, fearing the silence of the Divine gaze.
There is nothing external that can replace our conversion to sincere personal devotion, to an authentic love of Christ.  Our conversion, however, worked through grace, will spring from the prayer of the Church which Tradition has given us and which is the prayer of Christ Himself.