20 July 2012
From a reader:
"I’m a 28 year old, white, married, male with 3 children, a decent job, two degrees in Theology and an ever-growing chip on my shoulder. I know enough to know that there is always a “storm period” after Mother Church meets for ecumenical councils and that we are presently in the midst of our own.
Great encouragement and hope comes from the new, young and faithful bishops, priests and seminarians. Perhaps the winds have shifted?
Nevertheless, I am still all but forced to sing terrible ‘80s folk music at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; Overzealous, more-than-middle-aged, short-haired, skirt-suit-wearing, professional church ladies continue trying to tell me a) that the Old Testament episodes are stories and b) when my children can receive the Sacraments; priests do not use the Sign of the Cross at funeral Masses because there “might be non-Catholics there”; I must “filter” seemingly every homily I hear. I won’t go on since I’m sure you understand.
TLM has not returned [HERE] as of yet. I am growing fatigued by the current state of affairs and while my faith is in no danger, my charity and patience certainly are. Besides prayer and waiting for this “rebellion in the nursing home” – Card. Schonborn’s words – to die, what ought we to do?"
I do understand.
You can move. You can stay put and suffer and wait. You can try to effect a change.
Perhaps you could organize a group of like-minded people who want the older form of Mass. Then pick a parish where the priest is most likely to be sympathetic, and then make the formal petitions for what you want. Be sure that you include pledges to cover all the expenses for the changes you want and the promise to be involved with the life of the parish.
In many places changes have been brought about by lay people who take initiative.
Also, begin to pray and take on mortifications such as fasting, asking Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, to intercede with her Son the Eternal Priest to move the hearts of the priests you deal with to greater fidelity and flexibility.
You can pray to St. Joseph too, perhaps using the Bux Protocol.
In the meantime, pray for and promote vocations to the priesthood. See if there is a local Serra Club chapter. Work with the Knights of Columbus. Do something to promote and support sound vocations to the priesthood!
God helps those who help themselves and there is strength in numbers.
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KWTC NOTE: You contact Una Voce International to find your local chapter. If there isn't one...start it.
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