A Sunday Thought About Converting Ourselves First
It may seem selfish, but it's not. It is, however, not quite in step with modern post-Vatican II thinking.
If you've followed the slow strangulation of our hallowed traditions since the inmates took over the Church after Vatican II, you know that some of what has happened was outright and intentional destruction of many good and holy practices, both in our public liturgy and in our personal and public devotions.
The most obvious liturgical example: the virtual total replacement of the Mass of the Ages - the Vetus Ordo, a/k/a Tridentine Mass, a/ka, traditional Latin Mass, etc. The replacement, dubbed the Novus Ordo, was not mandated or even suggested by the documents of or the official public statements following Vatican II. That was the work of a the inmates who - quite frankly - hated the traditional Mass and despised the use of Latin.
Indeed, there was no mention of an overhaul of the Mass; just some possible tweaks here and there, e.g., the possible use of some English. As for Latin, it was mandated that Latin continue to be the language of our Holy Mass.
As for personal and public devotions, the list is long. On the personal side, the practice of saying the rosary during Mass was looked down upon, even sneered at. Women wearing veils? Don't ask. But the thing about personal devotions is that we can simply continue them as we always have despite and ignore the inmates rolling eyes.
Public devotions, though, is not in our control. Two big items: Processions and - maybe the biggest - 40 Hours Devotion. While both are making somewhat of a comeback, decades have passed where these, especially 40 Hours were jettisoned.
So much bad stuff, for sure. But there were some things that may have seemed to make some sense. "Evangelization" fits the bill here.
We've always been called to spread the Good News, for sure. But Evangelization put a more active twist on our general desire to bring others to Christ and His Church. And that's not so bad, right?
Frankly, this item really shouldn't suck us into a contentious debate. If you're a good, natural, evangelizer, what's the harm? Convert the world! Isn't that the charge Jesus gave to his disciples?
But before blazing a trail, give the following a read and some thought. It makes a lot of sense. And it comes from one of our great spiritual guides, Abbot John Chapman. He himself was a convert from Anglicanism. So he was well aware of how important conversion could be to anyone. Here, though, he gives us not only good, but fundamentally sound and important considerations before we head off on the Evangelization Trail.
Abbot John Chapman, O.S.B. (1865-1933)
“For one can probably – or rather certainly – do more to convert the world by keeping very close to God, and growing in union with Him, than by any outside work; though it seems difficult to believe sometimes. It is really best to preach a continual mission to oneself than an occasional one to others! And it is not selfishness for our own soul; for if God wants souls, He first wants mine from me, and until I have given it to Him entirely without any reserve, I have plenty to do for Him, without saving others’ souls.”
Happy Sunday!
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