As a pastor, I have to attend many meetings derived from structures that have been put in place since the Second Vatican Council. Some of these are the Pastoral Council, with its myriad of committees, the School Board, the Finance Council, the Stewardship Committee and now a new structure for our future Capital Campaign which eventually will become all-consuming, sidelining some of the other meetings that I should attend. There's not a night that doesn't go by that I shouldn't be attending some meeting.
Yet Pope Benedict in his homily yesterday stated that the strength of the Church is not in her structures, but in her saints. While I haven't had the benefit to read the homily I would like to offer a few suggestions on the Holy Father's very insightful teaching.
1. What if every Catholic decided to make their home truly the Church in Miniature?
2. What if they prayed in the home every day and made the Rosary the foundation of that daily prayer, not to mention some aspects of the Liturgy of the Hours?
3. What if they attended Mass every Sunday and had a grand Sunday dinner following Mass, a formal one with their better tableware?
4. What if they tried to attend daily Mass?
5. What if they had family discussion daily during or after a sit-down supper about some aspect of Church teaching or some reflection on the saint of the day?
What else would you add?
3 comments:
I would add a personal nightly examination of conscience and going at least bi-weekly to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a family or married couple.
What if every Catholic believed in all of the teachings of the Catholic Church? Not picked and choosed teachings that fit their idea of the Truth. Sorry to focus on the negative, but lukewarm or "cafeteria" Catholics do more damage to our Faith than any athesis, in my opinion. I understand that we are all at different stages with the gift of Faith, but in order to practice our Catholic Faith, belief and following all teachings must at least be attempted. We aren't perfect and the Father knows that so He sent the Holy Spirit through which the One Holy Catholic Church was established. Christ's teachings were preached, starting with the Apostles for us to follow. So we've been given a guide to find our way to the Father. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a great place to start. Hey, what if we all read the Catechism with our families?
What if we all had a statue of Mary in our yard or garden, or even apartment patio/doorstep?
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