(Image from Crisis Magazine)
Faithful Catholics in America have long lamented the dreadful Mass attendance numbers of the past half century. In 1970, 55% of American Catholics attended Mass; by 2019, that number had dropped to little over 20%. It’s clear that most self-identifying Catholics don’t think it’s obligatory, or even beneficial, to participate in the “source and summit” of the Catholic Faith on a regular basis. Going into 2020, however, who knew that we’d soon be looking at that 20% attendance with nostalgia.
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate recently released its figures regarding Mass attendance in 2020. It’s as bad as you suspect. Starting in March (ahem), the percentage of Catholics attending Mass plummeted from its already-pathetic 20% to around 5%.
The question that currently hovers over every chancery and rectory in America is this: will they ever come back? Will the Catholic Church in America see a return to pre-2020 numbers, which were already quite dreadful, but weren’t as catastrophic as now? No one knows the answer to that question, but I don’t think Church leaders should have high hopes.
So how should the Church respond? First, let’s recognize that the problem is much deeper than the past year’s restrictions. The shutdowns and restrictions didn’t cause, but revealed the reality many wanted to ignore: most Catholics have little more than a cultural attachment to the faith.
First, failing parishes must be closed. Simply put, in most dioceses there are far too many parishes for the number of practicing Catholics today. Forcing priests to cover 4-6 geographically spread-out parishes (as is becoming increasingly common) instead of closing most of those parishes clings to the notion that one day those failing parishes will recover. They won’t.
Secondly, a complete rethinking of the status quo—a status quo that’s been in place for over fifty years now—is needed. For example, Church leaders need to take a more combative attitude against our prevailing culture. For decades the hierarchy by and large has given its blessing (or at least a wink and a nod) at every destructive cultural trend. This includes refusing to fight against the growing view that people are primarily vectors of contagion rather than images of God. In the early Church, one of the primary ways the faith grew was the witness of the Christians in times of plague. When the pagans were (literally) running for the hills, the Christians would enter the cities to care for the sick and dying. Their witness led many to see that this new religion was vastly different from the dying pagan religions: it was full of courage and vigor. Does anyone really say this about Catholicism today?
As Fr. Joseph Ratzinger famously predicted decades ago, “From the crisis of today the Church of tomorrow will emerge—a Church that has lost much. She will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning. She will no longer be able to inhabit many of the edifices she built in prosperity. As the number of her adherents diminishes, so it will lose many of her social privileges. In contrast to an earlier age, it will be seen much more as a voluntary society, entered only by free decision. As a small society, it will make much bigger demands on the initiative of her individual members.” This is the church age we are now entering, and we need to act like it. The longer we try to hold on to the status quo, the more difficult it will be to begin the work of re-evangelization. And although the Catholic Church in America is experiencing a death right now, we were founded on the promise of a future resurrection.
Full story at Crisis Magazine.
Why is this even a question? There are parishes all over the country that are having no trouble attracting Catholics and even have a few vocations coming out of them…they’re run by enthusiastic and orthodox clergy that use beauty, truth, reverence and good sacred music in liturgy, spirituality and catechesis…Confession, benediction and adoration, meaningful scriptural study and guest lecturers…It takes a change in the parish culture, but it’s very possible as long as the local ordinary isn’t hell bent on appeasing the culture. Young people flock to places like this when they see the mystery and beauty and truth. Break out the thurible once in a while for pete’s sake, get a nicer tabernacle and put it in the center of the sanctuary. I swear, some clergy are so clueless.
Stop with the “Young people flock to places like this.” They don’t. A small percentage of young people seek that out, but not many. Just stop with the misinformation.
No Anon we will continue with the TLM until you are driven mad by it. and yeah young people do flock to the TLM. What do you dried up hippies give them, watered down preaching and talks on tolerance. Your side has failed on a galactic level and you can’t even to the destruction your side has caused.
Some of the the young people love using the clackers during Passiontide, and the haunting wailing sound of the Latin chant mourning the Lord’s death is something one never forgets.
The Jewish cantor mourning the deaths at the anniversary of those who died at 911 reminds me where we got most of our own chant – in whatever language — from the book of Psalms. Oh, indeed the Catholic Mass is the completion of the Jewish temple worship and its final sacrifice.
By the way, I have never left the Mass, except for the few weeks it was just livestreamed in my area and then watched it. Other than that, confession about once a month, Holy Communion outside in parking lots and grottos, inside at a funereal, on the tongue and in the hand at reverent Masses on Sundays and Holy Days have been part of my life.
Thank the Good Lord. I have been blest indeed.
Sorry, but bohemond is again wrong. As a person who goes to the TLM myself, I firmly believe that the TLM will never supplant the Mass of Pope Paul VI. The future of the Church is a reverent Mass in the vernacular (that automatically means the Ordinary Form, people) with an eye to the traditions of the Church. Some like bohemond might be banking on the “biological solution.” That’s a false hope. The Church is growing in Africa and Asia where the Ordinary Form is the norm; and it will continue to be the norm in the near and far future. This silly notion that the TLM is some “solution” is false and misguided. There is a lot of traditional Catholicism in the Ordinary Form, going even further back such as to the Didache’s description of the Mass.
Bohemond, good for you! Ignore jon.
Anonymous, yes, young people do flock to good churches with good, religious leadership and support for their lives! Without that, many sadly despair and give up on the Church.
Stop with what misinformation? Is what I wrote upsetting? I’m 55 and I was waiting with 25-30 others for confession and at least more than half were in their 20’s and 30’s. That it isn’t happening everywhere is my point…and reflect on why this information is disturbing….and there is no TLM here either.
Yes of course they will when the Church returns to the Traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments, 50 years of clown masses, tearing out communion rails, high altars, statues, confessionals, altar girls, lay lectors, dancing girls in leotards, drums, guitars, folk, rock, mariachi music, Holy communion in the hand while standing, giant puppet masses, hand holding, kiss of peace, Life Teen Masses, empty convents, empty seminaries, closed schools and hospitals and Mass attendance at 10% it was 75% before the Council and you ask if they will return?
Just stop with the “TLM” is the silver bullet that will save the church. I go to novus ordo and never have I seen clowns or puppets at Mass. There’s a TLM parish in my diocese. Guess what? It’s one of the smallest parishes in the diocese. People don’t want the TLM. If they did, that parish would have more than only 38 families, and it’s not a far drive from the city center.
RA, this is your typically repeated “copy and paste” answer.
Do you believe the Extraordinary Form of the Mass is the solution to all of the Church’s problems?
Do you believe the Ordinary Form, the Novus Ordo, Mass is valid?
In all my life, I’ve never seen a clown Mass (that’s an irreverent oxymoron!) or a puppet Mass (giant or other size). Where do you go to church?
I’ve seen the Ordinary Form Mass done reverently and irreverently. That is the much more fundamental issue,
Romulus, you are right on. Ignore your detractors. They don’t have a clue what has been lost. Let them enjoy their protestantized catholicism.
Anon, I believe that traditionalists believe in honesty. So, will you answer the question I sincerely asked RA (it is not a rhetorical question)?
Do you believe the Ordinary Form, the Novus Ordo, Mass is valid?
I am a different “Anon.” I believe that it isn’t important, the numbers of people who come to worship the Lord at any Mass. It is wonderful, if Christ has even just one or two sincere, devout, worshippers! What I believe our Church desperately needs– is sincere, devout, orthodox, authentic Catholic clerical leadership. That, to me, is the missing “key.”
I’m a different Anon than the other two. I agree with the first Anon but not the second Anon. Anonon it goes.
Our Masses are at capacity.
Lord, send a revival.
The answer to the headline question is some will, others will not. So we should ask why? Those who come back will be people who truly believe the teachings of the church, find that they get grace from the sermon as it relates to their life, and are involved with the church community. Their Pastor knows how to “do” church. Those who don’t come back just don’t see the point. It’s safe to say we lost them through poorly conducted masses, lousy sermons, even worse music, and a lack of trying to be a community of God. So, let’s ask what your Pastor has done to keep people wanting to come to Mass. Is the Mass live-streamed every week? Are there Wednesday night prayer services? Is CCD taught on Zoom once a week? Are the sermons ad-lib or are they well thought out and presented in an interesting way that makes the day’s Gospel meaningful. Do you get the impression that it took a couple of hours to prepare? Are the Cantors good voices or just those who are willing to sing? Does the parish have parking lot Communion services during the week? Those are the kinds of things that Protestant churches are doing. The Baptist church up the road has five acres, so they have church outdoors. Everyone stays in their car and listens to the service on the car radio and watches it on their phones or tablets. They get hundreds of people each Sunday, cars properly spaced. Those people will go back to church when they open again. My point is that if people don’t come back to church after the pandemic is squelched, it is the church’s fault. My wife belongs to a Lutheran church that has daily devotions sent to everyone on email, kid’s sermons are included in the Sunday service, pod-casts are normal, a weekly discussion of how to respond to what is happening in the area is held on Zoom with lots of people involved. Thy divide the load between the three Pastors who serve this 500+/- family congregation.
Perhaps Bob One fails to understand that this is a natural reaction when 70 percent of Catholics DO NOT believe in real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and why should they when in most Catholic parishes its usually distributed without reverence by so called Eucharistic Minister. And why is this, look at the past 60 years and yes I will point to fallout since Vatican 2, everything from liturgy, to altars, to physical parishes themselves have had Catholic Identity removed from them. The solution is NOT to become more like Protestants (like Bob One wants, we have been doing this for years) its is time reach into Traditions and embrace real Catholic Identity in every way. I just read a humorous story on Fishwrap how a parish I believe in North Carolina turned traditional and half the old liberals ran off to the local Lutheran sect. What does that tell you, liberals are really Protestants at heart and not Catholic, let us become smaller but holier. Bob One feel free to join your wife’s Lutheran sect if that’s where you heart lies.
bohemond, let’s be real honest! There are leftist liberals in both Catholic and Protestant denominations! Protestants who adhere to Biblical teachings are very conservative, and are very much against the liberals! There are many very devout Protestants in the Pro-Life and Pro-Christian Marriage movements. Some of them include Tim Tebow, Franklin Graham and his family, and many, many others! There have been some great devout, Biblically-based Lutherans, who also have given their lives for Christ, and have been martyred for it, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
There are leftist liberals in both Catholic and Protestant denominations. That’s the problem; they are leftist before they are Christian.
The problem and the flaw in Bohemond’s thinking and labeling of “leftists” this-or-that, is that the Church’s social teachings legitimately straddles between the two major political parties. People, the Church is not the Republican Party in prayer. There are teachings of the Church that are legitimately supported by the Democrat (that would be the “leftists” in bohemond’s nomenclature) platform; and at the same time there are social teachings of the Church supported by the Republican Party platform. The danger of saying the the Catholic Church is on the “right” (Republican side) is that it is false, it pigeonholes erroneously the Church, and the makes the Church an arm of the “rightists.” Yes, abortion is indeed a preeminent priority of the Church’s social teachings (which is supported by the “right”), but “preeminent” doesn’t mean it is the “only” teaching. There are other less-eminent but important teachings nonetheless which are found in the platforms of both parties. This unnecessary labeling of Catholics as “leftists” or “rightists” is distasteful and again, divisive.
No, jon. That is not what bohemond said. In religious circles, “leftist” means “modernist” or “progressive,” which means, they no longer follow Biblical teachings. It has nothing to do with politics– though “progressive” and ” modernist” are secular-influenced approaches. MI
To Anon. at 12:58pm: though the terms “leftist” or “right” may not be used by that poster as referring to politics, my point still stands. The labeling of fellow Catholics is just wrong. It is divisive. Food for thought: What I have found in this blog is a sad hypocrisy: that those who bewail and condemn the “leftists” for, let’s say, not following the Bible, are themselves guilty of not following some of the teachings of the Church, and of the Bible. Those who condemn “leftists” are also guilty of dissent on one or more teachings of the Church. It’s sad.
Modernism in all fields, including religion, basically started with the French Revolutionaries and grew tremendously with the Modernists of the late 19th century in art, music, literature, philosophy, theology, etc. Fr. John Courtney Murray, S.J., a “progressive” Jesuit who tried to reconcile Catholic teachings with religious pluralism, and a democratic society of religious freedoms, had a great impact on the Second Vatican Council (“Dignitates humanae” was a big contribution of his.) But before the Council, the Church heavily criticized him. His views were close to “Americanism,” (of Abp. John Carroll of Baltimore, Anerica’s first bishop, dealing with America and religious pluralism, etc.) condemned by Pope Leo XIII. But the Vatican changed, accepting many Modernist ideas previously condemned, notably by Pope St. Plus X– at the Second Vatican Council.
In Christianity, generally speaking, those who adhere to traditional, Biblical beliefs are called “conservatives,” and those who embrace more liberal, “leftist,” Modernist beliefs, rejecting a lot of traditional Biblical teachings, are called “liberals.” Also, in our Church, and in similar Protestant churches such as the Episcopal Church, “liberals” or “progressives” reject a lot of our Sacred Tradition, and liturgy. Typically, “liberals” or “progressives” “pick-and-choose,” “cafeteria-style,” what they accept and believe, in the Church– arranging religion to suit their own interests.
In my post of Jan. 28 at 3:06 pm, there is a typo– “Dignitatis” of “Dignitatis humanae” got misspelled.
Well, I just got very traditional. I just said my Rosary while listening to “Sacred Music From Medieval Spain: The Llibre Vermell And The Cantigas De Santa Maria”. I finished afterward by listening to chants in several languages, including Eastern, and “The Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic (Abun d’beschmayo). There were many, many, young Christian singers in all of this, so someone is doing something right somewhere. Many young people also know how to play some very ancient musical instruments. It is out there if you look for it.
Bohemond, you have put your finger on the problem which is lack of faith. That is something we can help by our prayers, especially the Rosary.
bohemond, let’s be straight about what I said and didn’t say. First, I described a bit about my wife’s church. I never said that I or we should become Lutheran. Second, we have been married just a few months short of 60 years. During that time we have each belonged to different churches and attended our own parish/congregation most Sundays. Now that everything is on Youtube, we watch her service and then mine each Sunday. My comments above were for illustration purposes only.
Bob , I do not always agree with you ,but God bless you and your wife on your upcoming 60 years of marriage , that gives me hope , and should be a example and inspiration to us all. Again God bless and keep you all.
We basically told the world that Mass/Sacraments were not essential. Why would they come back?
The answer isn’t the Latin Mass or the return to days gone by. The answer is faith. We have to believe and then act on that belief. But when church leaders don’t take these things important, how can those they lead take it important.
I hold no brief for all the matters mentioned by R.A,. only that any Mass celebrated with reverence — where the laity are led to focus not on themselves but on Christ our Savior–that Mass will be well-attended. As Richard says,”,,, when they see the mystery and beauty and truth.” Trouble is, the secular culture has beguiled so many of us to expect entertainment/good feelings and forgo the cross, prayer and reparation. It has to start with the bishop — he must be a very prayerful and humble servant of Christ, seeking nothing else but the honor of God. Inculcate this in his priests, and he will have laity who follow.
My gosh, the kneelers in the photo look painful. If churches want people to come back to Mass, some upgrades to the pews would help. I appreciate padding on the kneelers.
Man up !, bring your own kneeling pad , a little redemptive suffering builds character, this would not be a concern for a devoted Catholic.
I have only had the privilege of one Mass this past year in California. My father’s funeral mass. My 82-year-old mother cannot tolerate the heat of summer or the cold of winter outdoors and cannot be left alone so I might attend. There is nothing I would love more than to go to mass but I cannot leave my mother alone. Where are our shepherds? I was once a daily Mass goer but I don’t find any support from my parish. I do not get informed updates but I do get money requests. Go figure.
I have had a similar experience. The chapel where I had attended a TLM, still only has outdoor Mass. The location is in the mountains and there is no tent or shelter other than folks running to their cars when it starts to rain. They were more concerned about distancing while queing for communion and possible spies on premises. I kid you not.
Anonymous– here are a couple of suggestions for you! You can watch daily Mass online, or a local TV Mass, or EWTN’s daily TV Mass, and make a Spiritual Communion. Or else, you can hire a nice lady or friend to stay with your mom, for just an hour, while you go to a live Mass. It’s a very good idea, never to give up on Mass attendance, no matter what your circumstances may be! Also, if you notify your parish, someone may happily help you make arrangements, so you can at least attend weekly Sunday Mass. The priest may even make a home visit, bringing Holy Communion for you and your mother.
Anonymous, you are doing well taking care of your mother. This is always a legitimate reason for missing Mass. Please accept my condolences and extend them to your mother for the loss of your father.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
I was watching a YouTube clip of the nuns in England who have a chart topping album. The interviewer was brought to tears by them. The specific thing that brought her to tears was the nun saying (paraphrased):
You just have to have faith and trust that everything will be all right.
It is doubly impressive because the nun had misunderstood the question she was asked when she said it.
So please, instead of the drama and the doomsaying, let’s adopt that attitude.
Have faith. And trust that everything will be all right.
“Always look on the bright side of life”?!
How can we trust our leaders? Nancy Pelosi and Biden are Catholics a very bad example to our faith. They are Pro-abortion even killing babies after birth, Lying to the American people, They want to destroy Law and Order. They release criminals, Biden is a sex offender, they pretend to be good people. How do you explain to your kids and friends about this? Many Catholics are leaving church because of the. Bishops do not have the guts to stand up for our faith and example. Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden just destroyed our Catholic church. Like I said before many Catholics leaving their Catholic faith and the people that are not Catholics criticizing our Catholic faith. Very disappointed and sorrow
Join the club.
Specifics, please, on when Pres Biden was aljeged a sex offender.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/8-women-have-accused-joe-biden-of-sexual-misconduct-inappropriate-touching
We used to solve this kind of problem with a good slap in front of everyone, no matter how “important” the person. Of course the offender would then try to smear the woman with accusations of being too seductive, being a lesbian, whatever, but people could see clearly what was happening.
I remember when an attractive, fellow female co worker, who evidently was of Sicilian extraction, at one of my jobs, wore a certain tee shirt on days where we did not have to deal with the public. It said, “You toucha this body, I smasha your face.” She dressed modestly but attractively.
Correction: Actually, it was evident to me that she was of Sicilian extraction because she had told me so.
I recall after college I stopped going to Mass…In the service during deployments, I took comfort in going to the Sunday Catholic services not because I was evangelized, but because that’s what I grew up with. I have doubts that the church can really call in youth, UNLESS those youth had some background already. Too many of us went in our childhoods because to NOT go meant we were sinning. Too many of the older generation yearned for the “good old days” prior to Vatican II, and even after women were allowed to give communion, many refused to take the host from them simply because they believed that women were not supposed to have this calling and further, it was a step toward women being ordained. The Pre-Vatican II days are gone except for those who yearn for those childhood memories (and accompanying guilt at times) of tradition and pattern.
Biden, Pelosi, Newsom, et al. are CINOs. Unfortunately, these are the ones who gather the most media coverage as they are in high profile positions. The adoring media doesn’t distinguish between good or bad. A Real Clear poll of American Catholics in late 2019 stated that “Catholicism has been battered by the winds of secularism, materialism, and relativism. Failures in catechesis and formation have created wide gaps in practice and belief that stretch now into every aspect of Catholic life). And, only 25% attend Mass at least once a month or more; that’s abysmal. Lack of faith prevails in the USA. Every parish is filled with Cafeteria Catholics who pick and choose what they want to believe, like it’s a smorgasbord. Instead of leaving and starting their own church or parish, they just stay and believe whatever they want. How does that work in civil society that has a foundation of laws? Can you imagine standing in front of the traffic court judge and announcing that you don’t believe in the posted speed limit. How would that work out? Or should I say, “how will that work out?”
Liturgies or a poor understanding of Catholicism to the side, the key problem is demographics. We are not replacing the generations of church going Catholics who built the churches and schools. But when is the last time that you heard a sermon on birth control or sterilization or that homosexuality terminates human reproduction and is a sterile lifestyle? Short term, faithful Catholics will mostly come back but will their teenage children or young singles will view it as optional. In my own parish, Mass has been rained out and cancelled due to rain this winter. If it so easy to cancel because of weather, how do you tell a young person that missing Mass intentionally can result in eternal damnation? Chew on that one a little while……and wonder why they question basic Catholic morality..
Padraig, I have heard such sermons, and there are many Catholic materials out there explaining such things that can be given to ones children. I cannot give book, chapter and verse now, but the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I have found that true in most cases. Children with a good religious backgrounds, often rebel in the teens and early adulthood, but come back to the religion of their childhood and learn more about it later through prayers for their conversion of a parent.
Correction to last line: by a parent.