Pope Francis concluded his pre-Christmas address to the Roman Curia by invoking the memory of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, SJ, who died in September 2012. The Holy Father recalled that, “in his last interview, a few days before his death, [Cardinal Martini] said something that should make us think: Why is she not shaken up? Are we afraid? Fear, instead of courage. Yet faith is the Church’s foundation. Faith, confidence, courage. . . . Only love conquers weariness.’”
The Martini Curve should indeed make us think. I thought about it at the time and ended up with questions rather than answers. What, precisely, was the Church two hundred years behind? A Western culture come unglued from the deep truths of the human condition? A culture that celebrates the imperial, autonomous Self? A culture that detaches sex from love and responsibility? A culture that breeds a politics of immediate gratification and intergenerational irresponsibility? Why on earth would the Church want to catch up with that?
Call me a dullard, but try as I might to adjust my thinking, I’m afraid that’s what I still think about the allegation that Catholicism’s contemporary failures result from our being stuck in a rut behind the curve of history. Moreover, since Cardinal Martini’s death seven years ago, certain empirical facts have become unmistakable: The local Churches that have tried hardest to play catch-up with “history” and “the times” are collapsing.
The premier example is Catholicism in the German-speaking world. Weekly Mass attendance percentages have fallen into single digits in German cities and aren’t much better in Austria and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland. Has this implosion of the sacramental community compelled a rethinking of the strategy of cultural accommodation?….
Read entire Jan. 8 piece by George Weigel in First Things.
Not cultural accommodation… cultural engagement. Retreating into the Latin Mass isn’t engagement, it’s creating a Catholic ghetto that is indeed two hundred years behind the times.
Sandra, I am puzzled by your comment about the Latin Mass as a retreat from cultural engagement. Try as I might, I cannot connect the two. As I read the New Testament especially, I see the cultural engagement as being over ideas, not styles of worship. A person can find solace in the Extraordinary Rite, if that is what you are in reference to, regardless of their culture.
Many youngsters today, live in a tragically dark, degraded, ignorant, immoral, agnostic, illiterate “youth ghetto” of liberal-leftist, “politically-correct,” “fashionably hip,” anti-Christian youth garbage! Most have no religious, moral, nor intellectual education, and no background in our tremendous historical, religious, and cultural heritage! Born and raised in the “hippie ruins” of the 1960s, they were brainwashed to despise America, and her excellent, beautiful heritage– and to despise the ancient, traditional, pre-Conciliar Catholic Church– and her excellent, beautiful Latin Mass! Regardless of the style of Mass– Christ calls His true followers far beyond this world– to a blessed life with Him, in Heaven– starting on earth!
Vatican 2 tried this and attendance, vocations , the practice of devotions, the true purpose of the mass, and the reputation of the church got much worse , other factors contributed to this but V2 that was supposed to help did anything but .Creating a ghetto , NO ! it is growing and attracting families and others seeking true reverence of the mass , Venerable Bishop Sheen has said that at the mass we are at the foot of the cross.It is not a ghetto it is a refuge from the collapsing church that has tried to keep up with the times and the times have no use for them and view them with contempt, this ghetto as you refer to it is filled with intelligent faithful who will restore the church, it is growing , the norvos ordo is not.
Regarding my last post– many fine Americans (such as President Abraham Lincoln) and many saintly Catholics (such as the three child Saints of Our Lady of Fatima) in the past– may have had little formal education– but our tremendous intellectual, religious and cultural heritage– and the true Catholic Faith!– was correctly given to them, in both cases!
George Weigel is excellent! I also would like to read Pope Benedict’s new book, written together with Cardinal Sarah, upholding priestly celibacy. The English version is published by Ignatius Press. As for the late Jesuit Cardinal Martini– NO! Our precious Catholic Faith, given to us by Christ, is very precious– it is timeless, given for all people, in all ages. It takes lots and lots of discipline and maturity, to make your commitment to “leave the world,” in your mind and heart– and follow Our Lord Jesus Christ! You cannot serve both the “fallen,” dark, ignorant world of sin– and glorious Christ, the Son of God!
OTOH:
https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2020/01/benedict-is-defending-celibacy-from-the-media-not-from-francis/
Benedict is defending celibacy from the media, not from Francis
George Weigel is excellent!