Today more than ever we need Our Blessed Mothers' help in renewing Her Sons Church. There are huge armies of enemies within and without. I don't know which are more powerful. The Church can not be renewed any longer with programs and bazaars. Only deep prayer and living a holy life can change the Church and the world.
I've been reading about the 1st and 2nd century Christians and have come to the conclusion that the majority of us who call ourselves Catholics or christian have a very low understanding of what kind of love God requires of us. St. Paul reminds us "while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." Who do you know who would die for sinners? Give their life for the liberal nun, pedophile priest, democratic house minority speaker, Hollywood porn producer? We are quick to condemn these people yet these are the people Jesus died for and asked us to love. "He sends rain on the just and the unjust".
I was thinking recently about those Amish who went to the funeral of the man who murdered some of their school children and told the family they forgave him. That is the love Christ calls us to as believers.
Yet, we can hardly love our family and friends much less our enemies, and we think we are good Christians if we do no commit mortal sin. This is so far from what it means to be a Christian. Most of us live at a kindergarten level of Christianity. These Amish were living as mature Christians no matter what their beliefs are about the tenants of faith.
Maybe this is why we don't go to confession anymore. We think we are pretty good Christians yet like the Churches in Revelations I think we are far from our first love.
