Saints' Discussion Forums

'Let us each realize, then, what we have lost and repeat the lamentation of the prophet: "Our inheritance is despoiled by strangers and our house by aliens" (Lam. 5:2), because we disobeyed the commandment and surrendered ourselves to our own desires, delighting in sordid and worldly thoughts. Then our soul was far away from God and we were like fatherless orphans. Thus, if we are concerned for our own soul we must make every effort to purge away evil thoughts and "all the self-esteem that exalts itself against the knowledge of God" (2 Cor. 10:5). And when we have forcibly applied ourselves to keeping God's temple spotless, then He who promised to make His dwelling in it will come to us. Then the soul recovers its inheritance and is privileged to become a temple of God. For, after thus Himself expelling the devil and his army, from henceforth He reigns within us.'

St. Symeon Metaphrastis

I was thinking along those lines for quite a while now and how there surely must be visible differences between the lifestyles of Catholics and non-Catholics. It was the fact that It's a rare thing to come across a Catholic who has extracted himself from the common way of life in the 21st century to the extent that he could be seen as being somewhat rowing against the tide. I'm talking here about Ireland and here in my own hometown with a 90% Catholic population. Obviously there are many good people but even the majority of these would find it extreme -lets say- to give up TV, not shop on Sundays, condemn perverse sexual lifestyles or take a positive stand on anything to do with the Faith.

This is merely an observation and not a judgement on anyone (I've enough of that to do with myself before taking the splinter out of anyone elses eye) but it can be quite a lonely furrow to plough if one tries to (by the grace of God) make changes for the better in ones own life. That line from St. Symeon Metaphrastis about keeping ones temple spotless can seem impossible to achieve but really, if we don't strife for it how will we ever achieve it and if we're not trying to make those changes how can we expect society in general to change. The level of holiness which today seems extreme was really the norm in times past (and not all that long ago) and things here have gotten so bad (liturgically) of late that something has to give soon.

Enough of your ramblings Martin and get back to making those changes.  :swordfight:

The level of holiness which today seems extreme, was really the norm in times past

Martin, can I use this quote sometime?  It's poetry!

Not that I'm holy, but you said what I've been thinking so often lately, like you're rowing against the tide.  Not just liturgically here either.   One Sunday I attended a Byzantine liturgy, my first, and then a Latin mass.  I was thinking I could not even have told neighbors I went to Mass twice!  They really would have thought it strange!
Thanks.

That like stuck out for me too!  Something to think about.  But at the same time, I'm reading a book called ... something about the newest 39 Saints and Blesseds.  There is Gianna Molla,  that young lady born in the 70's I put somewhere here, and a few others.  There's hope!   :D