 |
|
|
The Tide is Turning Toward Catholicism
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
The Tide is Turning Toward Catholicism
by David Hartline
The Pillars of Truth
Recently, I have been reading the Polish theologian, S.C. Biela’s book The Two Pillars. It is a fascinating look at the two specific pillars that should always be in our life; gratitude and contrition. However, it also touches on other pillars, such as truth. I would highly recommend this book. It will help us to have a deeper look at the pillars that shape our lives and what we can do to make the right pillars guide us.
Because this book was written by a Pole who is still young by theologian standards (he is only 54), I couldn’t help but think of all the great Polish minds we have been blessed with in the last 100 years, ranging from the late Pope John Paul II to the late St. Mary Faustina. You might recall her mystical visions in the 1930s. These visions played a role in the formation of Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday following Easter each year.
The Poles have blessed the world, especially Europe, with many fine vocations when they are so desperately needed. For the last few years in Europe, half of the newly ordained priests were Polish, and many of them were being sent to countries that needed their help. Why have the Poles been such a blessing? Perhaps because of their nation’s suffering under the cruel thumb of the Nazis during World War II, and following that the Soviets until the late 1980s. They have seen the truths of life that we often ignore. On a whole, the Poles seem to have embraced the Church more than those of us who couldn’t imagine the suffering they had to endure.
The Poles are not alone. One can also look at much of Catholic Africa and Catholic Asia to see people who seem to live happier lives, even as they struggle with issues of poverty and oppression. While they have little, they embrace the Church and her teachings, while so many in the West complain about the Church and want her to get with the times. Being cool or relevant at one moment in time is not a pillar of the truth. It often leads to disaster.
Our courageous Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has labeled those who want to embrace every whim and trend as being under the dictatorship of relativism, a term many in the mainstream media detest. Perhaps that is why he comes under attack by those who claim to be intellectual, yet fail to see that in lands that embrace the Church and her teachings, the Church is thriving. However, in lands that want to go a more relativistic or modern route, the Church is facing serious problems.
Our Catholic brothers and sisters in Poland, Africa, and Asia seemed to have embraced S.C. Biela’s concept of embracing certain pillars in our lives, while sadly, with all the educational and financial opportunities we have in the western world, many have not grasped that truth. Jesus told us that we would have to be like happy little children to enter heaven. Isn’t it sad that so many among us, who have so much compared to those in other parts of the world, are so angry and bitter, with terminal scowls on our faces? Where is that gratitude of which S.C. Biela speaks, and where is our joy? Perhaps if some of us embraced contrition and did so in the Sacrament of Confession, many burdens would be lifted off our shoulders, and peace would come our way.
I recently read that before the latest economic downturn, when all was well on the economic front, New York City and Los Angeles had the highest per-capita use of psychiatrists, counselors and therapists. Yet they still need many more. Meanwhile, the faithful of Poland, Africa, and Asia live happy, joy-filled lives with much less. While there are many self-help books that can assist us temporarily, I would recommend S.C. Biela’s book and others like it, which will give us an insight to see the truths of life and help us be grateful for what we do have, all the while living more joyful lives.
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|