Monthly Archives: May 2008

The stats are out. There are slightly more priests worldwide, but the number of sisters is declining. There are definitely women discerning a vocation out there, but only a few communities that are really growing, and they can’t accept all the women who would like to join.

We have a page with information about the mission here.

Since I was born after the Novus Ordo had already been approved and promulgated, the antagonism towards what is now the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite among those who remember when it was the only form is something of a mystery to me. This is why I have taken to reading things like this:

The article explains a lot. Basically, once upon a time there was a battle between two factions of the Church. One was called the “progressive” faction and one was deemed the “conservative” faction. These two couldn’t stand each other.

I am amazed that many of the words used then are still used now: “traditionalists,” “progressive,” “conservative,” “relevant,” “radical right.” Both “oppression” and “repression” were terms used to describe the “conservatives,” while the “progressives” had “compassion,” a “pioneering mood,” and were focused on “reform.” There was a “new breed” of seminarians and sisters.

Well, guess what? Now there’s a “new breed” of seminarians and sisters. After all, it has been 44 years! The “radical new” way of celebrating Mass, which the cover alludes to, is now old. Been there, done that. Why does everything have to be so plain? We are starting to see once again “momentous changes!”

With over 25,000 hits on YouTube (ok, approaching 30,000 as of 5/17), the short video from the closing “Call to Action” 2008 liturgy gives the group lots of attention. (I’m not linking to it because I prefer to link to things I like rather than, um, other stuff.) Yet, many of those watching it are not taking it seriously. In fact, some of the comments are rather biting and unkind. I think one of the more appropriate comments is, “This is such a sad sight.” There’s a lot of negative blogging and, although my blog is practically unknown, I would rather have it that way than to get “hits” from making negative comments.

The one thing that stands out from the video for me is a definite generation gap. Young folks are almost completely MIA. Although I’m no longer a “young adult,” I think that most of those younger than me have never heard of “Call to Action.” If this video is their introduction, it will probably immunize them from any further interest in such a group. The video I link to in the previous entry has a much greater chance of producing a positive impression. This “folk Mass” scene has become rather “old” and the Traditional Latin Mass seems so “new and different!”