Steve's essays are long, and they are not comfortable, let alone comforting. But I think each is a must read.
My own struggles are different, though I admit that each resonates with me. And maybe, if I am so moved enough one day, I may open up on mine.
Holding your breath is inadvisable, however.
In any event, here are the essays.
and
Yes, Steve is a close friend, and I am partial to him on that basis. But objectively, there is so much which is distorted and just wrong in the culture of the modern church that there is no escaping the need to examine them carefully.
Not to mention responding with something more than "I assert [apologetic trope/catchphrase], so that's why *I'm* Catholic.
I understand his predicament. In my case, insert NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY where he writes about Legionnaires. As for Vigano, although he is Italian, he has become a victim of the Americanist Heresy according to his Trumpism issue. After residing in Italy and Africa for awhile, I realized that deep Catholicism is a challenge in these disunited states and my personal antidote is to serve the poor, as it takes the focus off of our personal needs and wants and directs them to the supernatural Kingdom of Christ. We live in a western world of enlightened "Ayn Randism," that can only be overthrown by serving others.
ReplyDeleteI understand his predicament. In my case, insert NEOCATECHUMENAL WAY where he writes about Legionnaires. As for Vigano, although he is Italian, he has become a victim of the Americanist Heresy according to his Trumpism issue. After residing in Italy and Africa for awhile, I realized that deep Catholicism is a challenge in these disunited states and my personal antidote is to serve the poor, as it takes the focus off of our personal needs and wants and directs them to the supernatural Kingdom of Christ. We live in a western world of enlightened "Ayn Randism," that can only be overthrown by serving others.
ReplyDeleteI don't have the international travel experience that you do, or the insight as to what's wrong with Vigano.
DeleteI can say wholeheartedly that your antidote of "serve the poor" is probably what has helped me in these very troubled times, if my own family can be considered "poor." I realize we are not poor by any reasonable standard, but it is through serving them that I can offer what little help I can. Feed them, clothe them, clean up after them, teach them, pray for and with them--it's all I can do.
Over the years, I have found Steve to be off-putting, down the rabbit hole on 1P5, and have definitely gotten the vibe he dislikes me and every other Catholic in my boat. The strange thing is I'd welcome him as a parishioner and if he could stomach a warehouse with Mass in English, I'd happily vouch for him and his family. As for his son, all he has to do is walk up in a Communion line in any church and who will know the difference?
ReplyDeleteBut his story resonates with me also, and helps me to see what has made him the internet personality he is. His experience is like that of very many of us: grave sin stem to stern in the Church, and why not? We're all sinners. Some are just more vindictive than others.
50 mile spiritual commute for that kind of treatment? Is the Latin worth it?
I hope he'd find that at the end of the day his ideological opposites are hardly his worst enemies (and maybe not enemies at all), but he writes 1P5 as if we liberals not only denied his whole family Communion, but slashed his tires, vandalized his statues, and ransomwared his website.
St Michael and St Martin de Porres defend him and pray for him. Nobody deserves treatment like that.
Having seen some of the reaction on the left side of the aisle to these pieces, I am morally certain those people are his enemies. And mine, too.
DeleteTo be sure, some was like yours, empathetic, and expressed care and concern.
Others were straight-up poison--the usual prominent suspects, but no less vile for being consistent.