Uniting the Clans, Past & Future

"The richness of the Catholic Faith cannot be based on communalism and moral relativism, and if that is the aim of the Modernist hierarchy, then the erasure of Church teaching is the end result."

From One Peter Five

By Danielle Heckenkamp

History is a double-edged sword. It provides us with a glimpse of generosity, consequences, and the destructive habits of human nature. Knowing that history repeats itself, and human nature is rather predictable because of Original Sin, it should not come as a surprise that the modern world has positioned itself to God’s judgment. Though the players may change, and the details of the circumstances may alter, the overall battle between good and evil has remained the same from the fall of the angels until the present day. Acknowledging these factors, we should not sink into despair but find hope from those holy souls who have gone before us to preserve, promote, and uphold the dignity of Christ’s Church.

I am not strictly speaking of the modern age, but an overarching macro perspective of the ebbs and flows prevalent in the Catholic Church throughout its history. Even examining the secular cycles of traditionalism versus progressivism, there is clear evidence that humanity continues to move between variations of these societal ideologies. Recognizing that this cycle exists, not only on a secular level but on a religious level, we should not be entirely surprised at the current state of affairs in the Church.

The events that led to radical changes in the Catholic Church were a culmination of many centuries, gradually removing themselves from dependence upon God, with an existential crisis leading to Modernism and moral relativism. It is important to acknowledge errors, but it is not helpful to focus solely on them without a desire to reform or conserve the Truth. The absence of the soul’s dependence and desire for union with God is not new in the struggle between good and evil. Among society’s apparent evils and separation from God, we can also find a quiet but robust movement of souls that seek holiness, preserve tradition, and recognize the soul’s bond with its Creator.

Since the 1960s, when the Catholic world was turned upside down, a quiet, but persistent group of faithful souls has continued to protect the tradition and faith of Christ’s Church. Without serious contemplation, the current traditional movement appears fresh, new, and part of the predictable societal cycle expected after recent decades of progressivism. But this is not the case – the revival of Catholic traditions, devotions, and the Latin Mass is the work of the Holy Ghost, Who encouraged souls to persevere during some of the Church’s darkest modern days. It is not by chance or cyclical that Latin Mass attendees have dramatically increased over the past ten years, or that cradle Catholics are reviving sacred traditions dating back hundreds to thousands of years, or that souls are returning to the sacred writings of the greatest theologians. Recent decades have exposed destructive behaviors that attempt to remove the ancient traditions of Catholicism. To understand our present state of growth and resurgence of tradition, it must be acknowledged that this revival of traditionalism is the result of the Holy Ghost offering special graces to souls for the continuance of God’s One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

If the current state of Catholic affairs is examined under a microscopic lens, then it is easy to see why many souls are disheartened. If we look back to the time of St. Catherine of Siena, the Catholic Church was also in disarray, causing faithful souls to despair. Yet, out of those dark times, some of the greatest saints were born. In one sense, believing that the modern age endures unique sufferings and unprecedented religious errors is absurd. Though the players and specifics are unique, the age-old behavior of humanity is predictable, particularly when souls have strayed far from God. So, should we be surprised by the modern crisis in the Church? Not necessarily. Should we allow our sadness and despair to encourage lukewarm behaviors that stray from God’s Church? Absolutely not. Each soul is given a specific role, with the necessary graces, to defend Christ’s Church. It is easy to be cynical and disheartened, but that is not only ineffective but also detrimental to the soul. We can learn great lessons from the faithful actions and prayers of saints such as the aforementioned St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Francis of Assisi, who put aside their feelings and sought the means to restore order within God’s Church.

As we have reached the first quarter of the 21st century, there is no denying that an unmistakable shift is reaching mammoth proportions throughout society. It is not limited to the Catholic Church, as we observe souls in varying walks of life seeking simplicity and tradition, even on a secular level. While at the same time, the same shift towards simplicity, ancient devotions, and traditionalism is multiplying among Catholics.

As we continue to see the world slowly turn right-side up, it would be amiss to ignore and not give gratitude to those who paved the way and preserved Catholic traditions when everything in society aimed to derail them. I am eternally grateful to God that growing up I witnessed first-hand the struggles, sacrifices, and courageous work that many souls endured for the preservation of the Latin Mass, the protection of Catholic devotions, and the appreciation of the universality that should be prevalent in the Roman Catholic Church.

Oftentimes, people want to know exactly what motivated my grandparents’ generation to promote the continuance of the Latin Mass. It was the same motivation that encouraged souls for thousands of years to defend the Faith, preserve tradition, and seek a perfect union with God. The same reasons that St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and St. Francis of Assisi sought to defy societal expectations in exchange for God’s glory, and the preservation of His Church.

The richness of the Catholic Faith cannot be based on communalism and moral relativism, and if that is the aim of the Modernist hierarchy then the erasure of Church teaching is the end result. Thankfully, small numbers of faithful souls saw past such heretical views and knew that they must uphold the Church’s sacred teachings. Upholding these traditions differentiates the Catholic Church from earthly churches and uplifts suffering souls to God through sacred scripture, devotions, and tradition. Let us not forget that Christ is the center of His Church, and no matter the errors, misguidance, or injustices that transpire at the hands of humanity, we must continue towards preserving what is true, good, and holy for God’s glory. We are eternally indebted to those souls, who came before us and fought the good fight to preserve the ancient richness of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church for Jesus Christ.