Catholic Sensibility

Catholic Response to "New Age" Challenges Earlier this month, the Vatican hosted a three-day conference on responding to New Age trends in modern culture. A brief CNS report is here. John Allen also weighed in on the topic in this week's column, The Word From Rome. Describing his visits to pilgrim sites in Spain, Allen wrote: "Having just completed a tour of Spanish Marian shrines, I can't help but feel they're onto something. If what contemporary seekers want is a mix of ancient wisdom with a lively sense of the angelic and the preternatural, places like Montserrat, Torreciudad and Pilar have it in droves. Perhaps rather than trying to reason its way out of the challenge posed by New Age movements, the church would do better to promote its alternatives." People don't drift from Catholicism for intellectual reasons. Most often it is some form of alienation or a recognition that the Church is spiritually inadequate in some way. Not everyone can afford a pilgrimage to Spain, or even domestic religious sites. But Allen's suggestion must be part of the Catholic response. Conference members also noted the blizzard of spiritual practices within Christianity as they conceded that even Catholics do not take advantage of the many fine opportunities within our tradition. Sadly, I find many parish priests ignorant of the distinctions and offerings of the Carmelites, Trappists, Benedictines, not to mention the various lay movements that have contributed to Catholic spirituality, especially in the last century. Parish clergy, in my experience, are often not the best advisors in this regard. Another piece of the problem is parish liturgy. Before people will commit to a pilgrimage or even an investigation of spiritual figures, they need to find inspiration in liturgy. Apologetics is nearly useless. If thirteen years of Catholic schools can't lasso in most of the crowd, believe me, the most astute Catholic intellect isn't going to do it, either. If a Catholic is concerned about New Age inroads, then I think these reform steps are self-evident: - Liturgy must replace grammar school education as the prime focus of parish ministry. Note this isn't an either/or proposition. It recognizes that Sunday Mass must, simply must be the first ministry focus for the leadership on out. That means building churches before schools. Without exception. - Religious Communities can do more to reach out to present their charism to the laity in parishes, not to mention in colleges and schools. - Dioceses should sponsor more events that encourage the liturgical arts, especially music. - Retreat centers can do even more to promote retreats of all sorts. - Parishes should regularly offer evenings of reflection and retreats, even when the initial attendance might be disappointing. - Every parish needs a well-preached mission annually. - Pilgrimages should be promoted, not just marketed for traditionalist-leaning Catholics, but revamped and revised for less experienced tastes, not to mention for progressive sensibilities. Despite the challenges and Catholic apathy, I'm convinced there has never been a better time to be a mystical Catholic.