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Author Topic: We complain too much  (Read 1089 times)

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Offline Polymath

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We complain too much
« on: August 05, 2022, 08:11:33 AM »
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    • One thing I’ve noticed about traditional Catholics in general (not just this forum, but everywhere) is that we devote a lot of our time and energy to complaining about how rotten the modern world is.  It is absolutely every bit as rotten as we say, and then some (just imagine what we’re not hearing about!), but whatever happened to our being a people of faith, hope, and charity?  Look at Christians in Muslim and Communist countries.  They’re so joyful despite everything they suffer, and we’re a bunch of sourpusses.  I think it was St. Teresa of Avila who said, “God save us all from gloomy saints!”

    Now, I’m not saying I’m any better than any of you.  I am, however, saying we all need to do better.  Instead of [expletive] and moaning about how the world isn’t Catholic enough, why not be “contented with such things as [we] have” (Hebrews 13:5) and joyful about being “redeemed by the blood of the Lamb,” to quote the Protestant hymn?  “Always rejoice.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
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    Offline DigitalLogos

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    Re: We complain too much
    « Reply #1 on: August 05, 2022, 08:44:43 AM »
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    • Perhaps. And perhaps some are too pessimistic. But I think of it as a sort of sorrow that afflicted Job when he lost everything, as we Catholics have lost everything when it comes to the Church in exile. Groaning under the weight of such a loss is an appropriate thing to complain about. Provided we have faith, hope and charity in spirit, our outward expression of such sorrow isn't necessarily un-Catholic.

    Our Lord Himself was the "man of sorrows" (Isaiah 53:3) and did not the Prophet Jeremiah write a whole book lamenting the loss of Jerusalem and the captivity of Israel for their sins? I don't see it as wholly negative to lament the state of our own Church reduced to a remnant and cast into exile under a new Babylon.
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    "Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." [Matt. 6:34]

    "In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin." [Ecclus. 7:40]

    "A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is changed as the moon." [Ecclus. 27:12]

    Offline AMDGJMJ

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    Re: We complain too much
    « Reply #2 on: August 05, 2022, 11:06:43 AM »
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    • Even Our Lord wept over the perversity of Jerusalem...

    I think we are not supposed to be gloomy or depressed but we can be sorrowful for the evil in the world.

    All things in moderation.  The perfect balance of all things is found in the foundations of our Faith.
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    "Jesus, Meek and Humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine!"

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    Offline Emile

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    Re: We complain too much
    « Reply #3 on: August 05, 2022, 11:58:56 AM »
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    • Quote from: Polymath on August 05, 2022, 08:11:33 AM
    One thing I’ve noticed about traditional Catholics in general (not just this forum, but everywhere) is that we devote a lot of our time and energy to complaining about how rotten the modern world is.  It is absolutely every bit as rotten as we say, and then some (just imagine what we’re not hearing about!), but whatever happened to our being a people of faith, hope, and charity?  Look at Christians in Muslim and Communist countries.  They’re so joyful despite everything they suffer, and we’re a bunch of sourpusses.  I think it was St. Teresa of Avila who said, “God save us all from gloomy saints!”

    Now, I’m not saying I’m any better than any of you.  I am, however, saying we all need to do better.  Instead of [expletive] and moaning about how the world isn’t Catholic enough, why not be “contented with such things as [we] have” (Hebrews 13:5) and joyful about being “redeemed by the blood of the Lamb,” to quote the Protestant hymn?  “Always rejoice.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

    A rather famous person once summed up the attitude that a person ought to take:
    Quote
    If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
    [Matthew 16:24]

    (In context, I take it to mean embracing life's trials willingly and seeing them as being allowed by God, your loving Father, for a real and greater purpose, even when it is not apparent at the time.)

    One of his followers said this:

    My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations;
    James 1:2

    Even secular people understand something of the power of adopting the right attitude:




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    Patience is a conquering virtue. The learned say that, if it not desert you, It vanquishes what force can never reach; Why answer back at every angry speech? No, learn forbearance or, I'll tell you what, You will be taught it, whether you will or not.
    -Geoffrey Chaucer

    Offline DigitalLogos

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    Re: We complain too much
    « Reply #4 on: August 05, 2022, 12:47:23 PM »
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    • There's also something to be said of all the gloom being collected online since that is where we tend to air our grievances these days. I doubt any of us are half as sorrowful in real life as we tend to be online.
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    "Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof." [Matt. 6:34]

    "In all thy works remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin." [Ecclus. 7:40]

    "A holy man continueth in wisdom as the sun: but a fool is changed as the moon." [Ecclus. 27:12]

    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: We complain too much
    « Reply #5 on: August 06, 2022, 12:16:29 PM »
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    • In the absence of a true Pope too many trads volunteer themselves to fill the Chair de facto. People are welcome to their opinions, but when trads habitually raise their opinions to the level of de fide dogma and judge the interior forum of others I'd rather avoid trads. To paraphrase Ghandi, “The only problem with Catholicism is Catholics."
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