(*Keep in mind that I am talking about the "elite" of the Catholics of today, the so-called traditionalist, and specifically the Catholics that go to SSPX chapels, parents and their children who go to mass every Sunday who but live worldly lives attached to sin.)
It has always been baffling to me how Catholics today that go out of their way to go to a serious mass and undoubtedly valid sacraments, can be so indifferent to the faith in their lives. Why go at all if they live worldly lives and are attached to sin? What a waste of the greatest of all gifts! From my 25 years of experience in these circles, I have concluded that these indifferent Catholics were given tradition by their parents or friend, like an inheritance, and they have no appreciation of what it took to get it or how easy it is to lose. They have no fear of disappointing God. They do not see themselves adulterating the faith, till eventually they stop going to mass altogether. I saw this first hand as a child going to mass in the early 1960’s, all those Catholics lived the same EXACT way as I describe for the SSPXers today, and they all lost the faith completely.
The most important act of one’s life is how they have been living the faith. If one is attached to sin, they will never arrive at the narrow gate that leads to salvation. If one is a male living with a woman, fornicating, has a Novus Ordo annulment (living in adultery), is attached to pornography, exposes himself with pleasure to near occasions of sin (lusting for women) by going to crowded beaches, bars, practices self abuse, uses drugs, drinks excessively....... or if one is a female, dressing immodestly to attract men, going to beaches and bars, having relations with men.... If they are attached to any of those sins, they are living " in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish: because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying: That all may be judged who have not believed the truth but have consented to iniquity. " (2Thes2)
So, the answer is to cleanse oneself of all iniquities in confession with a real priest and do not sin again.
Among adults there are few saved because of the sins of the flesh....With exception of those who die in childhood, most men will be damned. (St. Remigius of Rheims)
There are many who arrive at the faith, but few who are led to the heavenly kingdom. Behold how many are gathered here for today's Feast-Day; we fill the church from wall to wall. Yet who knows how FEW they are who shall be numbered in that chosen company of the elect? (Pope St. Gregory the Great)
St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church:
I do not speak rashly, but as I feel and think., I do not think that many priests are saved but that those that perish are far more numerous. The reason is that the office requires a great soul. For there are many things to make a priest swerve from rectitude, and he requires great vigilance on every side. Do you not perceive how many qualities a bishop must have that he may be apt to teach; patient towards the wicked, firm and faithful in teaching the Word? How many difficulties herein. Moreover the loss of others is imputed to him. I need say no more. If but one dies without baptism, does it not entirely endanger his salvation? For the loss of one soul is so great an evil as no man can understand. If the salvation of one soul is of such importance that, for its sake, the Son of God became man and suffered so much, think of the penalty the loss of one soul will entail. (Third Homily, Acts of the Apostles)
They who are enlightened to walk in the way of perfection, and through lukewarmness wish to tread the ordinary paths, shall be abandoned. (Bl. Angela of Foligno)
They who are to be saved as Saints, and wish to be saved as imperfect souls, shall not be saved. (Pope St. Gregory the Great)
St. Teresa.... had she not risen from the state of lukewarmness in which she lived, she would in the end have lost the grace of God and been damned. ( St. Alphonsus Liguori)
If you only knew the women who will go to Hell because they did not bring into the world the children they should have given to it. ( St. John Vianney)
My point was spelled out clearly, and it is very simple. In short, if one plays games with God they will receive little from their "system". One can see in all those saint quotes that they are talking about Catholics who go to mass, and even priests, and yet the majority will be lost! Why is that? They all go to mass and yet it is of no avail to them because they are attached to sin. They prefer their sins to God. They are just playing games with God.
Prayer obtains the Grace to stop sinning, only if one is sincere. Scarcely any Catholics today are sincere, I doubt that 1% of baptized Catholics will be saved, if that. Read those quotes by the saints and tell me if I am mistaken.