post header

The Weight of a Cross

We live in interesting and uncertain times as Christians, let alone as Traditionalists. As Catholics, we can be pulled in many different ways. Politically, there is the New Mass and different societies with the Old Mass. Despite the many different directions we may take, there is one thing that is for certain, and that is that there is not enough courage in our circles, particularly within our leadership. We could wax critique on that til the end of days, but this essay is more about oneself. We as men and Christians have a lot on our shoulders. A world that hates us, aging parents, families to take care of, and most of all, we have to grow closer to God everyday.

There is this pervasive notion within conservatism that teaches it's adherents to adopt a life style of the stiff-upper-lip, to just endure and grit one's teeth when things don’t go the way they should. In other words it is a philosophy of complacency and stagnation rather than action. There is no self actualization of our goals and desires. As Christians, at the very base level this means that we are called to receive the Sacraments often, doing good works, going to Mass, and confession; it means personal responsibility.

We in the west and particularly in America have all heard the phrase "trust the plan." Such a phrases underlines the mentality I speak of, allowing others to lead you to victory instead of grasping it ourselves. This passive approach appeals to many modern Christians because it promises to relieve us of the responsibility, and discourages action in favour of some vague, unseen force of which we hold no knowledge. It also enables us to deceive ourselves that we are doing something, because “someone” is. Such thinking is folly. I would like to call to mind James 1 22-27.

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass. For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was. But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed. And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain.  Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep oneself unspotted from this world"

This often neglected passage is one of our best calls to action, to rid ourselves of complacency. To live with Christ loud in our hearts and on our shoulders. If we want a better world for our children we must first change ourselves

I would also like to raise a couple questions to ask ourselves as Christians. If the system you live in is Satanic in its modernity, and you are being complacent, what does that make you? Do you have the courage to be more than mediocre and love God the way you should to your fullest extent?

Jp Jarosz