Papa, the Young Catholics, and Amanda Marcotte: Hope in Madrid

8/22/2011

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see the life and freedom on the faces of that crowd? Do those really look like mindless sheep to you? Do those vibrant young women really look oppressed or restricted to you?

They are filled with something I believe you desperately want and need: real joy. The pure joy that comes from knowing you are loved. Endlessly, completely loved. And you are, Amanda. I'm truly sorry you don't know that. There's no way you could know that and still behave the way you do.

They're also brimming with the excitement of being part of the Body of Christ on earth. By God's grace, they are hearing the call to transform their generation by the witness of their lives. They're getting ready to fling their nets wide and haul in the catch of the century. And through their faithfulness, our dying culture will be reborn. By God's grace...

As I said, I'm prone to discouragement about all of this. I, too, see the statistics revealing the chasm between what Catholics are taught and what they're actually doing. I know there is much, much work to be done in catechizing generations of Catholics who don't know two bits about their faith. I'm frustrated on a daily basis by so-called Catholics who give the Church "the finger" and live like any other pagan.

I'm disgusted by the betrayal of public officials who are supposed to be Catholic, yet devote their lives to tearing down every moral truth when they should know better. But you know what, Amanda? Those folks are not the Church. They're just hecklers and criminals in sheep's clothing.

The Church -- the real Church -- is seen in the faith and hope now gathered in Madrid. God is still in His heaven, and our High Priest still offers Himself for us every second of every day. Our Blessed Mother still intercedes for us. She's still teaching us the only way to freedom is through humble obedience to the lovable will of her Son.

I am not ashamed of being Catholic. I'm not ashamed to join with the youth in Madrid in expressing profound affection, love and loyalty toward our courageous Holy Father, our Papa! Nearly half a million young people traveled to Spain for this WYD! You can't diminish that no matter what you say.

The Catholic Church is both Spirit and mud. We bring the mud; Jesus brings the Spirit. In recent years there's been way too much mud. There is much house-cleaning yet to do, and many of us are standing with broom at the ready. You'll find, Amanda, that no one is more disgusted by the filth that infiltrated our House than faithful Catholics.

Yet Christ has not and will not abandon us. The gates of hell will not prevail. And neither will you, Amanda. Lay down your hurt and hatred. Wouldn't you rather be joyful? Come home. We'll leave the Light on for you.

-----

Jennifer Hartline is a grateful Catholic, a proud Army wife and homeschooling mother of three. She is a contributing writer for Catholic Online. Visit her online at Wake Up, Deborah! and MCH.
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: World Youth Day, Madrid, Pope Benedict, Amanda Marcotte, Jennifer Hartline

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1 - 10 of 31 Comments

Sheryl
1 year ago
Viva Papa! VIVA...
JeanCatherine
1 year ago
Liza Koon

God Bless you.
troisnyx*
1 year ago
Thanks, Jennifer. I can completely identify with the article... BECAUSE I WAS THERE! Such joy coming from the faces of more than 1 million young people... That kind of joy can't be replicated elsewhere unless it is that joy which comes from Christ Jesus himself. There were indeed scuffles and one person trying to mock us during the English language catechesis in Palacio de Deportes, saying 'You guys pray during the day, but at night it's sex, drugs and rock n' roll' — and that's pretty much what the cynics try to do. But everyone yelled the name of Jesus over and over again, and the person was driven out. Guys, if we keep our faith strong in Jesus and do it together, we can overcome anything that the cynics can throw at our path. We did the other time — we surely can in future. I'm proud to be a young Catholic!
Liza Koon
1 year ago
Great article Jennifer!! As for Mr. B Ochoa...I hesitated to respond to you because it is probably not worth my time...but just in case you are willing to learn something I am willing to educate you because it is something I am passionate about. I have a Master of Education and love to teach school. My husband and I however, like Mrs. Hartline have chosen to homeschool our children. We are homeschooling them precisely so they can be taught to think and think critically. I am not going to send them to school where they can be indoctrinated by the lastest trend in social engineering and the MTV culture. I was given the responsibility by God to teach my children, not have them memorize a bunch of facts so they can do well on the state tests. I'm not going to stand by and watch my children be dumbed down by a culture that has no regard for their inate human dignity. I wish someone had cared enough to do the same for you.
JeanCatherine
1 year ago
Jesus B Ochoa

By the way Catholics in Catholic School are taught to reason and think and on top of that we incorporate a strong faight in God.

Im sorry you feel this way but I once saw a gifted child who was homeschooled she painted like the Masters. Even I in my lowly, educated life even know a thing or two about the Masters. One thing I can say is this I wont ever completely trust in a Freud, Sanger, Marx or Neitzche. They dont give the whole truth but little bits and their thinking ends in total darkness and despair.

Anyone who in anyway is affiliated in the thinking of Hitler has no vote on my part in humanity.
JeanCatherine
1 year ago
Jesus B Ochoa

I went to Catholic School because my father was a very smart man and he couldnt go to school because of circumstances beyond his control.

He taught me to think and to know that an education was a sound investment. He encouraged it most of my younger years. I have not had the benefit of an associate or a masters but have worked for some years. I did get a 2.75 in college at the age of 47 which isnt bad after 21 years.

Not bad for the daughter of a military man who served in the Phillipines against the Japanese.

Funny if this man hadnt served and sacrificed for all of us as a man who couldnt think by your logic (By the way their generation was pretty intelligent and Im from the babyboomers who have given you most of your smart technology.) because he was a trained person in the army by the grace of God---How come your not speaking Japanese or German? Id say we had some pretty smart military people and civies during WWII. Especially on both sides of the pond. By the way how come your not speaking Muslim?????

I might add my Grandfather served in WWI maybe you ought to thank these men who couldnt be taught to think????
Dirtdartwife
1 year ago
Jesus B Ochoa August 24th, 2011 12:14 pm
the tact that she in an army wife and a home schooler says it all. gotta teach them little tykes not to think. might do them harm.

Hmmm... this sounds like someone has swallowed the kool-aid a bit too much. I'm in agreement with Mrs. Hartline. You can feel free to pick up a weapon and stand guard but even the Army has standards. Your lack of the ability to properly form a good rebuttal to a well written article shows you're obviously not a graduate of a good school, but I bet you can quote Masters and Johnson or the Kama Sutra from memory. :)

Thanks for another great article Jen. I'm appalled at what I've seen of hers and at this point, I can only pray for her.
Jennifer Hartline
1 year ago
Jesus B Ochoa, your condescending insult attempts to mock my husband as well, since he is the one who made me an Army wife. You are more than welcome to pick up a rifle and stand a post in Iraq or Afghanistan for 18 months. No? I'll be sure to pass along your sincere thanks to my husband.
Jesus B Ochoa
1 year ago
the tact that she in an army wife and a home schooler says it all. gotta teach them little tykes not to think. might do them harm.
elcid
1 year ago
@Bina....here's what Jesus would say:

1 Matthew 3:7
And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?

2 Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

3 Matthew 23:33
You serpents, generation of vipers, how will you flee from the judgment of hell?

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