As the West unravels, hope endures—not in online echo chambers, but in rooms where people still care about truth, beauty, and rebuilding what was lost. This is how we fight the collapse.
"I found it fascinating how easily we understood each other, and one might say that we spoke the same language, because of how we read the same books, which causes us to think about the same things." You put into words something I have been experiencing as I have gotten to know more people at my traditional parish. Out in the world, I have gotten used to guarding the things I say and how I say them -- to feeling that there are things that I can't talk about, not because I'm very afraid of doing so, but also because I wouldn't be understood. It's like each person lives on their own island, and, if you're someone more traditionally inclined (as I, a former homeschooler, am), you don't always fit in. At my parish, I'm starting to find, it's different. You can talk to virtually any person, and find you're on the same page with them, or they know exactly what you're talking about, whether it be books, music, the liturgy... I used to go there and expect what I find everywhere because I thought "Well, that's how people are," but now, after reading your article, I've realized something -- the Church unites us in more ways than one. It's the fact that we share the same, timeless, unchanging Catholic Faith that makes talking to each other and understanding each other so easy. I can't tell you how consoling and wonderful it is to have that "freedom" to be understood, and to know we're all fighting on the same ground. No wonder people feel alone in the world!
I wonder how many of the Catholic Citizens of Illinois are descendants of the French Catholic settlers, particularly if they are from the southwest part of the state. We may be distant cousins. Agnes Renoudiere, daughter of a lead mine owner in Kaskaskia, Illinois marrried my paternal ancestor Guillaume Bergereau, a soldier who was assigned to Fort St. Jean Baptiste in Natchitoches, Louisiana. His sons served under the command of Bernardo de Galvez in the Pointe Coupee Militia during the War for American Independence. They were likely provisioned with cattle donated by my maternal ancestor Gil Antonio Y'barbo, founder of Nacogdoches, Texas. Indeed, the US Founding Fathers owed a lot to the Catholic monarchs of Europe.
Sarah says it well, and I was glad to be able to agree that there are people and places where a person can feel a spirit greater than the mush that is usually promoted.
It is not difficult to use the internet to travel across our world and back in time.
It is not difficult (if you have a car, or maybe can fly in a plane) to visit special places for listening and feeling a deeper meaning and place then what we normally experience.
What a beautiful article. As a Chicagoan, as an Illinoian who works in a very progressive city, my perspectives viewed through Christianity are looked down upon. It does not bother me more than it saddens me. Bravo to this Catholic group of Illinoisans and THANK YOU Sararh for being an inspiring voice. Praise be to Jesus.
I have something to say about how the - we'll call it a business structure - of our American Catholic church has contributed to the deterioration of Catholic culture in America -- too risk averse -- combined with very poor teaching and formation of the young - I'm talking about my generation who were abandoned to Modernity. I can recall the 60's and 70's but no doubt the trend began long, long before that. Even before the pseudo portion of the enlightenment era.
Maintaining, building, and continuing a catholic culture takes intentional effort from the top down and the bottom up. We're supposed to be disciples not orphans or fatherless children.
You are correct Sarah the phenomenon of what you experienced at Illinois is a thing of beauty to radiate. Let's all do it :)))
"I found it fascinating how easily we understood each other, and one might say that we spoke the same language, because of how we read the same books, which causes us to think about the same things." You put into words something I have been experiencing as I have gotten to know more people at my traditional parish. Out in the world, I have gotten used to guarding the things I say and how I say them -- to feeling that there are things that I can't talk about, not because I'm very afraid of doing so, but also because I wouldn't be understood. It's like each person lives on their own island, and, if you're someone more traditionally inclined (as I, a former homeschooler, am), you don't always fit in. At my parish, I'm starting to find, it's different. You can talk to virtually any person, and find you're on the same page with them, or they know exactly what you're talking about, whether it be books, music, the liturgy... I used to go there and expect what I find everywhere because I thought "Well, that's how people are," but now, after reading your article, I've realized something -- the Church unites us in more ways than one. It's the fact that we share the same, timeless, unchanging Catholic Faith that makes talking to each other and understanding each other so easy. I can't tell you how consoling and wonderful it is to have that "freedom" to be understood, and to know we're all fighting on the same ground. No wonder people feel alone in the world!
I wonder how many of the Catholic Citizens of Illinois are descendants of the French Catholic settlers, particularly if they are from the southwest part of the state. We may be distant cousins. Agnes Renoudiere, daughter of a lead mine owner in Kaskaskia, Illinois marrried my paternal ancestor Guillaume Bergereau, a soldier who was assigned to Fort St. Jean Baptiste in Natchitoches, Louisiana. His sons served under the command of Bernardo de Galvez in the Pointe Coupee Militia during the War for American Independence. They were likely provisioned with cattle donated by my maternal ancestor Gil Antonio Y'barbo, founder of Nacogdoches, Texas. Indeed, the US Founding Fathers owed a lot to the Catholic monarchs of Europe.
Indeed, these threads are woven all through our great American republic.
Glad to hear that communities like this exist in the 'Blue' States. God bless them!
God bless you Sarah!
Well said!
Sarah, I am glad to hear you were so well received. This doesn't surprise me, though. Cause for hope.
I would have thought this event would be very cathartic for you , speaking to people that fully appreciate you and what you have to say.
Keep at it, Miss Cain.
no culture and no knowledge.
Sarah says it well, and I was glad to be able to agree that there are people and places where a person can feel a spirit greater than the mush that is usually promoted.
It is not difficult to use the internet to travel across our world and back in time.
It is not difficult (if you have a car, or maybe can fly in a plane) to visit special places for listening and feeling a deeper meaning and place then what we normally experience.
What a beautiful article. As a Chicagoan, as an Illinoian who works in a very progressive city, my perspectives viewed through Christianity are looked down upon. It does not bother me more than it saddens me. Bravo to this Catholic group of Illinoisans and THANK YOU Sararh for being an inspiring voice. Praise be to Jesus.
" Theodore Dalrymple writes about the unformed people in Britain’s underclass "
.
Did you mean to write un-informed ?
The phrase COMMON PURPOSE , is an expression I have become very reluctant to use,
see link below.
https://www.ukcolumn.org/search?keywords=Common+Purpose
No, I meant unformed, as in, they lack formation.
Are you able to post your talk and Q&A?
I have something to say about how the - we'll call it a business structure - of our American Catholic church has contributed to the deterioration of Catholic culture in America -- too risk averse -- combined with very poor teaching and formation of the young - I'm talking about my generation who were abandoned to Modernity. I can recall the 60's and 70's but no doubt the trend began long, long before that. Even before the pseudo portion of the enlightenment era.
Maintaining, building, and continuing a catholic culture takes intentional effort from the top down and the bottom up. We're supposed to be disciples not orphans or fatherless children.
You are correct Sarah the phenomenon of what you experienced at Illinois is a thing of beauty to radiate. Let's all do it :)))
I don't have the recording, but the speech was videoed. When they post it online, I'll be sure to share it.