You have seen them. You know the teens and twenty somethings that are sporting the large print graphic t-shirts and wearing the jeans with the holes worn in them. They are looking the part of the edgy generation, but in reality they are part of the growing population of the sold out younger generation of Orthodox Catholics. At event after event this past year, I see more and more young people embracing the Liturgy of the Hours, daily Mass, recitation of the Rosary, the use of Latin Mass parts, silent time in prayer, mission trips, forms of chant and Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. What an exciting time to be involved in youth ministry in the Catholic Church. Young people are drawn to something that in reality draws us all – a desire for a deeper communion with Christ. They are finding it in the rich tradition of our faith.
This generation seems oblivious to scandals and any bad press the Church might endure. They are rising above the fray and simply being faithful. They view the Church as the place where the real presence of Christ dwells and they are committed. From intense moments of praise to silent moments of awe – they are embracing much of what the Church is offering. Is your parish embracing this emerging generation? Are you offering a place where they can feel at home, pray and find a true communion. The schools, ministries and parishes that are offering opportunities for these teens and young adults to thrive are finding it impacting them in positive ways. Catholic Colleges like Fransciscan University of Steubenville and Benedictine College have become magnets to this growing generation within the Catholic Church in America. Ministries like FOCUS, NET and even Life Teen with our missionaries are attracting this new generation willing to take up the call to be missionaries, to be radical and to be dynamic Catholics!
What is your take, are you seeing what I am? Any Thoughts?
New Blog Posted: The Graphic Tee and Latin Mass Parts Generation http://bit.ly/94ZKp9
RT @lt_randyraus: New Blog Posted: The Graphic Tee and Latin Mass Parts Generation http://bit.ly/94ZKp9
RT @lt_randyraus: New Blog Posted: The Graphic Tee and Latin Mass Parts Generation http://bit.ly/94ZKp9
RT @lt_randyraus: New Blog Posted: The Graphic Tee and Latin Mass Parts Generation http://bit.ly/94ZKp9
RT @lt_randyraus: New Blog Posted: The Graphic Tee and Latin Mass Parts Generation http://bit.ly/94ZKp9
RT @lt_randyraus: New Blog Posted: The Graphic Tee and Latin Mass Parts Generation http://bit.ly/94ZKp9
Randy…thank you for defining a Catholic generation in one blog! Love it!
All good to hear: but what they really need to make them embedded Catholics is the Old Mass.
The Novus Ordo is so “ordinary” and un-Catholic that it’s in reality a mortal enemy of the Catholic Faith.
Benedict – Thanks for the comments. Maybe we should write a piece about the needs of this generation.
Randy thanks so much for sharing. It’s a great blog to show others who don’t get or see the bigger picture! This is very inspirational and keeps my flame of passion for the youth in our Church.
RT @LifeTeen_CYM: The Graphic Tee and Latin Mass Parts Generation http://bit.ly/94ZKp9
Now, if only LifeTeen could incorporate a true sensus Fidei into their Masses by using Latin and proper sacred music, that would be a great help. The Mass is transcendant. At the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the veil between heaven and earth and time and space is lifted. The music needs to reflect this sacred mystery. Sadly, a lot of the music used at Life Teen Masses is more along the lines of soft pop. Pope Benedict XVI, in Sacramentum Caritatis, notes that ” In the course of her two-thousand-year history, the Church has created, and still creates, music and songs which represent a rich patrimony of faith and love. This heritage must not be lost. Certainly as far as the liturgy is concerned, we cannot say that one song is as good as another. Generic improvisation or the introduction of musical genres which fail to respect the meaning of the liturgy should be avoided. As an element of the liturgy, song should be well integrated into the overall celebration (128). Consequently everything — texts, music, execution — ought to correspond to the meaning of the mystery being celebrated, the structure of the rite and the liturgical seasons (129).” Sadly, I think that this is lost on many LifeTeen leaders insofar as music for the Mass is concerned. Save the drums, bass guitars and electric guitars for Life Night, but, please do not cheat the teens out of the Church’s patrimony of sacred music for the Mass.
It is important to reach out to teens in a language they understand, and draw them into the Mysteries of our faith. I have been to a multi-cultural Mass with people from Korea, Central America, the Philippines, Haiti, the US…it was the most amazing Mass…3 hours long and incorporated aspects of each culture.
My point is, teens live in a different “culture” and if we do not help them to come to know God and the Mysteries of our faith in a “language” that they can understand, the Gospel will fall silent to them.
Many teens hearts are open by music and as they are led more deeply into the Heart of God then they are open to more traditions of our faith. I have teens that would never have attended a Latin Mass at first, but because they have been open (largely because of the music) they are now in a place of more mature faith and love the more traditional and ancient practices of our rich faith.
Personally, bass drums lead me to the deepest worship…it is like I can feel the very heartbeat of God. (and I’m FAR from teen-aged!)
God can move the hearts of His people through many different kinds of music…”proper” sacred music included…but please don’t discount the fact that many, many lives have been changed as they are led in worship with many different instruments.
Randy – thank you and everyone at Life Teen for all that you do…for being prayerful and faithful to our Lord!
Psalm 33, Psalm 149, Psalm 150
It is so exciting to see this new commitment and ownership of the young adults! They don’t want fluff, they want substance! Another great avenue for them to pursue this passion in Christ is through REACH youth ministries. Thanks for this post!