I wonder if we Americans (can’t speak for the rest of the world) are too individualistic to “get into” initiatives. Even the U.S. Eucharistic revival initiative seemed distant (not to mention it was simultaneous with the Synod on Synodality initiative which also seemed distant and I hardly heard of it).
Plus, there is so much Francis-hatred out there that anything he encourages is ignored (unless it’s seen as a good stick to beat him with and then his encouragements are blasted from rooftops).
Maybe all of that is why we never hear about things like the Year of Prayer. Even if we were told, how many of us even listen?
That’s an interesting (and somewhat depressing) thought, Daniel. It occurs to me that while the Eucharistic revival initiative was something dependent upon diocesan and parish-based action (Eucharistic processions and so forth, which I did participate in), the Year of Prayer really was not. In the words of the Dicastery for Evangelization's Archbishop Fisichella, it was “not a year marked with particular initiatives”; it was simply meant to be a “privileged time in which to rediscover the value of prayer, the need for daily prayer in the Christian life.” Nothing needed to be done but to proclaim it (and perhaps to offer resources, which I heard talked about but never actually saw promoted). The Jubilee itself is obviously older and larger than any one papacy, and I suspect a Year of Prayer in preparation for the Jubilee would have been embraced by many Catholics with a spectrum of attitudes toward Pope Francis, had there been an effort to promote catechesis in prayer through weekly homilies. I could be wrong!
Daniel I totally agreed with you in your response to the deacon ideas for preaching.
The bishop s in USA have tried to ignore whatever comes from Pope Francis’ desk!
The same with great group and numbers of priests.
I just came from out of the country, and the churches where I visited were already displaying great banners about the Jubilee 2025 and thought d center on HOPE!
It’s sad but through your awareness and Catholics of good will, let’s encourage our church leaders to help us walk this years as pilgrims of faith and not a followers of false prophets called politicians.
I wonder if we Americans (can’t speak for the rest of the world) are too individualistic to “get into” initiatives. Even the U.S. Eucharistic revival initiative seemed distant (not to mention it was simultaneous with the Synod on Synodality initiative which also seemed distant and I hardly heard of it).
Plus, there is so much Francis-hatred out there that anything he encourages is ignored (unless it’s seen as a good stick to beat him with and then his encouragements are blasted from rooftops).
Maybe all of that is why we never hear about things like the Year of Prayer. Even if we were told, how many of us even listen?
That’s an interesting (and somewhat depressing) thought, Daniel. It occurs to me that while the Eucharistic revival initiative was something dependent upon diocesan and parish-based action (Eucharistic processions and so forth, which I did participate in), the Year of Prayer really was not. In the words of the Dicastery for Evangelization's Archbishop Fisichella, it was “not a year marked with particular initiatives”; it was simply meant to be a “privileged time in which to rediscover the value of prayer, the need for daily prayer in the Christian life.” Nothing needed to be done but to proclaim it (and perhaps to offer resources, which I heard talked about but never actually saw promoted). The Jubilee itself is obviously older and larger than any one papacy, and I suspect a Year of Prayer in preparation for the Jubilee would have been embraced by many Catholics with a spectrum of attitudes toward Pope Francis, had there been an effort to promote catechesis in prayer through weekly homilies. I could be wrong!
Daniel I totally agreed with you in your response to the deacon ideas for preaching.
The bishop s in USA have tried to ignore whatever comes from Pope Francis’ desk!
The same with great group and numbers of priests.
I just came from out of the country, and the churches where I visited were already displaying great banners about the Jubilee 2025 and thought d center on HOPE!
It’s sad but through your awareness and Catholics of good will, let’s encourage our church leaders to help us walk this years as pilgrims of faith and not a followers of false prophets called politicians.