Talking with young people this weekend, I was convinced in my initial view that the John Paul II Generation of Catholics in America is a great phenomenon which did not happen in Great Britain. Many reasons caused this lack of inspiration by Blessed John Paul II, which obviously occurred in the States, where many young people born under his long reign have been inspired to either answer the vocation to the priesthood or religious life, or following a traditional mode of Catholic marriage-that is, avoiding contraception, being involved in homeschooling, and the married women deciding to be stay-at-home moms.
Several reasons may be postulated as to why Blessed John Paul II did not have the impact on the previous generation of youth here, now in their forties, whereas Benedict XVI is influencing the youth now, here, in a more specific manner. Both popes visited Great Britain and the World Youth Days were popular, but the reactions nationally were polls apart.
Some of the reasons are merely that Blessed John Paul II as an Eastern European appealed to those from similar backgrounds in the States. His style, open and media-friendly, was, shall we say, very "American". Benedict is very European in his personality and manner. His gentleness and gentility have attracted the attention of youth here.
However, I put forward another main reason for Benedict's influence over John Paul II in Great Britain-the British Church, until very recently, has had a long history of intellectual Catholicism and Benedict has rekindled that Catholic intellectualism by his constant appeal to Faith and Reason.
Now, one does not have to be an academic to be an intellectual, but the new generation of twenty and thirty somethings, who are either coming into the Church, or pursuing vocations in the Church in Great Britain are highly intelligent and intellectual youth. These are not youth who merely follow an experiential type of faith-not Neo-Catechumenates, or Charismatics, which some in the States in the John Paul II Generation were and still are.
Great Britain, particularly England, is the intellectual home of Blessed John Henry Newman, St. Edmund Campion, St. Thomas More, and other intellectuals not canonized, such as Christopher Dawson, Hilaire Belloc (French but living and working here), Chesterton and others.
These bright lights laid the foundation, and built on the longer, older tradition of Catholic intellectualism in England. The list is too long to put in this post, but we have Sts. Anselm and Bede for earlier examples. The joining of Faith and Reason appeals to this heritage. Benedict appeals to this heritage in a very European and urbane manner. He is the man of the hour, just as John Paul II was for the Americans.
I am impressed by those youth who are weaned from the emphasis on experiential religion, a fault of the Charismatic Renewal here, which has been divorced from solid catechesis for too long.
The Benedict XVI generation reads, knows the CCC inside and out. They are preparing themselves for missionary work, a real New Evangelization a la Benedict. They can see that commitment needs catechesis, and not merely prayer and experience. They desire to know and teach doctrine.
The two movements which have impressed me are the Evangelium and the Faith movements, both presenting Faith and Reason to the youth; and the youth are responding. Faith is not new, but is attracting young people more than from their parents' generation, which is interesting. The same thing is happening with the pro-life movement here. Younger people are stepping into a void, which was filled by the earlier generation in the States. These movements are attracting the Benedict XVI Generation.
I am prejudiced against the Charismatic Renewal in Great Britain, as I think it is doing more harm than good at this point, with a mixture of false ecumenism and anti-intellectualism at its base. At some point, one must learn what one believes, not just rely on experience. A young person told me that today, about herself. She has left the Charismatics and joined other groups which study the Faith and spread it. This emphasis on study is gaining ground, thank goodness. I do not see vocations coming out of prayer groups anyway, as I am seeing vocations arising out of inspiration from Pope Benedict's writings and example, as well as the influence of the work of Blessed John Paul II, but, after his death.
Perhaps all of this has to do with the times. Two students I spoke with this weekend believe they are in the generation of martyrs. They are quite sane, and open about the possibility of shedding blood in persecution for the Faith. These are bright and talented youth, who love the Church and are willing to die for the Truth. I think that the present Pope's war on relativism and immorality, his fearless discussions on Islam, his condemnation of abortion, contraception, homosexual life-styles, civil marriage, and his emphasis on clarity, hope, and love have inspired a new generation of Catholics. This Pope has been very direct, and has even pointed out the "enemy within the Church" as recently as last Advent. This generation knows that spiritual warfare becomes physical persecution. This will be the generation of the martyrs, which I have known and taught openly as early as 2000-in America. These British youth see things in the clear light of day-good and evil-and they are not afraid. They are sophisticated, smart and ready. This is the Benedict XVI Generation-the Age of the Martyrs.
