For years, I have been trying to organize small, Church-based communities of Catholics for the mutual support of real Catholics and also for the protection and care of the weak. I have spoken about this for over thirty years in some places both in Europe and in America, to no avail.
Usually there are one or two older women who are interested, but that is it. A real community would be as varied as a parish-old, young, male, female, single, married and so on. My own experience in my youth of being seven years in such a lay community has led me to believe this is possible and necessary in the times to come.
I have written on another blog on the network of recusant families in England, who, in horrible times, helped each other keep the Faith and also who harbored priests so that others could have the sacraments.
I have come to the conclusion that there are many reasons why Faith-based communities have not happened, when these should be happening now. In some TLM communities, the parishes have built communities. Also, I know that home schooling communities can be built, as I was involved in two in two different places.
But, the Catholics who are serious about their faith lifestyles must consider real communities of support, both physical and spiritual.
Here are the reasons why I these communities are not being built.
One, too many Catholics, even orthodox ones, do not believe there will be hard times. They are wrong.
Two, too many Catholics want to maintain a comfortable independence, not understanding that individuals will not only be vulnerable, but in danger in times to come.
Sadly, too many elderly people do not want to give up supposed independence, nor do comfortable singles.
Three, the types of sacrifices made so that there can be Christian communities seem too hard for some people. They think that the false security of their parish communities, which mostly consist of people who only see each other once a week and hardly know each other, is enough.
Four, too many Catholics have fallen into the sin of socialism, expecting and wanting the government to step in where they should be caring for the weak and vulnerable.
Five, too much comfort seeking and a lack of appreciation for sharing-due to small families not learning sharing skills or even soft skills, like cooking, cleaning, gardening and so on.
Six, the co-opting of communities by charismatic groups which are mostly heretical, thus turning away orthodox, obedient Catholics, has been an issue in some areas.
Seven, just plain selfishness and the idea that charity can be part-time and not full-time seems to be a growing trend.
Eight, the idolization of the family, even though the family may be completely godless, thus taking time away from the building of Catholic communities can be an issue. Spending real time with one's brothers and sisters in Christ is a necessity, not a luxury, and the godless would be attracted to the real love manifested in these communities, if they existed.
Those who are isolated may very well be swept away in the persecutions to come, and as my priest said today at coffee after Mass, we are already in persecution.
I cannot do this on my own and I cannot be like Jeremiah or Ezekiel, or the other prophets who were ignored. Either Catholics come to understand they need community, or the hardships may prove unbearable for many. Again, one may ask, are we our brothers and sisters keepers?