Auto-Constructed Catacombs

For me, studying in the Novitiate of the Legionaries of Christ was difficult.  I always chalked it up to me not being called to the contemplative lifestyle but still living in a cloister.  I was always content to "offer up" my difficulties as all faithful Catholics who have subscribed to the doctrine of Redemptive Suffering are taught to do.  It is in stark remembrance that during a retreat, Fr. Bailleres LC gave a particularly fiery talk in which his thesis was if you have not fully given yourself to your vocation as a Legionary, your struggles were self inflicted, and your suffering had no merit.  For the first time in my life since I'd begin "offering up" everything from a stubbed toe to a stressful exam to Christ did I think that perhaps not all suffering could be turned into a "good".

Fast forward 16 years (uhg!) and this weekend's readings and homily were very much about the persecution of Christians, which reminded me about something Goerge Weigel said that made quite an uproar in the Catholic blogsphere.  In a talk that Weigel gave where he was discussing the challanges presented in today's political climate he said, "The challenge also won’t be met by Catholic traditionalists retreating into auto-constructed catacombs."

[As an editors note, Weigel first said, "This challenge will not be met by Catholic Lite. Indeed, one of the most powerful indicators that the Catholic Lite project is finished has been the uselessness of “progressive” Catholicism in the battle for religious freedom this past year and a half, a battle the stakes in which most Catholic “progressives” manifestly have not grasped."  This did not seem to get any uproar on the Catholic blog sphere which may give color to the leanings of what I'm frequenting.]

While I agree with Weigel's statements on the Catholic Lite, I especially agree with him on his assessment of traditionalist Catholics.  I'm as proud of my Christian roots watered with the blood of the martyrs as the next person, but if one's martyrdom is self inflicted, if we retreat to the catacombs of our own accord, does it have any merit?  I've never delved into the theological accuracy of Fr. Bailleres' homily that has been indelibly imprinted on my memory, but my leaning is that the answer is no.

So I think the choice is clear, we as Catholics can become a relevant, constructive contributor in the intellectual debate that is going on around us, or we can retreat into auto-constructed catacombs deferring the conversation to those more convicted in their beliefs and political motivations than ourselves.  I think only one route can be turned into a good.