Reform and Renewal Starts with Us
Anthony Esolen
BenOp in Wsj
Austin Ruse, The Escriva Option
What distinguishes the laity from the monastics? Fr. Louis Bouyer has written on both, and how both share the same Christian vocation, even if their rule of life is different. For lay people in (post-)industrialized Western countries living as wage slaves (whether they are aware of the degradation of their condition or not, despite the manifold material comforts they may have), their freedom to live a fuller prayer life may be curtailed to one degree or another. (Hence the objection from many to the laity praying the liturgy of the hours, or at least the two major hours, morning and evening prayer, because it is not "practical."
As for forming intentional communities -- this may not be necessary if one has a parish community; however in a parish one may need to fight the temptation to see one's self as being part of the "remnant." One should do what one can to help the lukewarm and to instruct the ignorant; even if these efforts do not seem successful, the witness to the love of Christ which should inspires such actions does matter. Nonetheless, one should strengthen the friendships one has with fellow Catholics.
Benedict & the Omnibus of Options
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