Absolute truth and consequences

by Jim Garlits

I started out with this vision for VIR that encompassed way too much. Impossiblities, really. The results of the paring down process, and prayer, was somewhat spurred on by the fact that I'm not a Saint (yet...keep your fingers crossed). I have trouble getting motivated some days, dragging around as the coffee perks. I'm a poor sinner with a big mouth, as some of you on Catholic listservers know, and that is my personal signature on everything that goes out from my e-mailbox every time I hit the send button.

I am convinced of certain things. We're not doing what we should (most of us) as Catholic men, first of all. We're too distracted and divided. So my game plan hits hard in four areas. All of us can count to four, most of us on one hand. I know a couple men to whom that doesn't apply, but thats a story for another time. Here's my list:

Family, liturgy, education, society

How will we attack these four areas of concern? The website will serve as a clearinghouse of information and support so that you can get together on the local level to mull over what needs to be done, talk about it on your roundball courts, factory floors and living rooms, then plan ways to do what needs to be done locally. Thats about it, really. If there turns out to be a real demand for T-shirts and ballcaps with VIR emblazoned across them to scare the bejeebies out of the enemies of the Church, we can plan for that. Thats all we're about, really. Being active Catholic men in an age that desparately needs us.

Family, you ask? I think thats a given. If you have it all together, be a mentor for some poor bungler who needs one. If you're the bungler like me (though I'm really trying and discovering new, strategically placed roadblocks every week) then we'll all be in good company as we try to shed our bunglishness. Family articles will address simplifying our lives, paring back, spending more time together, implementing good, solid Catholic culture right there in the family room.

Breaching the subject of addressing banal and pedantic liturgy sends shivers up some people's spines. Its easy to become overzealous, embarrass yourself and tick your priest off. We'll avoid that at all costs. Here's the plan. We will address the problems by education in the classic Romanist mode of offering free coffee and donuts, and hoping people will be hungry enough to come and listen to you yammer. We will support faithful Catholics in the new Mass rite, the indult, Eastern, and other valid rites who care deeply about tradition and the sacred. We will support seminarians and priests who obey the rubrics and teach our children that obedience is important. And in difficult situations, we will "tithe conscienciously." You'll find more about what that means later.

Education: Here's one that might stick in your craw, but I pray you'll hear me out. First let me be crystal clear. Catechesis of your children is your job, and catechesis of yourself is a prerequisite. Now, we need to talk about adopting the mindset that for Catholics, public schools in almost every circumstance should be rejected. Parochial schools that don't have solid catechesis that is faithful to the teaching authority of the Church should also often be rejected. What are the alternatives? There are a few, and VIR will be bringing you articles to educate and stir you into action. We'll be talking about it, believe me. Its too important not to.

Society sounds intimidating. But it really boils down to performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We should do it with charity and with a vengeance. Why? To make up for lost time, I suppose. We need to start counteracting impurity, stamping out the profane and sacrilegious intrusions in our and our childrens' lives,and implementing the culture of life. We need to replace subjectivism with objective truth and consequences.

How can you get involved? Pray. Start leading a sacramental life if you're not. Start performing the works of mercy. And think about starting a local VIR group.

Where are we going? Forth! Who wants to come along?