A Word of Encouragement

A Word of Encouragement Tim offers a word of encouragement during these trying times. He also reads an encouraging letter Tolkien wrote about staying in the Church and suffering for Her: From the Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Humphrey Carpenter, with Christopher Tolkien (Houghton Mifflin, 1981)You speak of ‘sagging faith’, however. That is quite another matter. In the last resort faith is an act of will, inspired by love. Our love may be chilled and our will eroded by the spectacle of the shortcomings, folly, and even sins of the Church and its ministers, but I do not think that one who has once had faith goes back over the line for these reasons (least of all anyone with any historical knowledge). ‘Scandal’ at most is an occasion of temptation – as indecency is to lust, which it does not make but arouses. It is convenient because it tends to turn our eyes away from ourselves and our own faults to find a scapegoat. But the act of will of faith is not a single moment of final decision: it is a permanent indefinitely repeated act state which must go on – so we pray for ‘final perseverance’. The temptation to ‘unbelief’ (which really means rejection of Our Lord and His claims) is always there within us. Part of us longs to find an excuse for it outside us. The stronger the inner temptation the more readily and severely shall we be ‘scandalized’ by others. I think I am as sensitive as you (or any other Christian) to the scandals, both of clergy and laity. I have suffered grievously in my life from stupid, tired, dimmed, and even bad priests; but I now know enough about myself to be aware that I should not leave the church (which for me would mean leaving the allegiance of Our Lord) for any such reasons: I should leave because I did not believe, and should not believe anymore, even if I had never met anyone in orders who was not both wise and saintly. I should deny the Blessed Sacrament, that is: call our Lord a fraud to His face...Support the show📚TIM & STEPH'S NEW BOOKS ON ANTI-FEMINISM:🔥TIM'S: "The Case for Patriarchy:"Sophia Press: https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-case-for-patriarchyAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Patriarchy-Timothy-Gordon/dp/1622828402**Moving? Use a Catholic pro-life realtor who donates substantially to the pro-life cause!! Contact Real Estate For Life: https://realestateforlife.org/**No matter what your Catholic vocation, The Saintmaker™ is a one-of-a-kind personal journal and planner to help you reignite your faith, succeed in life, and experience true spiritual freedom! With the Saintmaker Free Trial Offer, you can try it out for 90 days risk free. If you decide it’s not for you, return your Saintmaker for a full refund INCLUDING shipping. Rules for Retrogrades listeners can learn more about and get 10% off their first Saintmaker by visiting https://www.thesaintmaker.com/retrogrades and using promo code RETROGRADES at checkout.____________________________________________________________________📚TIM & STEPH'S NEW BOOKS ON ANTI-FEMINISM:🔥TIM'S: "The Case for Patriarchy:"Sophia Press: https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/the-case-for-patriarchyAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Patriarchy-Timothy-Gordon/dp/1622828402🔥 STEPH'S : "Ask Your Husband;"Signed copies ONLY on TimothyJGordon.com: https://www.timothyjgordon.com/publicationsAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Your-Husband-Wifes...