Revolution of Love.com
The Great Anesthesiologist
by Brian
Lately I have been doing a lot of thinking about the state of the Catholic Church in North America. Of course, my observation and experience is limited, but I believe it is somewhat accurate. What I have observed is a slow, but effective spiritual numbing of the Catholic population. It is as if more and more Catholics are rapidly becoming indifferent to what makes them Catholic.
I liken this spiritual numbing to what happens when a person is being prepared to undergo a medical operation. Before the surgeon begins, the patient is anesthetized so they won’t experience any pain during the procedure. I am sure everyone would agree that this is a great good, especially for the patient, but what if this same sort of thing is happening within the spiritual lives of Catholics?
I believe what happens to a patient after being anesthetized is happening to many Catholics today. They are being placed in a deep spiritual slumber where they no longer recognize their sinfulness, no longer see the beauty of Christ and His Bride the Church and no longer know why they have been put on earth or where their ultimate destiny lies. These Catholics have fallen victim to the greatest anesthesiologist of them all, the devil.
In 1972, Pope Paul VI during a general audience made the comment that the smoke of Satan had entered the Church. I believe what Pope Paul was speaking of is a clear reflection of what is happening today. One needs only to look at the confessional lines on Saturday afternoon and compare it to the communion lines on Sunday morning to recognize that something is not quite right. As one elderly woman commented to me after coming out of the confessional to an almost empty chapel, “Where are all the sinners?”
Another clear sign confirming this spiritual numbness is the percentage of Catholics who ignore the moral teachings of the Church. When it comes to co-habitation, divorce and contraception, Catholics are right up there with the rest of society. In fact some polls have listed that the number of married Catholics who are open to life and use natural family planning is somewhere around 4%.
Satan’s toxic and dark anesthesia has placed countless Catholics in what I would call a spiritual coma. I know it is never a good idea to make brash generalizations, for there are always exceptions to the norm, but there seems to be an ever-widening distance between the faith life of the average Catholic and their daily life. And this gap seems to be growing at an alarming rate.
I believe Satan’s anesthesia can affect anyone, no matter how faithful or saintly they may be. One can never let their guard down. Instead, they must be vigilant, ever watchful against the spiritual ether of hell. To protect oneself from spiritual numbness I would recommend what I have already mentioned in other articles: pray the Rosary, read Scripture and the Catechism, receive the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, make an examination of conscience every night before retiring, read good spiritual books and practice self-renunciation.
St. Peter warns us, “Be sober, be watchful, your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8) The devil is real and wants every baptized believer in Hell. He will not stop his vicious assault on the Church militant. This is why St. Peter pleads with us to “resist him.” Never give in or surrender, but fight. In other words, avoid sin and remain in a state of grace.
As Satan’s anesthesia lulls millions into a deep spiritual sleep, leading them through the wide gate of destruction and darkness, we must wake up and stop waiting for others to take action. Instead, we must do our part not only by living our faith, but by learning it as well. Learn your faith, study the Catechism, and try to understand what it means to be Catholic. Even though we may fall a thousand times a day, we must strive to show others, through our words and actions, that the Catholic faith is the greatest treasure any person could possess in the whole wide world.
Finally, we must never be discouraged or downcast. Rather, we must remember that the book of Revelation continually reminds us that victory is ours! Christ has died, Christ has risen and Christ has conquered! Jesus calls us to be spiritually strong, trusting in His love and mercy. By opening our hearts to Christ, we will fill our lungs with the fresh air of Heaven and repel the toxic anesthesia of hell.
God bless.