The Proceedings of the last convention of the American Catholic Theological Society makes excellent light reading before you fall asleep at night: that is, the booklet is not heavy and is easy to hold. But the material is quality.

Here, for example, is the present new generation as described by the experts:

-prone to individualism, relativism, privatism in religion.
-searching for community.
-religiously illiterate, lacking vocabulary or concepts of being a Catholic.
-strong orientation toward voluntary service, but not seen as related to the Church.

— Privatism, individualism, is very American. We have coped with that for generations. All the way from private interpretation of Scripture to private enterprise in business, our culture stresses the competitive, the individual. So that is nothing new.

— Quite contrary to that is search for community. That too, remarkably, is very American. From Amish to Hutterites, to Amanah, Brook Farm, Quakers, Shakers, Oneida to New Harmony — community is deep in our psyche.

— That we are religiously illiterate is the fruit of public education and Catholic inadequacy. But it is not irremediable. It can be helped. People can learn.

— An orientation toward service is beautiful. That it is not identified with the Church is a mark of ignorance and maybe of fear. But it is a great quality.

If you put the whole together the picture is not grim. A culture of divorce will necessarily result in a generation that trusts nothing. Has no confidence in any structure, not after the love that created you has died, has split. It takes no structure seriously, interested in all, committed to none. Privately searching. When the fundamental structure of society — the family — collapses, love for Church or any social or spiritual body will come hard. But can come. It can be experienced.

The Church is essentially community. And in the Church how many communities: parochial, diocesan, international. Of all kinds. This is our best point. Our chief quality.

Let this be known and experienced, who could predict what will follow? If any knew what joy we have in the community — yet how can you tell anyone? It must be experienced. But the desire is there. The hunger is surely a great good.

If we have a generation illiterate in matters of the faith, that is not necessarily permanent. Instructing the ignorant is a spiritual work of mercy. We can open doors, share what we have, open our books, invite to choir. Welcome at the Eucharist. These are all at once spiritual and educational.

And the response to a call to service is surely a reason for hope. The Church is rich in mercy. Its works of charity are phenomenal. And also not well known. And the Church is everywhere. Even in remote distant lands. Harry Jacobs goes mountain climbing in the Himalayas of Nepal and runs into Sisters of Nazareth from Bardstown.  The young go abroad or to the inner city or Andalusia and find the Church already there before them. So if we can make the identification of Christ/Church/Service, all will come together.

So putting it together, I'd say the situation is encouraging, no matter how discouraging it looks at the moment.

Vocations are not scarce. I'd say that's a misuse of concepts. Vocations are abundant as ever. It is the response that is weak or lacking. Or misunderstood.

Constant talks about it is one way. I am not sure it is the best.

The power of prayer is greater. It has a way of opening eyes, clarifying vision, suggesting options, revealing secrets.

This house has been way up and way down. We have been down to 30, and up to 200 monks. They were going to close it once. Maybe twice.

Worldwide and in history the scene is even more chaotic: the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, the 100 Years War, the French Revolution and how many others, Napoleon and Emperor Joseph and the Church itself passing out commendatory abbacies to worthies and favorites — every country in Europe has turned on the Church — save Ireland, never really a country — and monasteries were easy targets. 900 years and still here, not much around that old.

So we live in hope. Hope on. Trust God. Pray more. And look to a glorious future. We have been here but 150 years. We're just getting started.

A little more light reading would help to lighten your spirits. There's a lot of good in the young even if it's mixed with darkness. Which seems to me more or less the way it's always been.  Amen.

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