To the editor:
There were many good insights in the article by Bishop Robert Barron (on a Pew Study about why young people are leaving the active practice of Christianity) which we can easily recognize.
What is often left out for consideration in discussion of this issue is that in the modern faith formation process, at least in my limited experience of 50 years, there is a lack of engagement of many people, including myself, to a life devoted to dynamic personal devotional intercession and communal intercession happening outside the confines of a very structured and impersonal speedy approach by some to the celebration of the Mass and community involvement within the parish outside of Mass.
The essence of repentance is more than just saying “I am sorry” to God in our celebrating the Mass or exercising our faith in sacraments such as Confession or other sacraments as well. Repentance is the on-going commitment to keep God first in our minds and lives at all times and to enjoy and remain in His holy presence at all times.
This level of engagement is what brings true conversion, love, joy, and revival to the Church. The difficulty is this: it takes time to pray in a demanding, devilish world-system of unworthy distractions, pleasures, and persecutions that we are called to overcome daily in our time with God in Christ Jesus.
The presence of the Holy Spirit will quicken us out of our intellectual slumber, when we spend quality personal and communal time with God and His people in dynamic intercessory prayer.
Rick McKellar, Sauk City