www.byzcath.org Forums Preparation for the conference

At the conference, I imagine most people are hoping all will go smoothly. I imagine also some people are preparing for armageddon over some issues. Repeated warnings not to get bogged down in translation issues exhibit some of the tension right below the surface.

All these issues are good and worthwhile to discuss. However, I wanted to suggest that everyone start praying and preparing now for the conference so that armageddon doesn't erupt and it can be a fruitful meeting.

I wanted to toss out two items:
the phrase from antiquity "In the essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

And a prayer which I have found most challenging: Litany of Humility [ewtn.com] .

I perpetually remind myself of these two items whenever I have to discuss matters of faith with anyone (mostly because I am perpetually failing in both love and humility). Since there is just over a month to go, now strikes me as a good time to start getting spiritually prepared.

In Him,
Mike

Since I will not be able to attend, I am hoping for some really good suggestions from that conference that can be implemented locally. I pray the conference doesn't get bogged down over petty things. We can't afford that. Our church is in dire straits and must grow to survive. It's strange that I often read posts that condemn the SSPX for leaving because of the revised Roman mass, but see individuals here that are ready to do the same over a few word changes in the Byzantine Liturgy. As Dan often mentions, we may be moving chairs around on the Titanic. As I said, we can't afford to waste time and resources on things like that. This is serious, folks.

I'm not as concerned about the conference itself as I am about the aftermath. I am praying for both. I think we will come up with some excellent ideas most of which if implemented will bring about positive results. A few won't work as expected but given our situation almost anything is better than what we have. FDR's advice for leaders at the depth of the depression was simply "Do something."

There are several possible outcomes for this event. First, the bishops will say "these are nice ideas" and then sit on them. Second, they might say "these are good ideas" and then send them to standing committees which will sit on them. Either would accelerate our decline.

On the other hand: First, the bishops might consecrate the priests and laity to do most of the things that will have been decided. Second, they might allow some new Apostalates to fulfill the vision.

What if: Several ministries were let loos with the commission that we can do these things so long as we raise our own money and we are given the freedom to raise our own money? Some might say that such an outcome might be disasterous. I say such an outcome may be the best possible outcome. Imagine such freedom? It would be glorious.

Let us watch, pray, and work.

Dan L