Do millennials make good Catholics?

Naturally, I hope you know I am being facetious here - the answer is a resounding "yes." I know this from my own experience, I know this from the experience of my friends (some of the most passionate Catholics I know) and I know this from stuff I read online. 

I particularly like that article, linked above, which talks about why many millennial Catholics prefer more traditional forms of worship and the accompanying rituals: adoration, the candlelit Church, veiling, etc. I am not interested in elaborating on that, but rather, starting one step back and thinking about this from another angle: why is it that millennials should even be interested in Catholicism - and make "good" Catholics?

One reason, I believe, is because of our dispositions and personalities. Words I have found to describe millennials: tech-savvy, ambitious, creative, multitasking, passionate about social justice, flexible. 

Sounds like the perfect recipe for an apostle, if you ask me. 

Think about it: a good apostle is one who communicates passionately and persistently, embracing the adventure and challenge of spreading the gospel - creatively, with joy, whatever comes next.

Millennials have nearly unlimited ways of communicating the message of the gospel (see the #medianuns, many of whom are millennials, using SnapChat to share their life). I have found several art-centric digital mediums used to evangelize, including TradWave and Catholic Creatives. And the podcasts - well, just look at The Crunch or Catching Foxes, for starters. 

As for the other traits, I imagine the first apostles had them in spades. Ambition - well, it would have seemed ambitious to evangelize the entire world, no? And as they traversed the world, their passion for Jesus led them to be passionate for his children, in what we would term "social justice" today - caring for the poor, the sick, the marginalized. They would have had to  be flexible, meeting people where they were, over a drink, or in their home, probably speaking in less than ideal conditions - and roll with it. And through it all, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide their steps. 

What would St. Paul have thought of the millennial generation? The original apostles faced unbelievable obstacles, most particularly the political resistance to their mission. Maybe we can even compare the pagan culture then to the secular culture now. It was starting from scratch then; now, in this age of increasing "no religious affiliation," it still feels a bit like starting from scratch. And what the world needs are a young, passionate apostolate (like many I saw at the March for Life - #prolifegeneration) on fire to spread the Word.

This is all hypothesizing on my part - and I wouldn't dream of comparing, without caveats, a generation of history's greatest saints with this generation, or really any other. But I think there is something to this, that the gifts of my generation lend themselves in a particularly fitting way to the challenge that is evangelization. And I truly see millennials embracing their distinctive gifts for this mission, and I have hope for the future of the Church. 

Young Adult Day of Reflection: see you there!

I am so excited to share information on the upcoming young adult retreat at St. Timothy's parish in Chantilly, Virginia, February 24th! See the advertisement above - it'll be a full day of Mass, inspirational talks (including one by moi), opportunities for fellowship, holy hour and confession. 

My talk is called, "Sent for this Purpose," and is about finding the connection between your faith and your purpose in this life. 

"Do you get the sense you were called to something greater, but are not sure where to begin? In this talk, Laura will connect the Church's philosophy on the Mystical Body of Christ, our place in it, and how each person is called to use their God-given gifts to help further the kingdom of God. If you are not sure of your purpose, fear not! God has a special plan for you - and you're already equipped to carry it out."

Hee-hee.

If you're ready to sign up, the registration link is here. We've also got an old-school pdf form if that's more your thang.

It is a humbling, exciting prospect, to know I have this opportunity. Please prayer for me that my words may be guided by the holy spirit and that God's will be done.

Yippee!

My first March for Life

It is never far from mind how fortunate I am to be in the DC area and close to so many incredible Catholic events. Truly, if I were not here, I am not sure I would have returned to the Church, due to the great wealth of people, leaders, clergy, events, talks and physical churches available to nourish one's spiritual needs.

Friday was such a day. As opposed to the hundreds who came from around the country, hopping on buses at the crack of dawn and staying in hotels, I went to work Friday morning and then sashayed down to the Catholic Information Center to walk to the March in the afternoon. 

I should add, too, that proximity to so many buildings related to the governance and justice of our country never gets old, either. I felt that way especially once we ended up in front of the Supreme Court, where women were giving their testimony. It was moving, to the point of tears, to listen to these women, who have undergone such trauma, but are able to find the courage to speak about it. Their courage could save lives.

I found this quote from Dorothy Day:

"I fell in love with a newspaperman named Lionel Moise. I got pregnant. He said that if I had the baby, he would leave me. I wanted the baby but I wanted Lionel more. So I had the abortion and I lost them both."

That sums it up for me. Abortion is not a solution, it is a tragedy which begets further tragedy. I don't mean because she lost her boyfriend; but the regret, the shame, the humiliation, the "what if" and the darkness that is a separation from God. Taking a child's life does not end a problem, it begins to spin a web of problems that cast out into a woman's life, through her years.

Although I have been in DC a while, I never felt particularly moved to attend the March. I think this year was different because I am better understanding what it means to be pro-life, from all perspectives, including the value of those whose lives are considered unworthy due to disability. Further, many of my friends and family members now have children whose whole beings are full of love and light, and I see that. There is one little girl in particular to whom I am very close, deeply so, so much that I feel our souls must be connected, she is that singular and important. However, if her mother had not made a distinctly pro-life choice, I would not know this special angel. It is clear to all who know her that she is a direct gift from God, even if unexpected. But what if the gift had not been accepted? It is unthinkable.

God reaches us and teaches us in ways we sometimes do not fully understand. I have no children, and thanks be to God, have never had to make such a choice as many of the women I heard from Friday did. What I see as I begin to more fully understand this whole issue and debate is the inter-connectivity between all life. When you snuff out one part, the consequences echo out in ways you can neither anticipate nor all gather back to you to make right. I believe an abortion sets off a chain reaction, both emotional and material, which Dorothy Day's quote illustrates. If for no other reason, this is why protecting life matters - it is the right thing to do for the child, yes, but the metaphysical consequences bear out in ways that I think most women, fathers and families could never begin to comprehend in the moment that choice is made.

One of the speakers said she was given a receipt for her abortion. A receipt in exchange for the life of her child, as if it were a gas station exchange. Women deserve better than this. 

What I want to know is how women who DO choose life can be supported. It may be that I have not done enough research into this and that there is an abundance of policy ideas and models already being implemented. But, I get the feeling there isn't. Who is at the forefront, who is the loudest voice, providing solutions for how women and their babies can be supported? It could be a tax credit program, a housing solution, I don't know. Who does know? If you know, will you point the way? This is something I feel called to think about.