The solution to Church reform is not what you think

Often in the spiritual life we can get so caught up in all the problems “out there”, that we forget to focus on our own sins. We begin to despair over bad leaders in the hierarchy, Church scandals, financial issues, lack of evangelism, liturgical abuses, moral failings in society etc etc… the list is never ending. 

We forget that all problems come from sin, and sin is in the human heart. If we can’t control the sin in our own lives, how do we ever think we can have the answers or solutions to the problems in the world? What happens is that usually we get so angry and frustrated with our own inability to conquer ourselves, our selfish desires, our personal struggle with sin - that we begin to focus on other people and their sins instead. We begin to get bitter and angry, thinking to ourselves that if only other people were less annoying and selfish, if only society was not so immoral, if only our Church leaders were holier, if only our parish priest was a better preacher, if only the music at Mass was better, if only everyone did everything MY way - then I could finally solve all my problems! Then I could finally focus on my person sin and not be distracted by all you other sinners. 

Lord have mercy! How delusional we are! 

This self righteous attitude, this bitterness of the soul is not a fruit of the Spirit. This delusional thinking is from satan himself. 

The solution to all our problems is so very simple, and yet also the hardest thing. Personal holiness. Full stop. 

During the period of the Counter-Reformation in the 16th century, the Church had been torn apart by war, scandals, schism and heresy. Yet it is from this period that we also have some of our greatest saints. One of these saints is St Peter Alcantara. 

St Peter Alcantara was a Franciscan Friar and he was involved in an internal reform within the Franciscans themselves known as the “observant” movement. They wanted to live strict poverty, asceticism, and live the Rule of St Francis in what they believed was its purer and more authentic form. 

Through his life of penance, prayer, preaching, asceticism and personal holiness he was able to influence others in the Church. He was personal friends with St John of Avila (made Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict) who through his example helped to reform the lives of local priests. He was also spiritual director of St Teresa of Avila and encouraged her in her spiritual life, growth in prayer, and supported her with her plans to reform the Carmelite Order. 

We can see that all the great reformers in the Church were also great saints. They strove to seek after holiness and reform themselves first. Then through their example they could help inspire and support others. 

Saints are never saints in isolation. In the history of the Church you will also see pockets of saints, who influenced eachother and supported eachother in clusters. This is the power and beauty of the Mystical Body of Christ and the Communion of Saints. We are all united together in faith, but also in holiness. The more we grow in virtue, the more it helps our brothers and sisters in Christ to also grow in virtue. Without the spiritual direction of St Peter of Alcantara then St Teresa may have given up on her reform, fallen into despair, not continued to work with St John of the Cross, not written her works and then all of us today would have been worse off. Not just because we would not have her writings on mental prayer, Friendship with Jesus and stages in spiritual growth. But without her, then we wouldn’t have St Alphonsus Ligouri, no St Therese of Lisuex, no St Edith Stein, no St Mother Teresa etc… all of these saints are spiritually linked as directly or indirectly being influenced by St Teresa of Avila. Yet without help from St Peter Alcantara, the Church and all of us would not have been enriched by this harvest of holiness and benefitted from it. 

Never let the devil delude you into thinking there’s no point in praying, or trying to be holy, or growing in virtue, or asking the Holy Spirit to guide you. Never think that holiness is a distant abstract ideal. All of us are called the be saints - each and every one of us. As the Gospel of Luke says “the Kingdom of God is among/within you”.  This means if God does not reign as King of our heart, how can he be King of the world? If we do not have the light of Christ in us, how can we shine? If we do not have the love of God poured into our heart, how can we give to others what we do not have ourselves? 

Holiness begins today, here and now. Church reform begins with you and I. We as members of the Church build up the Church and eachother through our own co operation with grace. 

As many saints throughout history have repeated - if you want to reform the world/Church, then you need to begin with yourself. Once you have mastered your own inner demons, then you can conquer the world. 

Never fall into anger, bitterness or despair - fight the good fight, and become a saint.