It can happen to all of us when we are disconnected socially from other church people and far from our bishops, brother priests, etc. Like many others, I have lived through the events concerning the Traditional Anglican Communion. It is tempting to become bitter or to look to the general decline of Christianity for self-justification. I won’t say what has inspired me to write this little reflection, but it is important to get good and positive thoughts out. I would have an excuse to be sad in this Stygian gloom of Advent in the northern hemisphere, but there are many beautiful things about winter and late autumn too!

Like many others in the world, I have very little in the way of pastoral ministry. I have spent time trying to analyse the reasons why. It is largely a question of “market” and what people look for. Essentially, they want baptisms, marriages and burials with very little commitment. On the other hand, they cannot be expected to be committed to parishes that are all but in theory abandoned by the local diocese that doesn’t have enough priests to go round. Some people will go to the Protestants, Evangelical communities (imported from the USA, they are growing) or non-Christian religions. The others lapse into agnosticism. There is a category of more or less marginalised people, generally “lower middle class” who appreciate a more “superstitious” kind of Christianity with more “paganism” in it. France being a nation of hypochondriacs (Napoleon called us Brits a nation of shopkeepers!), there are plenty of people looking for exorcisms and faith healings that they won’t find in the average Novus Ordo parish. This latter category is usually the target market of independent sacramental clergy, who often find they reap a tidy profit from it. It is also possible to advertise oneself as a substitute for Rome to appeal to the divorced and remarried and other “tolerances”. I refuse to go that way, though I treat people as persons loved by God on an individual basis and away from prying eyes and bandwagon ideologies.

In this country, one does very badly with advertising, knocking on doors and all the gimmicks. However, in a certain way, the way ahead is within ourselves. This is why I believe that many of us are called to be contemplatives even though we cannot be monks on account of being married and not living in a proper monastic community. When I think of the average isolated layman several hours by car from the church where he goes whenever he can make it, I have daily Mass in my own chapel. I have only to celebrate it – with the chapel door open (or at least unlocked when it’s cold) and with the intention of being in communion with the whole of Christ’s Church, both visible and invisible.

Many holy men, the Curé d’Ars for example, wanted to go away and be hermits, to be alone with God. God wanted him to be a parish priest, and he died in his parish at his post. St Sergius of Radonezh wanted also to be alone, but monks followed him into the wilderness and pestered him to become their Abbot and spiritual father. It seems strange to be hankering after the opposite.

I think I have mentioned it before about the Chinese saying – When there is peace in the heart … family … town … county … country … continent … the whole world. How true. The contemplative life is the first step – keeping everything going on our own: the chapel, vestments, sacristy, keeping everything maintained and clean, daily Mass and Office, being kind and tolerant with people, praying for people, being kind to animals and respectful of the environment (yes, it is part of spirituality). Next, being good to our wives even if they are little interested in religion or “traditional” religion and all our non-believing and non-practicing friends. Perhaps, if we have peace, they might sense that and ask themselves why – but we haven’t to bank on it. Give without counting the cost, do good without seeking a reward. Isn’t that the message of Jesus, St Francis of Assisi and so many others?

Then we just do what we can where we are. I just ask your prayers for this poor sinner!