Celebrate Catholic Diversity

Sometimes, when I feel like there is too much division and diversity in the world around me, I retreat to the Catholic Church. Then I remember…there is a reasonable amount of diversity there as well and we are certainly, and unfortunately, not lacking division in some areas. Perhaps we should revisit the definition of “catholic” and not be so surprised. “Including a wide variety of things; all-embracing” sounds like diversity is to be expected. Not only should we expect it, we really need to find a way to embrace it.

Someone had posted an article on FB some time ago. I was entitled something like, “That’s really beautiful, but it's not for me," and it was about getting along in a the largness of the Catholic faith. There were members of two religious orders sitting on a panel, discussing Charisms, when one of them said that exact phrase. The author made the point that if all of us could get to that point...imagine how the competition and division would diminish to almost nothing.

I remember not long after, having the opportunity to witness to that truth first-hand. For that week, I found myself attending Mass at a church some distance from my own. I used to call this a "happy-clappy" church but have moved to "waving" as a more charitable way to describe it. I can't say Charismatic, per se, because I didn't see talking in tongues, jumping, or other things that are sometimes associated with that movement (which I have, actually, witnessed at other Masses), just a lot of arm gestures.

I was grateful for that article because, as much as I felt like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, I leaned heavy on that phrase. It's true...waving is not my way to grow closer to God. I prefer Latin, incense, and quiet. I was not in the majority but God was there to sacrifice Himself for all of us. Amazing, huh?

I found myself at that Mass because our kids were attending Maranatha, a Vocation bible school, in which each grade learns about a different Religious Order. God is good to connect the dots because I was definitely sleep-deprived at that time in my life. There is diversity throughout the Catholic Church.

If there are so many different Orders in religious life, each with a different Charism, why would He have created those of us non-consecrated folk to be any different? Let's look at the Benedictines...there are 100 Benedictine houses across America and most of those are further divided among four major congregations: American-Cassinese, Swiss-American, St. Scholastica, and St. Benedict.

This is why it's difficult to even call someone a "Traditional" or a "Charismatic" because among those are a miriad of ways in which the person may express their devotion to and gifts from God.

So, let's agree to disagree or, better yet, just agree to get along. Perhaps a waving church isn't to your taste. That's really ok. I would challenge you, however, to see the goodness that the people at those Masses bring to the worship and then out into the world. If it's distracting (like it is for me) just find a church that is more to your call from Him. He created so many types of people and expressions to give Him glory...surely you can find one that fits your taste. Don’t be surprised, either, if your taste changes in your life. Just be open to where God is calling you. The Catholic Church is large – there is a place for you.

Ultimately, I pray that through your search for God, you will find the way in which He is calling you to praise and follow Him. It doesn't have to be like me. That's not the only way. Your way is beautiful but it may not be for me and vv. Let's just follow Him and His call and not worry about what works for someone else.

Oh, one last note. If you find yourself in the library trying to work and there is a girl behind you talking non-stop, or in the subway with a bunch of kids running wild while their mom plays on her phone, or even at traditional Mass when you are definitely the waving type...offer up your discomfort and distraction. I know for a fact that God can use every ounce of that for good and many of us could use some of those graces. You may even walk away feeling pretty pleased that you could go through it and keep your peace intact.