Going through a pile of miscellaneous notes, I found this, which I had jotted down while poking around in the library at Loyola University in New Orleans.
Fr. Hynes like to think of the laymen's retreats as one of the forces combating the religious slackening of our times. "The lack of faith has caused many people to go to pieces," he said.
–from the New Orleans Item, April 22, 1951
Just in case it escaped your notice: it’s the date of this that I thought was interesting, and relevant to the discussion. It supports what we were saying in the other thread about the Christian foundations of western civ having been in pretty bad shape in the middle of the last century. And this was a period which is popularly seen as having been a time of strength and health for American Catholicism. That doesn’t of course mean that it wasn’t strong and healthy in comparison to, say, the ’70s.
Compared to now? I dunno…
Besides, I really liked the “go to pieces” part.
One thing I see in the Church now that I don’t remember seeing as I was growing up, and I certainly didn’t see in the 70s is a real joy. It certainly isn’t ubiquitous, but it’s most obvious, I think, in these growing orders of sisters like the Nashville Dominicans I work with and the sisters at the retreat house I go to in Birmingham, and lot of young people. Surely that has to be a good sign.
AMDG
Many people I grew up with were very prayerful and quietly serious about their faith, but I’m hard pressed to think of anyone who was obviously joyful.
AMDG
Not having been Catholic until ca. 1980, I don’t have a sense of that. Though I’m not sure I personally know anyone whom I would describe as obviously joyful.
That’s interesting. I don’t know if we’re just very blessed in Memphis, or if you just aren’t in situations where you meet these people.
In both groups of sisters that I mentioned, it’s very obvious, and I lived with those sisters in B’ham for a week, so it’s obviously not something they put on for show.
Also, I see it in many young adults around here.
AMDG
“Besides, I really liked the “go to pieces” part.”
Me too.
“Though I’m not sure I personally know anyone whom I would describe as obviously joyful.”
I think I probably know a lot of Catholics who seem pretty happy, or at least content.
There’s a student from Nigeria who goes to Mass at my church here and I always try to sit close by her because of her joyousness. I’m counting on osmosis.
Maybe I should try something like that. I’m really not that into being joyous. 😉
Yeah, we noticed.
AMDG
“One thing I see in the Church now that I don’t remember seeing as I was growing up, and I certainly didn’t see in the 70s is a real joy.” Like a certain wedding I went to recently. Pure joy from start to finish.
That’s pretty amazing.
I say this as a former assistant to a wedding photographer.
AMDG
Light On Dark Water 
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