We Are Weaker Now

From the Sayings of the Desert Fathers:

[Abba Anthony] also said, “God does not allow the same warfare and temptations to this generation as he did formerly, for men are weaker now and cannot bear so much.

That seems oh-so-true to me. We are weaker, in many ways. We are weaker in terms of ability to endure physical hardship, because modern society has so many conveniences – and has for a long time. I get freaked out when I see a big spider on the wall, for heaven’s sake! And don’t we all complain about minor inconveniences that people of the past took for granted?

Spiritually, we are weaker, too. One thing we do very poorly is wait. Ours is a fast-food mentality where we expect everything to be served “our way” and in short order! Of course there are other weaknesses. Many Catholics seem to have lost sight of our end purpose, which is to be happy with God in Heaven…not on earth. And many have lost sight of the fact that we are not guaranteed Heaven, and that we have to “work out our salvation in fear and trembling”.

Here’s another nugget from St. Anthony:

Abba Anthony said, “A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, ‘You are mad, you are not like us.’”

Well, it seems to me that time is upon us! “Gay marriage” is becoming a norm, a “right”. That will inevitably lead to society giving similar “rights” to people who want to have sex with children, with family members, and even with animals. It’s happening now. The slippery slope seems to have ended, and we are now in the abyss.

 
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!