To show proof that it isn’t just because of the modern times we live in, go to any place where the Traditional Latin Mass is said, solid traditional Catholic Sermons and there you will find Churches with increasing numbers as well as many young people. Truth and real reverence and beauty is what is attractive. And that what the Catholic Faith and the Traditional Mass is. So the young people recognise it and are drawn to the centuries old teachings of the Church as they are the answers to all our problems in this world, in our own lives, and the way to find Eternal happiness in the next life.
If people are not told about Heaven, Hell, Mortal Sin, the true purpose of this life, and all the other” difficult teachings”, why bother going to Mass and practicing your Faith when you can just care about the environment,poverty etc as a non-practicing Catholic? Or not a Catholic at all.
The Church’s mission is to save souls – and many clergy in the Church unfortunately have completely lost that mission or never had that instilled in them in the first place.

When a church is such an incredible din at Christmas as was the case at one Northside church BRISBANE, some years ago, so much so that the celebrant could not be heard even when he is using microphone, even the most devout are sorely tested.
But it gets worse. So what happened when a metre wide “peace” symbol was placed on the wall as part of the decor, a symbol used for initiation of youth into Satanic cults?
The parish priest Fr Peter Clifford OFM apologised later and a large contingent from the parish went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre. and now there is a huge picture of St Mary McKillop over the spot, just to let everyone know .

There is hardly a church in Brisbane which does not have chat before a mass, and chat continues immediately after when the faithful are making their private thanksgiving. It does not happen in the Polish church at a Newstead Brisbane church where there is a regular all night vigil, where the monstrance with the Eucharist is there and respected by all, and where Benediction happens close to mass.
And at the Carmelite monastery at Ormiston there is also respect for the Divine presence.
The comment by Fr Michael Mahoney SM comes as no surprise at all. Its been happening slowly for a long time.

What of Modernism? Several Popes have all pointed to the dangers. Is it not true to say that this is the reason why hell has been removed out of the equation?

Where do priesthood comment on the miracles of the Eucharist? Where does this appear in RE programmes? Where is this supported by parents? Is it not true to say that dialogue in the home has waned at mealtime, and TV dinners have taken over? And is it not true to say that congregations have become more and more AUDIENCE DRIVEN due to the omnipresence of TV?

Whatever happened to shame? Is this not the fault of commercial television? There are no advertisements that use shame today. Why?
But shame is alive and well in Catholic charismatic renewal is it not? And does this movement restore a sense of shame? You bet.
You can shame a chimpanzee, and a dog. But human entrepreneurs make megabucks by gyrating around a microphone as if it was a male phallus, and openly defy the churches “glamour of evil” that is recited sadly only once a year during recital of baptismal promises. (Parents allow this when they are uncritical of the dangers of TV, media and internet.)
China has no less six words for shame and their next door neighbours the Japanese are forever apologising- such is their respect for shame, and yet China and Japan are nominally neither Muslim, Jew or Christian. In the Victorian era crime fell by fifty per cent with shame. a cost saving for the police force. But in Tulane, USA a questionnaire among college students yielded the incredible results ; 20 % said it was OK to shoot someone who stole from you, and 8% said it was OK to shoot someone who insulted you. No police needed, the gun will do. Television, and the craze that occupies the minds of screenwriters who promote more violence and more lewd movies.
But is it also not true to say that at the heart of things is a gradual loss of a sense of the Sacred? It has returned in C.C.R, and there are pockets of serious minded Catholics who put in the time for quiet adoration. Thanks must got to Christian Brother Con Moloney (deceased) whose pioneering efforts have helped forge a renewed sense of this Sacred, that was originally brought to the attention of the Catholic church way back in 1947 at Montichiari, where Mary pointed out the giving of less and less importance to the Eucharist. And each year 8th December she promised special graces for all those who gave up one hour between 12 and 1 pm, to her. Where is Montichiari taught in Catholic schools? Where is it taught in families? The depersonalisation of Eucharist has been going on for a long time, and the public (youth particularly- age three upwards) are quick to catch on. Is the story of Bolsena/ Orvieto about bringing back this reverence? “Pope Urban IV was prompted by this miracle to commission St. Thomas Aquinas to compose the Proper for a Mass and an Office honoring the Holy Eucharist as the Body of Christ. One year after the miracle, in August of 1264, Pope Urban IV introduced the saint’s composition, and by means of a papal bull instituted the feast of Corpus Christi” (‘Real Presence’).

But what of the scandalous story of Ouija boards that were used on a Christian Living camp at a Great Public Schools college Brisbane, St JOSEPHS GREGORY TERRACE ? One lad brought the story back to his mum who promptly took him out and put him into a state public college nearby- she wasn’t going to spent the money for this sort of influence. She went on to acquire a MATheol, and later a PhD in Bede Griffiths.
St Josephs GT with with the aid of the GT Old Boys built a new college chapel. A return to grass roots.
Quite a turnaround wasn’t it?

But the bottom line is the sacred.
Perhaps that’s why four Garabandal girls walked out backwards when inside the church, to let the planet know that the Sacred should be respected.

“We rise again from ashes from the good we’ve failed to do, we rise again fro ashes to create our lives anew…”