Note the age of the "Church in Exile" folks in the pictures in that linked NCR article. While stories like this will likely continue for the next couple of decades, there is definitely a 'biological solution' which will eventually correct many of these problems.

@Liam, that's because they don't know any better. Their grandparents and parents have taught them that way.

CK & CR

You're free to hope. Just don't expect.

Is there hope?
There is a very interesting article, sensitively and positively written, about the new generation of priests in the current issue of Time magazine. I commend it to all. A similar article was in the New York Times several days ago. It seems that the pastoral bent of HF Francis is bearing its fruit, but also a more reverent approach to liturgy is typical. Perhaps an amalgam of Benedict and Francis can be expected.

At Walsingham last Sunday we were visited by a young seminarian from Louisiana who said he 'had to come to the Ordinariate cathedral'. He was in awe at what he witnessed at high mass. He is not the first and won't be the last. We have frequent visits by seminarians from Houston's own nearby St Mary's Seminary. They sit in choir at mass, wear birettas, and have very positive feelings about Ordinariate liturgy.

I do get the impression, though, that whilst a more conservative liturgical regimen is in the air, along with it is a more, shall one say, 'Franciscan' pastoral sensitivity - which I happen to believe is a more Christlichen sensitivity. It does seem to me that a more serious apprehension of both faith and practice, life and litourgia is imminent.

Too, our Ordinariate priests at times celebrate the Novus ordo when they are called to visit elsewhere. The people consistently are struck by how different and more holy the NO seems when celebrated by them. 'How did you do it' and similar expressions of amazement are directed at our priests by people who have been consciously or unconsciously starving for a deep sense of the sacred in their worship. Indeed, I have often told people that the NO in the hands of Anglicans would be a totally different thing - and it is! (The rector of our cathedral is, by the way, a member of Cardinal di Nardo's liturgical advisory board.)

All of this Millenial bashing is quite interesting to me as I, myself, fall into that label. I also know quite a few Millenials in this area who are organists, music directors, liturgists, etc. that are faithful and very in tune with what the church really wants us to do (and needs us to do.) Granted, lots of people my age are un-aware of this or don't care. So are lots of people in all of the generations before us.

I have found that people in my age group that are close to God and truly understand what it means to be catholic are more likely to frequent liturgies that are traditionally (and properly) celebrated rather than at churches that are known for "other" practices.

the NO in the hands of Anglicans would be a totally different thing

Yes I have often thought that, based on fairly limited ecumenical experience. Too often Catholic priests are just being themselves not presiders over the liturgy. Anglican clergy even know how to move, when to 'proceed' and when to glide unobtrusively, AND someone has explained the techniques to any laity with liturgical roles. [edited]

I have found that people in my age group that are close to God and truly understand what it means to be catholic are more likely to frequent liturgies that are traditionally (and properly) celebrated rather than at churches that are known for "other" practices.

Yes, we vote with our feet in that respect. I'm on the cusp of the millenial label, just on the border between that and the generation before, although I don't identify with millenials.

A big part of the problem is the priests who won't let us realize the vision of true Sacred Music for whatever reason, and simply will not permit traditional practices. We are bound by them because by and large, they are our bosses at the parish level, so we can't affect any changes: it just depends on who the priest is and what his temperament is towards tradition and Sacred Music.

It amazes me that we, yet and still, have a plethora of seers outweighing our sages herein.

taking the church back to pre-Vatican ll days rather than minister to the people

Don't we call this a false dichotomy, or projection or something? Clearly no people were ministered to before the Council????

@CGZ, yes that is a false dichotomy, as it essentially makes one choose between either 1. having pre-V2 liturgy OR 2. ministering to the people. It is also begging the question, because it assumes that ministering to the people, however they define it, is more important than the Mass.

A_F_Hawkins,

Imagine someone saying that one could either love God or love one's neighbor, but not both.

Imagine someone saying that one could either teach what the Church teaches or be pastoral, but not both.

What about if someone said "you can either provide for your family or feed your children". Here we have a species closer to what is at stake in the statement.

Most of today's priests have not had the experience of having an organist who is responsible for all the music in the church, assisted by a choir director possibly for one Mass on the weekend.

Instead "Music" for them is dealing with cantors, people playing various instruments at different Masses, people playing piano and an overall mix of a few trained people and ranks of amateurs with various degrees of ability and inability.

Assailed with continued input from unhappy musicians - some warranted, much not (I won't cantor the 5:00 if so and so is playing), conflict over which group plays for which Mass and Confirmation and many other special feast, the thought of "Music" is not one that is based upon good feelings.

Parishioners and musicians feed the flames of dissent as they work to get their way, with the trained musicians - often paid - being in their sights with their removal the goal.

Let's go back to the 1800's and follow the progress of a church buying an organ and read the sermon for an example of how priests thought about music in the church then.

Las Vegas Organ

I have a priest friend who likes to observe that saving children from abortion is only part of the problem: we should be trying to save their souls. One can not (reasonably) separate care for the liturgy from pastoral care of the parish.

Was just discussing something similar with a priest last week. The work put into pro-life has paid off with many of the younger folks now against abortion. However, while we were so focused on life issues, we may have lost the culture wars - gender identity, sexual orientation, sex before marriage, etc, and etc. on and on.

Charles,

I think you missed the point. (To be sure, I might be misreading you.) The Church exists to save souls. Saving children from the abortionist is part of the equation, but not by any means all of it. Now, we need to press forward. Even showing how all the "issues" you raise are connected isn't completely the goal. We need, also, to teach the whole of the faith, and (thereby) to teach people to know, love and serve God.

My 4 children all fall into the "Millennial" category (though I really do question how helpful these categories are). They are all devoted to the TLM though do not despise the NO Mass. We have raised them to find the Truth of our Holy Catholic Faith and not to be deluded or dissuaded by the prevailing culture (where, perhaps, most Millennials fall). I believe the hope for the Church lies in children like ours. As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, the Church is going to be much, much smaller. So we are seeing this diminution of the Church on earth now.

taking the church back to pre-Vatican ll days rather than minister to the people


Don't we call this a false dichotomy, or projection or something? Clearly no people were ministered to before the Council????

Yeah, don't tell the Anglo-Catholics that . . .

Anybody familiar with "Inter Oecumenici?"

It is the First Instruction on the correct implementation of Sacrosanctum Concilium.
Muscam Sacram is a continuation of it
(if I were in charge I would have called MS the Second Instruction).
Sadly IO is not on the Vatican website.
Fortuately MS is on the Vatican website.

Why do you ask?