When I was reading Enormous Prayers: A Journey into the Priesthood, I came across some statistics that I wanted to share on my blog. According to a Times survey, priests under the age of 35 only account for 6% of all priests. However, according to the survey, 40% of them are very conservative/traditional priests. This is more than double the percentage of priests over 35 that are traditional.Do you think this is true?
As someone desiring to serve as a priest, I can tell you that I am a very traditional person under the age of 35. And I can also say that many of the younger priests I know are traditional. I, for one, plan on using incense in the Masses that I celebrate as well as incorporating some Latin. I think people need to see our history. Children today are never brought into contact with the Latin Mass – the Mass that existed for centuries. I think they should at least be exposed to this Mass sometime in their lives.
Source: Enormous Prayers: A Journey into the Priesthood (page 41)
Image Source: June 2006 FSSP Ordinations/NLM
7 comment(s):
MB,
In my parish, and at the ICK, this is most certainly true.
Our young men are completely orthodox and devoted to sacred tradition.
The least orthodox priests I've ever known were the older guys.
I believe what we are seeing is a revolt against the watery catechesis of the 70s. A 'dissent against dissent', so to speak.
That's the ironic thing. The dissenters of the 70s want to thumb their noses at the Church's teachings, but get really upset when the younger folks don't follow them.
Have you read Colleen Carroll's The New Faithful?
No I haven't. Do you recommend it?
I think you were very accurate to call it a 'dissent against dissent'.
I think we are seeing more orthodox Catholics among all the younger people nowadays, not just priests.
Yes. I mainly found comfort in it because it's about how people my age (16-30) are more orthodox and are leaving Protestant Church in droves.
It's very good!
I wrote about it here:
http://emperoraf.livejournal.com/149103.html
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