Statue of Saint John Vianney

Statue of Saint John Vianney, at Curé of Ars Church, in Shrewsbury, Missouri. Photo taken yesterday at sunset.

Meeting Up

THE WEBSITE, Meetup.com, is a social networking site which facilitates meetings and social events of all sorts. Through the site I lately found a local photographers group.

At the time I write this, there are 385 groups within about 50 miles of my home. What I immediately notice are the numbers of language study and conversation groups, including Chinese, Japanese, German, French, Bulgarian, Spanish, and Italian. To learn a language, you have to use it, so these groups would no doubt be of great interest to some. There are large number of hobby groups, professional groups, and now especially many groups for those seeking a job.

I've never been much of a joiner, having only joined a handful of organizations, the most prominent being the Catholic Church (although technically I was already a member without knowing it!) But having subsequently studied the Social Doctrine of the Church, I now realize that small, local groupings are both to be expected — as a consequence of the natural laws of human nature — and are salutary insofar as they promote the good. Natural communities can be contrasted with the more modern notion of “intentional communities” which often act as group reinforcement of vices.

The Meetup groups representing religion and beliefs are particularly notable, especially by what is missing. Looking over the list of groups, I found that about thirty of these are New Age, nine are Protestant, and five are for adherents of the religion of atheism. Only two groups are Catholic, but that includes one which is explicitly heretical.

The sole Catholic Meetup group within 50 miles of my home is a scripture study group at Pauline Media in Crestwood.

Considering the fact that there are about 178 parishes within a fifty-mile radius of my home — and this only includes parishes in Missouri, there being more in Illinois — certainly minority religionists would be more likely to organize in this way. But wouldn't Catholics also want to organize their own groups?

The numbers of large pious and charitable Catholic lay organizations that were found in the past is quite astounding. This is quite a contrast to the common view nowadays that religion is something you do for an hour on Sunday, if there isn't a good game on television. Saint Louis still has many good lay-run organizations, but too often it is the same overworked and perhaps under-appreciated people who are involved in these.

I'm not saying that the Meetup website ought to be an instrument for promoting solidarity among Catholics, but it currently isn't. I know from experience that my own spiritual life suffers when I lack fellowship, and that is likely true for everyone whose sanctity is less than that of Saint Anthony of the Desert.

Feast of Saint John Vianney

IN THE NEW calendar, this is the feast day of Saint John Vianney. Here is an old posting: Pastoral Plan of Saint John Vianney.


Statue of Saint John Vianney at the Cathedral of Saint Raymond Nonnatus, in Joliet, Illinois.


Altar, at this year's Corpus Christi procession at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.

A New Religious Community for Saint Louis

THE ORDER OF religious sisters associated with the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest may form a new community in Saint Louis.

Sœur Marie de l'Amour de Dieu, of the Adoratrices du Cœur Royal de Jésus-Christ Souverain Prêtre, will arrive here shortly.

Click for information and commentary. And you can help.

The restoration continues, just when it is needed the most. The history of Catholicism here repeatedly shows how the Faith is renewed by such vigorous religious orders.

The charism of the Sisters, like that of the Institute, are based on the spiritualities of Saint Benedict and Saint Francis de Sales. Such patronage is timely: Benedict had a great love for the Liturgy, and preserved civilization in time of chaos; while de Sales preached among the heretics with gentleness and Divine love, with a peaceful interior disposition.

A Stained Glass Window

This stained glass window is in the upstairs bathroom of the house where I grew up, in Affton, Missouri. I took this and other photos as a keepsake, since my parents recently sold the house.

At one time, ocean themes were quite popular for these rooms.