Are the Old Ways Better Ways?
Story by Joe Pisani
Several years ago while I was driving through the North Country of New Hampshire, I stopped at an antiques shop in a small town and spent the afternoon rummaging through all kinds of treasures from the past — colonial era tools, vintage cribbage boards, folk art and my favorite … old rosaries, medals and religious statues.
I’ve always been moved to think that a hundred years ago, a devout Catholic may have used the same beads to pray or wore a miraculous medal overseas while fighting for our country.
That day, I came upon a 165-year-old prayer book titled, “St. John’s Manual.” It was 1,200 pages of prayer, devotions, Scripture, catechism and Catholic doctrine. In the preface, the authors said, “St. John’s Manual is, it is hoped, the most complete and accurate prayer book ever offered to the Catholic community in the United States.”
I took the book off the shelf recently and thumbed through the yellowed pages. It included morning and evening prayers, the Ordinary of the Mass, along with Epistles and Gospels, and instructions for receiving the sacraments, burying the dead, visiting the sick and much more.
Nestled within the pages were several holy cards almost 200 years old of St. Joseph and St. Charles Borromeo, along with the birth certificate of the book’s owner, a woman who lived in Fitchburg, Mass., and was born shortly after the Civil War.
Among her mementoes was a small pamphlet from a mission by the Paulist Fathers. Titled, “The Last Words of Advice Given at the Mission,” it contained eight spiritual directives that offered a glimpse into the spiritual lives of Catholics in the mid-19th century at a time when Catholics were often under attack, in much the same way they are today.
The Paulist Fathers provided simple rules to bring Catholics closer to Christ and the Church. As I read them, it occurred to me the world would be a much better place, and our faith much more dynamic, if we took those few “old-fashioned” suggestions to heart today. They said:
“1. Be careful to say your morning and evening prayers, for prayer is the key to the treasures of Heaven.”
“2. Often call to mind that it is appointed for you ONCE TO DIE — you know not when, nor where, nor how.”
“3. Never neglect to hear Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.”
“4. Be careful about what you read, for bad reading is poison to the soul. Provide yourself with Catholic books. Take a Catholic newspaper.”
“5. Remember that a man is known by his company. Keep away from the saloon. Beware of familiar company of persons of the other sex.”
“6. When you are tempted by bad thoughts, say quickly, “Jesus and Mary, help me!’ Then, say the Hail Mary till you have banished the temptation. Remember that God sees you at every instant.”
“7. If you are so unhappy as to fall into sin again, do not be discouraged. Quickly beg pardon of God and seek the first opportunity to go to Confession and start again in a new life.”
“8. Go to Confession and Communion … never allow three months to pass without approaching these Sacraments.”
The pamphlet ended with this timeless encouragement: “Consider how noble it is to make some sacrifices for the love of God.”
Such simple advice, which if we observed it, would rejuvenate our spiritual lives at a decisive time in salvation history.
Today, the “poison to the soul” more likely comes from the persistent sources of temptation we find in entertainment produced by Hollywood, which constantly attacks traditional values and belittles God and the Church. The TV and film industry is a constant purveyor of violence, gratuitous sex, foul language and political agendas contrary to our beliefs as Catholics.
Confession is a sacrament that is not as widely received as in the past. I can still remember the lines on Saturday afternoon at St. Augustine Cathedral when I was a boy. Three priests occupied the confessionals and the lines were long, except for one that was notoriously short line because the priest behind the door had a reputation for yelling at penitents — who were often teenagers — in a voice that everyone could hear.
As for saloons, they’re just as full nowadays, and we unfortunately have the added option of smoking marijuana.
Over Sunday dinner, my grandmother would often offer her opinion to us kids, and say,
“The old ways are the best.” I never believed her. None of us did. But this much I can tell you — the modern ways aren’t the best ways.