Column by Jonathan Nagy
The 1850s were an extremely tumultuous time in the United States. Slavery became the predominant issue of the decade, with individuals taking stances on each aspect of the issue. The sitting senior Senator from Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas, had never made a strong stand one way or another on slavery, always looking for answers that would get him the votes he needed to remain in office. A newcomer to American politics, Abraham Lincoln, an Illinois lawyer running against Senator Douglas in 1858, knew morally, he had to take a definitive position on the issue. In a speech on June 16, 1858, Lincoln stated, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall; but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and put it in course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the states, old, as well as new.”
With all due respect to Mr. Lincoln, who happens to be my favorite president, the famous quote, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” was not his invention. The quote can be found in a parable Jesus told about Satan in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew (12:25), Mark (3:25), and Luke (11:17). Saint Augustine also used the phrase in his book Confessions to describe his conversion experience. From Augustine to Lincoln, many famous individuals have been quoted using the phrase. This is not to take away from the sentiment that President Lincoln was expressing, for it is the same sentiment that Jesus was expressing. Whether it be the Catholic Church, the United States, our communities, or our families, division is harmful.
In the aforementioned parable, Jesus was responding to the accusations laid against him by nonbelievers, stating that He was in fact here to do His Father’s will, not the will of the evil one. He challenged them to choose their side, saying, “Whoever is not with me is against me,” (Luke 11:23). Likewise, President Lincoln made it clear that slavery was the wrong course of action. He comparatively drew his line in the sand with the follow-up phrase expressing that it was in the hands of men as to which side the United States would fall on with this dividing issue.
Over the last 2000 years, the Church has come under countless attacks by the devil and ill-effected hearts of men. Challenges have arisen, wars have been fought, and still standing after the battle ended is the Catholic Church! Recently, I was listening to a podcast by Father Mike Schmitz. He mentioned that his mother had a paper in their home that listing the founder and the date of every world religion. He said there was only one that was ever founded by Jesus Christ, and that is the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Churches founded by man, not God, have risen and fallen, but the one founded by Jesus Christ stands, and continues to stand.
When President Lincoln mentioned in his speech that the nation would either go towards slavery or against it (praying that it would be against it) he very much could have been speaking about the Church. The Great Schism, The Crusades, The Protestant Reformation, Albigensianism, more recent scandals, and countless other challenges have come up against the Church, each threatening its survival, but faith in Jesus Christ has allowed His Church to grow and flourish. Yes, disbelievers have fallen away, and we must pray for them, but the Church that has been challenged so many times survives because of its faith in the One True God.
We are living in a very difficult time. Our Church, our country, and family values are under constant attack, from both outside and inside forces. The media condemns morals and promotes the rejection of common values. Attention is given to those who scream the loudest but is turned away from the common good. Even our youth are being challenged with ideas and misconceptions that none of us in the “older” generations would have ever thought would happen in our world. As insurmountable as it may seem to combat these issues, there are abundant examples of hope and ways that we can “fight the good fight” as the Church militant on earth.
Worldwide this past Easter, numbers of individuals converted to the faith have increased more than has been witnessed in many years. While official numbers will not be reported until later in the year, initial estimates show double-digit percent increases year after year for the last five years. It is remarkable to see the number of people turning to Jesus Christ. These are not “Cradle Catholics” but ones who, out of their own free will, have come with hearts afire to the Church. We need to welcome them with open arms and encourage others to follow their paths, including those that have fallen away from the Church. Growing our faith communities is the first step in overcoming the adversity we face daily.
In many parts of our country, vocations are booming, with more men joining seminaries. A recent report from the USCCB stated that in a survey of the over 400 men scheduled for ordination in 2025 in the United States, that 75% felt the call by the time they were 16. God is calling our young people to serve Him! I would bet there are many more whom He is calling, but the noise of this world is hampering the sound from getting through. The distractions and temptations of modern life as well as negative talk about the priesthood may deter some young men from making the choice for God.
All are aware of the current struggles in our own Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. We have an aging population of priests and not enough on the rise to fill our needs. To be very clear, the Church cannot continue without priests. People value their parishes and look to them with a sense of pride. Individuals volunteer countless hours to their churches in many ways to do what they can to ensure success. Success, however, is only possible if there are enough shepherds to lead the flocks. We need to pray fervently that young men will hear and answer the call to the priesthood. Young men also need encouragement to listen for the call and consider the possibility that may be in front of them. The fact that 75% of the priests to be ordained this year heard the call as a teenager should make us even more willing to support and encourage our young people to pray about answering the call. I commend those in the diocese who are working tirelessly to promote vocations. Everyone has a role in stepping up to assist them! I believe we will soon be seeing the fruits of the labor!
A healthy prayer life and relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is vital for our spiritual defense. One cannot have a healthy relationship with someone unless they know them. We don’t sit in our living rooms and thank the television anchor at the end of a news broadcast for what they did. We don’t know them. However, if a good friend or family member lends us a helping hand or a listening ear, we are grateful to them. In the same way, we need a relationship with God! We know that “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and for many, deep prayer may be a struggle to attain, especially those who have not attempted to do so before. Everyone can start small. There are some very short but very powerful prayers. Multiple times a day, take a moment to say, “Jesus I trust in You,” “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a poor sinner,” or simply, “Come, Holy Spirit.” Make the sign of the cross when passing a church or a cemetery. Say grace before meals and thanksgiving after meals, even in public. Whisper “Thank you God” and be grateful at every moment of the day. Maybe eventually select some favorite prayers to memorize and say to yourself. Begin using an app on your phone like Hallow, as a prayer aid. Pray with others. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my Name, there am I in their midst.” It may feel uncomfortable at first to pray with others, but prayer strengthens bonds. The house cannot divide that is built on the ties that include Jesus Christ.
There is no doubt about it, we are constantly under attack. A friend recently told me that she had heard a disturbing quote: “The devil isn’t even trying to hide anymore.” If we look around, we can see the evil around us, but it shouldn’t make us fearful. Jesus has already won. It is about time we, God’s people, make the devil’s job difficult. Bring others into the fold, encourage young men to bravely stand up and become shepherds of souls, and use prayer every chance you get. The house of Jesus Christ has stood for 2000 years and is showing no signs of dividing. It is time we all stand up with Him!
Jonathan Nagy, M.Ed., is the Dean of Students, Director of Alumni Relations, and Social Studies teacher at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Ebensburg. He is also the Music Director at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Loretto.
