Every now and then, I re-issue the call for submissions. As both COVID and Francis fatigue have worn on, we’ve had had fewer submissions coming in. People are sick and tired of being sick and tired – of everything. And that’s understandable.
But that’s why it’s important to remember that 1P5’s original mission was (and still is): “Rebuilding Catholic Culture, Restoring Catholic Tradition.”
What has been happening in Rome, and more lately, the world, has diverted much of our attention to what seems to be a never-ending cascade of outrageous stories of crisis at all levels of Church and State. And while it’s important that we recognize, document, and confront these evils, we’ve discussed here multiple times that a glut of scandal and never-ending arguing are demoralizing things indeed. We need more than a daily barrage of bad news. We need to remind ourselves of the beauty of Catholicism and of the life God has given us. We need to remember why our faith is the force that produced countless saints and shaped all of Western Civilization, and why there is yet hope in the world.
With that in mind, we need your stories.
If you know of a positive development that shows how even now, grace is at work in building up the Mystical Body of Christ please consider submitting an article or pitch to submissions@onepeterfive.com. We’d love to hear from you!
Examples of things we’re looking for are below — but we’re not limited to just these!
- The story of a thriving new religious community, or an old one finding new life through traditional liturgy and practices. (Example: The Terror and Joy of Worship — Parts One and Two)
- A parish that has successfully gotten a traditional Latin Mass started and built a fruitful community around it, or gotten a schola off the ground, etc. (Example: Beauty is a Salve: St. Mary Star of the Sea Schola, Jackson, MI )
- Stories of sacred art and music being created in contemporary times (or profiles of the artists and musicians making it) (Example: Conversion Through Art: The Music of Frank La Rocca)
- Devotional practices that can be practiced at home to enrich Catholic life or better raise children with an authentic understanding of the faith. (Example: The Chalking of the Doors)
- Catholics Influencing Culture: people who bring Catholic ethos to their work as novelists, writers, educators, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs. (Example: Faith and Works in a Science Fictional Universe)
- Essays — particularly photo essays — about Catholic history, monuments, landmarks, etc. (Example: A Pearl in the Desert: San Xavier del Bac)
- Other topics you think would be helpful, instructive, inspiring, or uplifting. (Use your imagination! Example: An NFL Kicker, A Faithful Priest, and the Traditional Latin Mass)
People often ask me, after reading about all that’s going on today, “What can I do?” Well, the first thing is to pray. Take that effort seriously. But if you’re looking for more hands-on action, consider this: together, we can do more than just stand watch as the infiltrators attempt to destroy what we love and hold most dear. We can encourage, support, inspire, and learn from each other how best to rebuild what has been lost. We may not be able to ignore the crisis, but we can spend more of our time looking beyond it, knowing that the future belongs to Christ and those who love Him.