The western world has enjoyed decades of progress. Now all the wrongs that we overlooked, and the injustices on which prosperity was based, rise up to disturb our comfort.

We expected our progress to make us happy and to keep increasing. But we are not happy; everywhere people are saying that the world is getting worse.

We feel more vulnerable to crises and disappointments than people in other parts of the world who are long used to struggling. We tell ourselves that there is an epidemic of ‘mental sickness’, but it is really the fracturing of our mentality of entitlement. The problem is we tried to do it without God.

While we in the West feel sorry for ourselves, “he who sits in the heavens laughs” (Psalm 2:4). He knows that our breaking is an autumn/winter preparation for a wonderful new spring. His project to lead us into God’s own Trinity life is gathering pace. Through all the genuine potential of modern progress he has set the stage for a powerful outpouring of his Spirit.

Today many Catholics in the West mourn for the strong Church of past ages, but the Lord says:  "My strength is at its greatest in your weakness". In reality, it is in his humbled Church in the West that he is forging the remedies for all the world of tomorrow.

We Catholics inherit the faith and wisdom of 2000 years of sinners rising to holiness. We have the words of hope for the next age.

This Hopeful Catholics website is an exploration of “the reasons for your hope” (1 Peter 3:15). Will you help by joining the discussion?