The other day, on KPIO, 1570 am radio; Mother Angelica was talking about “conditioning.” The word caught my attention because I had been pondering what caused the difference between my generation, when everyone went to church at least on Sunday, and the current generation, when only a small minority keeps even the Sabbath holy.

I had reached the conclusion that the reason our children and grandchildren know very little about their Faith is that we were complacent. We mistakenly assumed that the society and customs in which our parents raised us did not change. So when we became parents we slept and the enemy, as Jesus calls him, sowed his bad seed.

Let me give you an example: growing up, I did not know ANYONE who did not attend Mass; in fact, most wives stayed at home raising their children, and each day began with Mass attendance. I remember my grand-mother taking me to church when I was little. On the way, we walked by little sidewalk “chapels,” that is, niches in the wall of regular houses, where Mary and her Baby, amid small vases of fresh wild flowers, smiled on the passer-bys. Nonna and I stopped, prayed a Hail Mary and moved on to the next. We never went to bed before praying the Rosary; yes, the entire Rosary, as well as the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Latin, thank you!

Our Faith and our culture were woven together, reflecting our roots, and the endurance of the Church despite radical changes in the political landscape. Governments came and went, but the Church remained. For instance in Italy, the Department of Justice is called Ministero di Grazia e Giustizia = Department of Mercy and Justice (Mercy taking the precedence, of course!). On Sunday, we rested. No school would schedule sport practices or other activities on Sunday. Stores were closed, except for movie theaters and some restaurants. Pastry shops closed after the last Mass ended, so parents could treat their families to sweets on the Lord’s day. If children were allowed to spend Saturday night with relatives (never with friends!), there was no doubt that the Sunday obligation would be fulfilled. In other words, the entire country, neighborhood by neighborhood, and family by family, was helping parents raise their children in the Faith that had given Italy such a gentle culture; such beautiful monuments and such great Saints. The landscape itself is mellow and harmonious: even the homes of the poor had beautiful proportions. Italians have always described themselves as: “a people of poets, of artists, of heroes, of Saints and of thinkers” Notice the Saints. Our deep Catholic roots shaped the beautiful land over two thousand years.

Take the United States. This great Nation was founded by Christians who brought their Faith, their work ethics and their self-sacrificing spirit with them, and very little else. The church building was the center of every village;
the Bible their compass. So, why didn’t our children pick up the Faith as easily as we did? We took them to Mass, told them Saints’ stories and taught them their prayers. We did not allow immodest clothing, no bad books or movies entered the house, nor could they watch TV all day. We all did the same, right? So everything would be well, right?

Then, one day I looked around during Mass and realized that there was something missing in the congregation: children and young people. Where were they? What happened? And here’s where Mother Angelica’s word, conditioning struck me. That’s right: conditioning.

Everything around us, as we were growing up, was conditioning us to love the Lord. We heard no bad words; sassing our parents was not even on our radar screen; we fasted for Lent; after school we did our homework, then we ate and went to bed. From my earliest memories, I remember mother showing us the value of sacrifice, teaching us to behave correctly at home and everywhere else. We did not realize it at the time, but we were being taught how to control ourselves and our instincts, and how to be happy. Our schools reflected our values and our roots. In Italy, there was a Crucifix in every classroom, and one hour a week of Religious Education in public schools. Our lives were orderly, tranquil, unchanging. Boring, you say? I’d trade all the excitement in the world for the certainty that what was good yesterday will still be good tomorrow!

Today, the world is in constant upheaval. Generosity and sacrifice went out the window when we became more prosperous as a people. We no longer put down roots, we move constantly, and we change spouses when we “fall out of love,” (whatever that means). Our children have no certainty, no safety. No wonder we get attached to a particular TV program or movie personality: they come into our homes more often than our relatives! They have conditioned us to think as they do. Millions look to Oprah for guidance and advice. Now we believe that every religion is the same; that there is no right or wrong; and sin does not really matter. Our schools are actively undermining our authority and the values that we have tried to teach our children. How did we get here? Little by little: we have drunk the water of forgetfulness and we have collective amnesia. How do we wake up? How do we take back our families, our neighborhoods and our Country? The first step is to take a good look at how we live; what we read; what we watch; what we hear; and who our friends are. The first step, of course, is to realize our danger; the danger of losing our most precious possessions: our Faith and our soul. Then we must change the things that have brought us to this pass. It won’t be easy, but with God’s help, we can do it, starting today.