It's Difficult Being Catholic Right Now

Where to begin? I converted to the Catholic Faith 20 years ago, right as the sexual abuse scandal was breaking. That was a rough time to be Catholic, but I had the zeal of a new convert, so I didn't let it shake me in my faith. Over the past two decades we've been through a lot as Catholics, including the resurgence of the abuse scandal that most of us assumed was taken care of. But for me these past few years have been the most difficult as a Catholic: the bishops shut down all the Masses during the lockdowns the virulently hostile media, Big Tech, and government threw off the gloves when covid hit and began openly attacking Catholic beliefs Pope Francis and most bishops in the Church are some combination of heretical, weak, effeminate, or fearful. No respect for Catholics exists in the public sphere. I'm part of a membership group related to politics and economics and people are openly derogatory toward the Catholic Church. In years past I would have spoken up against what they are saying, but honestly I can understand why they think they way they do, coming as they are from an outsider perspective. We also see various scandals continue, infighting, people leaving the Church. I hear from many Catholics who are fed up, upset, and feel like the Church has failed them. Am I going to leave the Faith? No. By the grace of God, may I remain firm. Why do I stay? Because the Catholic Church is true, is Christ's Church, no matter what human failures and scandals occur. Nothing in the past twenty years has proven that false to me. The foundation of Lionheart Catholic is to be faithful no matter what the pope does, no matter what bishops or priests say or do, no matter who leaves the Church, no matter what scandals happen. I've chosen to take ownership of my faith and double down on the traditional beliefs as taught by the saints throughout every age. Ignore the garbage coming out of Rome or anywhere else: the truths of the Faith are accessible, in plain sight, to all who seek them. Read the writings of the saints, read Scripture, follow those people who are in harmony with the sensus fidelium, the Tradition of the Church. Practice the Faith by frequenting the sacraments. I go to the Traditional Latin Mass. I go to Confession. I pray novenas, do Mental Prayer, wear the scapular, pray the Rosary. These are all fundamentals and you will never go wrong by doing them. Quite the opposite: they will help you remain strong even in the face of chaos, disorder, heresy, and attacks. This is also why I wrote the book Lionheart Catholic, how to become a saint in these dark times. Not because I'm already a saint; I am not, but because I wanted to condense and share these tried-and-true means that Christ gives us through His Church to become saints. Refuse to give in to resentment, fear, or anger. Refuse to allow the pope or this or that bishop, or your local priest or fellow Catholics, to disillusion you against Christ and His Church. Be one Christ's faithful followers who keeps the lamp lit and shines light for others.