Young Priests Are Breathing New Life into Traditional Catholic Practices

[Michie]

During the seventies, most American Catholic bishops, priests and laypeople rapidly abandoned the traditional devotions and trappings that had sustained the Church for generations. Those who objected often felt like strangers in their own spiritual homes.

Three recent studies indicate that this trend is finally coming to an end.

Three Studies, One Conclusion​

Younger priests, on average, are more traditional than the older men they will replace in the coming decades. That is the conclusion of a new study titled “Morale, Leadership, and Pastoral Priorities: Highlights from the 2025 National Study of Catholic Priests.”

The new study confirms two earlier ones. The first was “The Class of 2025: Survey of Ordinands to the Priesthood,” conducted by Georgetown University in 2024, and focused on those about to be ordained. The other study was released by “The Catholic Project” in 2022.

The 2022 study gave rise to an article from Pope Francis’s confreres at the Jesuit journal America, “U.S. Catholics are More Liberal. Young Priests are More Conservative. Can the Synod Help Us Overcome Our Divisions?”

Consigning Felt Banners to Storage Bins​

Continued below.

Young Priests Are Breathing New Life into Traditional Catholic Practices - TFP.org

During the seventies, most American Catholic bishops, priests and laypeople rapidly abandoned the traditional devotions and trappings that had sustained…

www.tfp.org

 

[RileyG]

Praying for an increase in holy vocations!

 

[concretecamper]

My observation is that Priests today are wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more masculine than those 40-50 years ago

 

[RileyG]

My observation is that Priests today are wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more masculine than those 40-50 years ago

Thanks be to God!