Carlo Carretto's Ode to the Church - Updated
Two years ago I quoted this ode on my blog. Today I noticed that several other bloggers are publishing it because Cardinal Dolan quoted it during his recent Chrism Mass homily, and something about it resonated with them, as it did with me. My original post follows in brown font. I found this ode, written by an Italian spiritual writer in his old age. It really states how I feel a lot of the time about the Catholic Church. It's almost a love-hate relationship. But on balance, it's love. Ode to the Church by Carlo Carretto How much I must criticize you, my church, and yet how much I love you! You have made me suffer more than anyone and yet I owe more to you than to anyone. I should like to see you destroyed and yet I need your presence. You have given me much scandal and yet you alone have made me understand holiness. Never in this world have I seen anything more compromised, more false, and yet I have never touched anything more pure, more gener