Booming!

The urban myth that the Catholic Church is in decline was boshed by the secular press this weekend, with a documented increase in Mass attendance numbers globally, the Sunday Times (UK) reported on its front page yesterday.

Thumbs up

The ST, a secular British newspaper, conducted a survey of 22 Catholic cathedrals in England and Wales, 13 of which responded, 11 of which reported a boost in congregation numbers compared to this time last year.  

Out of those 11 parishes, 9 supplied specific figures, which the ST collated.  The results confirm an overall surge of 21% in Catholic congregations across Britain.  The largest rises were noted in Leeds (35%), Sheffield (23%) and Bristol (20%).  The new congregants include both new converts and lapsed Catholics returning to The Church. 

Meanwhile, according to the ST, similar surges in Mass attendance have been reported across Europe - particularly Italy, Spain and France - as well as in Latin America and the US.  In Italy, researcher Massimo Introvigne said hundreds of thousands of people might be returning to The Church. In Rome last month, the ST reports, the Pope’s weekly address had to be moved to St. Peter’s Square to accommodate the 85,000-strong crowd - 17 times higher than the average 5,000 Pope Benedict’s weekly address attracted.

'ere we go, 'ere we go, 'ere we go...

The attributed reason?  The “Francis Effect”.  The global surge in faith has occurred since the election of Pope Francis on 13th March 2013.  The influx of Mass attendees has been attributed to the “breath of fresh air” Pope Francis is blowing through The Church.  The numbers speak for themselves:  the world loves Pope Francis and his humble leadership.   Check out the Holy Father’s latest actions on Vatican News. 

Sceptics may pooh-pooh the survey results as “made up”, or question how clerics can determine the exact numbers of a congregation, especially in large churches, such as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where thousands congregate.  That’s easy:  priests count how many Communion Hosts (Communion wafers) the tabernacle holds at the start of a Mass, and count the number of Hosts left at the end.  The net figure gives the precise number of Communicants at each and every Mass.  These figures are usually recorded in parish ledgers, for posterity and for Diocesan records.  

at the Copa ... Copacabana... (cue Barry Manilow music)
- Pope Francis in Brazil, July 2013

Communicants meaning those in full communion with the Catholic Church, i.e. not including the unbaptised, those not yet receiving Holy Communion, e.g. children below the age of reason, new adult converts still receiving Catechism, members of other faiths not yet received into the Catholic Church, lapsed Catholics, and other non-Communicants.  Therefore, the actual number of congregants may be even higher if it were to include all the non-Communicants.  All non-Communicants may still attend Mass and receive a blessing of course. 

This truly has been a Year of Faith, instituted by Pope Benedict XVI, during which more than 8.2 million pilgrims have visited Rome, setting the groundwork for the future Church.  

1.2 billion Catholics around the world can't all be wrong.  

Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo Ecclesiam meam, et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam.  Et tibi dabo claves Regni coelorum.  Quodcumque ligaveris super terram, erit ligatum et in coelis.  Et quodcumque solveris super terram, erit solutum et in coelis.

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven.  And whatsoever thou shall bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. 

- Matthew 16:18-19 (Douay-Rheims & Latin Vulgate)