Lately, many of you have heard about the Los Angeles Dodgers featuring the so-called Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for the annual "Pride" event game. While many are merely chronicling the last days of a bastion of liberalism and revolution against the Kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I would like to propose that the said Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are really representative of what America has become since World War Two.
Back in the late '70's, as some may recall, these "Sisters" had a "Mother Superior" by the name of "Boom Boom", who had the largest ghetto blaster (for the uninitiated, a portable stereo with a set of speakers that had a handle for carrying, that usually had a radio and cassette tape player, with later models featuring compact disks as well) this wolf ever saw. At this moment in our history, "Sister Boom Boom" might be an appropriate replacement for the Statue of Liberty who can greet all the unsuspecting immigrants who still see the United States as the "Land of Opportunity".
If the world persists another couple of centuries, the most amazing artifacts the United States will leave behind is its landfills. Archeologists will puzzle at how a society could produce so much waste and devour material goods at such a pace.
But that is because we are the land of perpetual indulgence. The people here think that is why they were born- to consume.
The culture of the United States has reduced everything to a commodity- law, religion, education, and, lately, even information. Everything is for sale, and anything can be bought so long as the price is right.
Americans can know the price of everything, but most know the value of next to nothing.
Some time ago a rock band called the Monkeys came out with a song called Pleasant Valley Sunday, which was the epitome of the nihilistic Nirvana of the Post World War Two suburbanite generation. Not much later, the blasphemously named singer "Madonna" sang the lines of "Where's the Party... I want to free my soul... I want to lose control..." that sums up the desires of every generation since.
Modern Americans go from one desire to the next faster than a boy with roller skates in an art gallery, with little thought or care for the consequences of their actions. And by the time they are in their middle years they have left behind a trail of broken commitments, shattered lives, frustrated peers, and in many cases, far worse results. Many, realizing that creatures can never make them happy but failing to turn to God, instead become narcissistic and sadistic, getting perverse joy from the misery of others.
As a nation we have definitely lost the way, and I would argue we are long past the point of any political solution or moral reform. But as individuals we can still turn to prayer. And, ultimately, to Our Lady of Fatima. Few things are easier than taking a neglected rosary, or learning how to say the rosary, and fostering devotion to the Immaculate Heart.
Our Lady is the Seat of Wisdom, and she will show us how to quickly aright the foundering ship of our soul, foster good relations with others, and build happiness on a foundation of humility and patience. She will help us discern what is really important and what is simply noise.
Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us. You are our only hope!