Conquering the Public Square
We need to talk. - Join 1545 on Notes!
A brief message before our regularly scheduled programming
Since entering this universe we call Substack, one of my favorite things is the plethora of functions this platform offers for us to connect, read and write.
Adding to those functions, Substack created a thing called Notes. It’s a bit like Twitter, but less censorship and more exposure. Notes is a place you can jot down your ramblings and ideas - the good and the bad ones. We can post pictures, quotes, link articles, etc. Notes is new and we have no idea what will become of this thing. It could become nothing, but as for my purpose here on this platform, Notes is a great way to throw out my ideas without barraging your email inbox! A true joy to be had. You can throw your ideas in there as well.
Since you’re a subscriber here at 1545, you’re automatically signed up for Notes. All you have to do is head on over to substack.com/notes OR you can see a little note tab at the bottom of the Substack app.
As for me, I am into it already. There’s no character limit, but twitter has trained our brains to type in 180 characters or less.
Here is the Notes FAQ if you’re interested.
Catholic Twitter is sure to be here to stay (for now at least) but it’s always good to have a contingency plan in place. So, if you want to renew your social experience, this Notes feed is a very easy to use alternative. I think we can all take to this pretty naturally. I am not certain how good or bad that is.
An example of a Note from yours truly:
I have always pushed that Catholics must create room for themselves in the public square. Now there is another corner to conquer.
Pro Tip: It's never been simpler to subscribe to an enticing Substack within each Note because an orange invite to subscribe to any publisher's publication is right there for you prominently displayed within the Note.
Conquering the Public Square
As Catholics, we have a mission given to us by God. A mission we must fulfil if we are to transform the culture into one of justice, compassion and charity.
“The mission of the lay faithful is therefore to configure social life correctly, respecting its legitimate autonomy and cooperating with other citizens according to their respective competences and fulfilling their own responsibility.” (DCE, 29)
Pope Benedict XVI states in Deus Caritas Est
Catholic participation is needed in public life and on the inter-webs (less so). There are movements and agendas in our society today that, if left unchecked and unchallenged, could make living free as a Catholic in good conscience non existent.
What is needed are Catholics willing to defend their faith before others in the public square. As time goes on, the common good will degrade to a remote, counterfeit ideology. idolatrous political life takes the place of the reasonable, the temperate, authentically Christian worldview.
As Catholic laymen, we must pick up our crosses, dig deep into our moral and social teaching and for the good of our families, for our neighbor, take up that mission as Christians in the public square. A place that we have been pushed hard out of.
We must do this in charity and fortitude.