A final word… before we go to Bethlehem

It is time to pause, reflect, and redirect our hearts to the great purpose for which we were created: to know, love, and serve God.

When the idea for Radical Fidelity first took root, we committed ourselves to discerning God’s will through prayer over several months. The vision of creating a platform that could expand onto social media and print became a daily subject of prayer until one Saturday, I felt prompted to act. Sitting down, I started building this Substack account.

That moment was in September. Our first post garnered 11 subscribers—friends and acquaintances. Admittedly, the sceptic in me doubted we’d ever surpass 50 subscribers—100 at best, if God willed it. Yet, I held firm to the belief that if Radical Fidelity could help even one person deepen their faith, its purpose would be fulfilled.

Initially, our articles averaged around 200 views. Then came 30 October, when we published “URGENT: The REAL aim of the synod has been accomplished… and no one noticed.” At the time, we had just 18 subscribers. Imagine my astonishment upon waking the next morning to discover the article had drawn nearly 900 views overnight. Readers continued to engage and subscribe, and today, that article has received close to 6,000 views, with our subscriber base now approaching 500 and articles being viewed on average between 600 and 1000 times.

We are deeply grateful to God—and to each of you—for every subscriber, like, and comment. Your support fuels this mission.

It has become increasingly evident that, like us, many faithful Catholics are struggling to navigate the uncertain path the hierarchy has charted for the Church. As a result, Radical Fidelity has naturally evolved into a small community for those who seek to uphold the timeless Catholic faith and its Traditions amidst these challenging times.

While readers don’t always agree with us (nor we with them), we value every interaction. Each comment and conversation shapes our collective journey closer to tradition and orthodoxy.

In the past three months, we’ve also celebrated a few milestones. Respected voices within the Traditional Catholic sphere, including clergy, have subscribed, engaged with, and shared our articles. A notable North American Catholic publication even reached out to request the use of some of our work. These developments have exceeded our expectations, but we remain humbly grateful. Deo Gratias!

But as the year draws to a close and the radiant light of Christmas graces our lives, it is time to pause, reflect, and redirect our hearts to the great purpose for which we were created: to know, love, and serve God in this life so that we may be happy with Him in the next. In the stillness of Bethlehem’s night, where the Christ Child lay in humble majesty, we are reminded of the ultimate meaning of our existence—union with God, the source of all goodness and truth.

In this sacred season, as we ponder the mystery of the Incarnation, we are called to rediscover our purpose. Amid the distractions and turbulence of the world, the words of Our Lord resonate with clarity and urgency: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). To seek God is not merely a task but the very essence of our being. It is through loving, knowing, and serving Him that we fulfill the divine plan for our lives and radiate His truth to a world in need.

In looking to the future, it is fitting to recall the profound insight of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, in his prophetic 1969 comments during a radio interview about the future of the Church. He spoke of a time when the Church would grow smaller, more purified, and stripped of worldly influence, becoming once again a community of personal holiness and deep faith. He envisioned a Church not reliant on status or power but anchored in the profound witness of individuals who live the Gospel with conviction and authenticity.

As we enter the New Year, let us take this vision to heart. Each of us is called to holiness, a call that Cardinal Ratzinger so beautifully described as “the essential mark of the Church.” This holiness is cultivated through fidelity to daily prayer, the sacraments—especially the Holy Eucharist and Confession—and the grace-filled embrace of our state in life. It is a call to live intentionally, striving to conform our hearts and minds to Christ.

In the same radio interview Cardinal Ratzinger gave us a hint on how to answer this call to holiness when he said “Unselfishness, which makes men free, is attained only through the patience of small daily acts of self-denial. By this daily passion, which alone reveals to a man in how many ways he is enslaved by his own ego, a man's eyes are slowly opened."

To love God is to seek His face in every moment of our lives. To know Him is to immerse ourselves in the rich treasury of Scripture and Tradition, allowing His Word and the teachings of His Church to illuminate our path. To serve Him is to take up our cross daily and follow Him, loving our neighbor as He has loved us.

In this New Year, let us recommit ourselves to this divine purpose, striving to make every thought, word, and deed an act of worship and love for God. Let us also heed Cardinal Ratzinger’s call to be a leaven in society, not through grand gestures but through the quiet fidelity of our lives, rooted in the truth of Christ.

As we gather around the manger this Christmas, may the example of the Holy Family inspire us to live with simplicity, faith, and trust in God’s providence. May the Child Jesus, born in poverty yet rich in grace, draw us ever closer to Himself, that we may reflect His light in the world.

With profound gratitude for your steadfast support and dedication to the sacred traditions of our faith, I extend my heartfelt wishes to you and your families for a blessed Christmas. May the New Year be one of spiritual renewal, unwavering hope, and a deeper commitment to the eternal purpose for which we were created.

In the angelic words of that holy night, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.” May His peace reign in our hearts, and may His love inspire us to greater holiness in the year to come.

Radical Fidelity is taking a break and will return somewhere in January 2025.

In Christo Rege!