Staying True to Faith and Vocation: A Call to Embrace Tradition

by Musa Bilal 5 months ago 3 min read

In the midst of social turbulence and erratic leadership, Harrison Butker's commencement address at Benedictine College serves as a rallying call for the graduating class of 2024 to uphold their Catholic ideals and accept their vocations fully. Butker creates a captivating tale based on personal experiences and observations that challenges the status quo and advocates for a return to traditions.

Butker begins by noting the grads' challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how their early years were impacted by "bad policies and poor leadership."^[1] He attacks the present administration, led by President Biden, for its abortion policies and what he sees as increased support for "degenerate cultural values." Butker's critical condemnation extends to Catholic leaders themselves, accusing them of succumbing to fear and putting personal comfort before of maintaining the Church's doctrines throughout the pandemic.^[2]

Butker's call to action is based on the conviction that Catholics must remain true to their religion and accept their vocations genuinely. He criticizes those who seek to stifle or privatize the Catholic faith, claiming that it has always been countercultural and that its adherents have always experienced persecution for upholding its doctrines. Butker encourages graduates to stand firm in their ideas and to reject the "tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion" when it contradicts their values.

Turning his focus to the clergy, Butker is dissatisfied with the activities of many priests and bishops, accusing them of misleading their people and putting hobbies or superficial pleasures ahead of their spiritual obligations.^[2:1] He cites St. Damien of Molokai, who tirelessly ministered to leper colonies in Hawaii, as an example of true shepherding that current leaders should follow.

Butker has a special message for the women in the audience, questioning the "diabolical lies" they have been given about pursuing jobs rather than embracing the vocation of motherhood and homemaking.^[3] He praises his wife, Isabelle, who found great joy in her job as a wife and mother, and encourages the graduates to ignore cultural pressures and embrace God's plan for their lives.^[4]

Butker's talk is not without controversy, since he criticizes Pride Month and "dangerous gender ideologies." However, he couches his criticism within the perspective of his Catholic faith, arguing that true pride should be focused on worshiping God rather than celebrating secular ideals.^[1:1]

Throughout his address, Butker emphasizes the significance of remaining true to one's vocation, whether as a layperson, priest, or religious. He encourages graduates to surround themselves with like-minded people who will sharpen their religion and hold them accountable, warning them about the dangers of surrendering their values for the sake of convenience or social acceptance.

A catholic family praying together, representing the importance of faith and vocation in the home.

Butker devotes the last half of his presentation to the traditional Latin Mass, which he sees as a method of discovering order and living a Christ-centered life. He encourages the graduates to seek out parishes that offer the traditional Mass, putting the sacrifice of the Mass ahead of personal preferences or communal dynamics.^[5]

Butker continues his presentation by praising Benedictine College for its dedication to traditional Catholic principles and its position as a "beacon of light" in a world that frequently rejects or marginalizes such views. He encourages the graduates to be outspoken about their faith and to never be hesitant to profess the "one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" as they begin their various paths.^[5:1]

In a culture that frequently celebrates independence and relativism, Harrison Butker's commencement address at Benedictine College is a strong and uncompromising challenge to embrace tradition, maintain Catholic principles, and follow one's vocation with unshakable conviction. While his statements may be provocative for some, they speak to individuals who want to preserve the richness of their faith in the face of ever-changing society norms.