When Zeal Isn’t Holiness: Discerning True Catholic Renewal in a Noisy Culture
Over the past few years, American culture has shifted in a strange way. I keep noticing people — especially far-right voices, influencers, and commentators — suddenly talking about Catholic devotions like the Holy Face, Fatima, the Rosary, or “end times.” Some of it feels sincere… but some of it feels off.
For a long time, most public religious energy in America came from Protestant evangelicals. Now there’s this new wave of people putting on Catholic aesthetics — Latin Mass clips, scapulars, icons, warnings of chastisements — and calling it revival.
But something in my spirit keeps asking:
Is this authentic renewal,
or
just another cultural reaction dressed up in religion?
This blog is not about judging hearts. It’s about discernment — the kind the saints lived, the Catechism teaches, and the Church has always called us to.
1. The Church Warns Against Mixing Faith With Ideology
The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives clear guidance about this:
CCC 2244
“The Church… reminds political authorities of moral principles, but she does not place her trust in political structures.”
“Every institution is inspired, at least implicitly, by a vision of man and his destiny, from which it derives the point of reference for its judgment, its hierarchy of values, its line of conduct. Most societies have formed their institutions in the recognition of a certain preeminence of man over things. Only the divinely revealed religion has clearly recognized man’s origin and destiny in God, the Creator and Redeemer. The Church invites political authorities to measure their judgments and decisions against this inspired truth about God and man:
Societies not recognizing this vision or rejecting it in the name of their independence from God are brought to seek their criteria and goal in themselves or to borrow them from some ideology. Since they do not admit that one can defend an objective criterion of good and evil, they arrogate to themselves an explicit or implicit totalitarian power over man and his destiny, as history shows.”
CCC 2246
The Church cannot be “reduced to the role of the servants of the political community.”
“It is a part of the Church’s mission “to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it. The means, the only means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances.””
In other words:
The Gospel cannot become a political brand.
When political movements use Catholic symbols or devotions to gain credibility or cultural power, they’re not evangelizing — they’re weaponizing the sacred.
True Catholic faith transforms hearts, not voting blocs.
2. Real Devotions Can Be Misused
The Church treasures devotions like:
The Holy Face
Fatima
The Rosary
Reparation prayers
These are beautiful, ancient, powerful. But when people use them to stir fear, superiority, or apocalyptic excitement instead of repentance and humility… that’s not the Holy Spirit.
Fatima was not meant to create anxiety. The Holy Face devotion was not meant to create anger. Reparation is not meant to become a badge of “I’m holier than the rest.”
The saints warn about this with prophetic clarity.
3. The Saints on False Zeal and Counterfeit Devotion
St. John of the Cross
The Doctor of Mystical Theology could be speaking directly to our time:
“The devil rejoices when a soul seeks not humility but extraordinary devotions.”
– Ascent of Mount Carmel, II.27
“Many desire to be saints overnight, yet they do not wish to be humbled.”
– Sayings of Light and Love, 131
John warns that people often chase spirituality that looks intense but is rooted in self-love, fear, or ego. True holiness is hidden, surrendered, and quiet.
St. Teresa of Ávila
The great Doctor of Prayer warns against confusing emotion with holiness:
“Do not think that because you do more penances, you love God more… What He asks of us is not great works but great humility.” – Interior Castle, VI.10
“It is a great deceit to think that God gives us His gifts so that we may appear better than others.” – The Way of Perfection, Ch. 38
Her message:
If a devotion makes you feel superior, it is not from God.
St. Francis de Sales
The gentle saint emphasizes what real devotion looks like:
“True devotion does not consist in the sweetness of prayer, but in a steadfast will to do the will of God.” – Introduction to the Devout Life, I.3
Holiness is not the intensity of your feelings. Holiness is consistency, gentleness, charity, and patience.
St. Catherine of Siena
Catherine cuts through all illusions:
“Many build the walls of the Church, but not all lay the stones of virtue.”
– Dialogue, Ch. 112
Lots of people defend the Church online. Few actually live the Gospel.
4. So What Is True Catholic Renewal?
Every authentic revival in Church history was:
Eucharistic
Humble
Hidden
Born of repentance
Expressed in works of mercy
Free from political identity
Led by saints, not influencers
The renewal that changes the world always starts in a confessional, not on a podcast.
In a quiet chapel, not in a comment section. In the heart, not in the headlines.
And it always bears the marks of the Holy Spirit:
Peace
Patience
Charity
Meekness
Humility
If a movement creates fear, rage, arrogance, or a spirit of division — no matter how Catholic it looks — it is not the Spirit of God.
5. How to Stay Grounded Amid Fake Fervor
If you’re feeling unsettled, that’s not paranoia — it’s discernment. Try anchoring yourself daily with:
A 10-Minute Morning Routine
Read a short Scripture (e.g., Psalm 51 or John 14).
Sit in silence for 2 minutes.
Say a simple prayer:
“Lord, free my heart from fear and pride. Give me the spirit of Your saints.”
Choose a saint quote for the day (from the ones above).
Do one hidden act of charity nobody will see.
This is how true devotion grows.
A Final Word
Jesus warned that many would call His name with their lips but deny Him with their lives. The Church has always dealt with false zeal, spiritual pride, and political co-opting. But the Holy Spirit is never absent.
If you are noticing the difference between the loud and the holy —
between the dramatic and the humble —
between the fearful and the faithful —
that is a gift of discernment.
Cherish it.
Use it.
And anchor yourself in the same quiet holiness that shaped the saints.