Reality is closer to the vision of the film Constantine than the majority of people realize. The superficiality of the bored teenager, the desperate housewife (I know, I know), the whipped-to-be-a-success spouse may find it impossible to perceive, but reality is, in fact, a battle between Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, on the one hand, and evil, depravity, and debauchery on the other. More succinctly, either you believe Nietzsche and worship Dionysus, or you believe Catholic truth and worship Jesus Christ.
What makes it all the more difficult is that all of us - all - are fallen creatures made imago dei with disordered passions that make discernment of the path leading one direction or the other nearly impossible.
A father may discern this clearly, but painfully watch his nearly adult son turn his back on him in the inevitable process of individuation. He may be left, like the father of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15), watching and praying for his son's return - totally unable to offer help when the son has no desire to receive anything from his father (except cash, if offered).
Such a life situation, while painful, is not without benefits. For the Catholic, even suffering can be useful. Redemptive suffering, accepted with a modicum of joy, patience, and faith, can be an exceptional witness for others and benefit to oneself.
Marian chivalry - saying Yes like Our Lady - to suffering, cares, opprobrium can and will be added to the work of salvation carried out by Our Lord.
So, "Offering it up," brother or sister-in-arms. Fight the good fight by being servant of all and help to the least, the last, and the lost.
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