We must not forget that the first Protestants had begun by being Catholics and, generally, desired to be fervent ones. What they fought against were errors and deformities that they were fully conscious of having once shared. Even today, despite all the progress made since the sixteenth century, can we deny that there is only too often, in our sacramental practice, superstition in disguise? Many Catholics, even the very devout, would seem to think that holiness for them was in direct proportion to the number of their Communions, even if they make no personal effort to receive the sacrament with fervor. And how many Catholics are there who have Masses said to obtain, come what may, something they are anxious for, even if its moral goodness is at least doubtful, and who expect therefrom a quasi-automatic result as if from some magical practice; in fact, they are doing well if they do not combine Christian practices with purely pagan ones, such as carrying lucky charms and the like.
Louis Bouyer, The Word, Church and Sacraments in Protestantism and Catholicism, 75-76.
