Distinguishing the changeable from the fixed

A letter from our Parish Priest to the local Catholic newspaper, the Southern Cross. Unfortunately, I cannot find the letter, online, to which this was a response but it was of the usual 'let's do things our way' variety which I think can be seen from some of the things on which Fr Thomas comments in his letter.

Distinguishing the changeable from the fixed
23 September 2010 | by Letters Editor

Fr Thomas Gibson, Kensington, Johannesburg

Regarding Mervyn Pollit’s letter “Church Crisis” (August 18), I would like to share with all The Southern Cross readers my point of view.


1) No doubt we are immersed in a crisis. However, in my Parish I can say that not one practising Catholic with a minimum of formation has left the Church because of this. On the contrary, I would say that it has encouraged them to be more faithful.

2) I realise that if a member of the Catholic Church is able to say that “the laity will no longer allow a handful of clergy in the Vatican to dictate to us”, that person is going through a serious crisis in his belief, probably out of ignorance of what the Catholic Church is.

3) Before we reach Vatican Council III, we need to assimilate and put into practice the teachings of Vatican Council II, especially what Lumen Gentium has taught about the kind of Church our founder (Jesus Christ) wanted: Hierarchy (Pope, bishops, priests, deacons), religious and lay people, each one with his/her specific role.

4) We need to distinguish in the life of the Church those things that are “changeable” from those that are not. No one in the Church, not even Pope Benedict or a Vatican Council III, can change the indissolubility of marriage, the moral teachings regarding contraception or the nowadays frequent issue of the ordination of woman.

May these words of Pope John Paul II illustrate what I am saying: “The Church does not have any power to confer priestly ordination to women. This affirmation should be considered definitive for all the faithful of the Church” (Letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis; May 22, 1994) Why can’t we change these issues? To put it in a simple way, because it’s in the Gospel (explicitly or implicitly).

The discipline of priestly celibacy could be changed, but it would be going backwards (to understand this I recommend reading Paul VI’s Encyclical Letter Sacerdotalis Coelibatus; June 24, 1967).

5) If we look around we see thousands of different Christian denominations. In the origin of this splitting process we always find the rejection of some of these “unchangeable” issues.

The divorce of Henry VIII in the case of the Anglicans is well known by all. That’s why I start worrying when I see people claiming changes that no one in the Church can concede. I cannot avoid thinking that a new split is coming or has already taken place.

The priestly prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper is always actual: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me” (John 17, 20-21)

Love For the Roman Pontiff Must Be In Us A Delightful Passion

Inspiring words from St Josemaría Escrivá:

The supreme power of the Roman Pontiff and his infallibility, when he speaks ex cathedra, are not human inventions. They are based on the explicit foundational will of Christ. How foolish it is, then, to confront the government of the Pope with that of the bishops, or to reduce the validity of the pontifical Magisterium to the consent of the faithful! Nothing is more foreign to it than a balance of powers; human moulds of thought do not help us, no matter how attractive or functional they may be. No one in the Church enjoys absolute power by himself, as man. In the Church there is no leader other than Christ. And Christ constituted a vicar of his — the Roman Pontiff — for his wayfaring spouse on earth.


The Church is apostolic by constitution. That which truly is and is called catholic, should stand out at one and the same time by the prerogatives of unity, holiness and apostolic succession. In that way, the Church is one, with a clear and perfect unity of the whole world and all nations, with that unity of which the principle, root and indefectible origin is the supreme authority and most excellent primacy of blessed Peter, prince of the Apostles, and his successors in the Roman See. And there is no other Catholic Church, but that one which, built on the one Peter, rises up on the unity of the faith and on charity in one unique body, joined together and compact.

We help to make that apostolic continuity more evident in the eyes of all men by demonstrating with exquisite fidelity our union with the Pope, which is union with Peter. Love for the Roman Pontiff must be in us a delightful passion, for in him we see Christ. If we deal with the Lord in prayer, we will go forward with a clear gaze that will permit us to perceive the action of the Holy Spirit, even in the face of events we do not understand or which produce sighs or sorrow.

St Josemaría Escrivá, In Love with the Church, Loyalty to the Church, no.13

A Positive Focus

I'm sure anyone who reads this blog wonders why someone who has named their blog Pro Pontifice Maximo has not come out with all guns blazing in immediate defence of the Holy Father throughout the last few trying months.  To be honest, I felt that there was very little I could say that would add anything to the support already being given to His Holiness.

The relentless onslaught on the Pope from every quarter of the MSM seems neverending and one feels completely helpless at times.  I have tended lately to pay less and less attention to all of it and to try focusing more on prayer for the Holy Father.  One can so easily get caught up in the vortex of negativity to the point where it actually drains you and leaves you sitting in the middle of a negative fog of sorts where you are of no help to anyone, including the Pope.  I have decided to limit my exposure to its toxicity and to simply focus on continuing to pray for His Holiness.

I came across an article on the Schoenstatt website this evening, via an email, that I found to be a breath of fresh air in all the negativity surrounding the Holy Father and the sexual abuse scandal.  It is a reflection that was the response of the Johannesburg Schoenstatt's Women's League on their last Covenant Day to the sexual abuse scandal and the general negativity that often surrounds so many of our priests.  I think it is a beautiful reflection and so very true.

Called to support our Priests
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SOUTH AFRICA, Sarah-Leah Pimentel. The Schoenstatt Family in Johannesburg is focusing on priesthood this year, as there are still a few months left to the Year of the Priest and we also celebrate the centenary of Fr. Kentenich's priesthood.In light of the negative media focus on our priests in recent weeks, the following reflection was given as the response of the Women's League on last Covenant Day.


In June last year, the Holy Father declared a Year of the Priest. This year we also celebrate the centenary of the ordination of Fr. Joseph Kentenich, the father and founder of the Schoenstatt Movement.


In light of these two events, we are being called in a special way to support our priests, perhaps even more so now, as the Church as a whole comes to terms with the knowledge of priests who have caused great hurt to individual members of the Church. These men, who are Christ's representatives on earth, have destroyed for many the possibility of a tender and deep relationship with Christ.


As members of the Schoenstatt Women's League in Johannesburg, South Africa, we believe that as laity, there are many ways that we can support our priests and we can offer our support as contributions to the altar of our Lord.


Pray


So often we complain about our priests, about what they have done that they shouldn't have done or the things that they didn't do. We comment on their character flaws to everyone we meet. Perhaps this month, we're called to refrain from this sort of gossip, using our tongues rather to pray for our priests. We can spare one prayer each day for our parish priest and any other priests that have passed through our lives over the years.


What prayers then do our priests need? We can pray for their priesthood - everyday we see the threats to their vocation. We can pray that even though they empty themselves for us, they will also be filled with many gifts and graces. We can pray that each day, they awaken filled with enthusiasm for their mission, strength to face their daily difficulties. We can pray that they, too, can often feel that God hears their prayers.


Praise


We need to publically acknowledge and thank them for the good work that our priests are doing in our communities. Give praise where praise is due, the old saying tells us. How would it be if every opportunity we had we told of some positive experience with a priest. Or of some things we admire about the priests whom we have experienced over the years? Perhaps we could make it a point of thanking our parish priest once a week for something in particular.


Unburden


So often, we only see our priests in Mass but forget that they have other duties. They need to visit the sick, counsel the many who come to them for help, assist the local community, run training and spiritual programs, be responsible for the upkeep of the church and the numerous other tasks in the parish.


Would their work not be easier, if we could relieve them of some of their burdens? No matter how small the task, if each parishioner did one thing to help in the life of the Church, then the parish priest's whole job could become so much easier. Imagine how well a parish would run if the priest had an electrician, plumber or gardener to oversee that tasks in these areas of expertise are completed. Those of us with basic computer and phone answering skills could easily solve half of the admin problems many priests have to contend with. Could not a trustworthy person be given the task of taking collection money to the bank or paying the bills?


So often we think that we are the only person in the parish and that the priest needs to answer my every need. We can help by making appointments to see them at a time that suits them rather than demanding their attention after Mass because this time suits me.


There are many ways in which we can help our priests with the more mundane tasks, leaving them free to continue with their work of ministering to the community.


Get Involved


Before the 2nd Vatican Council, priest and the religious did everything. Thanks to Vatican II, we no longer have an excuse not to get involved in the task of spreading God's word. In 1931, long before the 2nd Vatican Council, Fr Kentenich gave a talk to priests in which he said: "The laity too has a mission; they, too, are incorporated into Christ and Christ wants to fulfill his mission through them also."


Fr. Kentenich understood that as people become increasingly educated, they "have more access to political and spiritual-intellectual power." As such the laity has the ability to equip themselves to do fulfill God's mission here on earth. Fr. Kentenich promoted a strong ‘program' of self-education. This not only equips us to discover a deeper relationship with Christ through our meditation on the Gospels and an active search to understand more fully the teachings of the Church. This self-education also bestows on us a greater responsibility as lay people towards our Church and the community we live in. Fr. Kentenich warns us that "the problems of the Church are made worse because a great many Catholics among us are sleeping" and he therefore urges us to "wake up a religious sense of responsibility is stirred up. Many lay men and women are concerned and worried about the Church."
On that note, each one of us is called to reflect: Which areas of my self-education need work? And how can I use this to assist in the ministry of the Church? Am I called to teaching catechism, running a bible study or prayer group, becoming a minister of Holy Communion or a proclaimer? Does God want to use my skills to organize a soup kitchen to feed the poor of the parish? Is there some other unique task only I am able to do?


Accountability


Finally, we're called to engage with our priests in a mature way. But we need to remember that our priests are also human and can err. In these cases, it is our responsibility to pray for discernment so that the Holy Spirit can guide on how to approach our priests and make them aware of where they have failed their flock and perhaps strayed from the mission that God entrusted to them. Through my example and my relationship with my parish priest, do I strengthen him in living his vocation or do I make it more difficult for him?


On the silver Jubilee of his ordination the priesthood, Fr. Kentenich linked the ‘success' of his vocation to "all those who have linked their lives and destinies...with mine." The sanctity of priesthood, then also partially depends on us. Fr. Kentenich urged us to "interiorly united with one another." This means that, not only are our hearts united to those people with whom we share natural bonds, but we should also unite our hearts to the hearts of our priests - this is how we support them and help them continue to be good priests.


If our hearts are united, this means that we have a common bond that links us and makes us one, makes us a family. In Schoenstatt, this bond is our Covenant of Love and we live out this covenant through our contributions to the Capital of Grace. Fr. Kentenich makes it very clear: in reflecting on his priesthood and his mission of uniting God's people, he says that "these have safeguarded the family by increasing the capital of grace." Similarly, we can help to safeguard the family of the Catholic Church in light of all the challenges it is facing by increasing our contributions to the Capital of Grace.


The Schoenstatt Women's League in Johannesburg invites the Schoenstatt Family to support our priests by offering one practical actions that we can follow up on in our parishes when we leave here today and offer it as a contribution to the Capital of Grace for your parish priest or a priest with whom you have an interior connectedness as Fr. Kentenich mentioned.


And do not feel discouraged that your efforts are futile in light of the mammoth task that faces us and hear Father's words as he encourages us: "Eternity one day will reveal how the smallest and most hidden souls of our family have contributed treasure after treasure. Without their heroic lives of sacrifice and prayer, the family spirit we have today, would be unthinkable. Indeed, nothing without you."

Excellent Catholic Resource

I have, through the recommendation of our parish priest, discovered a website, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice which provides excellent catechetical resources in the form of a series of talks called "What We Catholics Believe".  These talks are given by Daphne McLeod, a catechist with vast experience who, quoting the info on the web page:

"taught for forty years in Catholic Junior and primary schools, daily teaching Religious Education. As a member of the Catholic Evidence Guild, and friend of Frank Sheed and Maisie Ward, she spoke regularly at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park. Since retiring, she has worked to protect the Faith inheritance of Catholics in the U.K. by her Chairmanship of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, being part of the team responsible for bringing many famous speakers, including Mother Angelica of EWTN, to address the Faith of our Fathers Conferences. Her edifying presentation in these quality recordings is ideally suitable for parents and teachers who are trying to teach children the Faith."

It really is a beautiful series of talks that are presented in a simple, yet beautiful and profound way.  You can access the relevant page HERE.

The site also offers free downloads of talks by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen and other equally valuable resources.

http://www.proecclesia.com/

Opus Dei and the Pope's visit to Britain

I have to admit I am taken aback by Damian Thompson's attitude to Opus Dei in his latest blog entry .  He does, thankfully, describe Dan Brown's depiction of them in The Da Vinci Code as "ludicrously caricatured" but then goes on to say "I happen to think that the truth about Opus is quite creepy enough without inventing stuff, but that’s just my view."  He does not, of course, give any reasons for his 'view' so one can only guess at what it is he must be thinking.  One also has to wonder - have they really 'swooped in', or have they been called upon by the Holy See?

I work in a parish that is run by the Prelature of Opus Dei.  I am not a numerary, supernumerary or a cooperator but I have developed a great respect for the Prelature based simply on the reverence that they have for the Blessed Sacrament and their total obedience to the Holy Father.  I have, for just over a year now, attended their monthly Recollections at which one listens to a reading from one of St Josemaria's works (which are excellent, by the way), one is given a meditation by an Opus Dei priest, one is allowed time to make an examination of conscience and is given the opportunity to go to confession and then one listens to a talk on a particular spiritual topic by an Opus Dei numerary.  The Recollection then comes to a close with a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament which I always find quite beautiful.  At NO time have I ever been pushed or forced to do anything by anyone in Opus Dei.  If you read some of the 'testimonials' of ex-numeraries and supernumeraries you would swear that you are dealing with the Catholic version of 'the Moonies'.  All I can say is that if one does come across such things, one should read such them with a great deal of common sense and discernment, especially if you have had no previous contact with Opus Dei.  There are also always two sides to a story.

Have people had bad experiences with Opus Dei?  Of course, I have no doubt of that.  That is simply life.  No religious Order or Association is perfect because it is peopled by human beings who are weak and given to error.  How many of the saints were badly treated by members of their own order?  St John of the Cross, St Margaret Mary and St Faustina are just a few who immediately spring to mind.  In the end, no matter which Order they belonged to, their sole (soul?) focus was Christ and not their own particular wants, needs or opinions.

Make no mistake, Opus Dei is totally oriented towards Christ and the Church and I am thoroughly tired of people who call them the "Catholic Mafia" or "fanatics".  If being loyal to the Holy See makes you a 'fanatic', then God help Catholicism.

I would like to end with a quote  from St Josemaria Escriva's The Forge which I have always found inspiring:

39.  I see myself like a poor little bird, accustomed only to making short flights from tree to tree, or, at most, up to a third floor balcony… One day in its life it succeeded in reaching the roof of a modest building, that you could hardly call a skyscraper.

But suddenly our little bird is snatched up by an eagle, who mistakes the bird for one of its own brood. In its powerful talons the bird is borne higher and higher, above the mountains of the earth and the snow—capped peaks, above the white, blue and rose—pink clouds, and higher and higher until it can look right into the sun. And then the eagle lets go of the little bird and says: Off you go. Fly!

—Lord, may I never flutter again close to the ground. May I always be enlightened by the rays of the divine sun — Christ — in the Eucharist. May my flight never be interrupted until I find repose in your Heart.

St Josemaría Escrivá and his love and veneration for the Pope

I am always touched when I read of the love and devotion that St Josemaría Escrivá had for the Holy Father. Here is a particularly touching extract from a book on the founder of Opus Dei, by the current Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarria:

When Saint Josemaría Escrivá was very young he used to dream of getting close to the Pope even for only a few moments, to have the chance of showing him his love and readiness to serve him. Msgr Javier Echevarría says: “His joy when he was actually in the Pope’s presence was immense. I could see that whenever I went with him to an audience with the Pope.” Msgr Echevarría, now the prelate of Opus Dei himself, witnessed Saint Josemaría’s love for the Pope back in the summer of 1950, at Castel Gandolfo, when they were staying near the Holy Father’s summer residence.

From that period I remember how affectionately he used to talk to us about the Pope. He used to get up enthusiastically to go to the roadside to see Pope Pius XII going past, on his way back from Rome to Castel Gandolfo after the Holy Year audiences. Msgr. Escrivá used to ask us to pray very hard for the Pope and love him very much, and show him our affection, because we ought always to see the Pope as the successor of Saint Peter, the dolce Cristo in terra, the “sweet Christ on earth”. And I saw how devoutly he would receive the blessing which the Holy Father gave from his car as he went by.

Before I went back to Spain Msgr. Escrivá asked me to spend two days in Rome to gain the Jubilee and visit the four Basilicas. He asked me to pray with great faith, especially in Saint Peter’s, feeling very united with the Pope, for the holiness of everyone in the Church to increase, and for more conversions everywhere. He recommended me not to forget my family, and to add my parents’ devotion to my own, since in a way I could represent them, because they would have loved to have the chance to pray in the Eternal City close to the See of Peter.

I very soon saw how continually Saint Josemaría renewed the offering of his life for the Pope, in readiness to give his life at any moment, with the grace of God. And he repeated that offering on the morning of 26 June 1975.

He would repeat, with absolute conviction, the words of Psalm 35:10, Apud Te est fons vitae et in lumine tuo videbimus lumen! (In you is the source of life and in your light we see light). He used this to increase his unity with Christ’s Vicar on earth. He always firmly believed that his union with the Blessed Trinity would grow still closer, the closer he was united in mind and will to the Pope and his intentions.

On countless occasions I heard him use expressions like “the common Father” or “the house of the common Father”, referring to the Pope or the Apostolic See. These expressions helped him experience the catholicity of the Church. He was made deeply happy by whatever made the Pope happy, and he likewise suffered when the Pope was suffering.

While on this subject, I remember how in October 1958, as soon as he heard that Pope Pius XII was gravely ill, he followed all the official communiqués closely. (…) It was the same when Pope John XXIII was seriously ill. I saw in his face how much he was suffering as he told us what Msgr. Dell’Acqua had said to him. Msgr Escrivá’s heart poured out words and expressions, even sighs, that showed how he was accompanying the common Father, how affected he was by the Pope’s sufferings.

I should make it clear that Msgr Escrivá never got edgy. But when he was in the presence of the Holy Father he was genuinely moved, and he never tried to hide or to overcome that sensation. And he was also delighted when he got permission for me, as secretary, to go and greet the Pope, the Successor of Peter. He always told me the same thing: “Fall on your knees, and make the most of those moments to show your love and veneration, and to increase your prayer for and union with the Pope, the Vicar of Christ.”


Extracts from: Echevarría, Javier y Bernal, Salvador, Memoria del Beato Josemaría Escrivá, Madrid, Rialp, 2000 (1st edition).

Was someone asleep on their feet?

Given what happened in St Peter's Basilica last night I have to ask:  Were the members of the security contingent asleep on their feet?  I have watched the video quite a few times now and I was astounded to see how long it took the security guard to tackle her and then she still manages, somehow, to evade his grasp and grab the Holy Father's vestments.  Yes, it did happen quickly, but not so quickly, I feel, that they couldn't have prevented her from actually getting to the Holy Father.  It is also alleged that it was exactly the same woman who jumped the barrier last year.  If so, I find this extremely disturbing.  One can only hope that, if this is true, that measures will be taken this time so that she does not get the opportunity to do something like this again.

It also disturbs me that some commentators seem to be at pains to somehow exonerate the woman saying that she meant no real harm and that such people seldom do.  To me that is not the issue. It doesn't matter who she is or what her real intent was.  The fact is that she got close enough to the Holy Father to do some serious damage.

Given that the Holy Father was pulled down so quickly and so violently we can only thank God that he did not sustain any serious injuries.  It continues to be unclear as to how exactly poor Cardinal Etchegaray was knocked over and reports differ as to whether he has fractured his femur or his hip.  At 87 this is not a joke and we can only pray that, God willing, he will make a full recovery.  Let us pray too that this disturbed woman may also find some sort of peace and healing.