Last Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the first in a series of Advent talks about two papal encyclicals. The first was on Deus Caritas Est (Pope Benedict's encyclical "God is Love"). First up was a woman who gave a short presentation on human sexuality and basically seemed to infer that Eros had at last been acknowledged as a beautiful thing, "in relationships or marriages". But I wanted to reflect rather on what the main speaker, Fr. David Keniry, talked about.Basically he used the theme of Gods descending love on humanity to highlight the fact it is the Holy Spirit which is this love. Apparently, the Catholic Church has always known the details, but up until Vatican II it didn't live it or feel it. I think he said he was a seminarian around the time of the great 'renewal' when suddenly, after not truly living his faith, he felt the Holy Spirit at last. And this was a renewal which came from outside the Church. In fact, I'd be inclined to say he was one of the priests who received the 'baptism of the Holy Spirit' through laying on of hands by protestant pastors.
I'm no fan of the charismatic movement, in or outside the Church. Its not just because of the music they play, or the way they worship, but the theology which underpins all of it. Fr. Keniry emphasised that when he listened to the first charismatic speakers he was impressed because he couldn't theologically object to anything they said. I would be inclined, however, to want the full picture of Catholicism - to embrace it in its full beauty. Having been to confession with a charismatic priest in the past, I came away feeling like there really is no such thing as sin, and not to be so hard on myself.I was quite taken aback that all the nodding of heads in the audience were old people. We were the youngest in the room, but Fr. Keniry made claims that it is through the charismatic renewal that young people are becoming connected with the Mass. Experiences differ, but I felt like he was forcing his experiences on us, rather than talking about the subject matter at hand. His only justification for Vatican II giving the go-ahead to the charismatics was the term "charisms" used in the document Lumen Gentium. In any case, Deus Caritas Est has nothing to do with all this, and he was certainly going off track.
So, why do people talk about the Second Vatican Council as a time of 'great renewal', usually using personal anecdotes? To me we seem to have lost so much, especially in architecture and liturgy - but what have we gained? It is very difficult for me to comment on this because I am still discerning the true purpose of Vatican II in the life of the Church, and have only recent experience of Catholicism. But I've been pointed to an excellent article on Seattle Catholic, which tries to be objective about this subject. Take a look and see what you think.
If your first speaker thinks that Benedict is the first pope to refer to eros positively, she should avail herself of Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body series. He is the one who got the ball rolling.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely refuse to believe that it was only with Vatican II that the Church began to live her faith. Absurd. It very much seems like he was projecting his experience onto the Church at large.
Its fascinating that old priests are telling an audience of old people about what is going to attract young Catholics to the Faith and enable them to practice it in its fullness.
ReplyDeleteNot just to come to Mass and wave their hands around, pray over someone and go home, but really really live out their faith in every aspect of their lives, be it the little things like saying grace before meals to thank God for His gifts or the biggies like giving up their life in obedience to God's call.
I really wish that someone would ask real life young Catholics who take their Faith seriously and practice it what it was that made them do it rather than speculate.
You might attract people because the music is rockin and the preaching was great. We have many Protestant churches that do that much better than any Catholic Church could ever hope to do. So if that is all you have to offer, when your 'customers' find a better joint, they are going to take their business elsewhere.
But, take away the music, give the preacher a sore throat and would the throngs of people still turn up day after day and week after week?
If someone's motivation to go to Church is just to jump around to rock music or hear a good sermon rather than worship God, then they've got their reasons all wrong.
Thats why many Protestants church-hop because they are looking for a Church that agrees with what they already believe and has the same worship flavour that they like.
They do not regard the Church as an article of Faith(as in 'I believe in the Holy Catholic Church') established by Christ and is Mater et Magistra and commands our obedience, but merely a gathering of like minded people with similar preferences.
The Catholic Church, established by Christ and governed by the Successor of Peter through the ages offers communion with Christ Her Head, offers the Sacraments established by Christ which are channels of grace, offers the absolution of our sins and the promise of eternal life. Thats our major selling point. Thats what we have that no other sect has.
Please don't throw away the cake for the crumbs.
The DH comic was hilarious. In a sense, it is symptomatic of the way most priests seems to act as though the Catholic Church only popped into existence after V2.
In that sense, we're similar to many Protestant sects where Church history jumps from the Apostolic Church narrated about in Acts to the point where their particular community was established.
Thank you for your heartfelt comments. Joee, we didn't stay for the Q&A because it was almost our bedtime and we'd had quite enough at that stage!! I really don't know what I would've asked anyway... I'm not that brave when it comes to potential conflict. It's better just to pray I think.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good article, you have linked to.
ReplyDeleteI wonder who suggested it ;-)