On the 60th anniversary of Vatican II, at the memorial Mass for John XXIII, Francis plants himself and the Church in the centrality of Vatican II. Francis has said that the best preparation for the 2025 Holy Year will be to study the four central documents of Vatican II. This is also his strongest statement against the polarization within the Church.
Homily: the Memorial Mass of John XXIII
First: Do you love me? It is a question, for Jesus’ style is not so much to offer answers as to ask questions, questions that challenge our lives.
The Second Vatican Council was one great response to this question. To rekindle her love for the Lord, the Church, for the first time in her history, devoted a Council to examining herself and reflecting on her nature and mission. She saw herself once more as a mystery of grace generated by love; she saw herself anew as the People of God, the Body of Christ, the living temple of the Holy Spirit!
This is the first way to look at the Church: from above. Indeed, the Church needs first to be viewed from on high, with God’s eyes, eyes full of love. Let us ask ourselves if we, in the Church, start with God and his loving gaze upon us.
We are always tempted to start from ourselves rather than from God, to put our own agendas before the Gospel, to let ourselves be caught up in the winds of worldliness in order to chase after the fashions of the moment or to turn our back on the time that Providence has granted us, in order to retrace our steps. Yet let us be careful: both the “progressivism” that lines up behind the world and the “traditionalism” – or “looking backwards” – that longs for a bygone world are not evidence of love, but of infidelity. They are forms of a Pelagian selfishness that puts our own tastes and plans above the love that pleases God, the simple, humble and faithful love that Jesus asked of Peter.
Let us rediscover the Council in order to restore primacy to God, to what is essential: to a Church madly in love with its Lord and with all the men and women whom he loves; to a Church that is rich in Jesus and poor in assets; to a Church that is free and freeing. This was the path that the Council pointed out to the Church.
Brothers and sisters, let us return to the Council’s pure sources of love. Let us rediscover the Council’s passion and renew our own passion for the Council! Immersed in the mystery of the Church, Mother and Bride, let us also say, with Saint John XXIII: Gaudet Mater Ecclesia! (Address at the Opening of the Council, 11 October 1962). May the Church be overcome with joy. If she should fail to rejoice, she would deny her very self, for she would forget the love that begot her.
Yet how many of us are unable to live the faith with joy, without grumbling and criticizing? A Church in love with Jesus has no time for quarrels, gossip and disputes. May God free us from being critical and intolerant, harsh and angry! This is not a matter of style but of love.
And when we are critical and disgruntled, let us remember that to be Church means to bear witness to the beauty of your love, to live our lives as a response to your question: Do you love me? And not to act as if we were at a funeral wake.
Feed my sheep Peter ... was a fisherman whom Jesus made a fisher of men (cf. Lk 5:10). Jesus assigns him a new role, that of a shepherd, something entirely new to him. This was in fact a turning point in Peter’s life, for while fishermen are concerned with hauling a catch to themselves, shepherds are concerned with others, with feeding others. Shepherds live with their flocks; they feed the sheep and come to love them. A shepherd is not “above” the nets – like a fisherman – but “in the midst of” his sheep. A shepherd stands in front of the people to mark the way, in the midst of the people as one of them, and behind the people in order to be close to the stragglers. A shepherd is not above, like a fisherman, but in the midst.
This is the second way of looking at the Church that we learn from the Council: looking around. In other words, being in the world with others without ever feeling superior to others, being servants of that higher realm which is the Kingdom of God (cf. Lumen Gentium, 5); bringing the good news of the Gospel into people’s lives and languages (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, 36), sharing their joys and hopes (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 1).
Being in the midst of the people, not above the people, which is the bad sin of clericalism that kills the sheep rather than guiding them or helping them grow. How timely the Council remains! It helps us reject the temptation to enclose ourselves within the confines of our own comforts and convictions. The Council helps us imitate God’s approach, which the prophet Ezekiel has described to us today: “Seek the lost sheep and lead back to the fold the stray, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak” (cf. Ezek 34:16).
Feed: the Church did not hold the Council in order to admire herself, but to give herself to others.
Brothers and sisters, let us return to the Council, which rediscovered the living river of Tradition without remaining mired in traditions. The Council rediscovered the source of love, not to remain on mountain heights, but to cascade downwards as a channel of mercy for all. Let us return to the Council and move beyond ourselves, resisting the temptation to self-absorption, which is a way of being worldly. Once more, the Lord tells his Church: feed! And as she feeds, she leaves behind nostalgia for the past, regret at the passing of former influence, and attachment to power. For you, the holy People of God, are a pastoral people. You are not here to shepherd yourselves, or to be on the climb, but to shepherd others – all others – with love. And if it is fitting to show a particular concern, it should be for those whom God loves most: the poor and the outcast (cf. Lumen Gentium, 8; Gaudium et Spes, 1). The Church is meant to be, as Pope John put it, “the Church of all, and particularly the Church of the poor” (Radio Message to the faithful worldwide a month prior to the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, 11 September 1962).
Do you love me? The Lord then says: “Feed my sheep”. He does not mean just some of the sheep, but all of them, for he loves them all, affectionately referring to them as “mine”. The Good Shepherd looks out and wants his flock to be united, under the guidance of the Pastors he has given them. He wants us – and this is the third way of looking at the Church – to see the whole, all of us together. The Council reminds us that the Church is a communion in the image of the Trinity (cf. Lumen Gentium, 4.13). The devil, on the other hand, wants to sow the darnel of division. Let us not give in to his enticements or to the temptation of polarization.
How often, in the wake of the Council, did Christians prefer to choose sides in the Church, not realizing that they were breaking their Mother’s heart! How many times did they prefer to cheer on their own party rather than being servants of all? To be progressive or conservative rather than being brothers and sisters? To be on the “right” or “left”, rather than with Jesus? To present themselves as “guardians of the truth” or “pioneers of innovation” rather than seeing themselves as humble and grateful children of Holy Mother Church.
All of us are children of God, all brothers and sisters in the Church, all of us making up the Church, all of us. That is how the Lord wants us to be. We are his sheep, his flock, and we can only be so together and as one. Let us overcome all polarization and preserve our communion. May all of us increasingly “be one”, as Jesus prayed before sacrificing his life for us
It's interesting that Francis feels compelled to defend Vatican II. Of course, his enemies within the church seek to minimize the Council's impact.
ReplyDeleteIt may just be a symptom of how post-modern we all have become: I suspect his enemies don't trust Francis; they would see his promotion of Vatican II, not because Council was good in itself and deserves to be lifted high for our consideration and contemplation, but rather as a means to ends which his adversaries would view as nefarious. 'Let us praise the Council, because then we must welcome immigrants and refugees.' '...because then we must work for peace in Ukraine.' '...because then we must be willing to enter into dialogue with Jews and Muslims.' '...because then we must confront inequities in human societies.'
I hadn't thought about it that way, Jim, but I think you are on to something. We live in a world of dog whistles, and maybe "Vatican II" has become code for women priests, regularization of divorce, recognition of gay marriage, anything-goes birth control, modern architecture, Y'all Come Communion, etc.
DeleteRather sad that the prevailing views in the RCC in America these days are so anti-VII. Which means, as you note, they are anti-the gospel; they are anti-Jesus. If the RCC in America had followed Francis’ lead since 2013 I might have thought about returning to Sundays in a Catholic pew. Our EC parish has been dealing with multiple challenges since the rector retired almost four years ago. They still don’t have a new permanent rector, after three interims.There was a huge financial crisis that has now finally been resolved, so maybe there will be a new normal in January. I think a lot of the candidates for rector were probably scared off by the financial mess that included both the church and the school. But the last interim agreed to stay an extra year, and she managed to finally get it resolved without having to close the school or sell the two small houses the parish owns that are used for the daycare and preschool. They are now debt free, so maybe a new rector will be willing to come.
DeleteBut as the crisis dragged on, compounded by Covid, and Covid eased up, I started looking at the RCC parishes again- but all of them that are relatively close to home, including our two previous RC parishes, seem to have gone full EWTN - Uber conservative. They offer Jeff Clavins, and Scott Hahn, and Alpha etc, - all products of conservative evangelical Protestantism. Some disparage the EC calling it “Catholic lite”. At this point, the RCC in America looks like Jerry Falwell with smells and bells.
There are two RC parishes I’m thinking of going to without becoming official. One is Franciscan, very inclusive, multi- cultural, mass in three languages, and some prayers and hymns in a fourth - Bangladeshi. There is a strong focus on social justice, and the parish is a place where those on the margins can feel comfortable, including the gay community. But it requires a long trip on the beltway to participate. The other is the Jesuit parish in Georgetown. It is a wealthy parish, but it also has a strong focus on social justice, and a rich offering of diverse prayer opportunities such as CP, Ignation, Lectio, etc. No Alpha, no Scott Hahn. And the Jesuits usually give decent homilies. Yay! But - frequent trips into the city, and very little parking available. I think they suspend the permit requirements on the streets in Georgetown on Sundays, but participation in non- Sunday activities could be challenging. So we will wait to see what happens at our EC parish in a few months.
The Catholic conservative Catholics like to blame Vatican II for the decline of the church in the west, especially conservative American Catholics. It seems possible, though, that the failure to fully implement VII, and the reversion to a closed, conservative mindset, is the main culprit in the loss of 30 million+ cradle Catholics in the US. Of course, all religions in the US have been losing members for decades - progressive AND conservative, including the conservative evangelicals. Many cultural upheavals came about in a relatively short period of time, including VII. John XXIII seems prophetic in hindsight. But JPII and B16 stopped true reform to cling to the imperial model of church that they preferred. Francis has tried to teach the gospel, but a majority of white American Catholics now follow the false god known as MAGA. Happening in Italy too, and elsewhere in Europe. White people in many countries, those that first became christian, when they were the outcasts during the first few hundred years after Jesus died, have decided to turn their backs on the gospel.
" I started looking at the RCC parishes again- but all of them that are relatively close to home, including our two previous RC parishes, seem to have gone full EWTN - Uber conservative. They offer Jeff Clavins, and Scott Hahn, and Alpha etc, - all products of conservative evangelical Protestantism."
DeleteHi Anne - just want to express my sympathy to your situation. I think our diocese is a bit more progressive than yours, at least by reputation, but even so, in this suburban area, I am not sure what you would find to feed what you're hungering for. There are some parishes around here that have been "leaning conservative" for the last few years. Our own parish isn't that way (and maybe I play a very modest role in keeping it wherever it is). But like you, I'd have to drive a long way to find preaching and music that would be as I really wish they could be, in my heart of hearts. I'd also have to go into the city, or to a university area like Northwestern, to find that sort of thing.
Synodality is totally intertwined with Vatican II. Its elaboration of the role of bishops was key to balancing Vatican I emphasis upon the authority of the Pope.
ReplyDeleteThe Vatican II bishops wanted the collaboration of bishops with the Pope to take on a permanent form. Rather than having the bishops decide that form, Paul VI invented the Synod of Bishops. The Vatican II bishops also wanted the reform of the Curia since it was the center of most of the resistance to Vatican II. Paul VI said he would take care of that.
The Synod of Bishops never worked very well. And the reform of the Curia never worked well. Bishops still felt that they were too much like branch offices with little input into Rome's thinking.
JP2 did not even try to make the Curia work, he was too busy jetting around the world. Some of those who voted for B12 thought that with all his experience in the Curia, he could make it work. He could not do that. He was too concerned about theology and writing.
Francis was elected to reform the Curia. However, he understood probably better than many of his electors that only an improved version of the Synod of Bishops could put the Curia in its place as the servant of the universal church not just of the current occupant of the chair of Peter.
Even more deeply Francis has understood that reforming the role Rome and the Bishops had to take place within the context of implementing the Vatican II call for the laity to be full active participants not only in the liturgy but also in the apostolate, the evangelization of societies and cultures. Hence the importance of overcoming clericalism.
Francis is the heir of Vatican II because the Latin American Bishops conference is the best implementation of Vatican II in the world. And, of course, he has been a key figure in their implementation in recent years. I suspect the African and Asian bishops and cardinals understand that.
Unfortunately, we near sighted Americans cannot see beyond our culture wars.
Francis is the heir of Vatican II because the Latin American Bishops conference is the best implementation of Vatican II in the world. And, of course, he has been a key figure in their implementation in recent years. I suspect the African and Asian bishops and cardinals understand that.
DeleteAs confirmation of this the National Catholic Reporter has an CNS article
https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/cardinal-says-asian-church-must-remain-prophetic-relevant-responsive
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, a member of Pope Francis' Council of Cardinals, stressed there was a great need to restructure the Asian bishops' federation and model it on the Latin American bishops' council, CELAM.
I was eleven in 1962, when the Council started. I well remember when some English was introduced to the Mass. It didn't happen all at once, there were Latin parts for several years. It was a shock to some people. My dad missed the Latin (though over time he grew to accept and even like the vernacular Mass). My mom was so happy when the priest could say Mass facing the people. She always felt that it seemed rude for him to be praying with his back turned. an unexpected person who loved the changes of Vatican II was my paternal grandmother, who had been born in 1897. I think she had endured some of the French Jansenism of the past.
ReplyDelete