Tell Us How You Really Feel!

On the Facebook, I was privy to a conversation about our culture "shifting to the right of the Pope." That observation, given without context, was the catalyst of discussion. I guess it may have had something to do with what I shall call Duckgate. Maybe lots of people have been acknowledging Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson's right to have and articulate his beliefs regarding same-sex activity. I haven't been following this scandal, and have lost no sleep over it. I've lost more sleep writing for this dank wilderness of a blog.

The conversation proceeded to mention Pope Francis, a favorite among most of the participants for his gentle demeanor, charitable activity, and tolerance of seekers and objectors. This guy approves of public breast-feeding! What has the Pope to do with breasts!? And so forth. It took a humorous turn, such that I wouldn't mind a frank yet charitable conversation with these folks someday!

This panel favors Francis. I don't want to say "for the wrong reasons" (it slipped out), but then again, what are those reasons? I don't claim to know the inner hearts of any of these good people. Conversations of this sort reflect much of the current fascination with Francis. Further speculation into motives for this fascination might exceed my pay grade, but that never stopped me before:

• He gives Catholicism a good face (read: a better face than Benedict or John Paul did. As a late-model Gen-Xer, my peers and I don't go back much earlier than that).
• He's more open to those whose association with Catholicism is at best tenuous and at worst inimical.
• He is the "real deal," because he overtly shows love for the poor and marginalized and tolerance for seekers (again, unlike his predecessors, who could as well have been chaplains for the GOP).

The interlocutors never asked me to participate. Your Reverend Troll (if I deserve that moniker) was moved to comment on the general tenor of the thread, as well as the possibility, voiced by one speaker, that people may return to the Church--not necessarily they, but others--on account of Pope Francis. The comment, in toto:

As gentle and tolerant as Pope Francis is, I don't expect scads of "reverts" to the faith on account of him. He's already reaffirmed certain teachings as immutable, even while reminding (especially priests, 'cause we need it!) that Jesus' identity and mission undergird all the hot-button topics...at least for Catholics; and this no matter who wears the white skullcap. What kinda irks me is how Francis' immediate predecessors have been billed as authoritarian, callous, elitist, I'd almost say because of Francis' style and content. "[Thinking of Francis as] the real deal" insults his predecessors, and puts him on an unfair pedestal as well. Although he seems like the kind of person who is content to be himself, no matter what the public perception – and this may well be the key to his charm. In this and several other respects, I'd like to be like him when I grow up. [emphases mine, because Facebook doesn't use italics]

Then it seemed that further development was necessary. Once salt is added, it's hard to remove.

..."Upon further review," as they say in the NFL, it's rather pessimistic not to expect some genuine conversions; and why not, because many things about him manifest the appeal of Jesus and, yes, of the Catholic faith, in ways that other popes may not have exhibited; or the signals weren't so clear (that's very much the Holy Spirit's domain). That's all for now.

I've just about had enough defending Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II. But hey--they didn't ask for it, nor do they really need it!

A Rave And A Rant

Blogger Leah Libresco writes about the excitement that numerous disparate voices share concerning Pope Francis, from Time to Vanity Fair to The Advocate. While Catholic periodicals might be expected to feature the Pope, the honorable mentions from the secular press are, well, honorable to mention (see Kathy Schiffer's cover of the covers)! Recently ABC's Good Morning America offered a fine feature of the Pontiff's encounter with two of its reporters. He's a good "bad penny," always turning up.

It's refreshing to witness such interest in times when people recognize the faces of entertainers more easily than public servants! One thing we can say about Pope Francis: He is getting the Word out.  But what word? Whose word?

Christ's, of course!

Insofar as he has taught about matters of faith and morals, his teachings are due our "religious submission of intellect and will," according to the Church's teaching on her teaching authority, the Magisterium. So far, he has issued his highest-level teachings in the form of an encyclical letter, Lumen Fidei (a "concerto for four hands," two of them Benedict's), and most recently, an apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium.

Upon reading this last paragraph, even if you are a Catholic, you may be wondering about that phrase religious submission of will and intellect. It is often presented as professional jargon (the profession in question being "theologian"), but it is not at all difficult to understand, though perchance to execute. A faithful Catholic would seek to understand and assent to papal declarations that concern Catholic teaching. Cardinal Newman assured us, "Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt," but it would be worthwhile to seek prompt and satisfactory resolution to any difficulties from trusted resources. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the most reliable resource for our dollar.

You may have noticed that Pope Francis is fond of interviews. To date, the interview has not been a medium for the Magisterium, although Benedict and John Paul II both gave interviews that were published in book form. True to the form of our age of information, Francis already has given three in his first year upon Peter's Chair. People have complained that interviews (and these in particular) lack precision of content and delivery, but this doesn't much matter to many listeners, who find refreshing his portrayal of the Catholic Church, in word, yes, but more so in gesture.

Like Ms. Libresco, however, I am not thrilled to the point of effusive joy. He has said nothing new, although he has restated orthodox utterances in different ways. In terms of charitable outreach, he has done nothing new. (Somewhere there is a "meme" of photos of Francis doing certain beautiful things, alongside his predecessors doing the same things, e.g., embracing disfigured persons).

Excuse me: with regard to the pontifical lifestyle, he has done new things. He has abandoned most papal peculiarities, no longer emblazoning his coat of arms on his fascia (sash, or as one of our seminary deans called it, "belly band"), living in the traditional Vatican apartment suite, or wearing red Gucci slippers. He drives his own car, etc. If a successor ever wished to reintroduce anything of what Francis set aside, or in any way look or sound like himself rather than Francis, he might have a hard time. That's the "cult of personality," which very much characterizes this age, probably as much as any other ("I belong to Apollos!").

As one who tends to fancy the theoretical over the practical (yet seeks balance here, as elsewhere), I respect, admire, and weakly imitate the Pope's outreach. As Cardinal Bergoglio, he presented a remarkable portrait of the Church as a whole, and, perhaps unwittingly, of his pontificate : "The Church is called to come out of herself and to go to the peripheries, not only geographically, but also the existential peripheries: the mystery of sin, of pain, of injustice, of ignorance and indifference to religion, of intellectual currents, and of all misery." This smacks of mission, a constitutive element of the Church and her children, regardless of what form of the Mass or style of vestments or (insert your favorite variable here) you prefer.

This is a Jesuit talking here. I don't mean that (anymore) as a jibe. The Society is the Church's peripheral nervous system; and what fully operative Body lacks one? But you don't have to be a Jesuit to be a Creatively Faithful Contrarian (a CFC, but the good kind that improves the environment). CFCs have a way of challenging everyone, and that can be somewhat disconcerting. Ask Jesus.

I have withstood enjoyed the company of such people over the years. They may not have been faithful to the Church as such, but they were faithful to me, even if I sometimes felt like clay being molded (not in a romantic way, à la Ghost, but in a heartless way, à la Jeremiah 18). These friends have brought me to the present moment, oftentimes staying awake as late as now, helping to clarify and purify my faith.

It's getting late, and I want to finish the thought.

I can't control my own life, so sure as shittake mushrooms I can't control yours; but would people please just stop framing Pope Emeritus Benedict, and even Pope Soon-Saint John Paul II, as antitheses of Pope Francis? Would you respect B16 and JP2 for their acceptance of the "trappings" (we know not in what spirit) as much as you respect Francis for his rejection of them? Would you stop contrasting B16 and JP2's styles of interaction and preaching to Francis'? Would you consider each man's content alongside his delivery, allowing some of the dust to settle around Francis' latest utterance and photos before reluctantly, or gleefully, waving goodbye to the Church's future, or to her past?

Insofar as these men hesitatingly yet confidently accepted the call to the papacy as they had accepted priesthood, they are Peter, part of a Tradition that can both embrace and eschew trappings, speak gently and stridently, affirm the Church's teachings while loving God's confused and contrary children, among whom they must include themselves. All three would concur: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and I am not."

Head Games

Several years ago, a priest thought that this hat would look good on me and decided to give it to me.

People will be Russian to buy them

The hat has been in my self-storage unit the second floor of my Mom's house until I recently unearthed it, to my great delight. I needed the right weather conditions to wear it.

Now that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, I have been wearing the hat. In my self-consciousness I have been paying more attention to people who pass me on the streets and in shopping plazas--not for their sakes, mind you, but because of the hat.

This happened just today. I saw a couple get out of their car, and the young woman was grinning. At me!? I quickly continued walking toward the store, which turned out to be the same one they had entered (somehow I'd lost track of them). This conversation ensued:

He: "Hey, nice hat."
I: "Do you mean that, or are you just making fun of me?"
He: [feigning sincerity, backtracking, making excuses, otherwise being unmasked for his idiocy]

Take note, patient reader, that the preceding conversation took place in my mind. By the time I entered the store, the couple was minding their business, paying no noticeable attention even to the most paranoid me.

This mental maelstrom moved me to have a real conversation. Returning to my car with its hands-free connectivity, I called a friend, to whom I laid out the whole situation. He deftly waded through the slush:

He: "Do you like the hat?"
I: "I do."
He: "So wear the hat."
I: "I am."

My friend reminded me that my strained interior monologue would find healing by recalling the true nature of who and what I am, and being at peace with that. He knows well that this has been an arduous endeavor for me, but like a good friend, he has accompanied me thus far and has no plans of giving up on me. I have not always been such a stalwart companion to the people in my life, I concede; but if our Second-Chance-Giving God sees fit, He will arrange further interactions.

In our conversation I thought of another man with a unique hat who, if he were anything like me, would be a bit self-conscious right now.

Time Magazine's annual honoree for 2013, Pope Francis, wears the white zucchetto. Thanks to ubiquitous cameras, the entire world has seen him wash a woman's feet, embrace physically disfigured people, and do many other things that are making people alternately cringe in disdain and leap for joy. They have heard him declare the Person and Mission of Christ as the basis for every Church teaching and discipline, leaving some with the impression that cultural concerns need to be, at best, contextualized, at worst, ignored.

Since the advent of news magazines and television programs, and especially in the days of the Internet, every Pope has been photographed and evaluated from every angle. "Heavy hangs the hat that wears the crown," or miter; but it seems that the Holy Fathers have gone about their Father's business with joyful determination, self-un-consciousness.

Consider Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Since his abdication of the papacy, he has been permitted to continue wearing the white zucchetto. The satirical Catholic news site Eye of the Tiber fabulates Benedict's quiet sadness upon reading of his successor's fame. If, as far as we know, Pope Francis discharges the duties of Bishop of Rome without becoming curved in on himself*, we can surmise that Pope Emeritus Benedict's interior conformity to Christ, and protection from public scrutiny, will suffice to guide him gently to the Trinity's embrace.

*"Curved in on himself" (incurvatus in se): St. Augustine's famous description of my life

A vibrant relationship with God enables us to wear the hat of our vocation without becoming excessively concerned about the dimensions of our head.

The Stuff of Saints, Part the Second

Before resuming my "summary" of Monday's Theology on Tap, I want to add a point from the first segment regarding one of the characteristics of this age of information: the obsolescence of books and the proliferation of websites. While I own hundreds of books, nowadays my intellectual, spiritual, and human formation rides in the vehicle of my Facebook news feed. The sidebar on the right side of my blog has two Catholic clearinghouses, New Advent and Big Pulpit. (I am happy to promote them because they are intrinsically good sources, and yes, because they occasionally promote my blog posts!) NA and BP and many other sites offer daily dozens of articles with sound teaching and guidance, entertainment, consolation, and challenge. On the web pages of most of these authors and organizations you will find the FB "like" and Twitter "follow" buttons that will subscribe you to their latest offerings.

A week or so before this gathering I asked the Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator what she as a young adult would like to hear about in a presentation on holiness. She mentioned the "Three Ways of the Spiritual Life"--to my mind, a worthy topic, though likely a new one for most of my audience--at least anyone who wasn't a theology major! A topic worth its own three-credit course, but one that I ended up giving about ten minutes. I will further summarize it in this post, while offering the original expositions of Dan Burke via the National Catholic Register.

Since medieval times, theologians have categorized spiritual progress into three stages: beginner, progressing, and perfect; also known as the three "ways": the purgative, illuminative, and unitive.

These ways are marked by

• Deepening fidelity to Mass, Confession, and personal prayer, moving from vocal to mental to affective contemplative prayer;
• Increasing detachment from sin, first mortal and soon venial, and even imperfections;
• Increasing freedom from fear, suspicion, and whatever else may qualify as "drama";
• Acceptance--even an embrace--of suffering, in order to identify most deeply with Christ and participate in His efforts in others' souls;
• Experiences of God's presence likened to nuptial union.

Burke's articles present them in a more delineated manner, while my four-point summary aims at a continuum along which we may find ourselves at various points in various respects, and our weak discipline may cause us to lose and gain ground.

If we're still contending with serious sins and persistent, glaring imperfections...if we're happy to squeeze in a few minutes or seconds of distracted prayer between obligations...if the onset of a cold ticks us off for the rest of the day and sometimes makes us unbearable to ourselves, let alone our family and co-workers...we may wonder whether we're even on the on-ramp to the Purgative Way!

Fine: that's where we are, and the whole point of this talk was to emphasize that the Lord loves us wherever we are. The greater part of the spiritual life is becoming more receptive to the love of God. It's not about us needing to become squeaky clean for Jesus; the harder we apply our egos in that direction, the more ground we lose. "Could you be loved?" sang Bob Marley, himself no saint (although some may posit a kind of mysticism in him, more attributable to cannabis than anything else).

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, in an interview with a journalist (see? he wasn't the first to do this!), said that there are as many ways to God as there are people. While that doesn't make every way equally valid or effective, it reminds us that each soul must make that journey for herself...though never in isolation! Hence the doctrine of the Communion of Saints: the Church currently relishing the Presence of the Triune God, the Church slogging it out here on earth, the Church being purified of the dross of sin and attachment to sin--we're in this together! We cannot neglect the spiritual legacy of the canonized saints, the Church Fathers and Mothers of East and West, and the snippets of wisdom we can glean from websites, cubicle mates, children, grandparents, and recovering addicts.

Paragraphs 2725ff of the Catechism of the Catholic Church present a rich exposition of the Church's teaching on prayer. Some major points follow.

Prayer is:

• “A friendly conversation with the God by whom we know we are loved.” (St. Teresa of Avila)

• “A surge of the heart; a simple look turned toward heaven, a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” (St. Therese of Lisieux)

• A realization of our poverty (“Man is a beggar before God”) in the presence of one who thirsts for us (cf. woman at well). God’s prior, consuming thirst for us meets ours for God

• An engagement of the “heart,” biblically speaking, the seat of understanding, decision, and identity, known fully by the Spirit who “searches hearts” (cf. Rom 8:27)

• The bulk of Sacred Scripture, especially the Psalms. All the heavy-hitters of the Bible engage God with alarming frankness, especially Moses, David, Jeremiah, and Jesus Himself.

Prayer is not:

• An exercise in self-perfection
• A merely mental or psychological exercise
• An effort to attain a void ("nirvana")
• Limited to the ritual words and phrases, as Jesus noted on one occasion (cf. Mt 5)

We are also well advised to avoid the worldly, production-oriented mentality that eschews prayer as a waste of time. Then again, it is a waste, but of the most beneficial sort! More often among praying persons there is the temptation to consider one's prayer wasted if it is riddled with distractions and dryness. These realities show us that intelligent, loving agents cannot depend on their feelings as a basis for acting or not acting.

Distraction purifies our prayer by becoming a constant invitation to return, gently but mindfully, to our Subject. Dryness reminds us to check our motives: we pray simply because God is, and because God is worthy of our love; we do not pray in order to glorify ourselves or even to "convince" God of our worth, or the worth of our petitions. By our perseverance we grow in the relationship that is faith. Things may not change, but we do--we gain the divine perspective on people and situations.

To be a saint in this or any century involves certain constant conditions rooted in divine and human nature, but the variables--human persons--all must enter the experiment of our own accord.

Pass the Buck

Readings of Easter Day

A stone out of place, an empty tomb, rolled-up burial cloths: these items convince the Apostles that Jesus has risen from the dead.  Dimly they begin to recognize Him as the Beloved Son, God’s Anointed, and Savior of the world.  Soon they become authoritative witnesses to His Resurrection.  The Eastern Churches call Mary of Magdala “Equal to the Apostles” because she is among the first to receive and to share the Good News.  She shares it with the Apostles, whose testimony eventually becomes the Church’s first evangelization.  The first apostolic homilies, such as Peter conveyed to the crowds, present the content of the True Faith as well as their relationship with the Lord.  The very same content and relationship are meant for the Apostles’ audience—which includes the Church in our own day.

Return to the two apostles at the empty tomb.  Perhaps because of his youth, the Beloved Disciple is the first to arrive.  He symbolizes Apostolic Love.  Peter, the "Keeper of the Keys" (cf. Mt 16:18),  represents Apostolic Office.  Love comes first, but defers to Office.  The Church abides no competition between them.  The same Holy Spirit fosters both gifts for God’s glory and for our good.

Recall that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had declared a Year of Faith that concludes in November.  How does this relate to our current celebration of Easter?  The Apostolic witness gives the Church a program for evangelization, a plan to inbue the world with Christ’s joyful, responsible love.  Think of it as “Passing the BUCK,” where BUCK stands for Belief, Understanding, Conviction, and Kindness.  

We are here today because of the trust that ignited the Apostles' preaching and healing.  The Holy Spirit has guided the Apostles and their successors to provide an articulation of doctrine and morality.  We do well to devote some daily effort, however small, to learn something about our Catholic faith so that we have something useful and beautiful to share.  Our conviction can inspire people to pay attention.  They may not always, or ever, agree; but they will take notice.  As our new Holy Father Pope Francis has quietly demonstrated, compassion also raises eyebrows.  We reach out to people, we grant and seek forgiveness, we change our behavior, just because it’s the right thing to do; but we know the power of a good example.  It speaks so loudly that you cannot hear a word we say.

Clearing out what St. Paul calls the stale, old leaven—whatever in our lives ought to be cast aside for the sake of God, neighbor, and self—we become more receptive to the divine life and become effective evangelists.  Belief, Understanding, Conviction, and Kindness: get these things, pass them on, and watch what happens!

Conjectures of a Benevolent Benedictine Bystander

Give him the chair!

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter.  This celebration dates back to the fourth century.  According to tradition, the chair depicted above was occupied by St. Peter.  The 17th century sculptor Bernini (famous for the colonnade that embraces the entrance to the basilica) designed the ornate bronze casing and all the rest.

The feast is based on the ancient Roman festival Parentalia, (or dies parentales, sc. 13-21 February) which honored deceased relatives and friends with quiet reflection and graveyard visits.  On the day after this "novena," families would hold an informal banquet in honor of their dead.  We can imagine them setting out an empty chair to commemorate those who used to occupy a place at table, akin to the empty chair that Jewish families leave for the prophet Elijah, when they celebrate the Passover.

In less than a week Peter's chair will be temporarily unoccupied, but the office of Pope does not disappear, nor does it lose a speck of due reverence.  Our Lord promised Peter, "The gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it [My Church]" (Mt 16:18).  Non praevalebunt ("they will not prevail") is one half of the motto of L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican weekly newspaper.

The religion beat of the Washington Post and ABC News compares the popularity of Pope Benedict vs his beatified predecessor, John Paul II.  There is a curious note: in the latter days of JPII, the Pope was more popular (among Catholics) than the Church--perhaps the populace was still smarting from the scandals--and our current pontiff's popularity is a few points lower, while the Church's has increased by two points!

Now, if public acclaim were all there is to ecclesial authority (or any other!), then polls such as these would be more than the curiosity that we should consider them to be.  People might misread Jesus' question in the Gospel (Mt 16:13-19) as a poll: "Who do people say that I am?" (16: 13) and, soon thereafter, "But who do you say I am?" (16:15)

I would call it a setup...and Peter makes the trey: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

nil nisi rete

Jesus knows where to place his men on the court.  He knows their strengths and their weaknesses.  Peter's boldness, infused by divine inspiration, shows forth "for the win," specifically for the keys to the Kingdom of heaven (16:19) with all the rights and responsibilities appertaining thereto.

To this day Peter must be by turns bold and demure, ever prudent, ever pressing; waiting for the right moment to deliver.  Difficult tasks and circumstances, like scandals, will inevitably come (cf. Lk 17:1); how we respond to them is our choice.

If it really matters, I believe that history will support our man Benedict.  For nearly eight years he kept at it, doing everything that he enjoyed doing (presiding over the Sacred Synaxis, writing, speaking) and everything that we are told he wasn't so fond of (crowd-pleasing, administrating).  If he had ministerial preferences, perhaps astute body-language readers and close advisors could glean them, but I surely couldn't.  Preferences don't much enter into parenthood, I reckon, be it physical or spiritual.

Benedict, emergent emeritus Bishop of Rome, may doff the white jersey, but he will still have our back.  Within his monastic enclave he will be conducting himself as he has done for his entire priesthood: as an "example to the flock," awaiting the revelation of the Chief Shepherd (1 Pet 5:3-4) whom he has served so faithfully.

I'm Audi.

Considerations on the Papal Abdication

"You may be wondering why I've called you here today."
(Photo: www.euronews.com)

Since our Holy Father announced that he will abdicate the Throne of Saint Peter on the 28th of February, much ink has been spilt over the reasons for his departure.  I ascribe to Qoheleth's dictum, nihil novi sub sole ("there is nothing new under the sun").  Having read a fair amount of posts (from such as Fr. Z, Fr. Rutler, and Jennifer Fulwiler) that cover the "What?", the "What For?", and the "What Now?", I scarcely can add to the conversation.  But scarcely has that stopped me from trying!

Here is the English text of the Pope's declaration.  Its availability in Latin (the language in which it was delivered!), and on video to boot, made it a must-see.  Latin headings are from the declaration; the simple commentary, from the Rev'd Blogger:

decisionem magni momenti: Pope Benedict is the last since the Western Schism to abdicate (since no one is qualified to accept a papal resignation, no one being higher on the ecclesial chain, the Pope does not "resign" his office).  We can trust that he ascribes no "greatness" to the fact that he is abdicating.  The Church herself is in the "great moment," though not "great" in the sense that Tony approves of Frosted Flakes.  He will amplify the greatness of the moment later in the declaration, specifically in terms of the present spiritual, religious, and moral landscape.  He has referred to this moment, in fact, from the beginning of his papacy, and most especially in light of the "filth" in the Church--her diverse scandals, division, etc.

Conscientia mea...explorata: The Holy Father has not arrived at this decision without profound and repeated (iterum atque iterum) soul-searching, which is completely in accord with his human nature and his office as Supreme Pontiff.  He is the great "bridge-builder,"and as such his blueprints deserve careful contemplation.  The papal program entails "doing and speaking...suffering and praying" (agendo et loquendo...patiendo et orando).  It is a higher level of strategic planning that involves the Pope's consideration of his own abilities and how they are serving, or will serve, or may serve, the Greater Good of the Church.  That level is accessible only to the Pope himself.  The secret domain of conscience is wholly our own--though never in the sense that we can defiantly refuse formation in the truth.

suam essentialem spiritualem: The "essentially spiritual nature" of the papacy defies comparison to the C.E.O. model of governance currently exercised in society and (alas!) in the Church.  Of course, the Church exists in the world, carries out the administration of temporal goods, pays salaries, etc.  Never having been the Administrator or Pastor of a parish--though, with some excitement, awaiting the likelihood of the munus gubernandi at some point--I will expect to learn much about matters financial.  But as for the papacy, so for the pastorate: we are spiritual officers.  Suffering and praying will be the marching orders we first must take, if we are to give them.

temporis rapidis mutationibus subiecto: Pope Benedict is almost 86 years old.  He was ordained a priest in the year my mother was born.  He has been "subject to" the swiftly changing times.  Could he or anyone have predicted the directions the world would take with the sexual revolution, conflicts around the globe, and the fallout after the Second Vatican Council?  I admired his interest in the new media, tweeting as @Pontifex (read blogger Elizabeth Scalia's take on his digital doings).  He was being more than a good sport by sending those messages.  He was sharing the solicitude of a Holy Father and an Elder Brother.

quaestionibus...perturbato: When one of our former bishops celebrated an anniversary of ordination he released a holy card with (more or less) this line from St. Augustine: "I am a bishop over you, a Christian with you."  Can we permit a man of Benedict's erudition and rank to be disturbed to the point of questioning?  Not his own faith (fides qua), mind you, nor the Church's faith (fides quae)...so what, precisely, is he questioning?  It would not scandalize me if he were questioning--as many do--how in this world, amid these thorny and rocky and shallow conditions, the Kingdom of Heaven will continue to grow.  I do not mean to ascribe to Benedict the words of Cicero: o tempora! o mores!  Some have opined that the VatiLeaks scandal had a tremendous effect on the Holy Father.  I don't know enough about it to comment, nor do I care to know.  Whatever treachery may have taken place in this particular instance, there is plenty more where that came from, if you count the abuse scandal.  We have seen the Holy Father reaching out to abuse victims and discover precisely as pope the nature and extent of sexual abuse.  I remember people weighing in on those meetings, wondering what effect they may have had on the Pope.  Now, perhaps, we know.  If this speculation holds any holy water, I experience only compassion for the heaviness of the head that--until a couple of popes ago--wears the tiara.  It's another lesson in not criticizing anyone until you've walked in his shoes, whether they're Rockports, Bobos, Skechers, or Pradas.

Compassion...I often tell people that I was trained to be a theological practitioner and not a community organizer.  Let's say that my good seminary, understandably, weighted the formation in that direction.  If a bloke had gifts for organizing community, as did my high school classmate, good for him and good for the Church!  As for those of us who did our damnedest to get by on undisciplined talent... It would have been helpful, I think, for all of us to have a kind of "Eagle Scout Project" to propose and execute.  

I know that other seminaries have classes in Basic Economics, Child/Adolescent/Abnormal/Paranormal Psychology, Educational Philosophy and Methods.  The subjects of Philosophy, Theology, and Language were more appealing to me anyhow at the time (and, to a great degree, still are); but I appreciate the value of the former much more than when I was in the seminary.  Guess that's life.

vigor quidam corporis et animae necessarius est:  Permit yet another personal diversion.  I am almost fifty years younger than the Holy Father.  I realize that youth is a curable disease; yet certain aspects of it appeal to me, and I'd like to preserve them as much as reasonably possible.  Since about halfway through the seminary I started exercising regularly and trying to eat more nutritiously.  With a few peaks and valleys, these habits have stayed in place and have improved in some ways.  As pastoral demands have increased, there have been certain spiritual and physical practices that I feel I must keep in place in order to be of maximum service to God and the people entrusted to my care.  Letting go of any of them for a second is difficult.  That, too, is Peter being bound and taken where he would not go (cf. Jn 21:18).  If I chose, I could kick and scream; but "it is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14).  Better to summon my irascible drive to more productive uses, like disposing myself to the divine life.

ultimis mensibus in me...minuitur: The New York Times reports of some of the physical debilitation that Pope Benedict has been experiencing.  The Times article also relates Benedict's appraisal of the misrepresentation of the Second Vatican Council, which he has spent his papacy trying to correct.  Also, Philip Lawlor's piece acknowledges how the Pope's corporeal condition has likely prevented the completion of his encyclical on faith, even as his intellectual vigor has not abated.  In his own estimation, the Pope simply cannot summon strength appropriate to the many responsibilities of the papacy.

ex toto corde gratias ago: Gratitude is the optimal response to the charity shown us.  Pope Benedict, the "Servant of the Servants of God," recognizes how his servants do him a service.  The greatest service we render one another is both the petition for and the offering of forgiveness, which the Holy Father seeks from the cardinals (and, no doubt, from us all): veniam pro omnibus defectibus meis.  We'll likely hear more along these lines as the Day approaches.

in eligendo novo Summo Pontifice: This is the matter for intense speculation and debate: who's next? I prefer to follow reputable sites such as Whispers In The Loggia for the latest word on the via.  The cardinals among the papabili are diverse in personality, national origin, and theological bent.  Canada,  Austria, and Ghana are appearing on the radar; and of course, Italy (no link, because there's a few to choose from).  The whole subject displays the media's hardness of heart concerning the Church's nature, as one historian deftly notes.  Of this we can be sure: Whoever it is, is the 265th Successor of Saint Peter, worthy of respect and obedience.

toto ex corde servire velim: In the final sentence of the declaration, the Holy Father announces his future plans to "serve by a life wholeheartedly dedicated to prayer for the Holy Church of God" (my translation).  He will live in a monastery within the Vatican.  Though his public appearances may be few, he will not lose sight of the flock.  He may not retain the titles or trappings of a pope, but he certainly will retain a mind and a heart for the Church, whom he has faithfully served for over sixty years.

Pontifical wardrobe malfunctions did not deter Benedict from exercising a gentle rule

Pontifex Minimus

People have gone Papa Gaga over the epiphany of @Pontifex, the hallowed handle of Pope Benedict XVI.  On 12 Dec 2012, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Holy Father tweeted thus:

Blogger Kathy Schiffer recently posted on the recent World Communications Day message, in which he called for the use of social media to promote respectful, truth-seeking dialogue, in contrast to the shock-and-awe tactics often found online.

This very blog is my attempt to embrace said media with skill, compassion, and humor.  It is not a substitute for actual personal interaction--an easy temptation, I believe, for bloggers, facebookers, tweeters, etc.  For my dollar, there's nothing like personal interaction.  Priests, in particular, are pontifices--"bridge-builders"--facilitators of the personal interaction between God and the human race.  

Very deeply related to the God-Man encounter is the building of a intra-parochial bridge: when parishioners in separate milieux are introduced to each other.  Having been the Assistant Pastor of HGA for five years now, I have gotten to know or at least recognize most of the faithful.  Nothing lights me up like one parishioner whom I know from a particular ministry (or none at all) meeting another parishioner.  That's the work of a pontifex, strengthening the infrastructure of the "city" that is, in my case, Holy Guardian Angels.  Of course, it also can happen in a more regional setting, as when I give to an infertile couple in our parish the email address of a woman from another parish who teaches the Creighton Model of Fertility Awareness.  It's all about helping people to make worthy contacts.

Because the Holy Father is the Great Bridge-Builder (Pontifex Maximus), and because from 1998 to 2009 he shared his authority locally with Bishop Cullen, who saw fit to ordain me a priest and to elicit from me obedience to him and to his successors (currently Bishop Barres), I am a Pontifex Minimus (Small Bridge-Builder).

Of course, the major bridge work takes place in the celebration of the Sacraments and the proclamation of the Gospel; but the care of souls (including connections between parishioners) is important.

That's all.  I just wanted to share that meditation with you.  It may not seize you with wonder and delight, but I sure enjoy the notion, especially when I act upon it.

Sex-Talk

A recent post from Whispers in the Loggia features Pope Benedict's recent talk on two themes that are profoundly affecting the Church and the world.  Often branded his "State of the Church Address," in truth it is his annual address to the members of the Roman Curia.

This year's two concerns are: the crisis of family life and the nature of authentic dialogue.

Pope Benedict found it necessary to address the first topic in light of the relativization of the structure of the family, the decrease in commitment, and the reduction of sexuality to the self-directed choice(s) of "gender."  Affirming the given duality of the human person as male and female, we affirm the mind and will of the Creator.  Denial of the male-female duality leads to the denial of the objective nature of the family as man-woman-child.  The child becomes a "right" that can be fulfilled however one wishes.

Regarding the second matter, His Holiness acknowledges the need for mutual openness to each other's stance, while reminding parties-in-dialogue that they are searching together for truth, with which religion is vitally concerned.  The Christian, he says, can be "supremely confident, yes, fundamentally certain, that he can venture freely into the open sea of the truth, without having to fear for his Christian identity."

Now the Pope did begin his speech with several positives from the year, even as his encouraging observations led him to treat the areas of concern.  Benedict is always encouraged by the enthusiasm of young people.  It is no wonder that he constantly addresses the issues he does, because their current direction will threaten the human community.

Catholics and people everywhere must answer whether this is the disgruntled discourse of an old man lamenting the tempora and the mores, or the Vicar of Christ bringing the Gospel to bear on people's free and conscientious choices.  The process of answering this question engages our faith and reason alike.  "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith upon the earth?" (Lk 18:8).  Will He find reason?

You Think You've Flown Before

A priest friend of mine from the Diocese of Gallup (NM) was "sure" that Pope Benedict XVI issued his first Tweet on this day because it is the anniversary of his ordination to the transitional diaconate.

Sorry, Fr. Matt, I don't think so.

I am equally sure that he arranged to issue his first under-140-character pronouncements on the anniversary of the birth of Francis Albert Sinatra.

I am even more equally sure that Sinatra arranged to enter the Big "Big House" on the day I graduated college seminary (14 May 1998).

While attending a friend's wedding* in SoCal the following August, we were driving through Palm Springs when it occurred to me that Frank was buried there.  Ah--there's a cemetery!  Could we check it out?  Sure enough...

We stopped to say a Pater and an Ave, and maybe a Gloria Patri, and then continued our sightseeing.

"The Best is Yet to Come."  Great choice.

I'd call that the swingin'est plug for the Resurrection Life out there.  With most good love songs (written before the 1980s-90s), their "fuller sense" can be understood in reference to the divine-human relationship.

"You think you've flown before, but baby, you ain't left the ground.  Wait 'til you're locked in My embrace, / Wait 'til I draw you near / You think you've seen that sunshine place / Ain't nothin' like it here."  "The best is yet to come / come the Day (yom YHWH) you're Mine."

Lest we forget the most lasting significance of this day, behold the Guadalupana, our sneak preview into the Resurrection Life.

The Blessed Mother so disposed herself to divine beckoning that she has appeared all over the world in order to reinforce the Gospel.  Her imprimatur on Juan Diego's tilma depicts the "woman clothed with the sun" (Rev 12:1), bound with the cloth that indicated pregnancy.  Mary thus demonstrated the sanctity of human life, declared the death of human sacrifice, and facilitated the conversion of Mexico.

+ + + + +

Last and least, tap a microphone in honor of "World Sound-Check Day."

When the luna is placed into the monstrance, the "On the Air" sign illuminates.^

Spell out the date (not the YYYY version), and all will be made plain.

*The best man, whose wedding I witnessed last month, shares Sinatra's birthday.  To quote a song that Sinatra never covered, "Small World"!
^Andy Rooney Alert: Did you ever notice that a search for free "Old School Microphone" images shows almost as many tattoos of such as actuals?  O tempora! O mores!