On the eve of the Conclave

Dear sisters and brothers, the Conclave is near. It is time to pray and fast, nothing else, just that.

O God, eternal shepherd,

who govern your flock with

   unfailing care,

grant in your boundless fatherly love

a pastor for your Church

who will please you by his holiness

and to us show watchful care.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ,

   your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the

    unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Church: a renewed invitation to a change of heart

Pater Tom once observed that it is much better to just be yourself than to try acting like an angel.

I had to laugh at how much currency Cardinal Onaiyekan's comment about the Church being entrusted to "erring humans" and not "angels" has gained. It shows how our distraction leads to incoherence. On the one hand, we berate the Church, yell and scream about how much the Church needs to change, for many even in its essentials (i.e., those things that really cannot change). On the other hand, we turn the Cardinal Electors into some kind of super-human, super-Christian club (it must be the dazzling eccesial vestments).

One of the signs of Christ's Church is that She remains ecclesia semper reformanda. Cardinal Dolan pointed this out in his wonderful way this week, which he wrote about on his blog:

A journalist... asked if the new Pope would bring radical change to the Church. She seemed surprised when I replied, yes! At least I had her full attention! I then went on to clarify that the Church was “big-time” into change; namely, a change in the human heart, which Jesus called repentance or conversion. The “job description” of the Bishop of Rome is to conserve the faith, the truths of which have been revealed to us by God, especially through His Son, Jesus, faithfully passed on by His Church these past 2000 years, and to renew the invitation of Jesus to a change of heart

It can't be lost on anyone who pays the slightest attention that the Church has been mired in scandal for awhile, what the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus called the Church's "long Lent." These scandals have continued to come to light (i.e., Mahony and O'Brien) right up to threshold of the Conclave. What Cardinal Onaiyekan said was obvious and he stated it as being obvious. Isn't this the reason so many of the faithful are already praying so fervently and will continue do so throughout the Conclave and into the next pontificate? Isn't this the reason behind the success of the website Adopt a Cardinal (I am praying in a special way for Cardinal Rubén Salazar Gómez, archbishop of Bogotá)?

Van Gogh's The Sower, June 1888

I think what Cardinal Onaiyekan went on to say is more important than the remarks that have drawn so much diversionary attention. According to the Catholic News Service, he went on to assert something about true and false reform, insisting that the Church cannot be worried about being credible "in the sense of its message being believed" and "accepted by everyone." He said, "There are people to whom my message will never be credible, because they will never believe me because they don't believe" in God. He asserted. "You can't be credible to everybody. Authentic, yes, but authentic means a message that is as close as possible to the message of Jesus... The church cannot go around, obviously, all the time trying to be popular, to be acceptable." According to His Eminence, this "doesn't mean that we go out of our way to be difficult to understand... We do our best to explain as much as we can."

Indeed, the Church must continually rise to the task entrusted to Her by Christ, to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [He has] commanded [us]" (Matt. 28:19-20). Onaiyekan concluded, "Even Jesus didn't have it easy explaining to the people of his day what his message was about."

Just last evening I was reading about John Calvin's doctrine of predestination as set forth by T.H.L. Parker:

Calvin's begins at the same practical point as Augustine. Why, when the gospel is preached do some believe and some reject it? The answer that some will to believe and some will to reject cannot be final; it is merely explaining [belief] and unbelief. How can one who has hitherto willed to reject now will to believe? Man is a sinner, that is, a being who wills to reject God. It is clear from the New Testament that faith is the gift of God, that man's will is changed from a rejecting to a believing will by the creative act of the Holy Spirit. So, then, those who believe the gospel do so because their rejecting will is changed into a believing will... To say that men change their own wills [with regard to the actus fidei] would be the grossest Pelagianism

I pray that we never lose sight of the fact that, in the end, the Bride of Christ is spotless, being only comprised of the saints. As Patrick Coffin, the host of Catholic Answers Live, often says on-the-air: "Be a saint. What else is there?" The answer really and truly is, "Nothing, absolutely nothing." This is as true of a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church as it is of the Roman Pontiff, as it is of any lay woman or man, or even of this lowly deacon. Jesus' parables of the sower and the wheat and the tares, both of which are found in the thirteenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, serve to point this out. Each day of the Conclave the Cardinal electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel. It is not accidental that on the altar wall of the Sistine is Michelangelo's fresco The Last Judgment.

Christe eleison

Yesterday, preparing for a retreat I am leading next weekend, which will be the occasion of a social media absence (I will pre-load my Friday traditio), I was preparing my presider's book for Stations of the Cross, which will be the first event of the retreat. The retreat will be at The National Shrine of Divine Mercy, located just North of Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The Stations of the Cross I am using are those composed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger back in 2005. While it is always opportune to pray for Christ's Bride, the Church, it seems especially appropriate given that next week the Conclave to select the next Pope will begin. Either the Conclave will be still being happening when we begin our retreat, or we will have a brand new Roman Pontiff. In either case, given the wounds the Church has inflicted on Herself, as the not-so-faithful Bride, we need to pray to the ever-faithful Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, to purify and bless His Church and all of us who comprise Her.

This morning I offer the Ninth Station of the Stations of the Cross- Jesus falls for the third time- for some consideration in these days leading up the Conclave:

V/. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R/. Quia per sanctam crucem tuam redemisti mundum.

It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone in silence when he has laid it on him; let him put his mouth in the dust - there may yet be hope; let him give his cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love (Lam. 3:27-32).

Meditation: What can the third fall of Jesus under the Cross say to us? We have considered the fall of man in general, and the falling of many Christians away from Christ and into a godless secularism. Should we not also think of how much Christ suffers in his own Church? How often is the holy sacrament of his Presence abused, how often must he enter empty and evil hearts! How often do we celebrate only ourselves, without even realizing that he is there! How often is his Word twisted and misused! What little faith is present behind so many theories, so many empty words! How much filth there is in the Church, and even among those who, in the priesthood, ought to belong entirely to him! How much pride, how much self-complacency! What little respect we pay to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where he waits for us, ready to raise us up whenever we fall! All this is present in his Passion. His betrayal by his disciples, their unworthy reception of his Body and Blood, is certainly the greatest suffering endured by the Redeemer; it pierces his heart. We can only call to him from the depths of our hearts: Kyrie eleison ­ Lord, save us (cf. Mt 8: 25).

Prayer: Lord, your Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side. In your field we see more weeds than wheat. The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion. Yet it is we ourselves who have soiled them! It is we who betray you time and time again, after all our lofty words and grand gestures. Have mercy on your Church; within her too, Adam continues to fall. When we fall, we drag you down to earth, and Satan laughs, for he hopes that you will not be able to rise from that fall; he hopes that being dragged down in the fall of your Church, you will remain prostrate and overpowered. But you will rise again. You stood up, you arose and you can also raise us up. Save and sanctify your Church. Save and sanctify us all.

Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum;

"I went on search for something real"

Due to the overwhelming busyness of my life some weeks deciding on a traditio is very difficult. I like to post something that arises from my experience, or is expressive of my experience, over the preceding week. The fact of the matter is, uncharacteristically, I did not listen to much music this week. Just as I was pondering this post and having a little bit of a sinking feeling, a friend came to my rescue (don't worry it's not Joe Cocker singing "With A Little Help From My Friends," though I love that version of the song). I am terribly sad that I wasn't able to post yesterday, which was the liturgical Memorial of the glorious martyrs Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, c'est la vie!

The friend who helped me is one of my most helpful friends, Fred Kaffenberger. The song is "February Seven" by the Avett Brothers. I want include Fred's "take" on this song (the only alteration I made to his original was to embed the link to the story about bassist Bob Crawford's daughter in the text):

_________________________________________________________________________________

During my commute, I was listening to this song, and I asked myself how it is possible for these guys to have such an awareness and intelligence— what is the origin of this intelligence?

"There's no fortune at the end of the road that has no end. / There's no returning to the spoils / Once you've spoiled the thought of them. / There's no falling back asleep / Once you've wakened from the dream / Now I'm rested and I'm ready, / I'm rested and I'm ready to begin. / I'm ready to begin."

and then the DJ told the story of what happened when Bassist Bob Crawford's daughter started having seizures from brain cancer.

The DJ mentioned that the band could've replaced Crawford, but instead supported him as he took time off to take care of her, and the DJ thought that it was really nice of them not to drop him and move on. Instead, it's evident to me that it's precisely taking the events of life seriously that is critical to their music. That is, the crisis is educating them about life. It's not something extra or nice to embrace reality in all its aspects, but instead it's a critical tool for living…

The date for the Conclave is set

Just moments ago it was announced that during the eighth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals during this interregnum it was decided that the Conclave will begin on Tuesday, 12 March 2013. This means that Mass pro eligendo Romano Pontifice will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica that morning. After the Mass the Cardinal electors will enter into Conclave.

Let's not forget that St. Joseph, the most chaste spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the Patron of the Universal Church. His Solemnity, which in the United States, oddly, is not a holy day of obligation, is 19 March. It is customary to pray a Novena in the days leading up to 19 March. Since Novenas, as the name indicates, are 9 days, we begin on 11 March, which is perfect for the Conclave.

Here is the Novena prayer, the prayer we pray each day of the 9 days:

Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. I have special confidence in you. You are powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me, to your intercession. By the love you have for Jesus and Mary, do not abandon me during life, and assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the immaculate Virgin, Foster-father of Jesus Christ, obtain for me a pure, humble, and charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the Divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore: (Mention your request). Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I am confident that your prayers on my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God

Let us place first among our intentions we entrust to St. Joseph's intercession the Cardinal electors as they seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in selecting a new Roman Pontiff.

Patriarch Kirill to his friend Pope Benedict

Last Thursday, at the invitation of the Ironic Catholic, I posted something by His Holiness, Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus (I just had to take his new title out for a test-drive), which I took from Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection, about the importance of bearing witness to the truth (see Pope Benedict XVI: a fond farewell). Yesterday I became aware of a letter written by His Beatitude, Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, to Pope Benedict on his retirement. The friendship between these two men of God goes back many years, pre-dating the papacy of Josef Ratzinger's and Vladimir Gundyayev's patriarchy. They hold one another in high esteem and great affection.

I was gratified that Patriarch Kirill also focused on Pope Benedict's commitment to bearing witness to the truth in a relativistic age:

Your Holiness:

In these exceptional days for you, I would like to express the feelings of brotherly love in Christ and respect.

The decision to leave the position of Bishop of Rome, which you, with humility and simplicity, announced on February 11 this year, has found a ready response in the hearts of millions of Catholics.

We have always been close to your consistent ministry, marked by uncompromisingness in matters of faith and unswerving adherence to the living Tradition of the Church. At a time when the ideology of permissiveness and moral relativism tries to dislodge the moral values of life, you boldly raised your voice in defence of the ideals of the Gospel, the high dignity of man and his vocation to freedom from sin.

I have warm memories of our meeting when you were elected to the Roman See. During your ministry we received a positive impetus in the relations between our Churches, responding to the modern world as a witness to Christ crucified and risen. I sincerely hope what developed during your active participation, a good trusting relationship between the Orthodox and the Catholics, will continue to grow with your successor.

Please accept my sincere wishes for good health, long life and help from above in prayer and in your theological writings.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace" (Romans 15:13).

With love in the Lord,

+ Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Security in acknowledging my insecurity

On Sundays I often like to offer a reflection on the readings for Mass. This week it's a little tricky because many parishes will use the readings for Year A because of the Scrutinies they celebrate for the Elect (i.e., those who will be baptized at the Paschal Vigil this year), even though we are in Year C of the lectionary cycle. Since my parish is using the Year C readings, I want to offer a reflection on the second reading, taken from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, in which he reflects on the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. It should seem a little odd the he is doing so in a letter to a Church largely made up of Gentile Christians. Unpacking that would require more work than I want to attempt today.

These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall (1 Cor. 10:10-12)

I have to say that this is one of those verses that makes me wonder how anybody can subscribe to "once saved, always saved."

How do we stand secure, or more secure, as opposed to thinking ourselves standing more securely than we actually are? Oh sure, we stand secure on Christ, our Rock, our Savior, etc. But how does this look in the reality we experience each day? At least part of the answer must lie in what Giussani called the recovery, or rediscovery of our I. This was grasped by the Protestant reformer John Calvin: "Well nigh the sum of sacred doctrine consists in these two parts, the knowledge of God and the knowledge of ourselves." I don't think this means having a deep, detailed understanding of ourselves, our motives, our emotions, etc. As I understand it, it means grasping my transcendence by way of my desire, my longings, my frequent dissatisfaction, and my recognition of life's weirdness, even its absurdity, which is not obliterated by Christian faith- in some ways faith brings it into clearer relief as it unfolds before my eyes.

Once in awhile, but probably more often than we realize, reality offers us a chance to recover ourselves through circumstances. If something cannot be realized, that is, made real through experience, then it remains an abstraction. I would submit that faith that remains an abstraction is not real faith. For example, betting on God's existence via Paschal's wager is not faith. While esti Deus daretur (i.e., living as though God exists) gives coherence to human life and yields better results than the alternative (i.e., etsi Deus non daretur), it falls short of faith. Yet faith is not absolute certainty, or it would not be faith.

Who didn't find Luna Lovegood one of J.K. Rowling's most endearing characters?

Just today I read a brilliant piece by my friend Max Lindenman- My Real Career: Fool in Christ. In which he wrote:

It now occurs to me that this sense of myself as an iredeemable [sic], largely indigestible kook is what’s really keeping me Catholic. Catholic culture is varied and intricate, and my experience of it is still too limited to admit of any bold pronouncements. Still, it should be obvious that the Church attracts people who are willing to devote their spare time, perhaps their careers, to pursuits that will never get them rich or laid. Normal this ain’t

Lest you think this is an exercise if self-pity instead of engagement with reality, consider how he ended his post-

Anyway, one thing the Church definitely does offer us flakes is material with which to construct a rich inner life — about as good a substitute for upward mobility as any. Arriving at the office for my interview, I was greeted by one of the veteran writers, a pale blonde wearing Spanx either despite or because of the advanced state of her pregnancy. Straight off, in my head, I painted her in red, flanked by Magi. As associations go, I’d rank that a notch above “Hey, it’s Gwynneth Paltrow!”

"Doesn't sound very secure," you might say. Well, reality isn't well served by pretending to a certainly we don't- and possibly can't- obtain. Such pretension makes betting on Paschal's wager the better bet. I'll take the real illuminated by faith, if only by a narrow flashlight beam, any day. As the apostle wrote a few chapters later in this same missive: "At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known" (1 Cor. 13:12).

As the title of this post indicates, paradox is an inescapable part of the Christian life, which is why it is an adventure.