Bishops and parish pastors each have their own vision for a ‘renewal’ of
their Diocese or parish. In our own Diocese we have gone from erecting ‘Pastoral
Areas’ with one Bishop to establishing to ‘Parish Partnerships” with his successor
–partnerships which, even after a five year project, turned about to be little
more than re-organising the boundaries of the ‘Pastoral Areas’ and renaming them
‘Parish Partnerships’ -especially since we had already been directed to share
resources between parishes when we were Pastoral Areas. In reality, neither Pastoral
Areas nor Parish Partnerships were anything more than a reorganising of boundaries
and the encouraging of cooperation between parishes as the number of those attending
Mass, seeking baptisms and marrying declined while the number of parishes and convents
closing increased. In fact, the programmes we have put in place over the years have
been nothing more than a way to manage decline, not a way to build and renew.
As long-time readers of this blog will know, I have always said that the
programme which needs to be put in place is a return to the teaching of the Catechism
in the schools and from the pulpit; ensuring the liturgy is celebrated according
to the rubrics, and a promoting of authentic lay ministry via the Legion of
Mary (which focuses on the Spiritual works of Mercy) and the SVP (which focuses
on the Corporal Works of Mercy). I do not want to abandon that programme, but something
needs to precede it: spiritual renewal.
It is past time to have all parishes re-establish weekly Benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament and a daily Rosary before Holy Mass. Any renewal that
does not place Christ and His Holy Mother at its heart is bound to fail, for Christ in
the Eucharist is the source and summit of the entire Christian life, and therefore
essential in bringing about true renewal. Once renewal of the spiritual life
and doctrinal formation of the people has taken hold we can refocus the people
of God on those ministries upon which we will be judged according to Mathew 25:
the spiritual and corporal works of mercy –easily achieved by establishing the
Legion of Mary and SVP in every parish.
This all sounds like a return to the past doesn’t it? Perhaps it is, but
the path we took in 1965 to create a bright new future has not worked: it
precipitated a rapid decline in marriages, baptisms, and priestly and religious
vocations. Some folk –lay and ordained- profess the renewal brought about by Vatican
II has been a great success. What they mean is we have created inauthentic
roles for the laity wherein they ape their shepherds by a myriad of committees
and groups wherein they engage in parish management and pastoral care (shepherding).
As a result, we have brought about in the people of God a feeling (or belief?)
that to be one of the sheep in God’s flock is just not good enough. Truly, the
only way forward for the renewal of the Church is the go back for the sake of
the future: back to correct doctrinal formation; back to a liturgy focused on
the propitiation of God and the demonstrating of his triumph rather than continue
a liturgy that focuses on celebrating and affirming the people, with the re-establishing
of the SVP and Legion of Mary so that the people of God can make The Faith
their own by the living out of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and thereby
grow in holiness ready for the event of Matthew 25.
I do so agree Father. I was received into the Church in a time of full churches - several Masses in one parish on a Sunday, weekly Benediction with a sermon (how I miss that)and I belonged to the Legion of Mary too.
ReplyDeleteI have clung on by my fingertips through all the changes over the years and have been so lucky in finding a parish with a good holy orthodox Priest where we are able to receive Holy Communion on our knees and on the tongue once more and where his homilies are inspirational and instructive.
For several years I was able to attend 6 EF Masses a month too although due to my own territorial PP having moved on and who I term my 2nd parish priest not being in the best of health this has now dwindled to one a month in a neighbouring town.
Thank you Pelerin. Sorry for the late reply. have a blessed Christmas, a blessed 2020 and beyond. Sad to hear the availability of the TLM is reduced for you. We await the stirring of the Holy Ghost who will make all things new by returning to the past! God Bless.
DeleteThank you Father. That is the best and most sensible thing I have read in 50 years.
ReplyDeleteThank you Terry. I do hope we see the renewal take real shape in our lifetime, but i think God has longer-term plans -by God's grace, we will see it from heaven!
DeleteSorry for the late reply. May you and yours have a blessed Christmas, a blessed 2020 and beyond. God Bless.
How apposite at tis time when we have a new orthodox bishop who does nor look down on celebrations of Holy Mass in the EF but rather embraces it by celebrating himself as he did last Sunday at St J's. But we need more & I & a number of others have contacted Bishop Robert seeking the introduction of the traditionalist orders to the diocese & especially in our largest city of Newcastle upon Tyne. With the moving out of the Dominicans & the emptiness of St Michael's, now would be the ideal time to invite either (or both?) the FSSP & ICKSP into the city. Previously they were offered a redundant church on the Headland in Hartlepool but they need a vibrant city parish from which to spread their charism. In the not too distant past Masses in both Newcastle & Gateshead were well supported & yet now it seems to be thought that a new Mass in Newcastle would simply draw a congregation from Gateshead - o ye of little faith!!
ReplyDeleteThank you David. I was not able to get to the Mass at Gateshead but prayed for its success. God bless our new Bishop and our Diocese -we may only be one small star in a dark cosmos but there are a few shining lights here and there and we can grow; after all, light always dispels the darkness. Have Blessed Christmas, a blessed 2020 and beyond.
DeleteVery true. We need an authentic and sacred liturgy AND doctrinal formation. Otherwise the Church will continue to decline
ReplyDeleteThank you Paul. Its orthodoxy and orthopraxy that we need and which will renew the Church, backed up by prayer and sacrifice. have a blessed Christmas. and a blessed 2020 and beyond.
DeleteHopefully our new bishop will have ideas which will strengthen the diocese especially the more traditional arm & (IMHO) this will be achieved by persuading younger priests to learn to celebrate the EF Mass & to do so for the benefit of the laity. It has to be said that our younger priests have, perhaps, been put off celebrating the ancient Mass of the Church because our diocesan leaders have not had the will (or ability?) to celebrate this Mass. There can be little doubt that leadership has a great deal to do with how others work & with Bishop Robert's obvious love of the EF Mass this should encourage our younger priests & persuade the not so young to bring it to the people throughout the diocese.
ReplyDeleteI have high hopes that our little Traditional light will sweep away more of the darkness from the world and from the Church. God Bless.
DeleteHere's a blog aimed at getting catholics to return to pre Vat2 practice and belief.
ReplyDeleteWww.catholicrestorationsociety.com
I've not looked at this blog Paul, but if you recommend it, well, here goes... God Bless.
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