Light at End of the Tunnel

Last Thursday, May 3, 2012, was my last class in the Permanent Diaconate Program for the Archdiocese of Boston.  There is still a final exam to do, as well as some papers, but the academic part of formation will be done.  I still have to attend some practicum workshops; and I have to go to some evaluation interviews.  My classmates and I will then be waiting for final approval from Cardinal Sean.  I cannot believe that it is all coming to the finish.   It has been six long years, but finally, one way or another, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The LCWR and the Vatican

The Catholic blogosphere has been humming over the actions taken by the Vatican concerning the Leadership Conference of Religious Women.  The National Catholic Reporter’s website has been reporting continually on this story, and offering commentary on it.  Here is a link to their reports.

The LCWR has been famous for pushing the envelope on hot button issues within the Church; and within society at large.  They challenged the Church leadership on certain policies, and certain teachings of the Church.  The LCWR leadership decided to play a prophetic role within the Church, and we all know what happens to prophets.

 Now the Vatican is in smack down mode, appointing an American bishop to oversee “reforms” of the LCWR structure.  The liberal side blames the American bishops, claiming that this is their revenge for the LCWR supposedly supporting the Obama healthcare program; and for their disrespect of the bishops’ authority.  The conservative side is clamoring for the LCWR to be dissolved, and their member congregations be brought to heel..

Most of the nuns I have known have been dedicated women of God, striving to live the Gospel of Jesus.  They are out there in the world, performing works of charity, doing their best to build up the Church.  Their congregations have progressive and conservative members; they wear a habit or just street clothes.  Some of their communities are slowly dying out; others are receiving new members in great numbers. 

Ideally, there should have been a dialogue by all sides, an understanding arrived at.  Unfortunately, I think one side sees dialogue as a weakening of their authority; the other side may be wedded to their ideology.  Wherever the truth lies, it is a sad day for the Church.

Reunification At Last?

The Catholic blogosphere has been abuzz with the news that there may be finally a reunification of the the Society of Saint Pius X, with the Roman Catholic Church.  John Allen posted a story on the National Catholic Reporter website, and the Catholic News Service also posted a report.

The Vatican, after much discussion with the Lefebvrites, gave them a "doctrinal preamble."  If the SSPX agreed to the document, then reunion was possible.  No details about what is in the document has been revealed, so we do not know how much of the store the Vatican is willing give away in order to heal the only major schism since Vatican II.  Of course in many ways the SSPX is like North Korea, just when you think you have a deal, they change the rules.  In this case, the leaders of the Lefebvrites are submitting changes to the preamble.  Many find it hard to believe that they would agree to rejoin the Church unless Rome totally repudiates the teachings of Vatican II.

The Lefebvrites are living in the past, struggling to hold onto a vision of the Church that no longer speaks to the hearts of a majority of Catholics in the world today.  Unfortunately, there seems to be those leaders in the Church who also wish to turn back the clock.  There does need to be continuity with tradition and the teachings  that have to come to us from the time of the Apostles; but there also needs to be a flexibility that will allow the Church to meet the needs of a world in changing times.  The Church leadership needs to be careful that in its desire to bring them back into the fold, that the SSPX does not become a weight its neck, holding it back.

Happy Easter!

"Christ is Risen!"  "He is Risen indeed!"

To all members of my family, to all my friends, and to all my readers; may this Easter Sunday bring you hope and joy; for the good days, and especially for the difficult ones!

Pax et Bonum!

@Lensman_Jones

Interview with a Deacon

While scanning the National Catholic Reporter website, I came across an interview by Mercy Sister Camille D'Arienzo of Don Zirkel, who, in his eighties, was once arrested for protesting against the Iraq War in a New York mall.  He was walking around the mall, wearing a protest t-shirt.

He and his late wife have been peace activists for many years.  He had worked for a Catholic diocesan newspaper, and was an ordained permanent deacon.  The interview reveals a man of service to his Church and his community.  And it is nice to know that there are deacons who are, shall we say, "left of center."  The interview can be found here.

800th Anniversary of the Founding of the Poor Clares

Looking at the National Catholic Reporter website, I came across an essay by Jon M. Sweeney.  He is an author who has written about saints, especially St. Francis of Assisi.  He also wrote prayer books dedicated to both St. Francis and St. Clare.

In his essay, Jon Sweeney stated that last Sunday, March 18th, in 1212, would have been the Palm Sunday in Assisi, when Clare would leave her family, and their wealth and prestige; and go join Francis and his ragged little band of followers.  That night she would dedicate herself to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, guided by Francis and the Holy Spirit.  Thus was born another branch of the Franciscan family, the Poor Clares.  It is unique in that it is a monastic, contemplative movement, but it is faithful to the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare.

From My March Column in Fraternity Newsletter

“United by their vocation as brothers and sisters of penance, and motivated by the dynamic power of the gospel, let them conform their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by means of that radical interior  change which the gospel itself calls conversion.  Human frailty makes it necessary that this conversion be carried out daily.”  (Art. 7a, SFO Rule)

Saint Francis was constantly reminding his followers that they could never be satisfied with the level progress they had made on living the Gospel life.  He is quoted as saying in the later years of his life,” Brothers, let us begin again, because up until now we have done nothing.”  He recognized that the spiritual journey in never over, that we travel it every day of our life.

All of us can become complacent about where we are in our relationship with God.   Lent provides us an opportunity to do a reality check on that relationship, an opportunity to deepen that relationship.  The Church calls us to intensify our practice of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Lent gives us the inspiration, the nudge, to spend more time in solitude, reading and reflecting on Scripture, letting the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts.  We then can see if we are making a relationship with God a priority in our life, if we letting the Spirit inspire us to greater acts of charity, if we are letting the Gospel of Christ guide us in our daily lives.

Our Rule and this season of Lent both remind us that the process of conversion is never finished, never over, no matter how long we have been professed.  Each day we must answer anew the call of Jesus to pick up our cross and follow Him.