As in the preceding article (about changes in the music rubrics for the New Novus Ordo Missal), there are some great theoretical clarifications, but it's hard to be confident about how much difference these will make on the ground where the rubber meets the road.
According to ZENIT's summary, Cardinal Levada's statement about the forthcoming Assisi meeting, implies that it's "not a question of hiding the faith for the sake of a superficial unity, but of confessing — as John Paul II and the Ecumenical Patriarch then did — that Christ is our peace"; that "all men are called to union with Christ," (quoting Lumen Gentium, 3), and that "the Church must be leaven of this unity." Furthermore, that the title for this October's conference, "Pilgrims of Truth, Pilgrims of Peace," shows, it claims, that truth is being made a criterion for the building of peace and unity. "Peace without truth is not possible," stated the Cardinal.
All well and good. But then there is the following to consider: Pope Clement XIII writes, in In Dominico Agro:
The faithful -- especially those who are simple or uncultivated -- should be kept away from dangerous and narrow paths upon which they can hardly set foot without faltering. The sheep should not be led to pasture through trackless places. Nor should peculiar ideas -- even those of Catholic scholars -- be proposed to them. Rather, only those ideas should be communicated which are definitely marked as Catholic truth by their universality ...Clarity is such a simple thing, really, clarity such as could allay all doubts. Let the Pope proclaim at Assisi the simple words of Jesus: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
... Therefore, in case the Church should be deceived and wander after the flocks of the companions who are themselves wanderers and unsettled with no certainty of truth, who are always learning but never arriving at the knowledge of truth, they proposed that only what is necessary and very useful for salvation be clearly and plainly explained in the Roman Catechism and communicated to the faithful.
... [I]t is of the utmost importance that you choose for the office of communicating Christian teaching to the faithful not only men endowed with theological knowledge, but more importantly, men who manifest humility, enthusiasm for sanctifying souls, and charity. The totality of Christian practice does not consist in abundance of words nor in skill of debating nor in the search from praise and glory but in true and voluntary humility. There are those whom a greater wisdom raises up but also separates from the society of other people. The more they know, the more they dislike the virtue of harmony. (Emphasis added)
[Hat tip to Rorate Caeli and WDTPRS]
Speaking of great conferences, this weekend has seen the glorious “Taste of Buffalo,” referred to by some as “Gluttons in Truth, Gluttons for a piece . . . . of pie, cake, lasagna, whatever you got.”
ReplyDeleteEvery year in the heat of July, humble restauranteurs from far and wide throughout the Western New York area drag their pots, pans, grills and smokers down to the circle in front of City Hall. They form a gauntlet of kiosks along the street and hawk their wares. Parking lot operators, always in a festive mood, offer space in their lots for as much as $25 a car. And aspiring gluttons fork it over, first for a space, then for expensive rolls of tickets, which they use to obtain samples of sophisticated and creative dishes and desserts. Ecumenical fervor fills the air, as French chefs rub elbows with pig roasters and turkey friers, and hawkers of chocolate covered French fries make peace with purveyors of French fried chocolate. People may not speak in tongues, but they do expel a myriad of muffled grunts of appreciation, by which they express their blissful conversion to Southern Italy cuisine or beef on weck with honey and walnuts sprinkled on top.
Spoilsports like Clement XIII to the contrary, everyone, especially those who participate in the “competitive eating” festivals like the Taste of Buffalo, ought to be able to appreciate what the much anticipated Assisi “conference / festival” will have to offer. After all, the stuff that you will be offered will be coming to you from the great chefs of spiritual cuisine, so don’t look at it too closely, just shove it in your trap and grunt appreciatively.
"It is not a question of hiding the faith for the sake of a superficial unity, but of confessing ... that Christ is our peace."
ReplyDeletePlease. Isn't it our different confessions about God and Christ that are the obstacle to peace?
Stop it with the slogans. We've heard them over and over. They sound superficial.