…We, who live the life of grace within the Church’s communion, are called to draw all people into this mystery of light.
This is no easy task in a world which can tend to look at the Church, like those stained glass windows, “from the outside”: a world which deeply senses a need for spirituality, yet finds it difficult to “enter into” the mystery of the Church. Even for those of us within, the light of faith can be dimmed by routine, and the splendor of the Church obscured by the sins and weaknesses of her members. It can be dimmed too, by the obstacles encountered in a society which sometimes seems to have forgotten God and to resent even the most elementary demands of Christian morality. You, who have devoted your lives to bearing witness to the love of Christ and the building up of his Body, know from your daily contact with the world around us how tempting it is at times to give way to frustration, disappointment and even pessimism about the future. In a word, it is not always easy to see the light of the Spirit all about us, the splendor of the Risen Lord illuminating our lives and instilling renewed hope in his victory over the world (cf. Jn 16:33).
Yet the word of God reminds us that, in faith, we see the heavens opened, and the grace of the Holy Spirit lighting up the Church and bringing sure hope to our world. “O Lord, my God,” the Psalmist sings, “when you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104:30). These words evoke the first creation, when the Spirit of God hovered over the deep (cf. Gen 1:2). And they look forward to the new creation, at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and established the Church as the first fruits of a redeemed humanity (cf. Jn 20:22-23). These words summon us to ever deeper faith in God’s infinite power to transform every human situation, to create life from death, and to light up even the darkest night. And they make us think of another magnificent phrase of Saint Irenaeus: “where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church and all grace” (Adv. Haer. III, 24, 1).
I love the Nathaniel Hawthorne reference.
John Allen is doing a very good job of commentary at CNN.
I’ve been watching online through EWTN, though I logged on midway through the sermon. John Allen is generally very helpful, but I like the lack of commentary on EWTN.
What music!
I believe Benedict is a bit more talented at communicating that his predecessor, John Paul the Great (not that the Blessed John Paul was a poor communicator by any means). I’ve been quite impressed with His Holiness’ homilies and speeches throughout his visit.
I wish Anglicans could look to a similarly strong leader upholding orthodox, catholic (small “c”) Christianity within our ranks.
What dows “small c” catholic mean to you and other viewers here> Thx.
The reference to Hawthorne was especially fitting.
“The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne is an American religious community, founded on December 8, 1900 by two extraordinary women. Rose Hawthorne, daughter of American novelist Nathanial Hawthorne, began the work at age 45. She moved into a tenement in the poorest area of New York City, and began nursing incurable cancer patients. Rose, later to become Mother Alphonsa, was a convert to Catholicism. This work was the practical fulfillment of her conversion.
Alice Huber was one of the first to join Rose in the work of nursing the poor with incurable cancer. Alice was 36 years old and a successful portrait painter who had said to her friends, “When I find a work of perfect charity, I will join it.” Alice later became Mother Rose. Neither woman had any prior nursing experience. Together, they founded the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne on December 8, 1900 as they professed their 1st vows. ”
From Rose Hawthorne candidate for Sainthood.
http://www.concordma.com/magazine/autumn05/rosehawthorne.html
I’m not sure what others at T19 would say, but I understand catholic to mean the universal church and the catholic faith expounded upon in the Athanasian Creed — and in those senses, Anglicanism is within the catholic tradition based upon Scripture, tradition, and reason.
John Paul the Great was a philosopher by training, Benedict is a theologian. John Paul was an actor (among other things), Benedict a teacher. Which is to say that both were communicators by training, but with differences of method and style. I am not philosophically turned, so I find Benedict much easier to read and hear.
I agree with Words Matter and your assessment of the differences between the 265th and 264th bishops of Rome.
6, actually it is Scripture. You are are referring to Hooker. What he actually wrote is:
[blockquote] “What the Scripture plainly delivers, to that the first place both of credit and obedience is due; the next whereunto is whatsoever any man can necessarily conclude by force of reason; after these the voice of the Church succeeds.†Hooker, Richard, The Lawes of Ecclesiastical polity Book V, 8.2[/blockquote]
What, then does “small c” catholic exclude?
What, then, does “small c” catholic exclude?
Like rob k, I’m waiting on what the “small c” catholic excludes.
13 – Evan, looks like no one wants to contribute. When I have a little more time I shall try to list a few items.
Rob K,
I’ll be interested in seeing them.
Evan – Does “small c” catholic include the dogmatic positions that arose from the churches of the Reformation, such as sola scriptura, believers’ baptism, the “invisible” church, various views of the eucharist (no sacrifice of the mass, rejection(s) of the Real Presence), Salvation by Faith Alone, et al, then the the use of “small c” catholic to describe one ‘s religious belief/affiliation has very little relation to the meaning of “catholic” as being that which has always been believed everywhere and at all time”. Sorry for the overlong sentence. How do you see it? Thx., & regards.
#15
Rob k,
I agree completely. For me, small c catholic means having the three fold ministry of bishops in apostolic succession, a sacerdotal priesthood, and ordained deacons. A high view of the sacraments including seven sacraments with two “gospel sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion,” the “real presence” in the elements of the Eucharist in a manner variously explained but for me it’s sufficient to accept it as a holy mystery. Belief in the three creeds and holy tradition consisting of the councils of the undivided church and the writings of the fathers of the early church. I know this is rather inexact, but this is in general what I mean by “small c” catholic. I think it’s much like what Dr. Peter Toon describes as the “reformed catholicism” of the Anglican Church.
I quite agree with you that the use of “small c” catholic to simply mean all who believe in Christ renders the term useless.
Evan – Thanks for your feedback. I am in substantial agreement with you too. You and I might have a disagreement here or there over some particular facet of what “catholic” does mean, some important, some maybe not so important, – would be a good area of discussion sometime. By the way I referred to a comment of yours in the recent thread about whether some churches really “seem” like a church. Thx.
Evan – Has Toon come to terms with the 7th great council?
Rob,
I don’t know. From what I’ve read of his writings, he’s not Anglo-Catholic. I tend to be more A-C than not, but to be quite honest, I’m not knowledgeable enough on the councils to comment intelligently.