Moving papal homily
What a homily proclaimed today by our Holy Father! A message filled with hope, renewal, patriotism and acknowledgment of past failings. What I found particularly moving was the manner in which Pope Benedict XVI, confirming Catholics in America in their faith and calling them to “live different lives,” called us to “look to the future” while keeping awareness of the glory and the shame of our past. Undeniably so, the Pope’s words were meant to prompt us forward as witnesses of the Gospel.
What struck me in particular was Pope Benedict XVI’s attention to the past failings of what is otherwise a source of hope and opportunity in America. The sins and injustices committed by the first generations of Americans against the Native American and African people cannot be blithely dismissed and will forever be carried along side the good of this country’s founding. Patriotism, for Pope Benedict XVI, is celebration in one’s tradition but also sober criticism of particular moments in the historical unfolding of that tradition.
But perhaps nothing was as shocking and inspiring to me as hearing Pope Benedict XVI publicly acknowledge and denounce the grave sins of sexual immorality committed by priests in America and the mishandling of the crisis by some of our shepherds. Just this morning, the Dallas Morning News ran an editoral accusing the Holy Father of “punting” the sex abuse crisis to the bishops yesterday, talking about the crisis behind closed doors and stating that “we wish he’d do so publicly.” Well, that editorial ran a few hours too early, for the Pope was very clear today in his address at Nationals Stadium:
It is in the context of this hope born of God’s love and fidelity that I acknowledge the pain which the Church in America has experienced as a result of the sexual abuse of minors. No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse. It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention. Nor can I adequately describe the damage that has occurred within the community of the Church. Great efforts have already been made to deal honestly and fairly with this tragic situation, and to ensure that children – whom our Lord loves so deeply (cf. Mk 10:14), and who are our greatest treasure – can grow up in a safe environment. These efforts to protect children must continue. Yesterday I spoke with your Bishops about this. Today I encourage each of you to do what you can to foster healing and reconciliation, and to assist those who have been hurt. Also, I ask you to love your priests, and to affirm them in the excellent work that they do. And above all, pray that the Holy Spirit will pour out his gifts upon the Church, the gifts that lead to conversion, forgiveness and growth in holiness.
The Holy Father not only publicly acknowledges the deep pain of so many betrayed Catholics in America, but also publicly calls for resitution, reconciliation, restoration and revival. In hope, we are saved, and it is hope that we must spread through evangelization and repentence.
Like I said, what a homily!
This is what I noted over at A. Welborn’s blog:
This line in particular jumped out to me:
The challenges confronting us require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith. But they also call for cultivating a mindset, an intellectual “culture”, which is genuinely Catholic, confident in the profound harmony of faith and reason, and prepared to bring the richness of faith’s vision to bear on the urgent issues which affect the future of American society.
This has been one of the things I rant on, the serious problem of anti-intellectualism in contemporary Catholic culture. Yes!! A vigorous intellectual culture flowing from the harmony of faith and reason, entering into the serious cultural debates of the time: this is what we need!
Incidentally, this is exactly how I would describe the great quality of the the Catholic revival in Britain, America, and France prior to Vatican II (from the late 19th cent. to 1960). Authors and writers, from Chesterton and Belloc, to Sheen and Merton, from Greene and Waugh to O’Connor and Powers, artists like Eric Gill, poets like Lowell and Tate, thinkers like Maritain, Gilson, Dawson, and the whole rest of them (Bernanos, Claudel, Knox, Dorothy Day, Caroline Gordon, could go on), not to mention the Anglo-Catholics as well.
This is what we need to day: a genuinely Catholic intellectual culture, with thinkers, writers, politicians, vigorously entering into the discussion of the public square, and bringing orthodoxy to bear on the cultural issues of the day.
Poli,
Excellent, excellent post–on a splendid, timely and truly prudential homily for us Americans, on ourselves as Christians, our culture, traditions and socio-polilitical histories.
Excellent post.
THe mass was beautiful. Arroyo and Neuhaus not so much. Too much complaining and whining.
I heard it in person. More soon.
Arroyo and Neuhaus not so much. Too much complaining and whining.
Did they do a “liturgical abuse” play-by-play or somemthing? ;)
“THe mass was beautiful. ”
Are you kidding me? That was an embarressment.
Mass was embarrassing?
Hahahahaha… Mass an embarrassment?… Of course it was: they played “Mass of Creation” and was a multicultural liturgy. I knew people would say such a thing. This is when people just completely miss THE real purpose of the Mass: to worship God together united as a Body by the Sacrifice of the Eucharist. Ugh.
Katerina,
I think this Pope continues to shatter the preconceived notions of many on all sides of the liturgy. One must read Ratzinger’s liturgical books in conjuction with observing how he celebrates the liturgy. That is what is meant by the Spirit of the liturgy.
walter,
Are you kidding me?
At every mass Jesus comes down from Heaven to be with us. Were you embarrassed by the fact that Jesus came to be with His people? Was it that the Pope reached out to a multitude of people through their own language? Were you embarrassed that the Pope used a form of the mass that is accepted? Was it an embarrassment that the Pope took responsiblity of injustices from within the Church and led his flock by example? Please tell me what is so embarrassing.
Your post is an embarrassment!
Thanks, Blaze.
Blaze – Thanks!
amen