Vatican II at 50: The Infancy Narratives

Nook and Kindle users might be spending these last days of Advent reading the latest book to come from Pope Benedict XVI:  “Jesus of Nazareth:  The Infancy Narratives.”  The book, published last month, is the third and final in a series about the life of Jesus.   “The Infancy Narratives” follows Jesus from conception to age 12, when he was presented in the temple.  Pope Benedict, with help from Biblical scholars, interprets Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts of the infancy of Jesus.   In doing so, the Pope cuts through some of our preconceived notions of Jesus’ birth.   For example, the Pope recalls that there is no scriptural evidence that there were animals at Jesus’ birth and that the astrologers in Matthew’s Gospel may have been inspired more by “a theological idea” than a “historical event.”    This has sparked a bit of controversy with those who believe the birth of the Savior was as it appears on our Christmas cards.  Rather than having us remove the animals from our manger scenes, the Pope is attempting to help the faithful connect with the real, historical person of Jesus.
 

In writing his book, Benedict was exercising more modern methods to interpret Scripture.  Prior to Vatican II, using modern scholarship to interpret Scripture was feared and forbidden.  But, the Council fathers confirmed the legitimacy of using modern means of interpretation as expressed in Dei Verbum:  The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation:

The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture.  #12
 

All Gospel writers attempt to offer their interpretations of who Jesus is and his origins, both human and divine.  The infancy Narratives according to Matthew and Luke will be proclaimed at the Masses of Christmas Eve, when most Catholics are likely to attend.  But the Gospel chosen for Christmas Day is the Gospel from John’s prologue:  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.    This is seen by many as the best interpretation of the incarnation—the reality that God came among us, not just as an infant, but as one who dwells among us this Christmas, today, tomorrow, forever.  Amen!

Vatican II at 50: Take the Adventure!

The holiday movie season begins this weekend with the opening of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of three films adapting the great fantasy epic The Hobbit by J.R. R. Tolkien.

The book The Hobbit follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim  lost treasure.  Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, the home-loving Bilbo reluctantly joins a company of dwarves and heads out on a Middle-earth adventure which takes him through the Wilderland of the Misty Mountains and treacherous terrain swarming with Goblins, giant spiders, Wargs and Wood-elves.

The author, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was an English writer and university professor.

Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic whose friendship with C.S. Lewis is said to have influenced the atheist Lewis to convert to Christianity.  Tolkien was not a fan of the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council.  Ironically, the fundamental themes in The Hobbit were the same themes which would be played out by Vatican II some twenty-five years later.

Bilbo Baggins lived in a hole in the ground.  He was rich, comfortable and spent most of his days eating.

When asked by Gandalf to go on an adventure, Bilbo exclaimed, “We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures.  Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things!  Make you late for dinner!”   Prior to Vatican II, the Church lived somewhat like Bilbo--in a fortress mentality, insulated from and defensive against the modern world.    The council sought to change that as expressed in the document Gaudiem et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution in the Modern World.  Gaudium et Spes reveals a Church in dialogue with, instead of in conflict with the world. 

Bilbo accepted the invitation to adventure, not knowing what would happen as a result.  He gained much more than he risked.   At Vatican II, the Church opened itself up to a world it eschewed, unaware of what that might bring, the results of which continue to unfold.  As we prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ at Christmas, it’s worth noting that God took on the greatest adventure—that of becoming human.  In doing so,  God reclaimed his own lost treasure:  The Human Race!  Amen. 

Vatican II at 50: The Universal Call to Holiness

Two weeks ago, a photograph of a New York City Police Officer giving a homeless man socks and boots for his bare feet went viral.  Officer Larry DePrimo noticed the shoeless Jeffrey Hillman on the streets of Times Square on a cold November evening.  He spoke with him and then went into a nearby shoe store to buy him thermal socks and all-weather boots.   The gesture was caught on a cell phone camera by a tourist and then posted to NYPD’s Facebook page.  From there, it reverberated around the world via the media, YouTube and Facebook, generating hundreds of thousands of comments and “likes.”  As these testimonies show, it’s gratifying to witness such acts of kindness.  On the other hand, the massive response generated by the event is somewhat striking.   We could argue, after all, that the purpose of the police is to protect the common good.  I wonder what would have happened if an ordinary citizen without a title and without a uniform performed the same act of kindness.   Would that photo have generated the same response?

According to the documents of Vatican II, all the baptized are called to perform acts of charity because all the baptized are called to holiness: 

Therefore in the Church, everyone whether belonging to the hierarchy, or being cared for by it, is called to holiness…it is expressed in many ways in individuals, who in their walk of life, tend toward the perfection of charity.  Lumen Gentium, #39

This teaching was a striking moment in our history.  For the first time, the Church was explicitly stating that our faith is all about holiness.   Further, the council erased the pre-conciliar notion that only priests and nuns were called to a life of godliness.   Now all the baptized, by virtue of baptism, are called to live a life of holiness, a holiness which begins with an interior humility and expresses itself exteriorly  in loving service to others.  If we took this call seriously, the random act of kindness experienced by Mr. Hillman would be the norm rather than an overnight sensation.  Amen!

Vatican II at 50: Prepare

 This weekend marks the one year anniversary that Catholics in English-speaking countries began praying with the New Roman Missal.   This was the first major liturgical change to take place since the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council fifty years ago.  Those changes were more or less sprung on the people without much notice.    In some places, people came to church to find the altar turned around, the priest facing them and the prayers in their own language.  The aftershocks from the way those changes happened are still being felt nearly fifty years later.   So, this time around the Church did things a little differently.  Not only were people given advance notice of the changes in the New Roman Missal,  they were also told why they were taking place.   Whether or not people agreed with the changes, most people would agree that adequate preparation was key. 

Advent is all about preparation.    We prepare our hearts to welcome Christ anew.    In the midst of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and all the other frenzied preparations for Christmas, the Church asks us to prepare spiritually.   Here are some practical ways to make that happen:

·         Recharge your prayer-life.   Pray at different times of the day or in different places.  Write your own prayer for Advent focused on this question:   For what or whom am I waiting? 

·         Pray with music.  Pray by singing your favorite psalm refrain or listening to a recording of your favorite sacred music.

·         Read the Scripture readings for Advent each day and trust the radical hope they offer.

·         Spend time contemplating the reality of a God who became human.

·         Reach out to those in need.   Call someone who is ill, send a card to someone who is lonely,

buy a Christmas gift or sponsor a family in need and continue to pray for them.      

·         Perform random acts of kindness by paying for the person behind you in the drive-thru or toll booth.

·         Let go of a past hurt.

·         Forgive someone who has wronged you and then reach out to them.

When we take our Advent preparation seriously, we are more likely to experience the true meaning of Christmas, the new life of Jesus, Emmanuel.

Vatican II at 50: Musical Liturgy

We call ourselves the United States but, as the last election showed, we are anything but united.   Even the Catholic vote was split.  Indeed, Catholics are a diverse group of people who come from different backgrounds, who have different political beliefs and who speak different languages.  But one language we can all speak is the language of music.

 Since the Second Vatican Council, music has evolved perhaps more than any other element in the liturgy.   Before the Council, liturgical music existed in the form of Gregorian chant.  The choir sang the parts of the Mass for the people and music was seen as an end unto itself.   The Council looked at music in a whole different light.  Music was  now to be seen as integral to the liturgy.  Music should serve the rituals taking place at Mass  and encourage the people’s participation:

 “Therefore sacred music will be the more holy the more closely it is joined to the liturgical rite.”… “A liturgical service takes on a nobler aspect when the rites are celebrated with singing.” Liturgical Constitution #112 & #113

The Council maintained pride of place for Gregorian chant but also allowed for other types of music.  As a result, Gregorian chant gave way to guitars, Palestrina gave way to percussion and a new era of liturgical music was born.  Now, there are so many different styles of music and so much music being composed that music leaders can scarcely keep up.

Music leaders are not only responsible for choosing singable melodies, but also for selecting appropriate texts:

“The texts intended to be sung must always be consistent with Catholic teaching; indeed they should be drawn chiefly from holy Scripture and from liturgical sources.”

Liturgical Constitution #121

 As a result,  much of our theology now comes from the songs we sing during Mass and many of us are now more familiar with Scripture, especially the psalms.    Singing is praying.  If we sing with all our heart, we will enter more deeply into the mystery of God and only then can we truly call ourselves united!