Vatican II at 50 - Death AND Resurrection

This Easter at my parish, are professing  the Apostles’ Creed rather than the Nicene Creed.   While both are permitted, the Apostles’ Creed is more suited to this season because it is the same Creed that was professed by the Elect before their baptism.   We too professed the Apostles’ Creed at the Masses on Easter Sunday (in question and answer form) when we renewed the promises of our Baptism. 

The Apostles’ Creed is so named because it is believed to have been written by the first Apostles.  It is shorter and simpler than the Nicene Creed  but, like the Nicene Creed the Apostles’ Creed begins with a profession of faith in God the Father, includes our belief that Jesus died and rose, and ends with the sure faith that we too, like Christ, will experience resurrection.   Both Creeds express our faith in what the Church calls “Paschal Mystery,” the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  Ever since these Creeds came into being in the fourth century, the Church has maintained that the fullness of our redemption is to be found in Jesus’ death AND resurrection. 

In the Middle Ages Catholics dwelt almost exclusively on Jesus’ suffering and death.   The Second Vatican Council subtly shifted this mindset in its “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” emphasizing that our redemption was accomplished by “the paschal mystery of his blessed passion, resurrection from the dead, and glorious ascension.”   Like the  Catholics in the Middle Ages, we often find it easier and more comforting to dwell on suffering and death.   It’s the freedom that comes with resurrection that is the real challenge!   May we take up this challenge, living as Easter people, a people who believe we have already died with Christ in baptism, and are ready to live in the hope, joy and freedom of resurrection!  Amen.

Vatican II at 50 - Break out that white!

It’s Easter Sunday and time to break out those white shoes and white purses!  At least, that’s according to the age-old theory that claims that Easter ushers in the threshold rite of wearing the whites that have been hibernating in our closets all winter. 

The first time we saw Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio greeting the crowds as the new Pontiff, he was wearing an all-white cassock, the traditional vestment of a pope.   Some say this white vestment began when Pius V, a Dominican, took office in 1566 and continued to wear the traditional habit of his order.   Others say the color white also expresses the virtues of the papal office:  holiness and purity.

In fact, most clergy wear a white garment under their vestments called an alb.  The alb takes its name from the Latin alba which means white.  The alb is a reminder of the garment used to clothe someone who is newly baptized.  The clergy wear the alb to remind themselves that their ministry began in baptism, a sacrament that immerses us in the holiness of God and calls us to live out that holiness for the sake of others for the rest of our lives.

Over and over, the Second Vatican Council emphasized the importance of baptism, summoning us to live as daughters and sons of the living God, challenging us to die to ourselves in order that others might be served.   Not even a month in office and Pope Francis is giving us a glimpse of what this looks like:   shirking the elevated papal throne to stand at ground level to receive the traditional "obedience" of the Crdinals,  riding the bus with the Crdinals instead of taking the Pope’s motorcade, forgoing a highbrow Holy Thursday liturgy in order to wash the feet of inmates by celebrating the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in a youth detention center. 

‘Tis the season of Easter.  ‘Tis the season to celebrate Baptism’s new life! ‘Tis the season to wear white on the outside and to allow our “innerwhite” to be seen, clothing the world with humility and service.  Now, that would be a real fashion statement!  Amen!

Vatican II at 50 - Relations with the Jews

A new book released last week attempts to portray another perspective on what President Franklin Delano Roosevelt did--or did not do-- in response to the Holocaust.  In “FDR and the Jews,” authors Richard Breitman and Alan J. Lichtman offer a broader picture of a president who many contend did not do enough to prevent further genocide.   

President Roosevelt hasn’t been the only subject of criticism.  Many maintain that the Catholic Church didn’t do enough in response to the murder of nearly six million Jews by Nazi Germany.   This is one reason Pope John XXIII placed the church’s relationship with the Jews on the agenda of the Second Vatican Council.   He wanted the Council to discuss and respond to the anti-Semitism which led to the Holocaust.   It was one of the most hotly debated issues of the Council’s three years.   For one thing, the Church had long held that the Jews were responsible for the crucifixion.  This was partly due to the negative connotations in the New Testament, in particular the gospel of John, which describes “the Jews” as the enemies of Jesus.  For another, creating a positive stance on the Jews could have had  politically-charged implications in the Arab world.  In the end, the Council approved a compromise statement in a document called Nostra Aetate.  In that document, the Council stated that the Jewish people as a whole did not bear responsibility for the death of Jesus and it decried any forms of anti-Semitism.  Though it didn’t go as far as some wanted, the document was a new starting point in the church’s relationship with the Jewish people.   Since then, several developments have strengthened those ties, even up to last Tuesday’s Papal Inauguration, which included for the first time, the chief Rabbi of Rome.

This Holy Week we will continue to strengthen those ties in the Triduum liturgies.  On Holy Thursday, we will commemorate the connection between the Passover (which this year begins at sunset on Monday), and the Paschal sacrifice.  On Good Friday, we will pray for “the Jewish people, to whom the Lord our God spoke first.”   On Holy Saturday, we will hear again the stories of Salvation history, reminding us that we are all children of the same loving God.  Amen!

Vatican II at 50 - From Penance to Reconciliation

On Tuesday, we will celebrate our Lenten Penance Service. Among those who will celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation for the first time will be our candidates: those who were baptized in another faith tradition or those who were baptized as Catholics but never received any further faith formation. All of us will experience a revised rite prescribed by the Second Vatican Council.

Our current (revised) rite gives the community the chance to come together before and after individual confession. Immediately prior to Vatican II, the rite consisted of only individual confession. The revised rite more accurately articulates our beliefs: that both sin and forgiveness are social, not just individual. That is to say, everything we do or fail to do affects somebody else.

Speaking of which, each year our director of Adult Initiation, Terry Zobel, enlists the help of young people who have recently experienced their first reconciliation to send the candidates letters of encouragement. Their thoughts echo God’s love, forgiveness, and sense of humor! Here are a few from years past:

Get in line before he says to!

When I did it I admitted a lot, but it was worth it. You should be happy you get to do this. It doesn’t come every day you know.

Thank you for choosing to be Catholic. Jesus thanks you too! It may not seem like a big deal, but it is. Your parents must be really proud!

It was actually pretty fun. Honestly! After that I had a sin-free lunch!

Don’t be nervous about getting reconciliation. I did it when I was 7. Just fess up and it will be over before you know it!

Don’t be scared or nervous. The priest won’t hert you or be mad. Just be calm about it.

Just don’t lie and it’s smooooooooooooooooooooooooooth.

I know how it feels to be doing first reconciliation. I was the last person out of 100 people so get there very early. It feels great after you tell the priest your sins. What are you wearing for your first communion?

I was nervous and realized God would never put us in a bad situation because he loves us.

P.S. I recommend Father Fabio!

Vatican II at 50 - Coming Home

Sede vacante is the Latin term for “the seat being vacant.”  It refers to the cathedra or diocesan seat belonging to an Anglican or Catholic bishop.   It is also used whenever a pope dies or resigns, as in our current case.  Now, the diocese of Rome and the Holy See is sede vacante.

The new pontiff will face many challenges, namely, how to stop the Church’s pews from being sede vacante.    A study conducted last year by the Center for the Applied Research in the Apostolate reported that only 24% of Catholics in the United States attend Mass every week.    The numbers worldwide are even bleaker.   It has long been established that the second largest denomination in the United States is lapsed Catholics.   Many of those persons are lured by other denominations, while others simply disassociate themselves from any organized religion calling themselves spiritual but not religious, believers but not belongers

This “Year of Faith” established by Pope Emeritus Benedict is aimed at reaching out to fallen away Catholics.   The Second Vatican Council empowered the laity to do that and more by encouraging us to live our faith not only internally but externally by works of charity.  That means it will likely not be the new Pope who will be bringing lapsed Catholics back to the Church.  It will be you!  Lent is traditionally a time when those who have been away from the church come home.    Lent, then, might be a good time to extend an invitation or two.  It’s also a good time to reflect on why we remain.  Amen.