The Pope and Other Churches
Recently, the Pope, under the guidance of Cardinal Levada (our former archbishop) published a reflection regarding other "ecclesial communities," a.k.a. the Protestant Churches. It caused quite a ruckus. I think it was sorely misunderstood. A friend of mine, Fr. Mike Walker of Shepherd of the Valley Catholic Church explained the situation quite well. So, let me just give you the statement he put on his web site in order to explain the whole thing:
What Did the Pope Say???
Some wonder what's going on with the Pope's latest letter about the Church and salvation. Well, the Pope did not say that only Catholics are going to Heaven or anything like that. I'll post an article below that will help, but the bottom line is that the Church's position on Salvation is the same as it has been since it was defined in Vatican II: Catholics have the fullness of truth, but other Christian churhes and other religions also have a share in many of the elements that make up that same (one) truth and (one) Church that Jesus founded.
The saying that fullness of truth "subsists" in the Catholic Church expresses the idea that although we feel we have the fullest expression (have all the elements) of the Church as Jesus started it, it is not mutually exclusive. Others share in this to the degree that they also possess the same elements. It is unfortunate that the English word "defects" was chose in reference to the Protestant Churches, but in this context it means that they are lacking some elements that Jesus instituded when he founded the Church. The main elements named were the sacraments (especially the Eucharist) and a historical presence going back to the beginning (Apostolic Succession).
The Pope is not saying that only Catholics have truth and salvation and if you are not Catholic you are out of luck. Only God knows who is saved or not, but all salvation does come through Jesus. People are responsible for what they know and are judged according to how well they have followed the truth that God has planted in their hearts. It is even possible for people who do not explicitly know Jesus to be saved if they are following the truth they know to the best of their ability. Common sense goes a long way here. If you read the original document, please understand that it is written in theological jargon. At least this overview might help you to sift through it. Anyway, if you still are wondering what the Pope said, here's the link:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288976,00.html
If you want a more detailed theological explanation, this might be of help:
http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/post/index/1121/The-subsisting-Church
The Pope and The Pius X Communities
The Pope also made important gestures to re-include the communities who found themselves in schism after Archbishop Lafavre ordained other bishops without the permission of Pope John Paul II. In order to help this along, Pope Benedict XVI made clear that some parishes will be allowed to use the 1962 Missal that we have come to know as the Tridentine Mass which follows the norms set out by the Council of Trent. This form of Mass is to be considered extraordinary and not replacing the current Novus Ordo or "New Order." Some folks have shared their fear that we are going backwards and away from the norms set out at Vatican II. I assure you that such is not the case. It is and will not become the norm. The good that will come from allowing this form is very important to the unifying of the Pius X group. We should all strive to be one under Christ, and as long as there are division amongst us, we have work to do.
Let;s make this also clear for those who prefer Latin at Mass. It is not Latin that give reverence to the Mass, rather it is the Mass that gives reverence to the Latin (or any language that is spoken for that matter.). In the early days, Latin was not the language spoken at the Sacred Liturgy. In fact, it was spoken in many different languages depending on the country and culture. Latin certainly created a uniformity when it was the only language allowed. However, few people understood Latin and so in the spirit of Vatican II's call for full, active, conscious participation, the vernacular language is to be allowed.
Bottom line, Pope Benedict is doing a lot to clarify and seek out true unity where it can be found. Let us pray for a continuing effort to unify all the ecclesial communities.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor
Friday, August 3, 2007
Summer & Recreation
Summer and Recreation
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and the grace of God in our lives. I am also a firm believer restful recreation. When these can happen together, wow, what a wonderful combination. It is truly one of the best ways to be refreshed. With God's hand comforting us and our vacations creating a restful openness, we can be reformed and enlivened in ways that can surprise even the one on vacation.
This month, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about a vacation being a "gift from God." For some, this means going to the coast while others it means going into the woods. The pope has a bias. For him, going into the mountainous forest is what gives him joy. In fact, the Holy Father praised the mountains, which "in particular, evoke the upward ascent of the spirit, the elevation toward the 'high measure' of our humanity, which daily life unfortunately tends to abase." Personally, I have always preferred the woods and mountains to the ocean. There's just something about the fresh mountain air and the fun that can be had at a lake that brings back the little kid in me. I love to water ski, play around on personal watercraft, do some fishing, catch up on my past issues of Astronomy and MacWorld magazines, and just generally lounge around. Having elongated conversations with God in this different environment helps me have a new perspective upon things.
Vacations can recreate oneself. In that mode, my creativity comes back as well as my positive attitude. I hope that you will find the time to get away and rest. Take God with you as you go. Make sure to find a place to go to Mass. Often we forget about taking God along. But, by making the effort to work it into your plans, not only are you fulfilling your Sunday Obligation, but you are also getting a different look at the way other faith communities express their faith. I hope you will see that the Catholic Church, while offering some variations, is quite consistent no matter where you go. Take a bulletin and bring it back. I'd love to see what others are doing.
My Fore into Art and Apparel
Yes, I am a priest and a geek, but did you know that I actually have something of an artistic side? Yup. Sort of anyway. Over a year ago I created some designs for apparel and have been continually pondering on new designs that folks might want to wear. Some are geared solely for our parish and our centennial. Others are more generic. Just a couple weeks ago I created a new one which I'm calling, "iCatholic." It's subtitle says, "Being faithful isn't just a matter of style." I like the message which came to me quickly when thinking about the shirt's creation. The meaning can be taken in many ways as resonates with the person who wears or sees it. The shirt examples below are just some of the many different apparel items that each logo can be printed upon. If you want to check them out for yourself, you can go to CafePress.com.
I am a firm believer in the power of prayer and the grace of God in our lives. I am also a firm believer restful recreation. When these can happen together, wow, what a wonderful combination. It is truly one of the best ways to be refreshed. With God's hand comforting us and our vacations creating a restful openness, we can be reformed and enlivened in ways that can surprise even the one on vacation.
This month, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about a vacation being a "gift from God." For some, this means going to the coast while others it means going into the woods. The pope has a bias. For him, going into the mountainous forest is what gives him joy. In fact, the Holy Father praised the mountains, which "in particular, evoke the upward ascent of the spirit, the elevation toward the 'high measure' of our humanity, which daily life unfortunately tends to abase." Personally, I have always preferred the woods and mountains to the ocean. There's just something about the fresh mountain air and the fun that can be had at a lake that brings back the little kid in me. I love to water ski, play around on personal watercraft, do some fishing, catch up on my past issues of Astronomy and MacWorld magazines, and just generally lounge around. Having elongated conversations with God in this different environment helps me have a new perspective upon things.
Vacations can recreate oneself. In that mode, my creativity comes back as well as my positive attitude. I hope that you will find the time to get away and rest. Take God with you as you go. Make sure to find a place to go to Mass. Often we forget about taking God along. But, by making the effort to work it into your plans, not only are you fulfilling your Sunday Obligation, but you are also getting a different look at the way other faith communities express their faith. I hope you will see that the Catholic Church, while offering some variations, is quite consistent no matter where you go. Take a bulletin and bring it back. I'd love to see what others are doing.
My Fore into Art and Apparel
Yes, I am a priest and a geek, but did you know that I actually have something of an artistic side? Yup. Sort of anyway. Over a year ago I created some designs for apparel and have been continually pondering on new designs that folks might want to wear. Some are geared solely for our parish and our centennial. Others are more generic. Just a couple weeks ago I created a new one which I'm calling, "iCatholic." It's subtitle says, "Being faithful isn't just a matter of style." I like the message which came to me quickly when thinking about the shirt's creation. The meaning can be taken in many ways as resonates with the person who wears or sees it. The shirt examples below are just some of the many different apparel items that each logo can be printed upon. If you want to check them out for yourself, you can go to CafePress.com.
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