Living As the True Church?
Discussing the situation that is occurring within the Anglican Communion, Amy Welborn over at Open Book talks a bit about subjects that make up the focus of the blog. She writes:
A subject that comes up here a lot runs sort of like this:
A. The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the one, true Church of Jesus Christ.
B. The Roman Catholic Church botches things up more or less continually.
C. So, how can the Roman Catholic Church be the one, true Church of Jesus Christ?
The discussion usually revolves around issues of liturgy, catechesis and evangelization. It goes deeper than "bad liturgy." The question, as I've come to understand it, really comes down to this:
You have an "ideal" Catholic Church that is constituted in the deep rich Tradition of Catholicism. But hardly any of that is visible in the experience of the average Catholic parish today. Liturgies do not reflect the mind (not to speak of the liturgical law) of the Church, catechesis only scratches the surface and homilies..well...why do they even bother to go to seminary?
The problem is particulary acute for those who have "read" their way into the Church. It's been articulated over and over again.
She then highlights the same question that has been asked on Fr. Kimel's blog, Pontifications:
I do believe the pastoral problem is not one to be ignored. The transition of converts into the Catholic Church can be painful in a way that extends beyond the difficulty so many parishes have in communicating and expressing, in word, sign and ministry, the fullness of the Faith. Many former Protestants, active in their former church communities, have a difficult time finding a similar sense of fellowship and interest in evangelization in a Catholic parish.
All of that is by way of introduction to a comment hidden away on another blog. The comment is by the blogger - Fr. Al Kimel - but it is buried in the comments and was so good I thought it was worth sharing. It's #13 on this post:
#11: Adam, it is not just the poor worship. The poor worship has a cause, and the cause is ineffective, poor, or misleading catechesis. And, for me, still, this calls into question the proposition that “this is THE church”. If this is THE church, shouldn’t it do better at making Christians, out of both unchurched adults and little children?
Check out more of Amy's reflection and Fr. Kimel's response to the above question by going here. It's worth the look.
posted by Keith Strohm @ 8:33 AM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
I went over to Open Book and read the whole thing, and the comments...
My reactions are so mixed that it'll take me some time (and probably eventually a book) to sort them all out.
I'm one of those who "read myself" into the Church. My first experience of a Catholic parish since I was confirmed has been - well, banal is the word that fits best, with (a few) punctuating experiences of beauty and grace and (more) horrifying affronts to my spirit.
I relate to what Jennifer Ferrara was seeking; I am a person who is built for spiritual experiences through beauty and art, and I'm always hungry for it. Am I sinning if I attempt to place myself in a space where I can experience that? In the midst of those who condemn others for "shopping" and knowing my own judgmental tendencies, I know I have to examine myself and make sure I'm obeying Christ and not just seeking my own desires in such things. But if a church in my town makes experiences of such beauty that feed my soul available to me, why can't I just go there? I confess that I sometimes resent being made to feel unworthy to receive these blessings from God because I should be "offering my suffering up to the Lord".
Well, without going into gory details, my suffering over the past nine years in my present parish has been considerable, and I've been offering it up. And we're leaving now, thanks very much, for a parish where the women's ministry leader doesn't volunteer for Planned Parenthood, they don't add inclusive language and "cool, fresh" interpolated responses to the "boring" Gospel readings, and I don't have to sing black gospel-styled Mass parts during Lent. Sue me.
(*Ahem. Sorry. I guess my feelings on that score are clearer than I thought.)
I've never considered leaving the Catholic Church again, because I worked very hard to get here, and I know that despite the casual liturgical abuses and the non-Catholics that the priest allows to take Communion and all the rest, Jesus shows up in my church, and feeds me. So I've survived (and I could survive indefinitely if we chose to stay), but only because He's there - not because of anything anyone else does or doesn't do.
On the issue of fellowship and Christian friendship, my feelings remain in an agitating blender. At Mass, I desperately want to fade into the woodwork and not have anyone focus on me - I'm there, and I always hope others are there, to meet God, and I find trying to strike up or continue friendships in the midst of Mass a distraction.
On the other hand, when walking out after Mass, we hardly know anyone (/hardly anyone knows us) and we're starving for people to just hang out with and talk about our Christian experience. Even with the folks we do know, that old Catholic "don't ask, don't tell" habit prevents the conversation from deepening to a satisfying level. If not for the old college friends and out-of-state close friends we keep in touch with, we'd perish from the loneliness.
I don't know what to do about that, except to keep trying to connect with people after Mass and at study groups and potlucks, etc. And to keep up with my treasured old friends - they're more precious to me now than they ever were.
Kathleen:
I usually come away from reading liturgical discussions at Amy's with a headache and a feeling that by the lights of most posting there, I'm not even remotely pure enough to be part of the Church at all.
And it has nothing to do with orthodoxy or faithfulness or even style of liturgical celebration. (I mean, I'm just fine with people who want it having *unlimited* access to the Tridentine Mass or the Byzantine rite or whatever. I *like* the fact that there are 21 rites in the Catholic Church.)
But I am sick to death of the all consuming liturgical wars that foster division, ill will and paranoia, clericalize the laity faster than anything else I've ever encountered, and obscure practically everything else in the church's life, history, spirituality, teaching, and mission.
As for changing parishes,you gave it your best shot. Feel free to go to that new parish with a clear conscience. The Church doesn't prohibit it. You are liberty to do so.
I realize that you are speaking as a music minister when you say "At Mass, I desperately want to fade into the woodwork and not have anyone focus on me."
Since I've never done (and couldn't do!) anything like that, I don't know exactly what it is like.
I've served many Masses and spoken at a few but it simply never occured to me to worry about somehow intruding personally. I was always in too much of a panic about possibly forgetting my blocking and my lines, I think, to be that self-conscious. I'm just naturally incompetent at complex physical motions of any kind and find it almost impossible to pray or think about anything else when I have to perform one.
For me, relationship with others in life in general and at Mass makes it possible to better relate to God. I may be eccentric but I actually like it when the celebrant says " good morning" which is no more intrusive than a polite "good morning" from a stranger.
I don't find the personal element distracting at all. It makes the Mass come alive. I'm speaking only for myself here but find Mass without that human dimension dry and depressing.
Even confessing such a simple, human thing here feels unfaithful and dangerous. That's how worn down by the liturgy wars I've become. You begin to think of yourself as heterdox and immoral just because you are responding like a perfectly ordinary extroverted feeler.
Without a general culture of intentional discipleship, no genuine Christian community will develop because most Catholics will continue to show up only long enough to fulfill their obligation.
I'm glad that you are coming to our gathering on Christian community on August 31. We need to hear your voice!
I made a big mistake a couple weeks ago. I dropped in on a church in the denomination in which I was raised as a kid.
Oh woe is me. The church is, of course, way, way smaller than the average Catholic parish but that was at best unimportant. But the beautiful hymns, the participation of the congregation, the warm, scripture-centered sermon, the connection I felt, the way the pastor really, really acted like a shepherd to his flock (much harder for the average priest in his megaparish to do). The fact that some of the layfolk actually enjoy discussing theology and other faith matters.
Should have never done it. I'm feeling the pull. The last ten years as a Catholic have left me with a longing that just won't go away.
My (lapsed) Catholic husband told me ten years ago when I converted to Catholicism "you're not gonna like it."
Sigh.
Thanks so much for your encouragement, Sherry.
I think part of the difficulty is trying to get our sea legs in the midst of both the apathy and the extremism that's out there on these issues.
Me, I've been to a Tridentine rite Mass one time, and it was - well, different. Nice. Okay, I guess. It felt a little weird to be singing at times when I was used to speaking and listening to others sing at times when I was used to singing. Honestly, I don't have a dog in the fight over Tridentine v. Novus Ordo, etc. The Eastern rites intrigue me.
I think my experiences have oversensitized me to the "contemporary worship" model, though - especially regarding music. For the last five years in my parish, we've done nothing but OCP/uptempo music, no chant psalms or hymns at all, I've been encouraged to improvise and emote as I cantor, etc. Perhaps it's partly post-traumatic stress from my pressured evangelical days.
But, on the other hand, "good morning" is fine, congregational additions to the Prayers of the Faithful at small daily Masses is cool, I like holding hands during the Our Father. Some of those who agree with my attitude toward liturgical music would be aghast that I'm not filled with revulsion at these other things. And I'm, like, "What?"
I agree, it's wearing. It sure helps to talk about it openly, though. :^) Looking forward to the CO gathering!
Anomynous...seek out a group within the Church..the fellowship you desire is there it is not often parish based though.
I am leaving in a few minutes to go on a retreat with Lay Dominicans from my chapter and region. We often get together to share our faith and pray. Sometimes offically, other times unofficially. There are many groups like this in the Church that have the fellowship you crave: Regnum Christi, Opus Dei, Francican Secular Order, etc. THere was a post here on Intentional Disciples a while ago.
Volunteer to start a Bible Study group or a faith sharing group. Maybe YOU are the one to offer the great gift of providing a forum where folks can learn of the joy of learning and speaking and most impotantly living their faith in community with others.
The Catholic Church is not set up to enter people's private lives. Folks are not going to knock on the door and say, "Have you been coming to mass? Have you been sharing your faith."
Is there adoration? Start going. The folks there are serious about their faith. Overtime you will get to recognize each other and probably will strike up a conversation.
Check out other parishes if yours seems not likely to change. I attend masses at a lot of parishes and no two are alike. There are many parishes where everyone is really focused and participating fully.
Maybe God's put this hunger in you not to return to the other church for you can get but to seek it out and, even, give in the Catholic Church.
And nothing beats God fully present in the Eucharist.
I spent the first 30 years of my life with the Eucharist as the main source of everything..and in a deep way God in the Eucharist was enough. I think it is true for a lot of Catholics. The externals may be missing but I'd argue that most of the folks in the pews are not coming back to be bored. That they are connected to God deeply in the Eucharist. That they have a deep unshared faith life and they are just waiting for someone to open the door and let the rest of the world see what wonders God has been working unseen.
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