Discontinuity Within a Greater Continuity

Pope Benedict gave us the exact key in which to understand the event of the Vatican II Council: "discontinuity within a greater continuity." This is a key to more than that council: it is the key to Church history and indeed Salvation History. The "greater continuity" is God's love, his covenant with Abraham that was renewed and enhanced with Moses, David and then fulfilled in Christ. The Church is in the habit of praying the canticle of Zechariah in the morning and the Magnificat of Mary in the evening. Each announces a surprising fulfillment of the earlier promise: a startling, serendipitous climax that perfectly accomplishes the earlier promise. "This was the oath that he swore to our father Abraham" and "he has come to the aid of Israel his servant, being mindful of his covenant, the promise that he made to Abraham and to his seed forever." There is a seamless coherence in God's work even as it is, every day, new, startling, and thrilling. So, our "maverick" new pope can only be understood as standing upon his two predecessors; who were themselves really a single-if-dual pontificate; as they emulated and developed the work of John and Paul; who were already rooted in Pius XII; and so forth. What a splendid Mystery is the Church: steady, rooted, eternal; and yet ever fresh, new and original!

Our Pope's Anger Problem

I am unaccustomed to so much negative energy from a pope. He is mad at capitalists, monsignors, pious people who count their rosaries for spiritual bouquets, cardinals who have chauffers instead of taking the bus, and people obsessed with culture war issues. He has quite a chip on his shoulder. Maybe it is his background: he comes from a Latin society that is prone to violence and extreme class consciousness and he was probably wounded, in his heart and soul, but that horrific Argentinian civil war. My problem, though, is that he has gotten my goat: I am mad that he is so mad. I am annoyed that he is harsh, moralistic and dismissive. I need to be patient with myself and with him, with my anger and with his. But more importantly, I need to surrender more deeply, every day and every hour, to the unfathomable positivity of the love of Christ, to the reality of eternal life, of the boundless steam of mercy. Have mercy upon us, Lord: Have mercy upon this pontiff, poor sinner that he is; have mercy upon me, a sinner in desperate need of you!

I Am Not Trustworthy, But My Network Is!

David DeSteno, psychologist writing in the Jan 19, 2014 "Sunday Review" of the NY Times, has it right: the self is NOT to be trusted. I cannot trust myself because my present-self is different from my future-self. For example, the resolution of my Sunday-morning-self to drink less the following Saturday night may be irrelevant to my Saturday-night-self. The self is fickle, volatile and entirely unreliable...even for those who appear to be stable and steady. What is the solution? Relationship!...and relationships...actually, a network of relationships. As a believer, my salvation is in my personal relationship with my Lord, Jesus Christ. But today I am thinking about the broader network of relationships, of which he is the foundation. A man is as good, as strong, as reliable as his NETWORK of relationships. It is this network that supports, encourages, heals, corrects, protects, guides, invigorates, inspires and shelters me. And so...If you see me as good, reliable, trustworthy...it is not due to qualities that inhere in me. It is because I am well connected with many good relationships and so I am constantly being refreshed and restored in goodness and truth. I am blessed with an awesome network: spouse and family, friendships, work connections. I am protected by a spiritual director, a (12-step-type of) sponsor, confession weekly, daily mass and adoration, and the entire sacramental network of the Catholic Church. I brag brazenly of my network. Every day I pray: "Make me trustworthy, as I place all my trust in you." I might add: "Make me trustworthy as I trust in these marvelous relationships!"

Our Brown World

In Jersey City, where I live, whites are a minority of 21% (we were about 70% when I immigrated here from Essex County in 1971), blacks (Afro-Americans) are a minority of 25%, the majority are various shades of brown (Asian, Hispanic, Arabic, and so forth.) We live in a Brown World. The black/white model no longer applies. It is all complicated, nuanced, rich, deep and fascinating. Consider: In the USA, those who inherit the genes and culture of Southern slaves are entirely different from the darker peoples who come here directly from Africa or the islands. Our current president is NOT Afro-American: his mother was a white, cosmopolitan, secular anthropologist; his father a leftist, polygamist African...that comes out to some kind of brown. George Zimmerman is not white: he would never have been admitted to a standard, racist, elite white country club. Many Afro-Americans, who in Haiti would be "whites," are actually brown...beautifully so...think Halle Berry! It is a rich, variegated, dense world we live in. The Al Sharptons of the world need to wake up, get with the times, snap out of the "racism obsession" and smell the flowers.

Invigorated, Refreshed, Enchanted, Rejuvenated...in INNOCENCE

"Loss of Innocence" read the movie poster, the words superimposed on a vague image of a gorgeous young couple in physical intimacy. Immediately, efficaciously, the image produced its intended effect: I was inflamed within by a desire to see this movie and become lost in a fantasy of alluring, passionate, illicit sexual love. A second later I thought: Wait a minute! Innocence is a good and beautiful thing! Loss of innocence...as in sin...is ugly, depressing, dreary, tired, toxic and sickly. This poster is a romantic illusion...a falsehood...but what an alluring, powerful one!!! Innocence is fresh, pure, delightful, new, hopeful,fruitful and energetic. To be alive in Christ is to be ever-refreshingly invigorated, encouraged and rejuvenated in Innocence. Every genuine act of prayer, contrition, forgiveness, generosity and piety is an event of novelty, surprise, and renewal. Such a life is an unending adventure of romance, excitement and serendipity! We have lost our innocence...but not completely. The innocence of original creation was weakened and wounded by the first sin in the garden, but not destroyed...is survives, and awaits revival. Our baptismal innocence is corrupted and weakened by every single sin, but for many of us is not annihilated, but endures, sick and impoverished, awaiting renewal. Life in Christ...communion with Him in sacrament, prayer, and companionship...is the never-ending and ever-new drama of refreshment and transformation in innocence. Our Lady is the epitome of such purity and youth...she is "younger than sin"...a fount of energy and fecundity. In union with our Vine and through the influence of our Mother, let us grow each day in innocence!

Is Pope Francis Anti-clerical?

Pope Benedict was quintessentially clerical, in the very best sense; Pope John Paul II was non-clerical, to his credit; and Pope Francis is anti-clerical, in a mostly helpful way. Let me explain: "clericalism" as I am using the term refers to the dense, complex, multi-valued culture that arises inevitably when we have a special group, a caste, set aside for special purposes with extraordinary powers, status and responsibilities. I am using it in an objective, anthropological sense: without immediate moral judgment...it is not necessarily good or bad, but is a sociological, organizational fact. As Catholics, we see that our priests are invested with greater than special or even super powers, they have supernatural power: they forgive sin and feed us the bread of eternal life, in the Word and in the Flesh. They are specially chosen: must be intelligent, male, psychologically healthy, morally exemplary and capable of providing intellectual-spiritual leadership. They receive an extended education in a protected, specialized environment. They receive immense reverence from the faithful because of who they represent (Christ himself) and what they do (give us eternal life.) And so, Catholicism essentially entails a distinctive clerical caste, culture, garb, education, and complex system of abilities, virtues, and attitudes. Fundamentally,since it is essential for the Church, clericalism is a good thing. But like all such good but human things (democracy, capitalism, marriage, government, and patriarch-properly-understood), it is subject to abuse and corruption. And so we have a negative type of clericalism: arrogance, distance from the laity, misogyny, formalism, moralism, and so forth. This, of course, breeds a reactive anti-clericalism, which is not necessarily a bad thing. A certain lighthearted, mellow, affectionate anti-clericalism is necessary for a wholesome Catholic life as it corrects and balances the tendency to treat our priests as privileged princes. When I was studying in a college-seminary, a wise man warned me that the laity systematically spoil seminarians and priests by treating them with unusual respect and engendering a quiet, unrecognized pride and arrogance. I was being innoculated with a mild, salutary "anti-clericalism" in order to strengthen in me a more humble priestly identity: it is not me, but Christ in me! I recommend that we view our new pontiff in this light: he has a personal allergy to clerical privilege, careerism, and arrogance; he has an urgent longing to be close to the poor, the alienated, the lost sheep. As a Jesuit, he is already steeped in a non-clerical, if not anti-clerical, tradition: Ignatius did not want his disciples to climb a career ladder into the hierarchy; Jesuits endure an extended time of formation, education and ministry, specifically as Jesuits, long before they are ordained. Their charism involves a muted anti-clericalism which is meant to enhance their priesthood, as a service to the baptized by de-emphasizing the caste dimension. A similar dynamic is at work in a group like the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal who embrace a blatantly, even aggressively religious and evangelical identity with priesthood a option to be considered later. The Jesuits develop, of course, their own elite, intellectual caste which is a clericalism of another sort. The liberal theology that flourished in the university and seminary after the Council entailed a hostile anti-clericalism, as the efficacy of sacrament and word was disparaged; but ironically, it was displaced by counterfeit, corrupted clericalism as priests assumed roles as self-designated "prophets" in regard to social justice and psychology became invested with salvific powers. The sexual abuses by priests were not rooted in clericalism, but in the weakness of the flesh, the sexual revolution, and the lies of Satan. But the cover-up by the bishops and their collaborators was, for many, more scandalous that the actual abuses. This scandal is rooted in clericalism: an anxiety for the reputation of the institutional Church, an exaggerated loyalty to fellow clerics, a distance from and distrust of the victims and their families, a failure to realistically evaluate the evil in clerical circles, and a failure of humility and contrition. Recent developments in our clerical culture are complex; there is a return to the sacramental, and a retreat from the political-psychological secular clericalism; later vocations mean priests with better developed personal identities already as adult laymen and therefore less vulnerable to immature types of clericalism; aspirants generally have a "thicker" appreciation of Catholicism in its counter-cultural aspects and are therefore more clerical in the classic Catholic sense; the scandal has depleted the Catholic priesthood of social status, has humiliated it and hopefully humbled it. Which brings us back to our three prototypical popes. John Paul was larger than clericalism. His identity was formed as an actor, a nationalist, a poet, a scholar, a culture-warrior, a mystic, and an activist...before his priesthood. Even his seminary training took place in hiding in Nazi-occupied Poland: hardly a cozy place of clerical privilege. He was a leader, a saint, a hero, a titan of a man...and miraculously transcended both clericalism and anti-clericalsm. Benedict, by contrast, is clerical from head to toe, in a most beautiful and exemplary way: he dresses, speaks, prays and lives a most priestly life. He does this with a most quiet humility...in contrast to the vaunted humility of Francis which is, in contrast, showy, aggressive, harsh, cocky and judgmental. His taste is classical, refined, baroque and a masterful blend of high culture, erudition and holiness. Francis is different. (Note: I have shifted to a "first-name" basis, expressing my own non-clericalism!) His is an almost Maoist identification with the poor and a hatred for privilege: in the clergy, in capitalists, and in cultural warriors who come across as preachy, superior, and moralistic. This can all be disheartening for our priests, hard working entrepreneurs, and champions of marriage and the unborn. But I prefer to take it in a more positive light: as a correction of our inevitable tendencies to pride; as a purification; as a call to humility. Let us all...priests, conservatives, businessmen...enter our plea: "We are guilty as charged, as charged by our scrutinizing pope!!! We are not humble, not in love with the poor, not generous enough!!!We repent!!!" If we place the three pontiffs in union with each other...in a hermeneutic of continuity...we see Catholic clericalism in all its mystery, depth and richness...its sinfulness and weakness, its splendor and truth, and its transcendence, sanctification and illumination by the humble high priest, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Joy of Evangelizing

The recent Apostolic Exhortation from Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, is inspired and inspiring, delightful and thrilling. It burns passionately with love for Christ, our Lord and Savior, and for the poor. It practically explodes with evangelical fervor. It is single-minded and resolutely focused on The Essential: love for our Lord, and love for the brother and sister. It is firmly, unambiguously in continuity with previous pontiffs: There are 217 footnotes, all from popes, the Second Vatican Council or classics like Augustine and Aquinas. Direct quotations from John Paul and Benedict may number close to 100. This is no maverick pope! Sections of it are worthy of spiritual reading and meditation; others are striking for their originality and provocativeness. For example, he notes that as we go forth to evangelize the poor, we are ourselves evangelized by their responsiveness, faith, patience and love. No ecclesiastical triumphalism here! Just the victory of the Cross! The section on homily preparation must be required reading for all priests. John Paul is quoted: "To be human is to be son of a culture and father of a culture." Now that is something to mull over. He is visceral in his disgust for the culture of affluence and consumerism, indifference to the poor and social inequality. But this is entirely in accord with previous papal statements, not to mention the rage of the prophets, Church fathers and Jesus himself. He identifies abortion as a moral abomination and matter-of-factly indicates that woman priests is not open to discussion and explains why in a succinct manner. It is appropriately labeled an "exhortation" and does not pretend to be a complete teaching. Like all things human, it is limited and finite; just as its author, our dear sweet Vicar of Christ, is himself limited and finite. This man is a lover, a zealot, a man on fire with the Holy Spirit. He does not have the depth, breath, sophistication, nuance and "catholicity" manifest in his two brilliant predecessors. In his admirable single-mindedness, he pays scant attention to dramatic, significant realities: the absolute need, of the poor especially, for a cult of sexual fidelity and chastity; the primacy of worship and liturgy, even over mission; ambiguous, not univocally evil, nature of global capitalism and the need for a complicated, nuanced, social ethic of subsidiarity as well as solidarity; the ominous alliance of the expansive state and an imperial ethos of sexual license; and our own emergent, promising friendship with evangelical and pentecostal streams of Christianity. We will want to become inflamed with his zeal, and complement that with the wisdom of his two predecessors.