Archbishop Terrence Prendergast and Cardinal Marc Ouellet
I have had an amazing weekend, as there is a conference going on in Ottawa for young people, mostly Catholics, as part of a Eucharistic movement launched in advance of the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec. The Youth Summit, or Montee Jeunesse, began three years before the Congress and they continue to bear beautiful fruit.
Yesterday morning, I attended a mass celebrated by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada. The Archbishop of Ottawa, Terrence Prendergast concelebrated. I found it deeply moving how much love both these bishops radiated to these dynamic young people, many who came down from Quebec, a province where the Catholic Church is in deep trouble. But there is revival and renewal happening; it felt like a new Pentecost.
For standing firmly for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, Cardinal Ouellet has been scourged in the news media in recent days, called an ayatollah, painted as an extremist. One columnist even wished that he would die of a slow, painful illness. But was he beaten down? Feeling cornered? Intimidated? No, he was bouyant, joyful, brimming with love. When I jokingly addressed him as Monsieur L'ayatollah, he laughed. Beautiful, mirthful laughter.
When I interviewed him about the over-the-top reaction in his province that led to the Quebec legislature's passing a unanimous resolution affirming the "inalienable right to abortion" and asking the Parliament in Ottawa to do the same, he said he was surprised at the reaction. "I have no power," he said. "The Catholic Church has no power in Quebec."
But oh, the power of a few words of truth, spoken with courage, spoken with love. And yes, the reaction from the mainstream media and most of the public square is overwhelmingly hostile. But he does not respond in kind.
Yesterday morning, he gave a homily off the cuff — in both French and English — that was profound, and classical, in the sense that it broke open the texts, bringing them alive. Here are a few scanty highlights.
"We come here first to meet Jesus in the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist," he said, noting how the Youth Summits represent a Eucharistic movement.
"We want to meet Jesus and we want to bear witness that He is among us and gives us Life."
One text concerned Paul, who was imprisoned. "Paul is a prisoner, but he is free to evangelize. You can be in prison and evangelize. You can be completely cornered. He had no fear."
He described Jesus, nailed to the Cross, as the ultimate prisoner.
"The one nailed on the Cross, he is prisoner but he is freeing the whole of humanity; he is giving freedom and real life," he said. "This is the way of the Gospel."
"We look at Jesus with the eyes of the Spirit," he said. "Only the Spirit can give us the grace to say Jesus is my Savior."
The theme of this year's summit is "sent," having to do with mission or vocation. Ouellet said that everyone has a gift or vocation. That brought him to the other text which had to do with the question of what might happen to John and Jesus' answer, what does that have to do with you.
"Nobody is left out," Ouellet said. "We all have a personal vocation to be with Jesus."
"Some of us are called to be more publicly exposed," he said, describing Peter has being called to be in front of the flock and to speak out for the flock.
"Others are behind. John is behind. Peter is the symbol of ministry; John is the symbol of love, pure love, the loving response to the love of Jesus."
The cardinal said the secret of the Christian is to live in the love of Christ.
I know for many this for us Traditional Anglicans, this is a time of uncertainty that gives rise to jitters, perhaps even fears of what's ahead. Will we be swallowed up? Will we be forced into some liturgy that none of us likes?
My experience as a journalist covering the Catholic Church is that we will experience a sense of welcome, generosity, and a holy love that will fully enable to us to grasp that the Holy Spirit that fell on that first Pentecost still fills her Apostles today and despite the flaws of sinful men and women, she is Christ's Church.
Yesterday evening, there was a Eucharistic Procession from the cathedral in Gatineau, Quebec, to Parliament Hill, then finishing at the cathedral in Ottawa. I will put up some pictures in another post.
We are on such a grand adventure, my dear friends. It is Christ himself who is wooing us, who has, through the Holy Father, given us an engagement ring, so to speak, in Anglicanorum coetibus. The wedding plans are underway. What is happening is historic and so important. But we can trust that we will be thankful in ways we never thought possible when all is said and done and we are officially married.
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast
Related posts:
"My experience as a journalist covering the Catholic Church is that we will experience a sense of welcome, generosity, and a Holy love that will fully enable to us to grasp that the Holy Spirit that fell on that first Pentecost still fills her Apostles today and despite the flaws of sinful men and women, she is Christ’s Church."
Amen!
I attended for my first time an Anglo Catholic Mass. It was about 1 hr. and 45 minutes long compare to my usual 50 to 60 minute Roman Catholic Mass. We prayed the morning prayer before called Mattins which took an other 30 minutes. I regularly say the Divine Office as I'm a candidate for the Secular Franciscans. I prepared myself by praying the online version of the R.C. Anglican use Divine Office for today's worship. To tell you the truth, I never kneel in worship in my own church since I am a cancer survivour and on long term disability for about 15 years, am disabled and use a roller-walker and a cane to navigate. I went to Mass with my friend who is a Anglican convert and a Secular Franciscan.
I have been going a couple of times through the week to pray "Mattins" with Fr. Jim Tilley. So I thought I was prepared. Father Jim's "Mattins" was not even close to the A/C use Divine Office I had used in preparation.
I found the Mass reminding me of times long since past, when I served at Mass prayed in Latin. My body did complain but I tried to offer up the pain through most of it but near the end it was a losing battle. I look forward to the low Mass through the week. Father Tilley has 3 upcoming this week. Maybe on Wednesday and Friday it could be possible for me to attend.
In the future, I'll try to go easier on my body. There are moments in the Mass that it is appropriate that I either stand or kneel but other times the seat will there for me. I truly did force myself today to follow but when I get use to the pages for reading I will be better at it. Sometimes I find it just as good to just listen than to struggle to find my place. I did try too much today. I just felt I wold be letting Father down (when he turned around) if he found me sitting when I should be standing (kneeling). I realize I am there to worship not to compete with the able- bodied. I hope I wasn't too much of a distraction for the other worshipers.
I spent the afternoon today watching the pope's Mass from the Vatican to see if he would indeed consecrate the Anglo-Catholic bishops. I hope soon we'll be able to receive communion. To tell you the truth, I'm tempted not to wait. What harm could be down. Would I have to confess? What would I say? I know, I know, it just a thought. :–) Bad Ken.
–
Ken Patterson
Send me in coach, I want to play.
A minor point one might say, but do any Roman Catholics outside FSSP and St. Pius X wear amices any more – even with those ghastly cassock-albs that clergy wear because they don't own a real cassock?
I am sure that some do wear them David, but they are few and far between here in the states. While the Amice, as well as the maniple and biretta have been made optional they have never been formally supressed.
Deborah:
Cardinal Marc Ouellet has such a stunningly radiant smile. It must be a joy to know him.
Yes, it is joy to know him and Archbishop Prendergast, another happy warrior, who has been very kind to us Anglican Catholics here in Ottawa.