An article by Peregrinations, from his blog.
At the Canadian Ordinariate Conference this weekend, Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP was enormously helpful in his patient and scholarly explanation of how the Church in England, and by extension the Anglican Communion, experienced trauma – the “breaking of the jar” – in the 16th century Western schism of the Church. Now the difficult and groundbreaking effort of mending the jar has begun with the inauguration of ordinariates for Anglicans who represent one shard of the broken vessel.
The inauguration in January of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in the UK signifies, Fr. Nichols said, bringing the Anglican shard together with the Recusant shard – those who maintained communion with the Western or Latin Rite of the Church from the 16th through the 20th century.
In his presentations at the conference and just before the celebration of the first-ever Anglican Use Mass in Canada by Fr. Phillips of San Antonio, the esteemed Dominican scholar and godfather of the Anglican Ordinariates laid out a magisterial view of how the coming together of Latin and Anglo Catholics in the UK is a landmark event embodying the grace of God in the restoration of Catholicism – an eschatalogical sign and foreshadowing of the Parousia, when all will be restored and united in God.
Using the image of the end of time and the fulfillment which is embodied in the Parousia, Fr. Nichols evoked and expanded upon the theme of healing at this historic gathering of Anglicans and Catholics from Canada, the UK, US and Australia. Hosted by Archbishop Collins of Toronto, the meeting allowed time for reflection upon the unfolding process for the erection of North American ordinariates.
While acknowledging the many and various reasons for this call of God to Anglicans articulated by Pope Benedict XVI, Archbishop Collins emphasized that Anglicanorum Coetibus is a response to requests made to the Holy See over the past 40 years by groups of Anglicans desiring to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church with essentials of their patrimony intact. The groundbreaking Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus, provides for just such a reception. Aspects of the document were examined and the process laid out for individual reception of Anglicans within groups in Canada.
After careful instruction and examination of conscience, individuals will apply for reception as members of identifiable groups or parishes. This process in Canada will continue in a material and programmatic way after May 31 when the initial number of groups and individuals has been determined. In the Fall, the first wave of groups will begin final preparation for reception. Other groups and individuals will follow when they are ready. It was emphasized that there is no “sell before date”, so the offer for entry into full communion will remain open indefinitely. As one delegate put it, this constitution, the highest level of law in the Church, is for the ages.
Anglican deacons, priests and bishops will be individually assessed by the Holy See after submission of dossiers to determine what ministry they may be called to in the new ordinariates. Some married clergy may be ordained as deacons and some later as priests following their initial reception into ordinariates. Only celibate men will be considered for ordination as bishops in keeping with the universal practice of the Church in the East and West.
Fr. Nichols outlined the ecclesiology. This representative group of Anglican Catholics coming back into full communion with the Latin (Roman) Church represents the totality of Anglicans and is a sign of restoration, healing and hope in the universal Church and so in the Kingdom of God. It is a healing for both parts of the Church and will stand as an encouragement to Lutherans and many other Christians who long to fulfill our Lord’s prayer “that they all may be one”.
Fr. Christopher Phillips, pastor of Our Lady of the Atonement, in his two presentations outlined how the Anglican Use parishes in the U.S. over the past 30 years, have shown that the Anglican patrimony once received into the Catholic Church finds its natural home and begins to flourish to the benefit of those coming into full communion and to the wider Catholic Church. The cross-pollination that is accomplished embellishes and strengthens the witness to Christ by the Church, even as it offers healing and so enlivens the wider society and culture.
This exciting new enterprise has been blessed in San Antonio and elsewhere with dynamic growth. The Church of Our Lady of the Atonement has grown exponentially, adding two schools to a parish which now contains hundreds of families.
Archbishop Collins concluded the conference, enthusiastically endorsing the development of a Canadian Ordinariate in close association with U.S. Anglican Use parishes as they move into the U.S. Ordinariate within the next year. He described the gift that Anglican patrimony is to the wider Church and then laid out details for the first steps in implementation. The three speakers then concluded the conference with a panel responding to questions. The panel and the various presentations were recorded by Salt and Light TV and will be available from them soon.
In terms of the Anglican Church of Canada, two groups are hoping to be received into the Anglican Ordinariate upon its establishment by the CDF: the parish of St John the Evangelist, Calgary, and the first Toronto ordinariate group has just put up a website and will soon announce a location to begin meetings on Sunday afternoons.
Related posts:
"The Cracked Jar – Healing the Western Church"
Really like Father Aidan's analogy. Very appropriate and hope it is one of the talks that will be available on "SALT AND LIGHT", and thanks for reminding me about their on-line presence. I had them bookmarked previously and watched several programs , then had a computer glitch and lost everything. Now I can restore them.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014597022_jesuit26m.html
There is still an elephant in the room. This issue lost the ACA for Hepworth. Speaking of whom, like Moses, it doesn't look like he'll be crossing the river into the promised land.
This issue lost the ACA for Hepworth.
Utter rubbish. Divorced and remarried oath breaking bishops too fond of the episcopal purple is what split the ACA. As for Archbishop Hepworth he has stated time and again that he will be going over no matter what, whether as a layman (as is probable) or otherwise.
I completely agree. At least two of the three ACA dissenting bishops would not even qualify as priests in the ordinariate.
I would like to retract the foregoing comment as it was posted in haste without due reflexion.
HUH? What does this have to do with anything? Jesuits v. Hepworth? U R 2 strange.
J.M.J.
Herb -
I don't know what elephant you are speaking about. If one believes what The Church teaches, particularly as contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and most specifically at #819 and #2089 – this is an easy choice.
It's not about what may be the meaning for personal pride and personal agendas.
Our Archbishop may well loose much personally, nevertheless he has set his personal pride aside for the good of The Church, and that is a profound cause of inspiration and encouragement for many of us.
He may or may not serve in the clerical state in the Ordinariate. As an example to all of us, he has not predicated his unequivical support of the Ordinariate for what it may mean for him personally.
SWR
From "Meditations and Devotions" by Blessed John Henry Newman -
Let us pray for the unity of the Church and the reconciliation and peace of all Christians.
"O Lord Jesus Christ, who, when Thou wast about to suffer, didst pray for Thy disciples to the end of time that they might all be one, as Thou art in the Father, and the Father in Thee, look down in pity on the manifold divisions among those who profess Thy faith, and heal the many wounds which the pride of man and the craft of Satan have inflicted upon Thy people. Break down the walls of separation which divide one party and denomination of Christians from another. Look with compassion on the souls who have been born in one or other of these various communions which not Thou, but man hath made. Set free the prisoners from these unauthorised forms of worship, and bring them all into that one communion which thou didst set up in the beginning, the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Teach all men that the see of St. Peter, the Holy Church of Rome, is the foundation, centre, and instrument of unity. Open their hearts to the long-forgotten truth that our Holy Father, the Pope, is thy Vicar and Representative; and that in obeying Him in matters of religion, they are obeying Thee, so that as there is but one holy company in heaven above, so likewise there may be but one communion, confessing and glorifying Thy holy Name here below. "{190}
To say that Archbishop Hepworth has lost the ACA is putting a nice spin on what you wish would happen. But, the truth is that only part of the ACA bishops have bailed out on their commitment to unity. The three bishops that are now planning to be in communion with the APA do not make up the entire House of Bishops of the ACA. And the fact of the matter is that the majority of the HOB have remained faithful to their commitment to seek unity with the Catholic Church. It must also be remembered that there are a pretty good number of clergy and missions/parishes of the ACA that are following their faithful bishops across the Tiber.
Yes, it's true that the percentage of ACA missions/parishes/clergy that have chosen to remain behind outweighs the number who will cross the bridge to Rome at this time, but the percentage of those who will follow their bishop's to Rome is no small number considering the actual size of the entire ACA (which in total equals approximately one or two Catholic parishes).
So, to say that the ACA is lost to the TAC is simply not true. You ought to state all of the facts when you think of making such derogatory statements, instead of just presenting only the part of the truth that fits your agenda.
To be generous, it may be the case that you don't know all of the facts surrounding this issue and that is why you make such incomplete statements. But, if that is the case, I would suggest you work harder to find the whole truth before you try to publicly persuade others to join you in your opposition of the inevitable unity that will be achieved.
Father Siegel,
Your response to Herb is excellent. He would well to reflect on it.
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=14167
Those who live in glass houses should refrain from throwing rocks.
Herb, we know you are staying put. Stay with our prayers and well wishes. This negative fixation on those that are leaving is doing you no good. It harms your soul and makes you appear foolish. Pray for us as we pray for you and let us part and walk the path the Holy Spirit is leading us down.
Fr. Mark
Those links are indeed depressing. To me they serve as a call for good and faithful people to get involved…not to stand back and boo and hiss. What the Jesuits need are humble and holy men to rediscover the spirituality of St. Ignatius and really live it. What Manchester Cathedral needs are parishioners who will fill the nave to overflowing in prayer and worship. The godless, weak-kneed and sissy bishops (of every stripe) will one day come under scrutiny from a much Higher Authority…and true justice will be served for allowing sin to flourish in their fold. Until then we must all do what we can: to pray for priests, religious, bishops, that they may remain true to their vocation, and to Jesus first of all. Also pray that certain bishops would learn what the non-curved end of their crosier is to be used for… over the heads of lavender scented clerics…
J.M.J.
Father Siegel -
Very well said. There are two camps not entering the Ordinariate in the first wave.
The first are those honestly trying to disscern the right path forward, and it is incumbant upon us all to pray not only for their spiritual support, but also for the increase of their faith to help them seek Unity with the Successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ.
The second group is more problematic. They have rejected Unity with the Holy See – they are therefore schismatic and there is not a lot more to be said than to pray for the good of their souls to come to understand the truth that The Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in The Catholic Church and is governed by the Sucessor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him.
Archbishop Hepworth is being used by the schismatic opposition as a red herring to draw attention away from the core issues.
Our Archbishop has demonstrated a greater witness by his humble and faithful commitment to this process than will ever be fully recognized or appreciated by the opposition. His trophy may well not be in this world, but surely in the world to come.
SWR
Sean,
You wrote: There are two camps not entering the Ordinariate in the first wave.
The first are those honestly trying to disscern the right path forward, and it is incumbant upon us all to pray not only for their spiritual support, but also for the increase of their faith to help them seek Unity with the Successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ.
The second group is more problematic. They have rejected Unity with the Holy See – they are therefore schismatic and there is not a lot more to be said than to pray for the good of their souls to come to understand the truth that The Church, constituted and organized as a society in the present world, subsists in The Catholic Church and is governed by the Sucessor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him.
Yes, I perceive this analysis to describe the situation pretty well.
Within the first group, there are undoubtedly many who simply need more time to discern, prayerfully, where God is leading them. Many of these will come to the ordinariates when they are ready.
Within those we perceive to be the second group, there may also be many who perceive that the ordinariates are not exactly what they had envisioned (undoubtedly some expected that the Traditional Anglican Communion would become a sui juris ritual church within the Catholic Church), some who fear that the mingling of several Anglican groups in the ordinariate for the United States will diminish their version of the Anglican Patrimony, and some who are fundamentally apprehensive about the ability of "ordinariates" to preserve the Anglican patrimony for future generations. Undoubtedly some of these individuals will reconsider when they see how the ordinariates and their parishes actually function within the Catholic Church.
It's also going to be very interesting to see how the bishops and parishes of the Anglican Church in America (ACA) who are going to the Anglican Province of America (APA) get along in that body, founded out of rejection of the Oxford Movement. There's also the reality that they have very similar diocesan boundaries, and I don't foresee the diocesan bishops of either body giving up their offices. This may not be the "marriage made in heaven" for which they are hoping.
And in any case, we need to pray fervently for those members of the ACA who are not joining the ordinariate.
Norm.
"There's also the reality that they have very similar diocesan boundaries, and I don't foresee the diocesan bishops of either body giving up their offices. This may not be the "marriage made in heaven" for which they are hoping."
What two of the three "refusenik" ACA bishops have in common with many, if not most, of the APA bishops, is that they are divorced-and-remarried men, and, as such, would not be able ever to aspire to any "clerical status" in any Anglican Ordinariat. That is the genuine "elephant in the room."
William,
You wrote: What two of the three "refusenik" ACA bishops have in common with many, if not most, of the APA bishops, is that they are divorced-and-remarried men, and, as such, would not be able ever to aspire to any "clerical status" in any Anglican Ordinariat.
That's not necessarily true. They would have to obtain decrees of nullity for their prior attempts at marriage from competent Catholic tribunals before the Catholic Church would consider their dossiers, but it typically is not too difficult to find a basis that will "stick" when a marriage fails.
Of course, the process does take time — typically a year or two — because most of the tribunals of the dioceses in the United States have a pretty substantial backlog of pending cases.
That is the genuine "elephant in the room."
It's more likely that either the time required for the process or the misperception that getting a decree of nullity would be too difficult for one reason or another is the real elephant in the room.
But in any case, that's between what you call the "refusenik" bishops and God. They are the ones who will have to answer to the eternal Father for their actions.
Norm.