Some Wear Clerics

Oy.

Here is the text version.

Here is the video version.

AMDG,

-J.

Jesuit Jubilee-ing

To celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the death of Matteo Ricci, SJ, the Vatican has instructed there be a Jubilee of one of the greatest ever missionaries.

Here's more.

AMDG,

-J.

Fr. Z and NCR and Georgetown and Jesuits

Having opined freely on the editorial in America (see yesterday's entries) Fr. Z discusses Fr. John P. Langan, SJ's piece here.

Fr. Z is not a fan of nuance.

AMDG,

-J.           

Jesuits & President Obama

After a well-deserved sabbatical, we are back -- as you may plainly see from this recent flurry -- dealing with all manner of current-event Jesuitness.

The flavor of the moment in this regard is the President. The more, er, official means of communication of the Society of Jesus in the USA tend to be somewhat more favorably disposed to the President and his commencement address at Notre Dame, but every once in a while a different note is sounded.

This is the case with Fr. Edward T. Oakes, SJ writing over at First Things.

One of the tropes of this discussion, frequently mentioned by those generally in favor of the Notre Dame/President Obama situation, is that we must dialogue with those with whom we disagree and, since the President is so right on pretty much everything else, we must seek to convert him on the issue of abortion.

So, asks Father, how likely is that?

AMDG,

-J.

Fr. Z and America Magazine's editorial

Those among our readership who have taken an interest on the way Jesuits have reacted to the Notre Dame/President Obama controversy might want to glance over at Fr. Z's blog, for his reaction to an editorial printed in America Magazine.

AMDG,

-J.           

Jesuits on ND/President Obama thing

This from Bp. George V. Murry, SJ of Youngstown, OH.

[all bold emphases are Murry's, and all italic emphases mine]

AMDG,

-J.

The recent announcement by Notre Dame University that President Barack Obama would be this year’s commencement speaker and receive an honorary degree has generated a substantial amount of comment. At root is the request made by the American Catholic bishops some years ago to the presidents of Catholic colleges and universities that they not give a platform to or honor those persons who took public positions contrary to the teaching of the Church.

The protection and defense of all human life from conception to natural death is both a fundamental and essential tenet of our faith. As Pope John Paul II wrote in his encyclical, The Gospel of Life, because of the teachings found in the Scriptures and the example of Jesus Christ, we as Catholics have an “inescapable responsibility of choosing to be unconditionally pro-life.”

While I greatly respect the office of President of the United States and the historic achievement of Mr. Obama, his polices to date have not recognized the intrinsic value of the life of the unborn. In politics, one cannot functionally separate a politician from his polices. Mr. Obama’s policies of expanding the availability of abortion at home and exporting that availability overseas have demonstrated that he does not believe that the life of the unborn is very important. As a result, I cannot but be deeply disturbed by the decision made by the president and board of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame is a Catholic university. Universities are places where there is a free exchange of ideas for the purpose of learning. Notre Dame is also a Catholic university, which means that its intellectual foundation is built on fundamental moral principles. Remove those moral principles and you remove the word “Catholic” from an organization’s self-definition.

As a Catholic university and the premier Catholic university in the nation, Notre Dame should be in the forefront of protecting all human life in word and deed. It is not sufficient for the university’s administration to issue a statement that they do not agree with President Obama’s positions on life issues while at the same time giving him an opportunity to stand before the graduates and receive a prestigious honorary degree. That is the contradiction Notre Dame has failed to resolve and what, I believe, is at the heart of this controversy.

Notre Dame is a great university. Mr. Obama has done much to be commended, especially in his genuine concern for the poor and needy among us. Since Mr. Obama probably will be the graduation speaker, I hope and pray that the leadership of the university, its president and chair of the board, will seize this opportunity to help the President to see the inalienable right to life of every human being and invite him to courageously defend that right along with us as we journey On the Road to Jerusalem.

Boston College & The WSJ

The following is offered as a public service of SWC's Ruling Junta, without commentary.

AMDG,

-J.

The Wall Street Journal

April 28, 2009 -- 4:43 p.m.

By JAMES TARANTO

It Takes One to Know One
"Harvard Law professor Mary Ann Glendon, one of the most prominent Catholic conservative intellectuals in the United States, announced yesterday that she would refuse a prestigious award from the University of Notre Dame rather than appear on the same platform on which President Obama is being awarded an honorary degree," the Boston Globe reports.

The Globe notes that not all Catholics are unhappy with Notre Dame's plan to give the president an honorary degree:

"There are some well-meaning people who think Notre Dame has given away its Catholic identity, because they have been caught up in the gamesmanship of American higher education, bringing in a star commencement speaker even if that means sacrificing their values, and that accounts for some of this," said the Rev. Kenneth Himes*, chairman of theology department at Boston College. "But one also has to say that there is a political game going on here, and part of that is that you demonize the people who disagree with you, you question their integrity, you challenge their character, and you brand these people as moral poison. Some people have simply reduced Catholicism to the abortion issue, and, consequently, they have simply launched a crusade to bar anything from Catholic institutions that smacks of any sort of open conversation."

Now read this 2006 Associated Press dispatch:

Nearly 100 faculty members at Boston College have signed a letter objecting to the college's decision to award Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice an honorary degree.

The letter entitled "Condoleezza Rice Does Not Deserve a Boston College Honorary Degree," was written by the Rev. Kenneth Himes. . . .

"On the levels of both moral principle and practical moral judgment, Secretary Rice's approach to international affairs is in fundamental conflict with Boston College's commitment to the values of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions and is inconsistent with the humanistic values that inspire the university's work," the letter said.

Himes, it seems, is an expert on demonization.

* Fr. Mark Mossa, SJ suggests we clarify that Fr. Himes is not a Jesuit.

Liturgical Jesuitness.

In which we notice that people who disagree are starting to talk to each other for a change.

Over at The Catholic Herald, Alcuin Reed has a review of a book by Fr. John Baldovin, SJ. The book's title Reforming the Liturgy: A Response to the Critics, would seem -- I don't want to leap to conclusions here -- to tip Father's hand as regards his opinion on matters liturgical.

The good news, according to Reed is that

"[Fr.] Baldovin does not seek a fight. He wishes to treat the critics with 'respect' and he 'would not have written this book if [he] had thought that the critics had nothing to offer.' This augurs well for serious, charitable discussion of the vital issues at stake, for the liturgy is the 'source and summit' of the entire life of the Church."

According to the review, this book

"...is a summary of some of the major critiques which makes a few pertinent observations en route. [Fr. Baldovin] groups the critics into the philosophical, the historical, the theological and the sociological / anthropological."

Here comes the good part:

Baldovin then accuses Gamber of a "kind of 'idolatry'", asking: "What needs to take priority ... worshipping the liturgical rite or the God whom the liturgy addresses?" Such a question is either something of a cheap shot or evidence of a failure to understand the theological value and sacramental efficacy of the liturgical rites which, in Catholic theology, are by no means a matter of "mere externals".

And this is Gamber's point: in Baldovin's words Gamber is concerned that "the Missal of Paul VI represents a radical and unwarranted departure" from the tradition hitherto.

Baldovin does not dispute this. He is clear that there has been "a radical reform of the liturgy" which represents a "radical shift in Catholic theology and piety"

Go check out the review (and if you can, the book).

AMDG,

-J.

Funny how that happens.

In which we tip our hats to Insight Scoop.

We're wildly disappointed, though it'd be paltering with the truth to say we're surprised.

More fun from the University of San Francisco.

Oy.

AMDG,

-J.

In other news.

 Last night was Confirmation* at our parish.

The Sacrament was administered** by H.E. Lawrence J. Burke, SJ, Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston, Jamaica.

To be utterly frank, I had never heard Word One about him, so I had no idea what to think. Going by what I experienced last night, I am both moved and impressed. More on that in a subsequent post, but suffice it to say that, absent any late breaking news, Abp. Burke will be getting the highly coveted Action Jesuit® designation. Not as snappy as a Cardinal's red hat, but a fine consolation prize.

At any rate, one of the things Abp. Burke revealed in his stellar homily -- wherein he strenuously exhorted the youngsters to always think and feel with the Church -- was that he had developed colon cancer and it had metastasized to his liver and lungs.

So, basically, this post's purpose is to ask you to pray for his recovery.

Pray for it right now, s'il vous plait. And keep him in your prayers.

AMDG,

-J.

* One of them, anyway. There are usually too many kids, so it's broken into two, sometimes three, groups.

** He endeared himself to me by issuing the nearly-forgotten "mild slap on the cheek" to the confirmandi.

Hitting the big-time

Our old pal, Fr. Mark Mossa, SJ has hit the Catholic blogospheric jackpot. He has received a positive notice over at Fr. Z's, and the combox -- keep in mind there are always a few nuts among the squirrels -- is also equally bright and cheery on the matter.

It's all here.

AMDG,

-J.           

Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, SJ's Easter Vigil Homily

As usual, [translation] is mine.

AMDG,

-J.

These good women rose very early to go anoint Jesus' dead body.  They loved Him a great deal.  They were convinced: "He is dead."  It was finished.  End of story.  A pretty illusion had ended.  "Let's face life and continue as best we are able..." Yet love carried them.  They were worried about who would open the grave for them: a [huge] round stone had been rolled to cover the opening of the grave.  That worried them.  They went, talking… "Who will move this stone for us?"  We hear what the Gospel says:  It was a very large stone.  The rest we know: they found the stone had been removed, the announcement of the Angel that Jesus was alive and then they left, running [and] trembling, without saying anything to anybody, because they were scared to death. 

I was thinking, as I listened to the Gospel, of the centuries of history that, today, we have relived here, with the readings of the history of salvation, of the Jewish people, of the people of God… all those centuries of history crash and fail against a stone which seems as if nobody can move.  All the promises of the prophets, the illusions, the hopes, they end there, crashed against a stone.  And I thought that, from [these] centuries of history, we could move to our [current] life.  Our lives.  We all have our history.  Not of centuries [but] years and years of [individual] histories.  With its pros and its cons, its good and its evil...we all have ours.  And we all have Faith in Jesus. 

But I ask myself:  How many times is our Christian life -- our life of following Jesus -- nothing more than walking [around] worrying about who is going to move a [given] stone for us?  And that's how we live!  Whether this is possible, whether that is not possible..."How can I be good? How can I be better?" or "How can I fix this? or that?" Always up against a stone...which I [come to] realize I cannot move!  And this ties us down, imprisons us, does not allow us to soar!  Does not let us be ourselves!  And which, I would daresay, [even] "muddles" our [own] name! How many times [have we spent] hours, days, weeks, months and years thinking about who is going to remove the stone for me. This is failure.

When we are told:  "Look, the stone has been removed; look, that which you were seeking is alive and at your side" ...that's when fear grips us and we're off like a shot!  And we prefer the security that we get from pondering who will move the stone for us; we prefer that to the insecurity of having Him alive at our side!  When we are [to be] inspired each moment by a creative, audacious, new thing! That we are [to be] inspired by the life of the Resurrected [Christ].

Today, looking at the pondering of these women, let us examine on the musings of our life.  Let us examine if we are [truly] convinced the stone has already been rolled [aside] and inside there is nobody.  "Yes, Father [Cdl. Bergoglio doesn't like being called "Your Eminence" or anything other than "Father." - J.], we are all convinced."

[Well] then, if you are convinced, tell me, why waste time wondering about who is going to remove the obstacle for you?  You have Him alive, at your side!  He has resurrected!  He is alive!  He is with us!  Instead of feeling the sadness of pondering who is going to move the stone of difficulty for you, may you [instead] feel the daze [in the sense of euphoria, not of sedation -J.] of an encounter with Him, that daze which transforms you, that daze that changes your life! 

And this night we ask Jesus, each one of us, [both] individually and for all those who are here:  "Lord, may I feel the daze of an encounter with You, may life not entangle me with matters of secondary importance "...if this, is that, will I be able, will I not be able..." May I feel the happiness, the admiration, the joy, the daze, to know You as resurrected, alive, at my side and [to know] this is not fiction. 

Two roads remain [available] for us: Either we believe in the stone covering the grave and we ask "who is going to move it for me?" or we believe He has already left the grave and [He] is accompanying us.  What we celebrate today is this second option:  He is alive.  May we find ourselves with Him.  May we allow ourselves to be found with Him so that He may change our life. 

May it be thus. 

H.E. Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, SJ
April 11, 2009

Jesuit Feast: Mother and Queen of the Society of Jesus

h/t to His Eminence, Abp. Terrence Prendergast, SJ.

Click here to read his meditation on this feast.

AMDG,

-J.

Speaking of which...UPDATED! AGAIN! ONCE MORE!

UPDATE #3½: The estimable Fr. Robert Sirico weighs in, and Fr. Z. comments thereon. The money quotes (all emphases and comments Fr. Z.'s):

Oddly, however, although the president didn’t mind quoting Jesus without credit, [People will generally recognize a parable of Jesus.] his advance team insisted that all religious symbols be covered in the place in which he was speaking. Incredibly, Georgetown officials complied. [That is what I found so disturbing, not that the Obama administration would ask, but that Jesuits would comply!] [In fairness -- and I freely admit I may be wrong -- I don't think the decision wasn't made by a Jesuit...possibly this may be a technicality, but there you go. - J.] At the request of the White House, officials at the university placed cover over the letters IHS — the Greek abbreviation for the name of Jesus.

and

Think of it: A Catholic university was willing to cover up the name of Jesus, hide it from the cameras, because the president of the United States was coming and asked them to do so. The fact alone gives me chills.

UPDATE #2! Insight Scoop gets into the act as well.

UPDATE! There is additional weighing in-ness over at Off The Record.

The very estimable Fr. Z weighs in on the speech the President made at Georgetown.

-J.

Once more!

Abp. Terrence T. Prendergast, SJ of Ottawa has put up his April reflections on St. Paul.

As usual, much excellentness.

AMDG,

-J.

From Bauhaus to God's house...

No comment necessary.

http://www2.seattleu.edu/missionministry/chapel/galleries/blessed/

AMDG,

-J.

We like to help.

In which we exhort you to engage in commerce.

We at SWC are a tolerant bunch.

How tolerant?

So tolerant we give Action Dominican® Fr. Philip N. Powell, OP deserved airplay, especially since he has an Ignatian streak which we have been able to decode using powerful, proprietary, decryption technology.

This airplay of which we speak takes the form, today, of a freebie plug for Father's book, coming available for sale after 9/15/09.

AMDG,

-J.

"Uh oh. Now they've done it."

Most of you have seen the classic film, Fantasia, right? (Stay with me.)

If so, unless you belong to that benighted group who saw it in the late 60s while on recreational pharmaceuticals, you will certainly remember the scene where the Sorcerer's Apprentice hacks a broom to pieces as a way to stop it from ferrying water.

And then each of the splinters regenerates into a whole new broom.

Remember that?

Now, if you are a sentient human your reaction at that moment was precisely this: "Uh-oh."

Hold that thought.

So, I am meandering about, noticing the fallout of the President & Georgetown Thing on the blogosphere like so much spring flora, when my attention was arrested -- and the above reaction prompted -- by having come across this.

AMDG,

-J.       

TOO cool

Our Northernmost Action Jesuit Bishop, Abp. Terrence Prendergast, SJ of Ottawa, has a new blog!

http://archbishopterry.blogspot.com/

Go and greet him.

AMDG,

-J.           

The Name Above All But One Other Name (THIS IS A TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!)

Dawn Eden has done a great job of covering this particular atrocity, so there is no need for us to reinvent the wheel.

And what is there to say?

How about this: one does not need a Jesuit education (I am living proof) to be able to extrapolate the pertinent verse and come up with: "If you blot my name out in front of the world, I will blot your name out in front of the Father."

I am convinced, these days, that St. Ignatius has long since given up, and is somewhere playing chess with Philip Neri. And as I said about the death of my beloved horse Mars, at least he's out of pain.