November 13, 2012      Martin Mallon  (Ireland)      Martin's previous articles

      RICHARD McBRIEN ON POPE JOHN XXIII’S OPENING
        ADDRESS TO THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL  

Fr. Richard McBrien, the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, has a timely and informative article in the NCR on Pope John XXIII’s Opening Address to the Second Vatican Council. As McBrien points out the Pope wanted the Council to leave the Church in the position where it could "look to the future without fear." This has not been achieved as has been demonstrated by the apostolic visitation to the LCWR in the U.S. together with the silencing of priests and Ordinatio Sacradotalis.  

McBrien then states that the Pope:  

…launched into his oft-quoted criticism of unnamed curial officials who are burdened, he said, with a negative, pessimistic view of the world and of the future of the church.  

"In the daily exercise of our pastoral office, we sometimes have to listen, much to our regret, to voices of persons who, though burning with zeal, are not endowed with too much of discretion or measure."  

The pope referred to these curial critics as "prophets of gloom, who are always forecasting disaster, as though the end of the world was at hand."  

This attitude is displayed by today’s curia and many of their orthodox supporters. Thankfully, McBrien shows how the Pope countered this pessimism and establishes that it was, and is, misplaced:  

Over against their pessimism, the pope insisted: "In the present order of things, Divine Providence is leading us to a new order of human relations which ... are directed toward the fulfillment of God's superior and inscrutable designs. And everything, even human differences, leads to the greater good of the Church."  

 Based on the Pope’s Address, McBrien emphasises that the purpose of the Council was not to safeguard the deposit of faith:  

"For this," the pope insisted, "a council was not necessary. ... The substance of the ancient doctrine of the Deposit of Faith is one thing, and the way it is presented is another." It is the latter,  he argued, that needs to be taken into great consideration by a magisterium that must always be "predominantly pastoral in character."  

Interestingly, the Pope states that the Church “prefers” mercy, not severity  

 “Nowadays, however, the spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than of severity. She considers that she meets the needs of the present day by demonstrating the validity of her teaching rather than by condemnations."  

Unfortunately not! She does not or cannot demonstrate the validity of some teachings, such as the prohibition of ordination of women to the priesthood, so she condemns, silences and censors those who question such teachings, contrary to John XXIII’s clear request.  

The number of Catholics who worry about the rise of secularism, relativism or some other -ism never ceases to amaze. Unfortunately this is encouraged by Rome . The Church has always faced persecution and exterior threats, but the most serious threats have always come from within, our lack of unity, compassion, understanding and mercy. We did not and do not listen to each other. Dissent is crushed not “by demonstrating the validity of her teaching”, but by condemnations and sanctions.  

No wonder we had the great schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, which is still an open sore today, and then the Reformation. Jesus wept and weeps. We did not and do not love as Christ insisted and exhibited. Thus it would seem that the "prophets of gloom” are correct.

 But wait! Did not Jesus die for us and rise from the dead so that we might live in joy with Him forever; is not the victory won? Jesus has sent and is continually sending the Holy Spirit to guide us. John XXIII understood all of this when he dismissed the "prophets of gloom”  and asserted, as quoted above, that:  

"In the present order of things, Divine Providence is leading us to a new order of human relations which ... are directed toward the fulfillment of God's superior and inscrutable designs. And everything, even human differences, leads to the greater good of the Church."  

Pope Benedict XVI wrote an excellent encyclical on hope, Spe Salvi, yet not enough hope is shown in the Church’s dealings with and attitude to “the present order of things.”  

A telling conclusion by John XXIII is quoted by McBrien:  

 He concluded: "This council now beginning rises in the Church like daybreak, a forerunner of most splendid light. It is now only dawn."  

As Fr McBrien concludes, this statement by Pope John XXIII was prophetic and is inspiring today for those who hope to see the teachings and spirit of Vatican II implemented in the future:  

Vatican II was to be "the beginning of a new day," the pope pointed out, "not its climax."  

Fifty years is not a long time in the history of the church. "It is now only dawn," Pope John XXIII reminded us.  

There is always time for the Holy Spirit, with our help, to ensure that John XXIII’s desire comes to fruition and results in the Church being in a  position where it could "look to the future without fear."  

Fr McBrien’s article can be found here  

Pope John XXIII - Address at the Opening of Vatican Council II,
11 October 1962 can be found here