Thursday, September 13, 2007

Father General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. on "Sentire Cum Ecclesia" in the Post-Vatican II Church

Well, well, well. The things you find on the net when you Google... Here is a real rip-snorter from the Superior General of the Jesuits, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach - none other than the "Black Pope". He's due for replacement, I understand, but I don't think the "White Pope" has named one yet.

It's called "THE RULES FOR THINKING, JUDGING, FEELING IN THE POST-CONCILIAR CHURCH". He ends the essay by saying:
I have tried to suggest that the rules “sentire cum Ecclesia” are as relevant to the life of the Church of the Second Vatican Council as they were to the life of the Church in Ignatius' day, the day of the Council of Trent.


In regards to Brian Coyne's challenge to me, it virtually does the job for me. I cannot think of a single thing with which I disagree in this paper, which was presented in 2004 to the Rome Consultation of the Society of Jesus. Perhaps I will send it to Brian and ask him what there might be in it that he has difficulty with, and then address that.

In the mean time, what do you think of it? What do you think are Fr Kolvenbach's strong points? What do you think he could have said better? What do you have problems with. I'm all ears, folks.

7 Comments:

At Friday, September 14, 2007 1:53:00 am , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Father Kolvenbach's use of maternal/nuptial language is a superb reminder in countering the "institutional" paradigms that are so often used by some postconciliar Catholics to justify changes that they feel may be made on a purely human level. The Church is indeed "gratefully received from above" and fully present in this world as our "holy Mother the hierarchical Church" and intimately linked to the Incarnation (I'm praying that in the revised Roman Missal the liturgy will once again refer to the Church as "her", not "it").

The tone of the entire article with its balanced views on the reality of sin in the Church, the vocations of her members, clerical and lay, and the voice of the Spirit who speaks through and in the Church is very edifying. I came away with a parallel thought of St. Cyprian's (I think it was him) view that whoever has God for his Father must have the Church for his Mother.

I need to reread the article a few more times to get further perspectives.

 
At Friday, September 14, 2007 8:50:00 am , Blogger Schütz said...

I can assure you the new prayers will refer to the Church as "she", not "it". I say no more.

 
At Friday, September 14, 2007 12:09:00 pm , Anonymous Anonymous said...

David, that may just make ME break out in a Te Deum. I cringe every time I hear a priest praying "Lord watch over your Holy Catholic Church and guide *it* . . . .

Grrrrrrr.

 
At Friday, September 14, 2007 1:34:00 pm , Blogger Past Elder said...

Who cares what pronoun is used? It will refer to the same apostate reality. Fix that and the pronouns will take care of themselves.

 
At Friday, September 14, 2007 10:49:00 pm , Anonymous Anonymous said...

It will refer to the same apostate reality.

Past Elder -- nah!!

:-)

 
At Monday, September 17, 2007 4:28:00 pm , Blogger Athanasius said...

Christine, your comment reminds me of the old proverb: you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. The friends are a matter of volition, while the family is (hopefully) "gratefully received". Which makes sense, because we did not choose Him, He chose us.

 
At Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:14:00 am , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Which makes sense, because we did not choose Him, He chose us.

Indeed, Athanasius. Thanks.

 

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