Scottish Catholic Observer

I have had a very interesting summer. I have attended a number of conferences in various countries, sometimes as a speaker, but absorbing some fascinating insights into our Catholic Church and its position in the contemporary world. Some of these gatherings have addressed the issue of Liturgy, but within the context of the many other aspects of the Church’s life.

One of these conferences grew out of a movement of ordinary, faithful Catholics who successfully challenged the ‘re-ordering’ of some churches under the aggressive guidance of liturgical ‘experts’—you know the types, ‘these churches may have been built by Pugin, but had he been alive after the Second Vatican Council, he would have done it this way,’ and so on. I wish there had been more brave people like these back in the 1960s and 1970s when real cataclysmic damage was done to Catholic Churches all over the place, in the name of some faulty and transient misreading of the council’s documents. At least we are lucky enough to have bishops like Archbishop Mario Conti, who has been careful to maintain the aesthetic beauty of our buildings.

Things are gradually changing again however, and some balance and wisdom is being restored to the Church’s understanding of these matters. Pope Benedict XVI has been a major figure in this. That is why his visit to this country next week will be such a momentous and significant experience in the renewal of Catholic orthodoxy in these parts.

Some might say that the new wave of trainee priests are more ‘conservative,’ some others might simply say they are in the process of finding the full implication of our Catholic roots and archetypes. Whatever is the case, I am encouraged that this reawakening is bringing a new energy to a Church in great need of revival.

For too long now agendas have been set and manipulated by those with no love of the true Catholic paradigm. Church guidance, not just on issues of architecture, ritual and music, but in the wider context of Faith and morals, it has been argued, has drifted aimlessly in the hands of some, who saw Vatican II as an opportunity to transform the Church along more ‘protestant’ lines, being prone to a more popular, secular influence.

However, the 1970s have gone. ‘The golden age of dissent,’ when it seemed possible that the Church could have been hijacked by those pursuing the abolition of clerical celibacy, the ordination of women and the ‘informed-Catholics,’ is waning. Those who marry the spirit of the age are condemned to become widows, and that is what has happened to a certain type of person, ‘of a certain age’ for whom the Faithful have a special obligation to pray deeply. We hope they will not fall into despondency at the realisation that history has passed them by, and that they will hear again the full, authentic voice of Christ’s legacy, and be renewed.

At some of the conferences I picked up that there is a new kind of priest emerging, and a new seminarian beginning to appear in our colleges. The new generation is taking stock of recent Church history, and joyfully discovering the great wealth of Catholic tradition.

Some might say that the new wave of trainee priests are more ‘conservative,’ some others might simply say they are in the process of finding the full implication of our Catholic roots and archetypes. Whatever is the case, I am encouraged that this reawakening is bringing a new energy to a Church in great need of revival.

I heard, for example, that the seminarians at the American College, Rome are all being educated to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass as well as the Ordinary Form. It will only be a matter of time before many of the other seminaries follow suit.

And when Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the Eucharist with us at Bellahouston, we could see the full splendour of the universal Church in glorious Faithful praise of God. Latin and the vernacular will be used in the new rite. Gregorian chant will be sung.

Another conference was packed with young people, from secondary schools, colleges and universities, hearing first rate lectures on Catholic teaching—some for the first time in their lives.

After one brilliant talk on the Infallibility of the Church I heard some revealing comments: ‘Why have we never heard this before?’ ‘My teachers have never talked to us about this.’ ‘If only our parish priest could deliver homilies like this.’

Young people are excited by orthodoxy, delivered with confidence and conviction. That is why they flocked to Pope John Paul II. He inspired them with the loving authority of Christ and His Church. Compared to these young people, the girning and groaning of some  throughout Pope John Paul II’s Papacy just looks depressing in retrospect.

On another occasion I heard a young deacon preach on ecumenism, where he warned that some ‘national’ churches, or ecclesial communities had thrown their lot in with the secular drift of the age, and that they were determined to influence the Catholic Church to do the same.

Afterwards he confided that if his seminary director had heard him, he would have been disciplined.

What a shame, that young Faithful Catholics can be reprimanded by people who should know better, just for the effective enunciation of Church teaching. He also said that many young men have been prevented from pursuing their vocations as priests because some in authority, again who should know better, have turned them away from seminaries because they were ‘too traditional.’ If this is true, God help us —it is a disgrace.

First and foremost though, I was delighted to be present at these gatherings to discuss Liturgical music and to hear Gregorian plainsong described as ‘the very Sound of Roman Catholicism.’