Abbey-Roads2

By their fruits you shall know them.

Ever since I wrote a sarcastic letter to Archbishop Flynn, now quite a few years ago, about a subject that needs no reprise, wherein he sent me a scathing response on sarcasm and rash judgement - (how true the psalm is, “If a good man reproves me, it is kindness”) -  I have since understood the man in a completely different light.  Quite a bit differently from those who feel he is a liberal or passively tolerant Archbishop.  (Yes - it took some thought and repentance on my part.)  I long suspected that there was something going on in his approach to things that none of us were able to see, much less be aware of.

A pastoral Archbishop - without doubt - he is.  But many impatient zealots wanted him to be like a Samson, pulling down the supports of all the dissident parishes, schools, and institutions present in this vast Archdiocese.  So many of us failed to notice that his appointments, and fostering of vocations, has been part of his long range view, need I say plan, for the local Church.  His kind diplomacy in dealing with erring parishes, even priests and religious - seems to me to have emanated from his concern for souls.  So many of us often desire a Christ cleansing the temple with whips, forgetting there are souls involved, sheep who have lost their way, or may be confused.  As I said once before, time will demonstrate the good Archbishop Flynn brought to this Archdiocese.  At present, we may only have glimpses of it.

The infamous St. Joan of Arc, Minneapolis.

Ray of Stella Borealis, the esteemed website of Archdiocesean news and views, sent me a piece on the infamous Catholic Community of St. Joan of Arc, written by their pastor, Fr. Jim.  Within the content of his letter, Fr. Jim mentions his meetings with the Archbishop, which is what triggered this post.  Our Archbishop is, and has been - all along -concerned about his priests, as well as his flock.  It just doesn’t make the news.

We have to understand, especially within the structure of the Catholic Church, a great deal goes on behind the scenes that never reaches the light of day.  Sometimes - oftentimes - just as in international diplomacy and negotiations, the behind-the-scenes work takes place without notice.  I honestly believe Fr. Jim’s “2 cents” column in his parish bulletin provides a glimpse into the “secret agenda” or more specifically, the pastoral care of Harry Flynn.  Read on:

Pastor’s 2 Cents: From Fr. Jim DeBruycker, Pastor of St Joan of Arc, Minneapolis:

I got an e-mail last week from an irate customer. Nothing too unusual about this but the topic is one that interests me on a number of levels. The email to paraphrase said,” What happened to the quality speakers St. Joan’s used to get. Now days they are so boring they don’t rattle anyone’s cage and are not cutting edge and then the priest gives a 3 minute standup routine and sits down, I’m going to start going some place else.” Actually, Fr Kerogi is doing a nice job at Christ the King, 51st and Zenith Avenue South and they are getting air conditioning.

I have often questioned staff about why we have speakers almost every Sunday; sometimes they are informative and inspiring, sometimes not. I have never thought the speakers were intended to cause dissension for the sake of dissension, for titillation, or that they were to speak from one side of an issue so that we exclusively support them against another. Our speakers are people who are trying to find peaceful and just solutions to conflicts, many times at risk to themselves.

For example, a representative of the Jewish Community Relations Council is always calling me, asking if we have stepped over the line of advocating for peace or siding with the Palestinians and I have to have Julie convince me we haven’t.

Archbishop Flynn, in our last meeting with him and his staff, asked the question and set the criteria for the speakers, “Are the speakers breaking open the Gospel or breaking it?” I believe so far it is the former.

St. Joan’s gives outside speakers a chance to present their justice mission to the congregation. They are not put to a question and answer session which means our supporting them is an endorsement. To have the speaker in conjunction with the Eucharist is in the eyes of the greater Church an even greater endorsement of their words and why the Archbishop is so concerned with content. We will try our best to have quality speakers who challenge us to work for peace and justice. - Joan of Arc Sunday Bulletin 

In my opinion, DeBruycker is a pretty good pastor too.

Coming late - leaving early. 

Locally, as in most metropolitan areas (not talking here about small towns), there are a few Catholic Churches that are bastions of orthodoxy and good liturgy.  Generally speaking, in some of the suburbs and in Minneapolis especially, it seems most of the Churches are typically middle of the road to “liberal” - what would we ever do without labels?

Anyway, today at Mass, I noticed that maybe 1/3 of the casually clad congregants left Mass after Communion. (Which is none of my business of course.)  I also noted that when the cantor was doing her warm up before Mass, about 3-5 minutes before the processional, the Church started to fill up - which suggests to me, most people show up just about the time Mass is to begin.  (Maybe to avoid the pre-show at the piano bar, I’m not sure.  I often think of Mel Brookes’ scene in the piano bar from “High Anxiety” during these warm ups.)

TLM

On my way home I mused over the impact of the Motu Proprio thing.  Like it’s really going to even have much of an impact on these people and local parishes?  It’s fairly obvious, that if a good proportion of the people show up to Mass minutes before it begins, and more than a few leave right after Communion, the traditional Latin Mass is so far off their radar screen, it is not funny.  I’m fairly certain, the average person in the pew just doesn’t care.  (And I’m not getting all Trautman on you here either.)

The Church doesn’t think, “short term” however, everything about this permission is focused on the long term.  So it is going to be a long while before mainstream parishes are willing and able to sit through a traditional Latin High Mass.  Most priests do not even know the rubrics or the Latin.

The olden days.

When I was little, it seemed a lot of people would go to the low Mass - which was much shorter than a High Mass.  Some priests had the reputation of “shot-gun” priests because they could zip through the Mass in no time, and had very short homilies. 

It was generally conceded that one could come into Mass any time before the Gospel and it would still count as fullfiling one’s Sunday obligation.  (I think that understanding is still present.)  It is true however, a few people would leave at Communion, despite the priest’s warnings about Judas doing the same thing at the Last Supper; although the other impatient ones normally waited until the priest disappeared into the sacristy.  I should mention however, an amazing number stayed behind to make a prolonged thanksgiving after Communion, light candles, etc..  (Many churches don’t have vigil lights any longer.)

So what does this mean?  I’m thinking it means that it is going to take a heck of a lot more than the Latin Mass to make fervent worshippers out of the average Catholic.  But the return to liturgical solemnity and devotion, as typified in the TLM is a great start, to be sure.  And those who come late, leave early?  They will always be around.

Cardinal Sean on the TLM:  “In my comments at the meeting I told my brother bishops that in the United States the number of people who participate in the Latin Mass even with permission is very low. Additionally, according to the research that I did, there are only 18 priories of the Society of St. Pius X in the entire country. Therefore this document will not result in a great deal of change for the Catholics in the U.S. Indeed, interest in the Latin Mass is particularly low here in
New England.” - Cardinal Sean O’Malley