It looks as though we can all sleep peacefully in our beds at last then. My recollection of things is unfortunately very hazy - was it John Paul’s namesake who presided over Vatican 2? And wasn’t it he who on his deathbed repeated the prayer "A new Pentecost …". And my dates may be confused, but I think it was around then (or shortly thereafter), in the early/mid 1970’s, that many parts of the Catholic church in Europe began to experience pentecostal phenomena - the signs of a new life. In Brussels in 1983/5 I met Catholic brothers who were reaching out for fellowship with believers from other Christian traditions - and were experiencing this move of new life, which was expressing itself in a renewed interest in the creative arts, drama, etc as ways of demonstrating the faith. Here in Guildford, in the mid 1970’s, the Catholic church also experienced signs of renewal, accompanied by a reaching out to the rest of the body of Christ. In Brussels, Cardinal Suenens was at the centre of this renewal movement - though renewal in the protestant meaning of the word; for the Catholic, renewal is the new birth - the beginning of new life.
My understanding is that Suenens was sidelined by J.P.II - please correct me if I have my facts wrong. Also that J.P.II was instrumental in damping down this renewal movement. Whatever it may be, I don’t see any signs that the renewal movement has a future in the Catholic church - and that may be the consequence of panic by the hierarchy that too many divisions were being broken down, and the centralised control of the church was being threatened. It’s always dangerous to invite the Holy Spirit into things (and that’s true for Protestant as well as Catholic). The emphasis on conservatism that now seems entrenched for the immediate future is likely to keep the body of Christ separated. For all his acclaimed ecumenism, J.P.II was adamant that unity would only be on the Catholic church’s terms, with the authority of the pope the one authority. I still cannot share the eucharist with my local Catholic priest - much as he personally would want to. And Hans Kueng seems destined to continue his exile in the wilderness.
Vatican 2 and Pope John XXIII
Just continuing this conversation with myself - it was Pope John XXIII who introduced Vatican 2 between 1962 & 1965. It was intended to be a process, rather than an event. Amongst other things, it was exploring a collegiality of church government, with bishops given greater freedom - rather than, as now, power being concentrated in the Pope and curia. It was a time when words like ‘renewal’ and ‘new wineskins’ became popular currency, and, as mentioned in the post, a significant move of the Holy Spirit in the churches. The most encouraging aspect of this was a mood in the Roman Catholic church to turn outwards, in the sense of reaching out to other churches and traditions on the basis of equality as members of the body of Christ.
I’d be interested to know from Ivan and anyone else in the Catholic tradition what became of this movement? There is a great deal on the web about Vatican 2 - with English perspectives being of some interest - eg www.vatican2andbutler.org
John Paul II
An anecdote concerning Pope John Paul II from the end of WWII - an interesting insight into his profound humanity. This is on http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/KarolWojtyla-EdithZierer.htm?source=DailyDig
The Spirit of Vatican II
I would heartily recommend Carl Bernstein & Marco Politi’s biography, ‘His Holiness’ as essential and definitive reading for anyone wishing to learn of the profoundly spiritual person behind the public image of Pope John Paul II. A fantastic and insightful work. Get hold of a copy if you can. Re: Vatican II. The spirit of the Council was very much in evidence in the papacy of the late Pope — liturgical reform which saw the Tridentine Mass replaced largely by the vernacular rite, his willingness to engage with other denominations and the helpful inter-faith dialogue which he promoted. Benedict XVI similarly expressed the same mood in his inaugural speech, desiring a greater ecumenical vision, an outreach to Jews and Muslims etc. But I do think that the other denminations are bound to respind in kind. Too many Protestant denominations are still virulently anti-Catholic and themselves are a greater hindrance to Church unity than the Catholic Church. Work must take place on both sides.
An interview with Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI
Quite an interesting account of meetings between Johann Christoph Arnold (Grandson of Eberhard Arnold, founder of the Bruderhof communities in Germany, U.S. and Australia) and Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI on http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/jca/ratzinger.htm?source=DailyDig
Of particular interest is that Arnold represented the Anabaptists/Mennonites - for the persecution of whom John Paul II offered repentance and apologies before his death - in an act of reconciliation.
Also, while we are in the ‘emergent church’ sphere: the Bruderhof communities have been a ‘re-emergent’ phenomenon over recent years. Their story is particularly worth reading - in the biography of Heinrich Arnold, who spans the key years between the founding of the communities, the death of Eberhard Arnold, and his own role in steering the communities to where they are today - through enormous hardship and suffering.
I have visited the UK community in Robertsbridge, Kent. They are a fascinating mixture of the very traditional with the very radical. Johann Christoph Arnold is perhaps the radical face of the movement to the world today - especially in the U.S.
They are radical followers of Jesus - both in the sense of community - and in wishing to be a light to the world, and have significantly shaped my own views on non-violent responses and solutions to world problems. www.bruderhof.com