This Pentecost three “events” nicely illustrated the current state of affairs, spiritual and artistic, in the Church. First, the Vatican – under the leadership of Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi – offers us a preview of its pavilion at the Venice Art Fair. Obviously concerns about the “poverty of the Church” do not affect such initiatives. The cost, however, has decreased to about $1,000,000 – well below earlier estimates. Moreover, the Vatican went out of its way to note that “sponsors” funded this amount. Obviously the criticism of the cost of the pavilion had stung. 1)
And what is the art to be exhibited? – it appears to be the usual collection of arbitrary, meaningless objects devoid of beauty, craftsmanship or any reference to the Church’s Tradition. There is talk (by Ravasi) of “creation” and even of “recreation.” And to whom is this exhibit addressed? This art obviously does not appeal to the overwhelming majority of the Catholic Laity. I very much doubt that the Catholic clergy would have any more interest in it. Whether the dominant forces of “modern art” in the West today will develop some new appreciation for the Catholic Church and its continued love affair with modernity is also very doubtful. They have gone on to bigger and better things!
Rather in such exhibits the higher clergy of the Catholic Church in Europe are primarily talking to themselves – trying to convince themselves that the supposed reconciliation between modernity and the church still lives. For those of us outside the Vatican and the Archiepiscopal sees of Europe, the important point is that this art – not any “reform of the reform” or “other modern” – is still the official artistic ideal of the Roman Catholic Church.
A second “show” this Pentecost weekend was the gathering of the lay “movements” in Rome. The spokesman for the event was another of the Vatican’s dialoguers with modernity, Archbishop Rino Fisichella. Supposedly 200,000 gathered in St. Peter’s square. Over 150 new “ecclesial realities “ – like the Neocats, Focolare, Communione & Liberazione, Sant’ Egidio etc., dispatched their foot soldiers to this event.
Now “movements” is an uncertain concept derived from the political sphere. it embraces all the new organizations that have developed over the last 60 years – although some date to the 19th century. They all are focused an the laity, usually are “creative” in theology and liturgy, and often have a strong charismatic or Pentecostal flavor. These, according to Archbishop Fisichella, are the “Fruits of Vatican II“ and the future of the Church. 2) While the first statement may be true – with some reservations – I very much doubt the second!
First, it seems odd that the paragon of such organizations – Opus Dei – does not want to be included under the ”movements” rubric. Second, the track record of such communities is anything but a record of unbroken success. For example, their typical organizational form – an absolute charismatic leader demanding blind obedience _ continues to facilitate an almost endless series of scandals.3) Third, the spread of the “lay movements,” which has taken place primarily in the Latin countries, has not arrested the decline of the Church there or elsewhere in the West – on the contrary!
For I believe that closer look would reveal whatever success the new “ecclesial realities “ have achieved has come largely at the expense of established parish structures and organizations. It is a case of “robbing Peter to pay Paul” – so bizarrely appropriate for groups that assembled this weekend in St. Peter’s Square! Indeed, the positive witness of these groups is a protest against the monotonous spiritual and liturgical void that is the life of the typical parish and religious order. Yet the hierarchy draws exactly the opposite conclusion. For the establishment, the “movements” are the last hope that the great experiment of the 1960’s continues, that despite all evidence to the contrary, the “new springtime” is still alive.
Yet there was a third event taking place this Pentecost. As always some 10,000 – 15,000 youthful pilgrims proceeded from Paris to Chartres – through, it seems, somewhat adverse weather this year. (Tragically, because of Church politics, a comparable if somewhat smaller number undertake this same weekend a pilgrimage in the opposite direction – Chartres to Paris.) The relationship with the local bishops has improved – the Paris to Chartres pilgrims are now welcomed by the local hierarchs and their representatives. Yet it would be far from the truth to say that the pilgrimage for Tradition is “sponsored “ by the French Church – let alone by the Vatican. These groups follow no charismatic leaders, do not seek new liturgies or theologies but rely entirely on the unbroken Tradition of the Church. No Cardinals or Archbishops hold laudatory news conferences. The secular world is indifferent or hostile. Yet is there a better example of the laity spontaneously and publicly giving witness in shared prayer and sacrifice? 4) A quiet , personal example that paradoxically is more in tune with the actual if largely unexpressed needs of modern man, more respectful of his dignity and intelligence, than the extravagant shows and media initiatives that have dominated evangelization in the Church for these last 30 years and more….
1)http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2013/05/17/alla-biennale-di-venezia-anticipi-di-ricreazione/ ; http://fidesetforma.blogspot.com/2013/05/santa-sede-alla-biennale-confermate-le.html
2) http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/church-movements-bringing-50000-more-than-vatican-expected/
3) For example, see last week:http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2013/05/18/operation-verite-pour-les-freres-de-saint-jean-eclabousses-par-les-scandales_3313590_3224.html ( Thanks to Jean Kinzler at le Forum Catholique)
4) http://www.nd-chretiente.com/dotclear/index.php?post/2013/05/20/Pe
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