Visiting candidates for the Priesthood from a lay point of view. During Holy Week we had the privilege of staying at the English seminary in Valladolid in Spain. There were 19 lads who were two thirds of their way through the propaedeutic year. This means they were on the 1 st year of preparation and training for the priesthood, which would be followed by 6 years in seminary in Rome at the Venerable English college, Oscott in Birmingham, or Allen Hall in London. It was a real gift to have so many wonderful conversations with them about the course they are following, the thought processes they are led through and their hopes for their future, and the future of the Church. They were men on all different ages – some still very young whilst others had been in business or industry after university. Many were from the UK but there were also four lads from Canada and three from Norway as well as one lad from the Armenian tradition and one from Brazil ( although bnased inth eUK), and other countries were also represented. So, there was a mix of cultures, languages and traditions. It was a joy to hear their views on the progress of the Church around the world and their involvement in it. Their willingness to sit and chat and the warm welcome they gave us was incredible. There were also members of staff present ( four of whom were priests and one lady) as well as some of the families and friends of some of the seminarians. It was interesting to hear of the visiting speakers they have during the year, the visits of some of the bishops of men in the current group, visits to Lourdes and this week they are on the Camino to Santiago de Compostella. Besides this we had the chance to hear from the parents and families who are part of this process as they support their sons. Many were trying to work out what it means for them and their family in the future which gave us a very different perspective. The conversations were at times light-hearted and great fun, but many went on to be very deep and touched on ideas about where the Church had come from and what this generation of young people consider to be the future of the Church. Many of the lads had received great support from friends and family, but several had battled with views of folk who thought they were wasting their life and did not understand the call of God to this vocation. They expressed their thoughts on the archaic processes of past seminaries which many alumni had shared with them over the months. Without any prompting these men stated that they wanted to go to seminary not only to understand their vocation but to receive training to be the best pastors they can be and to learn how to serve God in the best way possible. Although they sometimes seemed young and idealistic their course of thought was true and honest. One of the most significant things I discovered throughout these conversations, both with staff and students was to learn that this propaedeutic year is all about the foundation of prayer in their life. The students are led to develop habits of prayers, to learn how to use the breviary, to discover the meaning of scripture through Lectio Davina, to study the Catechism of the Church and to question themselves about their own relationship with God. This was not just to cover the basis and tick the boxes there was a real desire to listen to God with their hearts. From many conversations with older priests, I came to the conclusion that this often seemed to be missing in seminaries in the past and it was great to hear this is the first thing they tackle and develop in the lives of these young men. Without prayer and a relationship with God at the centre of their lives how can these possible future priests embark on the next stage of their journey? Even if some discover they are not called to the priesthood this foundational year will be a corner stone in their future lives. We manged to attend many of the services and times of prayer in the college and although very nervous the lads got stuck into the things they were asked to do, such as sing the Psalms which many had only done in practise; to read with confidence and to serve on the sanctuary. They did this with great joy and gusto. I am totally sure I would never have attempted singing solo as they did, credit must be given to them, especially if they were slightly tone deaf. Well, done lads!
Whist visiting the English College for Seminarians in Valladolid we attended the Triduum services at the college but we were also able to see several of the Semana Santa processions in the wonderful town of Valladolid. It was quite an experience. On Maundy Thursday morning the seminarians were part of the very long procession of clerics in the Chrism Mass at the cathedral. It was an incredible experience for them, to take part in a huge Chrism Mass, as many had never been to this in their own diocese. On Good Friday they led the grand procession of 33 floats depicting the passion and death of Jesus as the drum beat resounded throughout the city. The city had something of a festive air as families strolled around the town meeting up with other family members or friends for coffee or snacks. Yet even though it felt like a holiday, the atmosphere was still quite sombre and low key. It was as though people were aware something immensely important was about to happen. As the days of Holy Week progressed the atmosphere seemed to build. If you are familiar with the Spanish culture, you will know these lovely warm people cannot go two minutes without chatting and yet wherever you went, they were waiting around in silence or talking in low voices. We saw the Confraternities preparing and bands of young musicians, many older teenagers but younger ones too, as they began to line up in silence for the processions to begin at various churches around the city. They began their long slow mournful processions with tableaux of the passion of Christ, often carried (and occasionally wheeled), by members of various brotherhoods, some with their faces covered, others not.
During a bitter argument with the Jews, Jesus said: “I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will, and, as it is in my power to lay it down, so it is in my power to take it up again ” (John 10: 17-18). Those who executed Jesus did so only because he not only allowed it but explicitly chose it. This is borne out by the events leading up to his death, starting in the previous week. Bethany He is on his way to Jerusalem and reaches Bethany where he had raised Lazarus from the dead a few days before. Suddenly something happens which is his Father’s signal to him that he must enter into the final drama of redemption. It is the sign he has been waiting for: Gentiles come looking for Jesus. He then proclaims that the hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Suddenly, he is overcome by distress saying “Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father save me from this hour? But it is for this very reason that I have come to this hour; Father glorify your name!” A voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and I will glorify it again”. Jesus said: “Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be overthrown, and when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself" (John 12: 27-32). after a moment of fear, he makes the decision to go ahead, and takes up the terrifying burden of our redemption, totally committed to his Father’s will. God has chosen Jerusalem to be the epicentre of divine-human intercourse. Jesus’ heart is heavy as he approaches it to bring to a head the time of judgment. As he drew near and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, "If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes!” He prophecies the coming destruction of the city and its inhabitants. “And all because you did not recognize your opportunity when God offered it”. (Luke 19: 41-44) Palm Sunday Jerusalem’s name means something like 'where wholeness is developed' or ‘where peace is forged’. He enters as King of Peace, riding not a war horse but a donkey. The people go wild with joy. They cannot help themselves. The Cosmos is crowding down upon them, gathering for the final battle. When Some Pharisees tell him to silence the crowd, he answered, "I tell you, if these keep silence the stones will cry out." (Luke 19: 40) He then goes to the temple, makes a whip, and rids it of all the market stalls which provided a nice income for the Chief Priests and Jewish leaders. They are enraged and come to protest. It is the last stage in the bitter arguments he has provoked with them publicly exposing their hypocrisy. He has staged the whole series of confrontations to leave them no choice but to seek his death. He is brutally forcing the issue. He is entirely in charge of the developing events. Passover After four days, he celebrates the Passover, the Last Supper. As he institutes the Eucharist, his eternal sacrifice of himself is begun. We join in that same sacrifice at every Mass. At the end he says: “The prince of this world is on his way, He has no power over me, but the world must be brought to know that I love the Father and that I am doing exactly what the Father told me. Arise, let us go” (John 14: 30-31). He has summoned Satan to the final cosmic battle. Satan comes with all his powers of darkness. From now on, the full power of evil will press down upon the city. Jesus feels it keenly. He leaves the city and crosses the Kedron Valley to the Garden of Olive Trees. He tells the disciples “pray that you do not be put to the test”. Then he withdrew from them, and knelt down and prayed. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done not mine. Then an angel appeared coming from heaven to give him strength. In his anguish he prayed even more earnestly, and his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. When he rose from prayer he went to the disciples and found them sleeping for sheer grief” (Luke 22: 39-46). They cannot stand the weight of darkness gathering around them. Judas comes with the soldiers sent by the Chief Priests and the Pharisees. “Knowing everything that was going to happen to him, Jesus then came forward and said, "Who are you looking for?" ·They answered, “Jesus the Nazareen”. He answered “I am he”. When he said “I am he”, they moved back and fell to the ground” (John 18: 2-8). As he voluntarily surrenders himself into their power, see what power he himself emanated! Later Pilate senses it. Foolish Peter cuts off a soldier’s ear. Jesus heals it and tells Peter to put his sword away “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence? (Luke 26:53). The total ferocity of Satan As he relinquishes his power, all hell, literally, breaks loose. People change and their worst characteristics take over. When he was eight days old, Simeon had prophecied that through him "the secret thoughts of many would be laid bare" (Luke 2: 35). His followers, who have witnessed multiple, amazing, miraculous demonstration of his power, are overcome by craven fear and run away. Peter, the foremost among them ends up swearing and cursing that he does not know Jesus. Judas the traitor hangs himself. As he is first held at the palace of the high priest, “the men who guarded Jesus were mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him. "Play the prophet," they said. "Who hit you then?" And they continued heaping insults on him” (Luke 22: 64). Later the Roman soldier whipped him within an inch of his life and then mocked him. Herod dressed him as a fool. After his first trial, the Chief Priests and Pharisees, men who usually clung rigidly to their dignity, turned into a rabble, striking him and spitting on him. They will continue to break out into frenzy as he hangs on the cross throwing dirt at him and loudly ridiculing him. Pilate’s wife has terrible dreams about him, and urges her husband to have nothing to do with it. But the mob is going crazy and Pilate’s best efforts fail to prevent the death penalty. The Reversal of History As the Original Sin along with all its horrible consequences are pouring into the chalice that he will drink in order to break its power, the Woman, the New Eve comes and takes her place with her New Adam. She binds herself to him in her heart, a heart pierced by all the sorrows of the world. Who can imagine the force of evil driving his torturers and spirit-tormentors, and how it tore his heart to shreds? He had said to Satan’s henchmen “This is your hour when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53). The full force of evil which had held the world in bondage almost broke him; he even lost the sense of his Father which he had enjoyed all his life. Who can imagine such torment? Who can imagine such courage and tenacity as he opened all of human vileness up to his Father, for the wonderful Father to heal? At the end, he proclaims that the battle is won, and with a loud cry breathes his last. The darkened land was hushed for three hours. The people slunk home deeply disturbed. That night the spirits of the dead roamed the streets. For a while the earth held its breath awaiting a sign of release. That came on Easter morn. He took up his life again, as he had predicted.
The fruit of the tree of life. Does consciousness depend on the brain? I watched a video of Dr Margaret Ashford, an American neurosurgeon, speaking about when she “flatlined”; her heart stopped for 6 minutes during open-heart surgery and they fought for 5 minutes to restart it. During that time, she experienced immense consciousness. For 40 years she had strictly adhered to the belief that consciousness was a product of certain electronic stimulations of nerves and physical elements in the brain. She had been able to stimulate reactions by triggering them and had worked to repair brain functions. She was totally convinced that we are machines who produce consciousness, and this ceases when the machine inevitably wears out. She had dismissed talk of spiritual things as “soul language”, which she explained as a reaction of people who were too scared to face their own inevitable extinction, something she said she had been reconciled to quite peacefully for a long time. All that changed when she experienced amazing consciousness while her brain was without oxygen and non-functioning. She described it as not being limited by ideas and reasoning processes, but as a sort of universal knowing, being within and connected to something which was the ultimate cause of her being, while being conscious of every other conscious being. Now she knows that her previous materialistic view is entirely inadequate. What struck me was her sense that that experience of hers was what knowing is really like. But when you compare it to the knowing experienced by the many others who have had near-death experiences, they are hugely varied. Some speak of it as a journey. I believe that her experience was a momentary glimpse of something, which was only a beginning, and that she could easily jump to some very strange conclusions, based only on that brief experience. For example, I did not hear her talk of using her will, which is fundamental to personal activity. There are religions which speak of being lifted into universal consciousness as the goal of all spiritual searching. Some of these add a belief in reincarnation as the path each individual must take in order to attain it. That seems very odd to members of the three religions which believe in one God, Jews, Muslims and Christians. While the Jews and Muslims speak of God as an infinite, ultimately un-comprehensible being who is the first cause of all reality, and who will always be separate from humanity, we Christians believe that God has entered our material world in order to lift us into the godhead itself. What is the material world for? This raises the radical question: what is this material world for? Is it to end up as a sort of paradise where all that is good and pleasant in our earthly existence is emptied of evil and lifted into intense permanent joy? That is what we tell children, and suicide bombers believe it. Is it us human beings freed from material existence and becoming pure consciousness like Gnostics believe? Or is it a marriage of the spiritual and the material, where all is new and complete? That is what we Christians believe. Yes, we are on a journey. Fundamentally, it is a mystery that we are journeying into, a mystery too vast for us to know comprehensively, but a mystery to be explored with all the faculties we have, a mystery which we need to envisage by piecing together as well as we can the information given to us in revelation. What God has told us? The gradual revelation of God’s self to humanity became complete when the Son of God became human. The information about this process is available in the Sacred Scriptures, and the Spirit-led communal reflections on them over centuries by faithful seekers of truth. At the beginning of Scripture we are given the tale of Eden, a story not of historical accuracy, but one that God selected as the best vehicle for us to understand the creation and our own beginnings. It talks of there being two trees at the centre of Eden, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil , and the Tree of Life . These bore fruit which the first human being were forbidden to eat. Against God’s will, they chose to taste the knowledge of good and evil, and set off on a course away from God, strewn with disasters. They were expelled from Eden and an angel with a sword of fire stood at the threshold to prevent them entering, particularly to prevent them accessing the Tree of Life. One of the deepest longings of our hearts is to access that tree of everlasting life and eat its fruit. We dread death and dream of achieving long life, even permanent life - cryogenics offers body-freezing for about $100,000; they will wake you up when they discover a cure for the sickness that caused your death. The Scriptures go on to explain that God did not desert us and that he set in process the course whereby he would lead us to a turning point where we would eventually be able to eat of the Tree of Life. That tree was planted on the hill of Calvary two thousand years ago, and its fruit is God-become-man, Jesus Christ. I thought I heard him say today – he was speaking as a carpenter- “I never loved wood more than this wood of the cross”. And I glimpsed for a moment that he is still there glorified, though still suffering in his mystical body the Church until all is complete. I saw that the blood and water flowing from his pierced heart was not only physical but really and mystically the baptismal fountain gradually engulfing and cleansing the whole human race and all of material creation, and that the body and blood is really and mystically the food for humanity during the long process of ascent into glory. I saw that the mystical is real. It is the spiritual, centred in and emanating from divinity, which is pressing down upon the earth in order to penetrate all humanity and all creation with love, and to bring us away from subjection to a mixture of good and evil to being totally enveloped by good.
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Written for Catholics and fellow Christians seeking a vision of the Church which inspires great hope in these challenging times.
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The Hopeful Catholics website is a mission based upon the recent writings of Fr. Brian Murphy and Anne Bardell
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Inspiring writings to assist the faithful whiilst discovering purpose.
