Sunday, February 19, 2012

For much of my adult life...

...I was told that the Second Vatican Council was "all a dreadful mistake" "didn't achieve anything worthwhile" etc etc, and I suspect too many - especially young - people are still being told that. But it's just not true. This weekend, attending at Maryvale a series of lectures on the Church, I realised again the huge importance of Lumen Gentium and its profound perspective on the reality of the Church. Instead of presenting the Church as a sort of super-society, a structure with rules, this offers much more profound understanding of the Church, all richly connected with Christ.

I hadn't fully grasped the significance of 19th century history - when Garibaldi's army helped to ensure a swift ending to the First Vatican Council, there was much that was left undone - and many years, and two world wars, later, the Second Vatican Council took on the task with a renewed understanding of its urgency. We are only now, fifty years on again, able to see that - like all great Councils of the Church - the full significance of what it discovered and taught has an immense importance over and beyond what its actual participants imagined.

Maryvale is a wonderful place at which to study. You are woken in the morning by the sound of the Brigettine sisters singing their morning office in the chapel. Mass follows - academics, students, sisters, everyone, together filling the chapel, priests concelebrating, an atmosphere of great devotion. Then we say the morning Office together, after which comes breakfast and then lectures begin. The old house, large and rambling, always seems to yield up new secrets - this time I found that I could get to the lecture room speedily through a tiny slip of a corridor I hadn't even known existed, connecting one section of the house with another, near what was once Bl. John Henry Newman's room. Outside, rain lashed down but we were snug and at meals crowds of students chattered and nattered in the pleasant refectory over plates of pasta and sausages. The only grim thing is the coffee, but I always bring my own(and share it with anyone and everyone who happens to be at my table)so that problem is solved.

The library is full of good things, the grounds, rain-washed but agreeable summoned me for some fresh air under rustling trees. On Sunday morning we listened to the Gospel about the paralysed man being lifted down through the roof: an image of how it's the faith and support of others, and not neccesarily our own, that can bring us to Christ. A rich sense of being part of the universal Church, the timelessness of the Eucharist, of the Church, of God, a strong unity with the Holy Father in Rome. The Church: Lumen Gentium.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was also at Maryvale this weekend - the New testament Studies course - and yes, it is a wonderful place! Glad you enjoyed the weekend.

Elizabeth said...

It sounds lovely in many ways. Thank you for the glimpse we would never have otherwise...

Fr Julian Green said...

I could have at least got a mention Joanna. Good to see you again this weekend.

Joanna Bogle said...

Dear Father Julian

And there was me thinking "best not to mention names, people can often get annoyed at finding themselves highlighted on some one's blog..."

Your lectures really were superb, Father. Thank you, and all the team, for all that you do at Maryvale.

Now, if you could just tackle the question of the coffee...!

Big Sis said...

You do sound really happy and and it sounds as if it is a slice of heaven for you!

Anonymous said...

Lumen gentium means NOT the church, it means Christ. Read carfully.

Clearly Salmon said...

Sounds wonderful, and I do feel envious.