Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - In the 4th century Saint Cyril Bishop of Jerusalem. Warned pilgrims visiting the Holy Places: “…do not ask where the Church is, ask specifically for the Catholic Church” (PG 33,1048). He belonged to the host of bishops who were not afraid to teach people to read in a theo-logical manner - that is from the point of view of God - the fact that the Catholic Church is born and spreads because it is God who builds her and gathers her from all over (as the Greek etimology ek-klesìa says), calling those he wishes to convert their hearts to his Son.
In our times instead, people prefer of the Church (and in the Church) the geopolitical or ecumenical ‘reading’: and vocation, conversion, mission, persecution are also treated mainly from the phenomenal and exterior point of view, examining the Church's impact on the world, tackles the world's challenges, dialogues with the world. How many, instead, are concerned, that doctrine - coming from the Latin “docere”, teach, and indicating that one does not teach one's own opinion - entrusted in primis to the bishops is “healthy, sound, and irreproachable” (cfr Tit 1,9-11;2,1.8), as St Paul recommends to Titus? A times it appears they are more concerned about inculturation!
Let us see what is at stake, with the help of an intervention of Joseph Ratzinger ten years ago: “The fact that relativism presents itself, under the banner of the meeting of cultures, as the authentic philosophy of humanity, gives it […] a great force of persuasion, which in practice accepts no rivals. Those who oppose it take a position not only against democracy and tolerance, which are fundamental precepts of human co-existence, they also become obstinately prejudiced in the pre-eminence of their own culture, the western culture, and refuse the encounter of cultures which is the most urgent imperative of our day. Those who wish to remain in the faith of the Bible and the Church find themselves confined to a no man's land and must turn once again to the ‘folly of God Dio’ (1Cor 1,18), in order to recognise therein true wisdom” (La fede e la teologia dei nostri giorni, in “L’Osservatore Romano”, 1 November 1996). Inculturation as a mask for relativism.
So it happens that, speaking ideologically of the ‘Asian face of Christ', they fail to open their eyes to the miracle of the Church in Chine which is growing despite persisting obstacles. She is less concerned with ecumenical dialogue in search of improbable agreements, and more anxious to remain faithful to the Successor of Peter: from this root will come the fruit of the unity of Christians. The same can be said with regard to the numerous vocations in Asia and Africa. These are only examples of how some, ever certain bishops, prefer to follow ideologically a project - for some time no Church circles have used the word 'dream' - of Church which “is not”, instead of realising that in the meantime the Holy Spirit without asking permission has taken the floor and given rise to living communities and church movements not envisaged in pastoral plans.
Another example could be ideological opposition to the Motu proprio of the Pope who realistically looks at the fact, (not the pastoral plans) of many priests and faithful anxious to celebrate the old Roman rite.
One thing strikes me, although it is reiterated in history: those faithful to the Holy Father are sometimes persecuted even within the local Churches, and not only from outside by secular governments. The non Catholic and mundane thought which has penetrated into the Church tries to divide it creating one for itself and leaving the other to God. But Paul VI warned that there will always be a remnant, because she is “an ethnic entity sui generis”, and therefore cannot be reduced to worldly schemas. The Nota Epistola a Diogneto describes the Church, in a sense, as always in hiding in the world. It is normal for the Catholic Church to be persecuted, and occasionally she suffers martyrdom. But she is always consoled by God. The plan will not succeed: thanks to the Petrine and Roman Primate, they will not prevail. Particular Churches, which fail to see themselves as, ‘belonging’ to the Church universal, one and Catholic, abandon apostolic Tradition, losing the opportunity to be part of the first “global institution” able to respond with love to the quest for truth of the peoples and nations, as it is obvious from the astonishing crowds which flock every week to the Holy Father (and on which the great information has put a censure).
If we were to deny the “facts”, and pursue “projects' and abstract “dreams”, we would risk making the same mistake as the Scribes and Pharisees who denied, to the man born blind, the evident truth of a miracle. Jesus said he came that those who see might become blind. We would not like to be in their number. (Agenzia Fides 15/11/2007; righe 55, parole 778)
