RBWords

     October 11, 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.  I cannot even begin to describe the impact that event had and continues to have on the life and faith of the Catholic Church, indeed on the world!  The date4 also begins a gathering of bishops from around the world to hold a "synod" on the "New Evangelization" and to begin the "Year of Faith."  I find myself remembering how exciting the period was immediately after the council ended in 1965.  It was not only exciti9ng, but it was confusing and painful, too.  We know from recent actions by Pope Benedict XVI in restoring the use of the Latin Tridentine liturgy that many found the changes from the council to be extremely difficult.  I also remember so many of my Dominican brothers leaving religious life in those days.  I cannot speak for them.  I can only say that my continuance as a Dominican friar has come from what St. Paul says today:  "faith in what you heard."

     One of the dangers that follows any great work of the Holy Spirit is the tendency to protect the event by turning it into a series of propositions or laws.  We do need to distinguish between our own desires and the teachings of the council, but we should not ossify it either!  The revision of the Code of Canon Law and the development of the Catechism of the Catholic Church are two important outcomes from the council.  Yet these documents should be in constant development and not become so hard and fast that only those words may be heard and nothing else.  St. Paul warns us about depending on the "works of the law" instead of our faith in Christ.  My hope is that the "New Evangelization" will inspire us all to hear the Word of God and act on it.  The "Year of Faith" can be a great opportunity to get started on a great and challenging task that will take more than a year! AMEN