杏MAP导航 invites Canadian clergy to confront challenges of secularized world
By Benedict Mayaki, SJ
杏MAP导航 Francis, on Thursday evening 鈥� the fifth day of his Apostolic Journey to Canada 鈥� presided at Vespers with Bishops, clergy, consecrated persons, seminarians and pastoral workers at the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec.
at the event, the Holy Father highlighted the significance of meeting at the Cathedral of the Church, whose first bishop, St. François de Laval, opened the Seminary in 1663 and devoted his ministry to the formation of priests.
He pointed out that readings at the vespers speak about elders (presbyters), noting that St. Peter urged them to tend the flock of God willingly, and so, the Church鈥檚 pastors are invited 鈥渢o show that same generosity in tending the flock, in order to manifest Jesus鈥� concern for everyone and his compassion for the wounds of each.鈥�
Pastors, a sign of Christ
Tending the flock, the 杏MAP导航 said, should be done 鈥渨ith devotion and tender love鈥� 鈥� as St. Peter urges - guiding it and not allowing it to go astray, because 鈥渨e are a sign of Christ.鈥� Pastors should do this willingly, not as a duty, like professional religious personnel or sacred functionaries but 鈥渮ealously and with the heart of a shepherd.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 pointed out that the pastors too are 鈥渢ended鈥� with Christ's merciful love and feel the closeness of God. This, he affirmed, is 鈥渢he source of the joy of ministry and above all the joy of faith.鈥�
Christian joy
鈥淐hristian joy is about the experience of a peace that remains in our hearts, even when we are pelted by trials and afflictions,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渇or then we know that we are not alone, but accompanied by a God who is not indifferent to our lot.鈥�
He explained that this is not a 鈥渃heap joy鈥� like the world sometimes proposes, or about wealth, comfort and security, rather, 鈥渋t is a free gift, the certainty of knowing that we are loved, sustained and embraced by Christ in every situation in life.鈥�
Threats to joy of faith
Reflecting on the joy of the Gospel in our communities, the 杏MAP导航 pointed at secularization as one of the factors that 鈥渢hreatens the joy of faith and thus risks diminishing it and compromising our lives as Christians.鈥�
He laments that secularization has greatly affected the lifestyle of contemporary men and women, who relegate God to the background. 鈥淕od seems to have disappeared from the horizon, and his word no longer seems a compass guiding our lives, our basic decisions, our human and social relationships,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.
Considering the ambient culture, 杏MAP导航 Francis cautions against falling 鈥減rey to pessimism or resentment, passing immediately to negative judgments or a vain nostalgia.鈥� He, rather elaborates two possible views of the world: the 鈥渘egative view鈥� and the 鈥渄iscerning view.鈥�
Negative v. discerning views
The first view 鈥� the negative 鈥� is 鈥渙ften born of a faith that feels under attack and thinks of it as a kind of 鈥渁rmour鈥�, defending us against the world,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, adding that this view complains that 鈥渢he world is evil, sin reigns鈥� and risks clothing itself in a 鈥渃rusading spirit.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 warns against this, as it is 鈥渘ot Christian鈥� and 鈥渘ot the way of God.鈥� He notes that God detests worldliness and has a positive view of the world, blesses our life and makes himself incarnate in historical situations to 鈥済ive growth to the seed of the Kingdom in those places where darkness seems to triumph.鈥�
We are called 鈥渢o have a view similar to that of God, who discerns what is good and persistently seeks it, sees it and nurtures it. This is no naïve view, but a view that discerns reality,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis insists.
Secularization and secularism
To refine our discernment of the secularized world, the Holy Father recommends drawing inspiration from Paul VI who saw secularization as 鈥渢he effort, in itself just and legitimate and in no way incompatible with faith or religion鈥� to discover the laws governing reality and human life implanted by the Creator. Paul VI also distinguished between secularization and secularism which generates subtle and diverse 鈥渘ew forms of atheism,鈥� including consumer society, pleasure set up as a supreme value, a desire for power and domination, and discrimination of all kinds.
As Church and as shepherds of God鈥檚 People and pastoral workers, therefore, the 杏MAP导航 says it is up to us to 鈥渕ake these distinctions鈥� and 鈥渕ake this discernment鈥�, adding that if we yield to the negative view, we risk sending the wrong message 鈥� as though the criticism of secularization masks 鈥渢he nostalgia for a sacralized world, a bygone society in which the Church and her ministers had greater power and social relevance.鈥�
Secularization: a challenge for our pastoral imagination
Secularization, continued the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渄emands that we reflect on the changes in society that have influenced the way in which people think about and organize their lives鈥� 鈥� not the diminished social relevance of the Church.
Consequently, 鈥渟ecularization represents a challenge for our pastoral imagination,鈥� and 鈥渁n occasion for restructuring the spiritual life in new forms and for new ways of existing.鈥� Thus, a discerning view 鈥渕otivates us to develop a new passion for evangelization, to look for new languages and forms of expression, to change certain pastoral priorities and to focus on the essentials.鈥�
Communicating the joy of the faith
杏MAP导航 Francis goes on to stress the importance of communicating the Gospel and the joy of faith to today鈥檚 men and women, insisting that it is a proclamation of 鈥渁 witness abounding with gratuitous love鈥� that should take shape in 鈥渋n a personal and ecclesial lifestyle that can rekindle a desire for the Lord, instil hope and radiate trust and credibility.鈥�
Indicating three challenges that can shape prayer and pastoral service, the 杏MAP导航 said that the first is 鈥渢o make Jesus known,鈥� and return to the initial proclamation, amid the spiritual deserts created by secularism and indifference. He added that we must find new ways to proclaim the Gospel to those who have not yet encountered Christ and this calls 鈥渇or a pastoral creativity capable of reaching people where they are living, finding opportunities for listening, dialogue and encounter.鈥�
An occasion for conversion
The second challenge -witness- said the 杏MAP导航, requires us to be credible, as the Gospel is preached effectively 鈥渨hen life itself speaks and reveals the freedom that sets others free, the compassion that asks for nothing in return, the mercy that silently speaks of Christ.鈥�
On this note, the 杏MAP导航 thought of the Church in Canada that has been set on a new path after being hurt by the evil perpetrated by some of its sons and daughters. The Holy Father also spoke of the scandals of sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable people.
To defeat the culture of exclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis advocates that bishops and priests start from themselves and should not feel themselves superior to our brothers and sisters. Likewise, pastoral workers should 鈥渦nderstand service as power.鈥�
Fraternity, the third challenge, means the Church will be 鈥渁 credible witness to the Gospel the more its members embody communion, creating opportunities and situations that enable all those who approach the faith to encounter a welcoming community one capable of listening, entering into dialogue and promoting quality relationships.鈥�
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