Oriens Journal of the Oriens Foundation

July-September 2008 Volume 13, Number 3 $4.00 Crisis of the It is rare that people of public its media prosecutors. A new generation rank speak the truth unvarnished. is not supposed to find Catholic When it happens, it is a moment religion. Buddhism perhaps. Even Islam. to savour. But Catholic faith never. These young Catholics are fired up and listening This Issue On 16 July 2008, during Solemn to “conservative” leaders. Tomorrow Vespers at St Augustine’s, Balmain they will vote. A Catholic revival could Page 1 (in Sydney), Cardinal George Pell Editorial threaten the secular settlement. A reflected on the unfolding success of movement that has fought since the Page 2 . He remarked that Enlightenment to make universal public ’s WYD festival where he once saw “ashes” in the life without God is not about to apply By Oriens staff writers Australian Church, he could now see some liberal principle permissive of a Page 5 “embers”. Catholic resurgence in the homeland From ashes to embers “Ashes” and “embers”. This is what of atheism. WYD Madrid is a shocking By Oriens staff writers has become of the , in challenge. Expect the keepers of the Page 8 Australia as throughout the Western flame to respond. Monk and nun round-up world, and the implications are dire. Just how Catholics are to equip Page 9 themselves culturally to face what Dom Gérard Calvet OSB promises to be a warmly contested By Katrina Edwards We should not future, is a challenge. Oriens is content Page 13 to leave the economy of grace to God The Folk Mass is ended ... expect a liberal and the administration of sacraments to go in peace bishops. But where the clergy does not By John Zmirak tolerance. have a monopoly of wisdom is over the Page 16 symbolic forms in which a Catholic reply Is ecumenism a heresy? to the Enlightenment might be framed. By Fr Brian W. Harrison OS As we are quickly finding out, a On the whole, the bishops have Page 19 culture from which Catholic belief believed that a Catholic response to the Is Jack as good as his master? By James Bogle and expression have been evacuated Enlightenment should be formed on the is an ugly, increasingly dangerous one assumption that we accept it on its terms. Page 22 in which to live. And the success of This is the basic idea behind the redesign Church music by the WYD, obvious even to a worldly eye, of the Catholic liturgy and its translation unchurched: Saint-Saëns is not going to make life safer. into the vernaculars. Liturgical reform By R. J. Stove as it happened – as distinct from how Page 25 The unsettlement it might have been conceived – is an Book reviews By David Daintree and What happened at WYD is not Enlightenment project first essayed at Stephen McInerney supposed to happen. The Church is the 1786 Synod of Pistoia. That Annibale not supposed to grab the public stage, Bugnini succeeded where Scipione de’ except when thrust into the dock by continued on page 3

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Events

Oriens Volume 13, Number 3 July-September 2008 Juventutem’s Published by the Oriens Foundation GPO Box 2021, Canberra ACT 2601 www.oriensjournal.com WYD festival Editor Gary Scarrabelotti Executive Editor Oriens staff writers report on the Juventutem R. J. Stove contribution to World Youth Day. Contributing Editors Gerard McManus It is not often that one gets to be a participant in a major Stephen McInerney historical event. But that is what happened for several Martin Sheehan hundred young Catholics (and a handful of not-so-young) over 15-19 July at St Augustine’s church in Balmain, Sydney. During those days Juventutem, a movement of Catholic youth Oriens is the journal of the Oriens Foundation. The attached to the traditional Latin Mass, held its World Youth Oriens Foundation promotes appreciation for, and Day liturgical and catechetical festival. During those days, St understanding of, the traditional Latin liturgy as one of Augustine’s – in the midst of what promises to be a beautiful the foundations of Western civilisation. Oriens traces in restoration – shone and sounded to the majestic ritual of the history and culture, in language, art and aesthetics, in traditional Latin Mass. religious and moral norms, the influence of the classical Western liturgy, and examines its interactions with private life and public affairs. I wish to subscribe to Oriens for: 1 year $30 2 years $55 3 years $80 and I would like to make a donation of $______($20.00 minimum) Please send your cheque and this form to: Oriens Foundation GPO Box 2021 Canberra ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA Each day a was celebrated. Of these, three were Name Solemn Pontifical Masses celebrated in order by their Lordships Address Geoffrey Jarrett, of Lismore (New South Wales); Peter Elliott, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne; and Basil Meeking, Bishop Emeritus of Christchurch (New Zealand). Telephone Each day, Mass was proceeded by a catechesis conducted by the Email bishops themselves over 16-18 July. Each day St Augustine’s was continued on page 4

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Editorial continued from page 1 Ricci, Bishop of Pistoia, failed points Catholic tradition. Together with Msgr contemplate. The “pastoral difficulties” to a collapse of confidence – moral, Albert de Monléon, Bishop of Meaux, alleged against it (read “blowback” from intellectual, cultural – within the Brincard has gone, reportedly, head-to- clerical and lay elites whose power in Catholic hierarchy. As Cardinal Franjo head with Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos the Church is tied irrevocably to the Seper, once put it: to block the full application of SP to new liturgy) are nothing as compared the French scouting movement from to the “blowback” from society at “The crisis in the Church is a which requests for the old Mass have large – from political establishments, crisis of the bishops.” been streaming. Back in his diocese, intellectuals and the media – should Just over a year ago, on 7 July 2007, Brincard, apparently, refuses to let it be discovered that the bishops have Pope Benedict XVI made a church- priests go public with the Latin Mass. welched on, what had been supposed, changing decision to permit the old their long-settled reconciliation with Fortunately, Vingt-Trois, Brincard, liturgy to stand as an equal beside the modernity. and Monléon do not represent all new. Fourteen months on, many of the French bishops. Sufficient of them Clearly, the Church in the West is bishops outwardly in communion with have taken a different approach such going to require something more than Rome are trying to subvert its policy. that the “containment policy” is already an arsenal of symbols to deal with The centre of opposition is France. looking like Bonaparte’s continental this anger, but it cannot do without France defiant blockade. It leaks. Some forty new them. “Identity politics” are vital to traditional Mass centres have sprung the survival of any religion. Among the According to Professor Luc Perrin up in France during the last year. merits of the traditional Latin liturgy – of the University of Strasbourg, an and of the Latin language itself – is its Much greater things, however, are interested observer of the French outstanding power to define Catholic afoot elsewhere than in France. In church, the bishops of France, led by identity against the secularity of the the USA, especially in the dioceses the Archbishop of Paris and president Western vernacular republics ranged of Chicago and St Louis, and in the of their episcopal conference, Cardinal ideologically against the Church. André Vingt-Trois, are pursuing a National American College in Rome, “containment policy”. The aim is to SP is being implemented with decisive As advocates of multiculturalism maintain the same severe limits upon practicality. From now on in these know full well, preserving your celebration of the old Mass that applied places, and elsewhere in the American language is central to preserving your before the 1988 decree church, seminarians will be trained in identity. Our language is Latin. Even in the hope of claiming in 2010, the use of both the old and new forms if it is “only” a language of worship when the operation of Summorum of the liturgy. According to a well- and professional theological discourse, Pontificum (SP) will be reviewed, briefed observer of the US church, one Latin is little less important to defining that its provisions met no demand of the gifts now commonly given to who we are as Roman Catholics than within France. Meantime, aspirations newly ordained American priests is a Hebrew was in Christ’s day when the to repossess the traditional liturgy will 1962 missal. Jewish people spoke Aramaic. be starved of oxygen. Blowback When the fragile toleration Playing an aggressive role in extended by society to the Church A dose of realism is, however, in this is Msgr Henri Brincard, Bishop finally gives way, Catholics might justly order. The problem posed for the of Puy-en-Velay, a man reputed to find themselves out of sympathy with French bishops by rehabilitation of be a “conservative” and personally bishops who, unable to resolve their the pre-conciliar liturgy is emblematic attracted to the traditional liturgy. own crises of identity, deprived others of the strategic dilemma that confronts Brincard sits on the Council of the of the means to form and strengthen all bishops in the West. Youth Pastoral Mission that covers their own. For such leaders there will France’s Catholic scouts and guides. The implications of Summorum be “blowback” from more than one These have a strong religious élan Pontificum are, understandably, front. and a deep vein of sympathy for frightening for many bishops to O

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Events continued from page 2 packed for Mass – about 450 people. builds, by barely perceptible emotional pilgrims came mostly from Australia, Each Mass was followed by lunch for increments through Benediction of the but with notable contributions from the the pilgrims generously provided and , to a crescendo: USA, France, Germany, Switzerland, hosted by Fr Joe Camilleri and the on this occasion, in the singing of the the Philippines, Singapore, Hong parishioners of St Augustine’s. triumphant Laudes Regiae! Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. Dawn Eden At the end of his Vespers homily, Trad cadre Cardinal Pell remarked that he In the afternoons there were further happened to be dining that evening There are a few key points to note activities. On 15 July there was an with the Pontiff, and that he took it about the event. energetic and inspiring address by that he could communicate to His First, several bishops of the Church the author of the US bestseller The Holiness, over the meal, that everyone were not afraid to be seen in public Thrill of the Chaste – Dawn Eden. at St Augustine’s that afternoon heartily celebrating the Church’s authentic Eden, a New Yorker of Jewish family approved of the Holy Father’s motu traditional worship: not an easy and a convert to the Catholic faith, proprio, . The thing even for bishops to do, even spoke on the liberation that comes rhetorical question was met with a after Summorum Pontificum whose of rejecting the sexual rat-race which non-liturgical roar from some six implications our leaders are yet to today dominates relations between hundred voices. grasp. Secondly, there was the fervour of the young people: their readiness to accept the traditional liturgy as a “given” of Catholic life; and, among them, a large number who had never before encountered it and who, by happenstance, had chosen St Augustine’s and Juventutem as their WYD “option”. And what an “option” it proved. Lives will have been changed by the experience: a new generation of lay activists surely will have been conceived by it; vocations to the religious life and to the priesthood surely will flow from it. men and women. On the following These Sydney events had been Thirdly, the forging of links between afternoons there were Gregorian chant preceded by a week of activity “trad” activists – especially among the classes and practice sessions led by a focused on St Aloysius’ Church, North musicians and lay cadre – across nearly masterly teacher from the USA – Scott Caulfield, centre for the traditional a dozen countries and three or four Turkington, organist and Director of Mass in Melbourne. different cultures will provide the base Music of St John the Evangelist Church for a future tradition-inspired Mission Beginning on 10 July, the pilgrims in Stamford, Connecticut. to the Church. WYD in 2050 will be warmed up for the Sydney main events nothing like WYD Sydney 2008. The liturgical highlight was the with chant workshops, Benedictions, overnight adoration of the Blessed Finally, well done Juventutem celebration of Solemn Vespers at Australia, for conceiving and carrying 4pm, Wednesday, 16 July, led by His Sacrament, and Solemn Pontifical Masses (celebrated by Archbishop Hart through these wonderful events; and Eminence George Cardinal Pell. This is thank you also to the generous people – and it was on the day – a remarkable of Melbourne and Bishop Meeking). Like WYD itself, Juventutem was a of St Augustine’s, Balmain, for hosting ritual. It opens with the terse, spare it. chanting of the psalms and gradually happy international affair. Juventutem O

 July-September 2008 Oriens

Events From ashes to embers

Oriens staff writers were on deck over the World Youth Day week in July observing, participating, and thinking.

It was George Pell who drew arrival is worth recording. The music Bendigo, Hobart, Rockhampton, and the historic parallel between the for Cardinal Moran’s first Mass was two New Zealand cities (Dunedin and spectacle of Pope Benedict XVI on the Messe Solennelle in G or the Saint Auckland). Under Moran’s stewardship Sydney Harbour and the arrival in Cecilia Mass – a relatively new (thirty- an astonishingly ambitious building Australia of Patrick Francis Moran a year-old) but acclaimed work with programme of churches, schools and century and a quarter beforehand. its stunning Sanctus composed by hospitals took place, along with a On 8 September 1884 the first Frenchman Charles Gounod and sung Irish Catholic Archbishop of Sydney by the choir of St Patrick’s Ecclesiastical was greeted by tens of thousands of College. Moran’s church Catholic well-wishers from a city of just Legitimacy 270,000 people. Moran’s steamship, the , was ushered into the harbour The Catholic Church in Australia smashed to by twenty other steamers bedecked in the 1880s craved legitimacy and with green bunting and flowers. had an overwhelming desire to be shards a force to be reckoned with in a Pope Benedict “arrived” in Australia society in which a fair proportion of its on the bow of a luxury ferry, the trebling of Catholic schools, without adherents were either Irish ex-felons or Sydney 2000, and was hailed by government assistance, but bolstered were near descendents of Irish felons. several hundred thousand well- by a quintupling of the number of It succeeded by its ability to mobilise wishers from a cosmopolitan city of teaching brothers and nuns. its people, by organisational genius, by 4.3 million people. The Holy Father’s great sacrifices from its working-class Today Moran’s seminary is now ferry was also flanked by an impressive faithful, and most of all by building a catering college, teaching brothers official flotilla of a dozen large vessels buildings. and nuns are almost nonexistent, and led through the harbour by a water- the Catholic Church is asset-blessed Within twelve months of his first spraying tugboat. but worshipper-poor and getting glimpse of the shoreline, Moran started But, unlike in Moran’s day when poorer, particularly among those aged work on the St Patrick’s Seminary at Mad Mahdis were confined to the fifty and below. Guilds, devotions, Manly. It was opened within three years Sudan, on Benedict’s day there was confraternities, knights, societies, Total and has been described as the second massive security. Spectator craft were Abstinence Associations and Catholic most spectacular building on the forced to keep their distance, while half Youth Organisations on which the harbour after the Opera House. During a dozen helicopters hovered overhead fabric of Catholic society and culture his time Moran all but completed and speed boats full of heavily armed was woven, exist no more. St Mary’s Cathedral without leaving soldiers kept watch on the water for a a sixpence of debt, and dedicated This is not to say the Australian possible terrorist attack. cathedrals in Armidale, Bathurst, church built by Moran was spotless One final vignette from Moran’s Goulburn, Lismore, Melbourne, or infallible. The ghettoism and

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Events

all taxpayers. To attend a Catholic the 400 bishops who were on hand school is now considered something for the great event. The subject matter of a privilege and a gateway to a more was pretty much restricted to the affluent life. WYD theme: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon Yet teenagers still practising their you; and you will be my witnesses.’’ faith in an Australian Catholic high (Acts 1:8). There was no attempt at school are inevitably loners in a sea of essaying a much-needed – and more indifference, and misguided tolerance fundamental – general catechesis, to all religions. All things Catholic optimistically leaving it, perhaps, to are skipped around while strict the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity teaching on “dogmas” concerning the to fill in the gaps in coming years. environment and Aboriginal spirituality are rigorously enforced. Any Catholic When Cardinal George Pell religion that does get taught is watery, convinced the Pope and other Vatican repetitive, and dulls the faith rather officials to let Australia host WYD, his than stimulates or sustains it. mind was on an Australian church facing a slow demographic death from Numbers game within and an external attack from Measuring the success of World increasingly aggressive secularists who Youth Day 2008 is a perilous task. It hate Christianity in general and the is one better done a few years hence Catholic Church in particular. The statue of Cardinal Moran (by Sir Edgar Bertram Mackennal) outside St Mary’s rather than a few weeks afterwards. ‘‘No religion’’ is the country’s fastest Cathedral, Sydney. Conventional benchmarks such growing denomination, and Australia as numbers, tourist dollars, public is at the forefront of Western nations sectarianism of that era, the rigid Irish transport movements and crime which increasingly hold the view that , and an inability to admit errors statistics are irrelevant. But for the religious practise should be tolerated or to brook (or even comprehend) record, registered pilgrims numbered only to the extent that it is done in the criticism, set itself up for failures in 223,000 (110,000 from 170 nations, privacy of peoples’ homes or places of later decades. 113,000 from Australia) were probably worship. During Moran’s day perhaps the slightly beneath the expectations of Cardinal Pell’s happy experience greatest single sex scandal in the optimistic organisers. leading a youth pilgrimage to Rome history of the Australian Catholic Given the local church’s inability any in 2000 convinced him that hosting Church occurred – the Fr O’Haran- longer to mobilise the faithful, these such an event would be a shot in the Coningham affair – with the Church’s numbers were, in fact, spectacular – arm for the Australian church. During behaviour and handling of the matter and yet they were surpassed at certain a homily delivered to the Juventutem (which included a determined cover- points in the programme. More than movement at St Augustine’s – of Hippo up), and the ensuing court cases, 400,000 people attended the Pope’s – in Balmain (a church dedicated, being less than edifying. final Mass – the largest gathering in incidentally, by Cardinal Moran), Cardinal Pell, who is nothing if not a Shards Australian history – and 500,000 were spread throughout the Sydney realist, remarked that where he once But the simple fact remains: the once CBD for the Pope’s official arrival and saw “ashes” in the Australian church, unified, tribally Irish, and culturally motorcade. Here was something on an he could now see “embers”. rich Catholic Church in Australia has extraordinary scale. For the small number of young been smashed into a thousand shards. A startling addition to WYD people who still practise their faith, Catholic schools are now well- programme was the innovative notion the Catholic Church must be a endowed and generously funded by of daily catechesis personally led by bewildering institution. Scandalised

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Events by abusive clergy, they have only ever the disciplines surrounding the Holy Those who attended WYD were seen half-empty churches of ageing and Eucharist typical of these mega-Masses enthusiastic, eager, open and ready migrant worshippers, and usually their justified by their alleged evangelical to receive any good-quality spiritual only experience of liturgy and sung impact? nourishment that happened to be on Masses is a poor cousin to Hillsong offer. They have little in common with A word about music. The setting evangelism. – and often reject upon an instinct for the final on 20 July – the 1970s throwbacks who govern What is often misunderstood is was composed by Sydney judge their dioceses, run their parishes and how difficult it is for a young person George Palmer. His “brief” from the direct their schools. to remain a committed Catholic in the WYD committee was simple: it had modern world and even in a Catholic to be attractive, it had to be easy to The Church this new generation school. There was no doubt that young learn, and it must include some Latin will build won’t be a liberal Church, Australian Catholics who attended (presumably because this is what Pope and it won’t be a John-Paul-II-style World Youth Day were buoyed by the Benedict likes). Church. Yet it won’t be Catholicism knowledge that hundreds of thousands circa 1950 either. of others from all parts of the globe, The result, performed by a 300- many of them more educated in their strong choir, the eighty-member For the most part the WYD pilgrims religion and more openly zealous for Australian Youth Orchestra, and proved that the Church is not about to it, share the same Catholic faith with operatic soloists, was a macaronic die. Far from it. But there is a problem. its hopes, joys and tribulations. attempt at blending old and new. World Youth Day showed that it Palmer’s Benedictus Qui Venit (a pious is “normal’’ to be a Catholic. And pun) abandoned all gravitas right up Usually rather than subverting their morals, front to achieve emotional lift-off. The as some critics have claimed, protests result, as one wag put it: the “Missa young people from the No-to-Pope Coalition, and ‘Sarah Brightman’.“ On the liturgical the handing out of condoms by anti- front, what WYD showed was that, experience church activists, had an unintended even when propped up by a symphony effect: to turn irreligion into a spectacle orchestra and starlet voices, the “high’’ liturgy only as of foolishness and an object of pity. In Novus Ordo has nowhere to go except an ironic twist, the anti-God-anti-Pope back to the original blueprint. crowd may have helped to define a poor cousin Catholic faith and morality more The “back to blueprints” path did clearly. not seem to bother WYD pilgrims. to Hillsong They took to the Pater Noster (which Symbols awry they had to learn) like ducks to water. evangelism. Turning to the official WYD liturgies The Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei – with the striking exception of that were just “not a problem”. So Latin celebrated in St Mary’s Cathedral on 19 could well become an integral part of The embryo of tomorrow’s Church July – they were poor, pedestrian, and future World Youth Days – much to has been starved in utero. It is our job imitative. Symbols clashed eclectically the chagrin of spirit-of-Vatican-II true to re-supply it, to put into its hands and without resolution. Was it the believers. the whole Catholic tradition – both doctrinal and liturgical. Without it, the worship of God, another Big Day Out, Intelligent young people already new generation cannot rebuild over the or an André Rieu concert? see that it makes perfect sense for ruins of the past; with it, rebuilding is For all that, the ritual side of WYD participants from 170 nations to be possible – though reactionaries and was an improvement on previous praying the important Catholic prayers revolutionaries, beware. Prepare your World Youth Days. Still, the big together in the same language. There hearts to bleed. question remains unasked by our is a lesson here for Australia’s “multi- religious leaders: is the breakdown in cultural” Catholic parishes. O

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Events Monk and nun round-up

Priestly ordinations at Le Barroux: Christchurch, New Zealand. Church: The Sisters of Mary, Mother Two monks of Le Barroux in France, Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP) of the Church, former sedevacantists Brothers Odon and Hubert, were ordinations: Two Australians, the who were reconciled to the Church ordained to the sacred priesthood Reverends Marko Rehak and Dominic earlier this year, have now been by Cardinal Rode at the Abbey in Popplewell FSSP, were ordained to established as a Public Association of a traditional ceremony on 26 July. the diaconate by Archbishop Malcolm the Faithful in the Diocese of Spokane, Cardinal Rode is the Prefect of Ranjith, Secretary of the Congregation Washington State: a significant step the Congregation for Institutes of for Divine Worship on 31 May at towards recognition as an Institute Consecrated Life and Societies of of Consecrated Life. The sisters Apostolic Life. plan on an apostolate focusing on New traditional foundation in Italy: evangelisation. Four of their number A new Italian traditional monastic recently visited Australia for World foundation has started. The Bishop of Youth Day, attending its traditional Albenga-Imperia, Msgr Mario Oliveri, Mass chapter, Juventutem. has welcomed three monks, formerly Benedictines of Mary, Queen of of Le Barroux, to the village of Prelà in the Apostles: These sisters have just Liguria (northern Italy). released a CD called Echoes of Ephesus, Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer: containing chant, religious music and The Transalpine Redemptorists have some of their own compositions, as changed their name to the Sons of part of their fundraising efforts toward the Most Holy Redeemer in order the construction of a monastery. The to differentiate themselves from the Sisters, who now number eighteen, Redemptorist Order, as part of the moved to Kansas City, Missouri, two process of their reconciliation to the years ago and have purchased the land for their permanent monastery. One Church. On 26 July all canonical Archbishop Ranjith censures on the priests of the of their main apostolates is vestment- monastery were lifted, and the process Wigratzbad in Germany. It was one of making. of regularising their status as an three ordination ceremonies conducted New priestly society: A new priestly institute of consecrated life is currently by eminent prelates of the Curia for society, the Apostles of Jesus Christ, in train. The order’s novices, who had the Fraternity in the course of three Priest and Victim, celebrating both previously attended the Society of St months. forms of the , has been Pius X seminary near Goulburn, New Both Deacons Rehak and Popplewell established in the Archdiocese of South Wales, have now recommenced will be ordained priests in Canberra Chicago. The charism of the new group their studies at the Priestly Fraternity on 22 November 2008, the Feast is to sanctify its members through of St Peter seminary in Nebraska. of St Cecilia, by Archbishop Mark conformity to Christ crucified in a The monks have monasteries on the Coleridge. mission of shared charity, particularly remote island of Papa Stronsay in the by renewing parish life. Orkneys, near Scotland, as well in Sisters of Mary, Mother of the O

 July-September 2008 Oriens Obituary Dom Gérard Calvet OSB

Katrina Edwards* pays tribute to a recently deceased giant of Catholic tradition.

Dom Gérard Calvet, founding Bédouin Abbot of the traditional Benedictine These were indeed dark days for Monastery of Sainte-Madeleine du the Church. In 1969, surveying the Barroux, died on 28 February this year, aged eighty. A cardinal, several ruin of religious life, the English monk archbishops, many abbots and priors Dom David Knowles wrote: “… and if of monasteries, and hundreds of lay a particular generation (even though it people attended his funeral; and be our own) destroys it or disfigures around the world, the traditionalist it, it will return again when saints arise movement mourned the loss of one to show its nobility to the modern of its greatest leaders. world.” Even as Knowles’ book went to press, Dom Gérard was beginning Vindication his “experiment of tradition.” Yet this was a man who in 1968, In the spring of 1969, Dom Gérard after almost twenty years as a monk, settled into a hermitage at Montmorin had packed all of his possessions onto along with a monk of En-Calcat. After a mobilette and seemingly left his Dom Gérard Calvet (1927-2008) a year there, he found an old church at monastery forever. A monk who for Bédouin in the Vaucluse dedicated to many years had struggled on in the he was sent to join the foundation in St Mary Magdalene, and he set out by Brazil that had been made by Tournay face of official disapproval of his new himself. His solitude did not last long, community dedicated to the cause a few years earlier. Disturbed by the however, for three days later his first of tradition and the restoration of innovations taking place there, he postulant arrived. Christendom. A monk to whom God returned to Tournay in 1968, only granted the great grace of seeing his to find that things were no better in St Benedict’s Rule insists that would- life’s work vindicated before he died, France. Unable to reconcile himself be monks should be discouraged, and not least in the Pope’s decision in to living in a manner he considered made to knock at the gate for four or 2007 to restore the right to say the contrary to the Rule, he sought and five days. In this case, the postulant, a Traditional Latin Mass to all priests. received permission to leave the young medical student, had to come monastery while continuing to live a back seventeen days in a row and Dom Gérard Calvet was born in monastic life. threaten to go it alone, living in the Bordeaux in 1927, the son of wine merchants. He did military service First he spent six months at woods, before Dom Gérard finally in Morocco in 1949, and entered the Fontgombault (which was forced to relented and agreed to take him on. monastery of Madiran the next year, cease using the Traditional Mass around A few months later, they officially transferring to Tournay in 1952. He this time) and then three months at the started. Within a year, there were made his solemn vows in 1954 and Charterhouse of Montrieux. Neither eleven monks. was ordained a priest in 1956. In 1963 option proved satisfactory to him. Dom Gérard taught the young

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Obituary novices what he was taught: orthodox the Archbishop’s leanings, ordered that have enough money to pay the theology, grounded on a sound the new monastery be closed. labourers who worked with us on the philosophy; the Rule of St Benedict building work. I would become very Dom Gérard appealed to Rome but and traditional customs; and the distressed but Dom Gérard always the appeal was rejected. He decided to liturgy. Dom Gérard also instilled into reassured me, saying that Providence continue anyway. his monks his own deep devotion to would intervene just when we needed the nineteenth-century founders of his Le Barroux it most. And, in fact, it did. I always particular monastic heritage – Mother managed to pay the workers when By 1977, the monastery was Marie Cronier, Father Muard, and pay-day came around.” overcrowded; the monks camped out Dom Romaine Banquet. His picture in sheds and caravans; and so the The foundation’s lack of canonical has now joined theirs, hanging in Le decision was made to purchase some status remained at issue. In 1984, Barroux’s Chapter House. Most of all, land near Avignon and build a new however, the then Cardinal Joseph he communicated to them his fervour, monastery. Dom Gérard travelled up Ratzinger telephoned Dom Gérard his courage, and the importance of the and down France appealing for funds, asking to meet him. He rushed to interior life. and in 1980, the first stone was laid Rome. “He was very respectful and Those foundations were to prove at Le Barroux. The building process listened to all I had to say,” Dom essential in weathering the controversy took ten years and at times life for the Gérard later said. “We immediately that would soon engulf the infant monastery was precarious. felt an affinity, both intellectual and spiritual ... I told Cardinal Ratzinger that our canonical situation at Le Barroux was not good, that we had not been welcomed by the Benedictine order.” Peace with Rome Attempts to reach a solution failed, however, because the Congregation for Religious refused to allow the 1984 to be applied. This was something that the other Benedictine monastery then associated with the Society of St Pius X, namely Flavigny, soon discovered. In 1987 negotiations with Rome for recognition resumed again against the background of Archbishop Lefebvre’s plans to ordain a bishop. In the events The monastery of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux of June 1988 Dom Gérard was among those called on by the Archbishop as monastery. In 1974 the first monks were When the monks first moved to whether to accept the Protocols ready for ordination to minor orders, in, living in what would eventually proposed by Rome: and Dom Gérard asked Archbishop become the guest quarters, and using Lefebvre – who had not yet been the crypt of the church for the Office, “… I was amazed at his refusal suspended – to conduct them. This there was no heating or electricity. because Rome was agreeing to all bought a swift response from the then “Sometimes”, said Dom Anselme, then our requests after years of painful Abbot of Tournay, who, suspicious of Prior of the Monastery, “I wouldn’t confrontation,” he later said.

10 July-September 2008 Oriens

Obituary

“But after all the accusations and restriction but grace and, at the of rescuing Europe from the scourge misunderstandings Msgr Lefebvre same time, a source of certainty of secularism, and to the role of the was exhausted. He was wearied and and a guarantee”. monastery in that task. He said: exasperated. So he reacted by rejecting A year later, on 18 June 1989, the “Monks unconsciously built the offer.” monastery was formally erected as Europe. Their adventure is The Vatican attempted to persuade an institute of consecrated life. On primarily, if not exclusively, an Dom Gérard not to follow suit: 2 July, Dom Gérard was given the interior thing. We are moved “Then one day, 19 June 1988, Cardinal Augustin Mayer called me telling me he wished to see me. He also begged me not to follow Msgr Lefebvre. The cardinal, who had also been a Benedictine abbot, came here with an aide, Msgr [Camille] Perl, and told us at a highly emotional meeting that the Pope was ready to grant us whatever we asked – we could celebrate liturgy, Mass, by the old rites.” Dom Gérard nonetheless assisted at the ordinations. “I initially supported the consecrations,” he said in a 2000 interview, “but had a change of heart after talking to a bishop who had been persecuted by the Chinese government. Monks in choir, Le Barroux He had suffered physical torture rather than renounce his communion with abbatial blessing by Cardinal Mayer. by thirst: thirst for the absolute, Rome. How could I abandon my On 2 October the Abbatial Church thirst for another world, thirst communion after what this bishop was dedicated by Cardinal Édouard for truth and beauty. Liturgy had suffered for his?” Gagnon. slakes this thirst by making us On 8 July, Dom Gérard wrote to turn our eyes to things eternal Cardinal Ratzinger formally asking Vision for Europe and by it the monk becomes a for reconciliation. On 25 July, Rome It was, however, a decision for man tending with all his being agreed. Fr Germain, aged thirty-nine, which Dom Gérard was to pay a towards things that do not pass who was one of Dom Gérard’s first high price. Many of the monastery’s away. Monasteries, old and new, disciples, said: benefactors were outraged. And are primarily fingers raised Le Barroux’s Brazilian foundation in silence to heaven. Then “It is hard to describe the dramatically rebelled against Dom after that they might also be joy one feels at receiving full Gérard’s decision, calling the police to academies of science and cradles recognition and at belonging as have him removed when he visited in of civilisation. But first they a religious community within order to explain his decision. are the obstinate, irreducible Mother Church, submitted to reminder that there is another its law and encouraged by its Throughout his life, Dom Gérard world, of which this world is blessing. This for us is not a was deeply committed to the task just the image, the annunciation

July-September 2008 11 Oriens

Obituary

and the herald. This is the task (mostly published as “by a Benedictine Marie, they were saying the Office of we monks are called to. Today, monk”), the most famous of which has None, of whose hymn Dom Gérard like 2,000 years ago.” been published in English under the was particularly fond, and which title Tomorrow Christendom. Written compares the setting of the sun to the Many of Le Barroux’s activities have in 1986, the book is a powerful call for eternal glory which is the recompense been intrinsically connected with this us not to withdraw from the culture, of the holy dead. focus on the liturgy: Dom Gérard was a but to preach Catholic tradition to all. passionate advocate for the Traditional Dom Calvet’s last words were “Our Latin Mass (and also of the need for Father”. He bowed his head slightly, a “reform of the reform”), and over Last years to signify the profound bow that is 115 priests came to the monastery for Not all of Dom Gérard’s activities normally made at this prayer, and training in how to say the Old Mass. were confined to the cloister. He even didn’t say anything more. Twenty-four hours later, after having received the But Dom Gérard was also happy spent one Christmas in jail with several sacraments of the Church, a living icon for the monastery to become a of his monks after invading an abortion of Tradition was dead. Legacy Nevertheless his rich spiritual legacy lives on. He left behind him a thriving monastery of over sixty monks, including a daughter house in the diocese of Agen, and an associated monastery of nuns. His approach to monasticism has profoundly influenced many other monasteries, particularly in France, where over fifteen Benedictine houses now use the Traditional Latin Mass. By his writings, talks, and leadership, he fundamentally shaped the traditional movement in France Dom Gérard at the altar and beyond. His consistent call was for nothing focal point for the laity, providing mill and barricading themselves in less than the restoration of Christendom. spiritual direction and support for – the monks were released only after a He laid out the strategy to this end, scouts, various lay movements, and massive public outcry. and laid the foundations for success. over four hundred secular oblates. He In 2003 continued ill-health finally Now it is up to his spiritual sons and also helped found the annual Chartres forced Dom Gérard’s resignation as daughters, whether religious, clerical, Pilgrimage. abbot. Yet he continued to play an or lay, to take up the banner and fight Nor is the academy far from Le active role, and was able to celebrate on under his heavenly patronage. Barroux’s doors: the monastery printing his eightieth birthday with his Dom Gérard Calvet, Requiescat in press has published many important community. He died on 28 February, pace. books by members of the traditional having suffered a stroke while driving movement, as well as many important back to the community after the * Katrina Edwards lives in Canberra and works by the monks themselves, key funeral of a relative in the company of is currently completing a master’s degree liturgical texts and much more. Dom the current abbot of Le Barroux, Dom in theology. Gérard himself wrote several books Louis-Marie. According to Dom Louis- O

12 July-September 2008 Oriens

Liturgy wars The Folk Mass is ended … go in peace

To mark the first anniversary of Pope Benedict’s Summorum Pontificum, John Zmirak* muses on connections between Soviet Communism’s fall and the liberation of the traditional Latin liturgy.

Without my winter beard I’ve outcome occurred to me – and I was was healthy neither for us nor for got a baby face, and am often so excited I had to call a friend and tell those we had left behind. (Some of us mistaken for a thirty-year-old. But him: “Hey Anthony, you know what got a little bit … eccentric attending teaching college students gives me this means? We might actually die of those “private chapels” set up behind frequent reminders that I really am old age! Just like our grandparents.” laundromats.) Even worse, it walled fortysomething. To the fresh young faces that look off from most Western Catholics the brightest treasures of their own These kids don’t remember up at me when I lecture, all this is worship tradition, putting behind Communism. It collapsed in Eastern as distant and weird as I found my lock and key the golden monstrances, Europe while they were in tiny diapers, mother’s fear of the Chinese – whom the incantatory songs, the gestures of and most of what they know of the she never forgave for Pearl Harbor. For profound humility and the mode of Soviet bloc comes from the character these students, Marxism is a flavour Borat. So the first time they heard of lit-crit, which their friends at state prayer treasured by the saints we all the word “Stalin” was during a sketch universities use while unpacking Jane invoke. about “sexy-time.” Austen novels. To me, it was a nemesis Again, it is hard to explain all and personal threat, and its fall (thanks Lucky them. My friends and I this to members of the “John Paul in large part to Pope John Paul) was grew up on a steady diet of warnings Generation,” many of whom grew the best thing that had ever happened from the media about the details up in vibrantly orthodox parishes in to me. of nuclear warfare, and grim tales the suburbs, where hideous modern architecture and happy-clappy music (from a few elderly teachers) of how Our Berlin Wall the Communists had murdered peacefully co-existed with solid missionaries in Africa, herded priests Until a year ago, that is. Pope Christian preaching, whose “Eucharistic into Chinese concentration camps, and Benedict’s Summorum Pontificum ministers” also worked long hours at blown up Russian basilicas. This meant (7 July 2007), which gave universal pro-life pregnancy shelters. Having we were pretty sure that we’d end our permission for the traditional Catholic never seen what came before, with no lives either under some kind of foreign liturgy – effectively suppressed after trailing memories of reverence lost or dictatorship – or in the sudden blaze Vatican II – was for me the spiritual beauty abandoned, these post-modern of mushroom clouds: Red Dawn or answer to 1989. No, it didn’t open Catholics rarely understand what we The Day After. Depending on news earthly prison camps, or lighten the “liturgy-geeks” are talking about. If reports, I’d have searing dreams of one finger on the nuclear hair-trigger. But they drop in to see a Traditional Mass, apocalypse or the other, and wake up it did break down a monstrous wall they might very well find it attractive, relieved to see neither Soviet soldiers that had been built by bureaucrats, in an artsy, alien way. Like a matinée nor piles of Hiroshima rubble. It was which wrongly divided Catholics and of The Magic Flute. But it’s not worth only in the fall of 1989 that another held millions of us in a ghetto. This fighting about.

July-September 2008 13 Oriens

Liturgy wars

Well, some of us who grew up altar boy hovered with a gleaming slog through that 1,000-page book of in the 1970s will have to answer, platter of gold. conciliar documents written largely “Yes. It is.” Born in late 1964, I have in 1960s Newspeak. Not even I was Such memories sustained me, as the no childhood memories of the full- nerdy enough in high school to do bureaucratic vandals loped through the bore Traditional Mass. Our parish that. ... sanctuaries – knocking down this altar had already embarked on one of a rail, pulling out that altar, and banishing long series of “transitional” liturgies, Silliness quotient the chant. They taught us in grammar which eager experts propelled into school that “the pope wanted us” to I remember as I got older, how action in lieu of Pope Paul’s issuing stand for Holy Communion, to take increasingly silly my own religion the Novus Ordo Missae (much less it in the hand, from ordinary laymen began to seem. What once we had its botched English translation). Even – and that all this was demanded by knelt, amidst solemn music, to humbly so, the Masses I remember held over “Vatican II”, which was apparently be fed by a white-haired celibate in some of the most important symbols still in session somewhere, issuing special robes, we now waltzed up and practices of the old rite – and they these edicts verbally … because none to collect like a movie ticket from proved important for me. our gym teacher – all to the tune of “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Indeed, growing Silence, please up I assumed that “B. Dylan” was some For instance, as a nattering four- obscure composer of modern Church year-old, I was stung by the absolute I would later music, since the only place I ever demand for silence, and the spectacle heard his songs were at “Folk Mass.” of big, strong blue-collar dads clad learn from The lyrics were flowery and made no in suits, kneeling with downcast eyes sense to me, so I assumed they must as they waited for the richly robed reading the just be from the Old Testament – like celebrant to raise that shiny white disc, those droning, desperately joyless and the cassocked altar boys to shake “responsorial psalms.” (King David those tingly bells. I asked my mother works of wept ….) I kept on dragging myself once, “Why are they ringing those there, every Sunday, even though I bells?” She said, “So children like you Michael Davies sometimes wondered why – because will be quiet. And why do you have in some cranny of my soul, I still heard to be quiet?” she said, anticipating my that most those bells, and still felt that alien, protest. “Because you see that piece of supernatural thrill. bread up there in the priest’s hands?” of what our I would later learn from reading the “It doesn’t look like bread. ...” works of that great Catholic apologist teachers and Michael Davies that most of what “Well, it is. And now what the our teachers and pastors told us was priest is doing will turn it into God.” pastors told us false – that Communion in the hand, “Oh …” My green eyes opened wide the widespread abuse of Eucharistic at that, and they haven’t narrowed yet. was false. ministers, the abolition of chant, the That moment never left me. Indeed, desecration of altars, the exclusive that memory of a carefully orchestrated use of Mass facing the people, even human ritual has served as an actual the abolition of Latin and chant, all Grace, since I’ve never since doubted of it was to be found in the Council of it … all of it … was done on the for a nanosecond the Real Presence documents. Then again, neither was initiative of tiny coteries of experts, in the Eucharist. That fact was seared all that business about the Omega often in plain defiance of Church law. into me by the solemn way all the Point, or Mary’s other children, or In fact, these assaults on the Mass were grown-ups knelt, abject, at an altar Jesus not rising physically from the conducted via the same ruthless office rail – and opened their mouths like dead, or Liberation Theology and politics as the “renewal” of Catholic tiny birds for a crumb of “bread.” And women priests that they taught at my education, with similar results. It’s by the loving care the priest paid to Catholic high school. But in order a cliché to talk about weak-chinned handling the Host, under which an to check it, I would have needed to bishops and pants-suited nuns with

14 July-September 2008 Oriens

Liturgy wars grudges getting together at four-star the gun-shy, self-styled Traditionalists catechetical psychobabble and liturgies hotels for weekend conferences to to poke around at their old parishes. lacking the dignity of Cub Scout reinvent the Faith of 2,000 years – but This will take time, of course. Given ceremonies. Faced with the prospect that is sadly what happened. Or almost the sheer number of falsehoods of a Church that was being dressed up happened – thanks to the firm refusals imposed on Catholic laymen trying to by wishful thinkers in the trappings of of Pope John Paul and then-cardinal schlep our way to Heaven by “highly dying, “mainline” Protestantism, one Ratzinger. placed officials” and the committees out of three who grew up Catholic have who loved them, is it any wonder that What is worse, as the visible form already left the Church. Many ceased when some people learned the truth, of our worship mutated so radically, all religious practice, but far more they became a little … suspicious? it was hard to resist the suggestion: sought out the starker certitudes of If this could change, why couldn’t No wonder so many of those Evangelical churches – whose embrace everything else? (This is what Pope people I met at reluctantly tolerated of Biblical principles and rejection of Benedict means by the “hermeneutic “indult” Latin Masses – it was easier, sacramental rites is straightforward of discontinuity.”) The first thing a in some places, to get permission and sincere. revolutionary regime typically does is for gay-sponsored Dignity liturgies I’m not saying that people who’ve to replace the country’s flag – to let – carried plastic grocery bags full of gone off to Pentecostal churches to the common people know that all bets poorly printed pamphlets with the speak in tongues will be lured back by are off, and their new masters plan to names of “cardinals who are thirty- hearing Latin. But the recovery of the start from scratch. The bishops and theologians who rejected Humanae Vitae – and with it, virtually the whole of New and even Old Testament Communion in the hand was teaching on sexuality – found these liturgical changes mighty helpful. introduced in an act of plain Indeed, many of the same people who crafted modern catechesis (and modern defiance of Church documents. annulment norms) also helped along in the changing Mass, in a veritable synergy of mediocrity. Communion in third-degree Freemasons.” It wasn’t so Church in the West from a generation the hand, for instance, was introduced much a sign of a “schismatic mentality” of chaos and self-indulgence can only in an act of plain defiance of Catholic (although that exists) as a symptom be advanced by the slow and solemn practice and Church documents – then of Post-Conciliar Stress Disorder. I recovery of dignity, beauty, and order. presented after a decade or so to Pope once adopted a beagle whose previous A liturgy that teaches us to humble Paul VI as a fait accompli: This is now master used to beat him; he still winces ourselves can in time teach us the far our local custom. So he reluctantly whenever I try to pet him. But he’s greater lesson – to forget ourselves approved it. That’s not what they learning to trust ... altogether, and gaze at the Face of God taught us in grammar school. So when with our eyes wide and mouths agape. Pope Benedict makes clear that he Balm To kneel like tiny birds waiting to be strongly prefers the traditional mode Pope Benedict understands all this, fed. of receiving the Host, millions of us and has shown a fatherly compassion silently whisper “Amen.” And when he toward those of us who suffered from * Dr John Zmirak is writer-in-residence at liberated the Latin Mass, millions of us priestly liturgical abuse. His warmth Thomas More College of the Liberal Arts screamed “Alleluia!”. and wisdom are washing away the in New Hampshire. This article originally appeared in Taki’s Magazine on 7 July, bitterness, even as solemn liturgies and is here reproduced with permission. Recover the wounded attract new vocations to the priesthood. If bishops faithfully follow the Holy (When I was in Rome, the Latin O Father’s wishes – which apparently liturgies were always scattered with Corrigenda now extend to training new priests to curious seminarians from Indiana.) In the April-June 2008 Oriens, the names of Fr say both rites – it will work miracles What remains is an outreach to Robert Jackson and Aniello Iannuzzi were mis- at luring back the scandalised souls of the other lost sheep of the 1970s, takenly given as Fr Robert Johnson and Ani- the 1970s. It will gradually convince the millions who drifted away from ello Ianuzzi. Oriens apologises for the errors.

July-September 2008 15 Oriens

Vatican II Is ecumenism a heresy?

Some say it is, and that Vatican II got it wrong. Fr Brian W. Harrison, OS* analyses key documents of the Council, and reaches a different conclusion.

Vying with the Declaration on place in the course of Church history, this theology embodied – explicitly Religious Liberty for the honour in response to changing circumstances. or at least implicitly – several specific (or disgrace, depending on one’s And in this practical, disciplinary theses censured by Pius XI. theological outlook) of being the respect, a comparison between MA Early pan-religionists usually took ’s most and UR reveals an undeniable and very a “lowest common denominator” doctrinally innovative document is marked change of direction – indeed, approach: they envisaged a world- its Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis practically a U-turn. wide religious “unity” in which all Redintegratio (UR). Those at both Pius XI flatly forbade any Catholic would agree on a few basic beliefs traditionalist and liberal ends of the participation in inter-church or inter- while “agreeing to differ” on others. Catholic spectrum have seen this religious meetings and activities The Pope observes that these religious Decree (with sentiments of gloomy motivated by the desire for restoring liberals apparently “hope that all glowering and gleeful gloating unity. Vatican Council II, on the nations, while differing indeed in respectively) as representing a other hand, authorises and positively religious matters, may yet without significant departure from traditional encourages Catholic participation in great difficulty be brought to fraternal ecclesiology. The latter, of course, such activities (within certain limits). agreement on certain points of doctrine emphasised Catholicism as the one The modern Church has thus made a which will form a common basis of true religion, to which separated prudential judgement that the risks and the spiritual life.”1 This hypothetical Christians will simply have to return dangers of indifferentism and confusion “unity” in one “world religion” would if ever unity is to be restored. about the faith occasioned by such of course include non-Christians of all In this short article I shall limit activities – perils strongly emphasised types. myself to a comparison between UR by Pius XI – are outweighed by the Pius XI insisted that the above and the preconciliar papal document great good to be hoped for as the long- error involves another at a deeper most frequently cited as being term result of ecumenism: gradually level: denial of the very principle of incompatible with it, Pope Pius XI’s better mutual understanding, leading revealed truth, which requires assent 1928 encyclical on fostering true to that unity which Christ willed for all to God’s Word on his own authority. religious unity, Mortalium Animos who profess to be His disciples. Contemporary pan-religious efforts (MA). This encyclical set out the Liberal Protestantism operating on the above principle, the Catholic Church’s position regarding Pope says, the fledgling movement for religious At the more fundamental level of “presuppose the erroneous view unity which had been gathering steam doctrine, however, the short answer that all religions are more or in liberal Protestant circles since the to the charge of contradiction between less good and praiseworthy, late nineteenth and early twentieth MA and UR is that what Pius XI inasmuch as all give expression, centuries. condemned is by no means the same under various forms, to that thing that Vatican II affirms. What, To compare these two magisterial innate sense which leads men exactly, did Pope Pius condemn as documents, we first need to distinguish to God and to the obedient false doctrine? Basically, the liberal between a reversal of official Church acknowledgement of his rule. Protestant theology that dominated policy, discipline or pastoral strategy, Those who hold such a view are ecumenical initiatives in the early and a contradiction of doctrine. The not only in error; they distort former type of change has often taken twentieth century. More specifically,

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Vatican II

the true idea of religion, and consider another common complaint. Let us now go on to consider UR thus reject it, falling gradually Traditionalist critics often claim in the light of the above-mentioned into naturalism and atheism. To that UR leaves the key concept of doctrinal errors reprobated by Pope favour this opinion, therefore, ecumenism dangerously undefined. I Pius. suspect this concern arises from a faulty and to encourage such Does Vatican II adopt a “lowest translation in the common Flannery undertakings, is tantamount to common denominator” approach to edition of the documents, which has abandoning the religion revealed “balance” unity and truth? Not at all. 2 the Council merely “indicating” what by God.” UR 3 affirms that while the separated “the ecumenical movement” involves. This idea that all religions are brethren5 have many elements of truth, just varying (and fallible) human Doctrinal definition God’s will is that they all come to that expressions of a natural religious plenitude which can be found only in impulse or instinct was one of the A more faithful translation of the Catholicism: opening of UR 4’s second paragraph, fundamental errors of that modernism “For it is through Christ’s bringing out its character as a definition, which had been so recently condemned Catholic Church alone . . . that would be this: “The term ‘ecumenical by Pope St Pius X. the fullness of the means of movement’ is understood to mean (Per salvation can be obtained. It “motum oecumenicum” intelleguntur) False ecclesiology was to the apostolic College those activities and initiatives which are alone, of which Peter is the Turning from the inner nature encouraged and organised, according head . . . that we believe the of faith to outward forms of visible to the various needs of the Church and Lord entrusted all the benefits organisation, Pius XI found another when suitable occasions arise, in order of the New Covenant in order to related error. In those initiatives limiting to promote the unity of Christians.” establish on earth the one Body the quest for unity to those who The Council then makes this definition of Christ, into which all those already professed faith in Christ – what more precise by setting out the kinds who already in some way belong the Church today calls “ecumenism” as of “activities and initiatives” it has in to the people of God ought to be distinct from “interreligious dialogue” – mind: the Pope discerned a false ecclesiology fully incorporated.”6 (theological understanding of the • avoiding all misrepresentations of Church). For the visibly united separated Christians’ beliefs and Non-negotiables “Christian Church” that these liberal practices; The Decree also recalls that while Protestant ecumenists dreamed there is a “hierarchy” of Catholic • dialogue between scholars of of would be “nothing more than a truths, insofar as these vary in “their different denominations for federation of the various Christian relationship to the foundation of the the purpose of better mutual communities, even though these may Christian faith”,7 this does not mean understanding; hold different and mutually exclusive that the less “fundamental” Catholic doctrines.”3 • a more extensive collaboration beliefs – those not shared by Protestant The Pope pointed out that such in carrying out duties toward the and/or Orthodox Christians – are an ecclesiology in turn involves the common good recognised by “every “negotiable” or can be swept under the related idea that the unity which Christ Christian conscience”; rug. On the contrary, “It is of course prayed for – ut unum sint – “merely • meeting for common prayer, where essential that [Catholic] doctrine be expressed a desire or a prayer which this is permitted; and presented in its entirety. Nothing is so as yet has not been granted. For they foreign to the spirit of ecumenism as a • renewing and reforming the Church [the contemporary ecumenists] hold false eirenicism which harms the purity herself in faithfulness to Christ’s that the unity of faith and government of Catholic doctrine and obscures its will. 8 which is a note of the one true Church genuine and certain meaning.” of Christ has up to the present time It seems clear enough that while Does UR imply a descent hardly ever existed and does not exist the second, third, and fourth of these into naturalism at the expense of divine today. . . . [I]t must be regarded as a revelation, leading to an abandonment 4 points do indeed relax the disciplinary mere ideal.” (MA p. 6). prohibitions of MA, none of these five of all revealed truth? No, because it Before looking at UR in the light points contradicts any doctrinal truth never accepts the premise that Pius XI of these condemned ideas, we can laid down by Pius XI in his encyclical. says leads to that “dead end”, namely,

July-September 2008 17 Oriens

Vatican II the modernist idea that the different the Holy Spirit energising its Church from the beginning. religions all just “give expression, various functions.”11 This unity, we believe, exists under various forms, to that innate completely12 in the Catholic sense which leads men to God”. The Of and among Church as something she can conciliar teaching, in contrast to this From what has been said already, never lose, and which we hope naturalistic aetiology, stresses the it should be clear that the Decree on will continue to increase until 13 supernatural realities of revelation and Ecumenism does not teach the fourth the end of time.” faith. UR asserts that “the Catholic heresy censured by Pius XI in MA, Whether or not, in the decades Church has been endowed with all namely, the idea that Church unity is since Vatican II, UR’s conservatively divinely revealed truth and with a mere future ideal which separated envisaged ecumenism has always been all means of grace.”9 Furthermore, faithfully implemented – even by the “Christ entrusted to the College of Church’s own leadership – is of course the Twelve the task of teaching, ruling another question. A further one is and sanctifying. ... And after Peter’s Christian whether or not the results achieved confession of faith, he determined that after about half a century vindicate, on him he would build His Church disunity does with the benefit of hindsight, the ... [and] entrusted all His sheep to prudence of UR’s “window-opening” him to be confirmed in faith”.10 The disciplinary changes. Fathers who promulgated UR were not imply of course also those who, just one I think Catholics can now legitim- year later, promulgated the Dogmatic a disunited ately debate both these questions. In Constitution on Divine Revelation, any case, if this brief comparison has which serves as an interpretative key Church. helped to show that the Council did to other conciliar documents touching not fall into the doctrinal aberrations reprobated by Pius XI in 1928, it will on that subject. Christians must work to construct, perhaps have served a useful purpose. No federal option insofar as it does not yet exist. Of course, we need to distinguish carefully Does UR envisage a united “Church” here between the unity of the Church NOTES of the future as being a “federation” as such, and unity among Christians. of different Christian denominations Obviously, the latter does not exist 1. MA (Gregorian Press edition, Berlin, New Jersey, 1988), p. 2. (The sections of the encyclical are not numbered in this edition, agreeing to differ in at least some yet – and never has existed since the which contains fifteen pages.) doctrinal matters? Nowhere is there first schisms arose in New Testament 2. Ibid. any such suggestion. Vatican II times! 3. Ibid, p. 3. presents the unity willed by God as 4. Ibid, p. 6. But such divisions do not imply that 5. Far from being a postconciliar “novelty”, referring to heretical one in which everyone is ... surprise, or schismatic Christians as “brethren” goes back as far as St the Church herself is – or ever could surprise! ... Catholic! Having made it Augustine, who is cited to that effect in footnote 18 to UR, 3. be – disunited, in the sense of being 6. UR, 3, emphasis added. clear that by “the Church” they mean divided into different denominations 7. The revealed truths about Our Lady, for instance, derive from the the body led by “the bishops with Incarnation, not vice versa. holding different doctrines. Our credal Peter’s successor at their head” – that 8. UR, 11. article of belief in “One, Holy Catholic, is, the Roman Catholic Church – the 9. UR, 4. See also the quotation referenced by note 6 above. Apostolic Church” rules this out. And 10. UR, 3, emphasis added. Fathers continue: so does UR when it expresses the hope 11. UR, 2, final paragraphs, emphasis added. “The Church, then, God’s only that, as a result of ecumenism, 12. Latin subsistit. flock, like a standard lifted 13. UR, 4, third paragraph, emphasis added. “little by little as the obstacles high for the nations to see it, * Fr Brian W. Harrison, OS, was Chairman of ministers the Gospel of peace to perfect ecclesiastical the Department of Theology and Philosophy to all mankind, as it makes its communion are overcome, all of the Pontifical Catholic University, Puerto pilgrim way in hope towards Christians will be gathered, Rico. He now works at the Oblates of its goal, the fatherland above. in a common celebration of Wisdom Study Centre, St Louis, Missouri. This is the sacred mystery of the Eucharist, into the unity the unity of the Church, in of the one and only Church, Christ and through Christ, with which Christ bestowed on His O

18 July-September 2008 Oriens

Society Is Jack as good as his master?

James Bogle* tackles a notion that has become standard political dogma: total equality, or egalitarianism.

The belief that there is a natural on an equal footing – if he chooses equal in authority then to whom does order for human society and that – but he refuses to serve him. any man look for a definitive view on (whilst each man is of equal moral morality, law, social ethics or, indeed, worth) it is natural for there to be a Master and man anything? Today, it is either the self or hierarchy within human society, is a This often stems from a false the majority. belief much scorned and derided in understanding of the master-servant The atheist will say the yardstick is the modern world. relationship. Modern men often think himself alone but that is of little use We are urged to egalitarianism by this relationship is a relationship of since it is merely subjective and so the media pundits and others who unilateral exploitation by the master ultimately a mere matter of personal treat it as the chief modern political and degradation for the servant. That, taste. Others will say that, since all are dogma. “We are all equals here” is the in fact, stems from a false development equal, the answer lies in the majority motto of the day and the spirit of the of the relationship after the French view. age. The Zeitgeist tells us that “Jack’s and Industrial Revolutions and the It is this view which is popular in as good as his master” and that, in any rise of capitalism when, in the name today’s secular world. But it is of no use case, there should not be masters and of a spurious liberalism, corrupt since one cannot decide morality by a servants, kings and subjects, bishops masters became mere “employers” and mere majority vote. Only hierarchy and faithful, pastors and flocks, officers sought to throw off their obligations to – and a hierarchy with God at the apex and men but only total equals with their servants, treating them as mere – can provide the final answer to moral some elected delegates to represent “employees” good only for enriching questions and to questions about the us. the capitalists and then to be thrown end and purpose of life. We should all be put on an exactly away when no longer useful. equal footing and everyone treated The proper master-servant Logic exactly the same. Even the differences relationship is one of mutual love between the sexes must be ironed This does not mean, as some facile and service, one to the other. The and sloppy-thinking critics claim, that out according to modern notions of servant serves the master like a son equality. man cannot think for himself. On the and the master cares for the servant contrary, man must think for himself Non serviam like a father. Each must love and all the more under hierarchy and he respect the other and serve each in must do so with clarity and logic. Total equality, or egalitarianism, is their respective capacities. It is a the order of the day. But is it right, reflection of the familial relationship. The atheist has no final reference morally, intellectually and logically? I It is not a relationship of mere mutual point beyond himself and so his do not think so – and here’s why. exploitation, each seeking to take from thoughts are ultimately only self- referring which is hardly to think at First and last, the creed of the other as much as he can squeeze all. It is he, and not the believer, who egalitarianism is the creed that says out of them. So, too, should be the ultimately is the creature of every non serviam or “I shall not serve”, the relationship of ruler to ruled, and passing fashion that takes his fancy, motto and cry of the Devil himself. pastor to people. and so cannot truly think for himself. The egalitarian refuses to serve any Secondly, if there is no hierarchy other man. He may wish to help him amongst men and all are absolutely Consider a practical situation: if we

July-September 2008 19 Oriens

Society are all absolutely equal and the majority and its recognition, then any single in the heart of man, so every man has is to dictate our morality because no individual man can appeal over the immediate access to it in the form of man has any other moral authority head of his immediate superior to a his own conscience. But conscience over another, then all authority is higher superior and, ultimately, to the is of no use to the strict egalitarian, merely delegated by the majority to highest superior of all, God. since one man’s conscience, to him, is the office-holders in society. These Thus if a genuine superior, or of no greater consequence than that of office-holders must then be obeyed master, orders something that is any other man, and so we must again in all they ordain within the authority turn to majorities to decide whose immoral then the servant can look given to them by the majority. Indeed, “conscience” shall prevail. beyond him to a higher superior: for the ordinances of the office-holding example, the law or the Constitution Besides, an hierarchy of authority delegates must then be considered by reflects the hierarchy of God and all others to be morally right and so heaven. Those who think that everyone must obeyed. is equal in heaven are simply wrong. As Any individual who disobeys the Scripture says: “The first shall be last delegate of the majority is really pitting True humanity and the last, first” (Matt 19:30, 20:16; himself against the majority, since the Mark 9:34, 10:31; Luke 13:30). majority is the only moral authority (because all are equal). Then one has is diminished Celestial hierarchy no choice but to act in accordance without a true There is undoubtedly an hierarchy with that majority authority and upon in heaven with God at the supreme the orders of its delegate. hierarchy. height, Our Lady next, then St John Rousseau’s tyranny the Baptist, St Joseph and the Apostles. Below that are ranked the saints in order This is the tyranny of the majority of their sanctity, with no accounting and the false, egalitarian view of or international law. If these, in turn, for any worldly honour but only for democracy and government. It was a still require him to follow an evil holiness, which, in turn, means service view championed by men like Jean- order then he can look to the Natural to others. For, as Scripture says: Jacques Rousseau, one of the “fathers” Law and Divine Law ordained by the of the Enlightenment and, willy nilly, of highest superior, God. “[He] emptied himself, taking the French Revolution that followed it. the form of a servant, being A military analogy may assist: if Under this view the majority’s delegate made in the likeness of men, a captain tells a corporal to shoot could order a man to kill his own and in habit found as a man. a civilian in cold blood, then the mother, and he would have to obey, He humbled himself, becoming corporal can appeal to the colonel who since morality under such a scheme obedient unto death, even to the is higher in rank. If that fails, he can is simply that of the majority and its death of the cross. For which appeal to the Geneva Convention and delegate. cause God also hath exalted national and international law. If that him, and hath given him a This is precisely what Communism fails, then he can appeal to the Natural name which is above all names” and extreme Socialism require of men. Law and God which are both higher (Philippians 2:7-9). Moreover, although it looks like an than any human law or authority. hierarchical creed, Nazism is little This is the very example of God different. The Führer or “Leader” is This is not disobedience, as some Who, despite being the Supreme Being meant to be the delegate of the majority people say, but rather it is to obey the and Creator of the Universe, humbled once again, the chief difference being higher law, that of God, in preference Himself to serve all men, even unto that the majority excludes supposedly to the lower law, that of man. That is death upon a cross. how hierarchy works. Even if the Pope “sub-human” persons who are said not Egalitarian atheists like the British- to be of the master race. himself were to give an unlawful or immoral order, one can appeal over his born American journalist, Christopher In truth, where there is no true head to the law of God. Hitchens, detest hierarchy because hierarchy there can be no true they detest God being at the apex of it. humanity. When there is hierarchy Moreover, the law of God is written They want to be at the apex themselves.

20 July-September 2008 Oriens

Society

Such a man hates the idea of a servant- Führer God? The best leaders will seek to king-God and prefers the idea of a emulate Christ, Who, though the selfish-man-god, namely himself. Thus Hitchens thinks God is a totalitarian Supreme Being and the Creator of the everything becomes referable solely to tyrant and that heaven is a prison entire Universe, nevertheless made self – but only to his own self. There is camp. The reverse is true. God is the Himself the servant of all others, even then no more morality but that which ultimate liberal (in the good sense) unto death. One such modern leader the self wishes. and lets every man choose his own was the Blessed Emperor Charles I of path – even if it is to Hell, which is the But what happens when one self Austria-Hungary, the last of the great real prison, the prison of the selfish clashes with another self? Whose line of Catholic Habsburg emperors. ego. morality is to prevail? Fine examples of the mutual Heaven is the place for those community and hierarchy which Jungle law who wish to serve others and do so concurrently exist both in heaven and Atheists like Hitchens are prepared freely, recognising that to do so is the on earth can be seen in Catholic to risk the law of the jungle, because greatest freedom of all, since man is a art. An example is the painting by they consider that they can prevail social being. A man without society El Greco called The Burial of Count over others and so occupy the top of is like a man confined to a solitary Orgaz. In it is one sees both the court the tree. This view is little different cell in prison, the very worst form of of heaven arrayed in hierarchy and the from Nazism and Communism, under deprivation of freedom. court of the Kingdom of Spain arrayed in hierarchy – but all are meant to which creeds there is no real morality But Hitchens cannot see that. He serve each other, and are doing so as beyond that of whoever is in charge. prefers to serve himself and not others. they bury the Count. Worse still is the self-worship of He is thus like his real master, Satan, those who, living in a society that has who is, indeed, the very embodiment Our Catholic ancestors understood not yet become completely corrupted of the totalitarian tyrant. For in Hell, that hierarchy was necessary for by the totalitarianism of relativism, nevertheless consider their own will the final arbiter of all morality and so claim the right (at least to themselves) Every man chooses his own path to prevail over all others. – even to Hell. Hypocritically, they do this whilst benefiting from a society where there are still many people who do not take all wills and egos are in constant clash, humanity and for safety, both moral such a selfish view of morality. Such no man can live in charity with his and physical, and not least to avoid the people are the true enemies of society neighbour, and, ultimately, the will of very kind of tyranny that we have seen and are its true subversives. To such the one with the biggest ego – Satan in the twentieth century. Will we learn a man there is only one God, namely – prevails. this in the twenty-first century? Or himself. shall we once again be tempted by the This is what awaits poor Hitchens various experiments in egalitarianism Hitchens is one such. And he has unless he has a change of heart. So let that end only in totalitarianism? shown himself such in his own life, us pray for him. Time will tell, but the signs are not deserting his pregnant wife to run off yet propitious. with another, ratting on his own best Accounts rendered friend, Sidney Blumenthal, and writing A good man and a good ruler * Lt-Col James Bogle is a barrister in a book entitled God Is Not Great. This recognises that there is always Someone London. With his wife Joanna Bogle, he latter shows that he is not really an greater than himself to Whom he must wrote A Heart for Europe, a biography atheist, but rather he wishes to replace later render account. Such a leader will of Blessed Emperor Charles I and his the real God with the god of his own seek to serve others and to be a servant Empress Zita (published by Gracewing). ego. A true atheist would simply not to others and he will always treat those be so hot and bothered about a God in who serve him with great love and whom he did not believe. respect. O

July-September 2008 21 Oriens Music Church music by the unchurched: Saint-Saëns

This is the first article of a series. R. J. Stove discusses eminent composers who spent most of their lives outside orthodox Catholicism, but who made notable contributions to sacred music.

All created human beings, we were to dismiss every human Saint-Saëns (born in Paris on 9 October with one famous exception – so the work that had been created 1835) began playing the piano when Church teaches us – suffer from by a sinner, there might not only two years old, began composing Original Sin; but it is astonishing be much left standing. I was when only three, and could perform how often various Catholics forget once taken to task for leading all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas from this fact when it comes to sacred a congregation in a ‘Protestant memory at the age of ten. Perhaps music. American columnist Joseph tune’, to which I replied, ‘Which so freakishly gifted a lad would Sobran, after having eulogised note was Protestant?’. Let us inevitably experience sorrow as an 2 Mozart on the latter’s 250th birthday, move on.” adult. Embittered he certainly was, endured ferocious chastisement Complete musician with a lifelong sharpness of tongue, from “a stern Catholic reader who despite the official honours heaped on Especially relevant in this assured me ... that the ‘only reason’ him, including his own statue. While connection are the cases of (Charles) the media noted the occasion is that he produced over 150 superbly crafted Mozart was a Mason. What’s more, Camille Saint-Saëns and his pupil compositions in every genre, he never he is now ‘roasting in hell’.”1 Many Gabriel (Urbain) Fauré. Both men succeeded in stilling accusations that he Catholic musicians will have been – close friends for most of their lives – had squandered his immense natural confronted with similar vengeful belong with the most eminent among abilities. Those whom his plentiful attitudes about Mozart, and not French composers; both men were sarcasms had vexed, easily turned only about him. It is as if great brought up in conventionally pious their wounded pride into aesthetic composers’ lives inspire in certain households; neither continued to prigs a de facto Donatism, which practise Catholicism in adulthood; but disapproval. Part of the trouble lay (happily) would be prohibited in the contributions of both men to the in his terrifying mother, who, when any other field of church endeavour. sacred repertoire are too important, her son had already reached his To such Donatism, Adelaide organist at their best, to be slighted. A survey thirties, fired off at him such epistolary and pianist Mark Freer has surely of church music by the unchurched vociferations as the following: formulated the definitive response: cannot afford to neglect either figure. “You make me ill with your fears. I used to think you a “No thoughtful Catholic will Fauré (the subject of a future essay) have difficulty distinguishing called Saint-Saëns, with characteristic man; you are merely a coward. Mozart’s music from his care in choosing his words, “the most I treat you with contempt. … Freemasonry, any more, for complete musician whom we have ever I believed I had brought up a example, than separating Bach’s had.”3 A child prodigy of Mozartian man. I have raised up only a girl work from his Lutheranism. If and Mendelssohnian endowments, of degenerative stock.”4

22 July-September 2008 Oriens

Music

Clearly, not the sort of matriarch the Opéra-Comique, I shall play music an utter disbeliever.”9 All of which who could be appeased with the that is appropriate – but not before.”6 suggests an element of sour grapes on occasional box of chocolates. It is He did not regard his own shortage his part; and the frequency with which significant that only after her death in of spiritual zeal as an excuse for the he declared his scepticism evokes 1888 did her son dare to publish his pagan clowning with which Richard the self-proclaimed atheist described expressions of religious heterodoxy. Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens by Orwell, “who does not so much Meanwhile he had liturgical have since made us drearily familiar. disbelieve in God as personally dislike functions to carry out, which he did Him.” A literary acquaintance who with unsurpassed efficiency. From 1857 A positivist hoped to bring Saint-Saëns back to the to 1877, he served as chief organist Saint-Saëns finally revealed his own Church sent along one Père Mugnier at Paris’ Madeleine church, with an beliefs via a book called Problèmes et to this end, but Mugnier had no annual salary of three thousand francs. Mystères, which he released in 1893, hopes of withstanding the musician’s (The job being regarded as a source of when mourning the death of his old charm: the two got on so famously that patriotic morale, it relieved him from ally Charles Gounod. His doctrine the priest never ventured to attempt the duties of military service.) Liszt owed much to Auguste Comte’s proselytising. greeted his organ-playing gifts in the positivism, a creed extremely popular among French intellectuals at the time, Accounts of Saint-Saëns’ last hours though no less sincerely held by the – he died in Algiers on 16 December composer on that account. He never 1921 – are slightly mysterious. He settled into the territory of outright had requested a non-religious funeral atheism, if only through his fear of (which he received), but biographer those whom he called “anarchists”, James Harding refers cryptically to and whom he upbraided for “hav[ing] “one of those whom a deathbed tempts no other law than the satisfaction as a corpse attracts a vulture” having of the lowest appetites.”7 (In 1893, thrust, into the composer’s stiffening most writers used “anarchist” not as hands, a crucifix.10 a specific ideological descriptor but as an all-purpose swear-word, rather Christmas Oratorio most appreciative terms, informing a as “fascist” and “racist” are employed friend: “Saint-Saëns is not merely in these days.) Thus, he saw a distinct Not remotely mysterious, in fact the first rank but incomparable”.5 usefulness for revealed religion in the indisputable, is Saint-Saëns’ musical area of crowd control, provided that legacy to French churches. Most of his Musical strictness nobody expected him to subscribe to sacred production comes (as might have its dictates himself. His musical strictness, an been predicted) from fairly early in his inspiration to many an organ-loft He told musicologist and novelist career, during his Madeleine tenure. It drudge, once antagonised a local Romain Rolland in 1910: “This need includes a Christmas Oratorio, which priest. The anecdote has been printed to believe, which torments so many is seldom sung complete today in in various forms, but is unchanged people, seems to me idle. It has been either ecclesial or concert-hall milieux, in essentials: this particular priest replaced in me by a need to know.”8 To but from which sections – notably the reproached him for his austere a clergyman four years later, Saint-Saëns finale, “Tollite hostias” – have been music-making, telling him, “Our insisted that his own bereavements (his extracted to become firm choir-stall congregations at the Madeleine are two small sons had died in dreadful favourites. There exists also a Saint- made up chiefly of well-to-do folk circumstances within months of one Saëns Ave Maria that is far less often who often go to the Opéra-Comique. another) “did not destroy my faith, heard than “Tollite hostias”, but that We should respect the musical tastes lost earlier. They might even have deserves periodic revival as a palatable they have formed there.” Saint-Saëns’ restored it, but that was impossible.” but dignified alternative to the over- frigid retort: “Monsieur l’Abbé, when I hear sermons delivered from the And to another clergyman he wrote: exposed Gounod and Schubert pulpit in the style of the dialogue at “I am not a virtual disbeliever. I am settings.

July-September 2008 23 Oriens Music

Once St Pius X issued his 1903 includes over a dozen organ solos else”,14 may be legitimately accused motu proprio, Saint-Saëns assailed it exhibiting uniformly high levels of of a constipated outlook; but such a in Le Figaro’s pages.11 Alas, he seems craftsmanship and refinement. One of dogma is a fairly good guarantee that – like many others since, whether the shortest and earliest items in this he will never perpetrate outright trash. within or outside the Church – to category, Élévation ou Communion Another comment of his – which have been ignorant of the document’s – dating from around 1856 – is also displays a healthy fear of coming to details, and to have regarded it as one of the most touching and (for the fall below his own lofty standards – an attack on music per se. It is true player) least demanding. Saint-Saëns deserves to be cherished by everyone, that this motu proprio reprehends himself would have found it almost everywhere, who must perform before the more theatrical gestures – such as ludicrously easy to perform, but he an audience: “How lucky”, he mused the overuse of harp figurations – that was fond enough of it to revise it a at the age of seventy-seven, “are those found their way into some of Saint- quarter of a century afterwards.13 who never play well in public, for, as Saëns’ youthful religious pieces; but the years go by, they only play less well in practice it leaves a good deal to Form above all and no one notices!”15 bishops’ discretion, above all in the When all is said, Saint-Saëns’ choice of accompanying instruments. NOTES church-related output forms only a (Saint-Saëns appears to have shared 1. Joseph Sobran, “Cheney and Chappaquiddick”, Sobran’s, 14 small part of his total achievement, February 2006, p. 11. the widespread fallacy that it forbade, and he himself would not be surprised 2. Mark Freer, “Benedict XVI, Mozart and the quest for beauty”, in all contexts, every instrument save AD2000, April 2006, p. 12-13. at the fact that his fame rests primarily 3. Gabriel Fauré, “Camille Saint-Saëns”, Revue Musicale, February the organ.) Besides, we now know that on his contributions to secular art: 1922, pp. 97-100, at p. 98. far from exercising over French church 4. Brian Rees, Camille Saint-Saëns: A Life (Chatto & Windus, such as the Organ Symphony, the London, 1999), p. 153. musicians the inquisitorial rule that Danse Macabre, the Second Piano 5. Stephen Studd, Saint-Saëns: A Critical Biography (Fairleigh Saint-Saëns feared, the motu proprio Dickinson University Press, Cranbury, New Jersey, 1999), p. 36. Concerto, and Carnival of the Animals. 6. James Harding, Saint-Saëns and His Circle (Chapman & Hall, remained a dead letter in numerous Nevertheless, considering how much London, 1965), p. 63. French parishes. Those parishes went 7. Studd, p. 198. downright junk was being inflicted on right on with their customary musical 8. Studd, p. 199. practices for the next sixty-odd years, congregations in Saint-Saëns’ prime, 9. Rees, p. 392. 10. Harding, p. 225. 12 by musicians with more showmanship until Vatican II. In music, as in 11. Rees, p. 364. than taste (mid-nineteenth-century so many other areas of national life, 12. Edward Higginbottom, “Organ Music and the Liturgy”, in organist Louis Lefébure-Wély being a Nicholas Thistlethwaite and Geoffrey Webber (eds.), The Gallicanism died hard. Cambridge Companion to the Organ (Cambridge University particularly gruesome example of the Press, Cambridge, 2003), pp. 130-147, esp. p. 141. breed), the contribution that Saint- 13. Rollin Smith, Saint-Saëns and the Organ (Pendragon Press, Regardless, support of the motu Stuyvesant, New York State, 1992), pp. 82-83, 294. proprio is perfectly compatible with Saëns himself made stands out all 14. Camille Saint-Saëns, Outspoken Essays on Music, trans. Fred an interest in reviving some of Saint- the more. A man who writes, as he Rothwell (Kegan Paul, London, 1922), p. 4. 15. Smith, p. 182. Saëns’ finest liturgical work, which wrote, “To me art is form above all O

A selective discography of sacred Saint-Saëns

Considering how rarely Saint-Saëns’ bigger choral compositions are heard in toto live, they have done rather well on CD, especially the Christmas Oratorio. Preferences as to recordings will depend largely on what other work, if any, you want coupled with it (some versions fob you off with the oratorio alone). The Christmas Oratorio version on the Capriccio label is coupled with liturgical music by Mendelssohn; and the version on the Laser-Light label comes, eccentrically enough, with a German-language performance of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. But Saint-Saëns makes most sense when fitted out with more Saint-Saëns. So the winner by default is the release from a little-known company called Cantate, with the Stuttgart Bach Choir and instrumental accompaniment, which supplements the oratorio with the same composer’s very early (Opus 4) Mass setting. Choice is still richer when it comes to Saint-Saëns’ organ music. Austria’s Ars Nova firm has produced a four-CD set of everything the composer wrote for the instrument, with Stefan Bleicher as organist. The less affluent or simply less enthusiastic listener can make do with single CDs from Naxos (played by Robert Delcamp), BIS (played by Hans Fagius), and, in more recent times, a Hyperion anthology played by Andrew John Smith which appeared in July 2008, just before this Oriens issue went to press. – RJS

24 July-September 2008 Oriens

Books The life of a language

Ad Infinitum: A Biography of Latin, by Nicholas Ostler; Walker and Co., New York, 2007; pp. 382.

Reviewed by David Daintree*

The title says it all. Biographies our metaphors with abandon) and to recount the lives of living beings. spread Latin out before our eyes. And though some such beings may The book has four principal parts be deceased when their biographies – “A Latin World”, “Latin Recruits”, are written, others may still be very “Worlds built on Latin”, and “Latin in a much alive, and it is apparently the Vernacular World” – titles that broadly view of Nicholas Ostler that his illustrate his intended approach. He subject, the Latin language, is living also offers us a bibliography and three yet and will continue to be so, if appendices, the first explaining the not for an infinity of time (that may Latin tags at the beginning of each be taken as hyperbole) but for long of his chapters (this is a somewhat apologetic in tone, with an implicit years to come. clumsy way of doing it – why not do it manifesto-like brief to justify the ways As one reads on one becomes in situ?), the second a list of Etruscan of Latin to man. Why? It is not as if aware that this positive, optimistic borrowings in Latin, and the third this had not been attempted many initial approach is not tinged with the a summary of the effects of sound times before. Every anthology of Latin ebullient naïveté of a Belloc. Ostler changes on Latin nouns and verbs. literature since about 1960 has tried probably does not believe that he to do much the same thing, if on a less could walk to Rome speaking only Learned indecision ambitious scale, as if their compilers Latin to his native hosts and chance The book is very learned, but in saw the writing on the wall and knew acquaintances along the way, and being some respects strangely unsatisfying: that they would have to fight for their effortlessly understood by them. To it is as if the author cannot make up place in the curriculum. The rather him Latin is alive certainly, but its life his own mind as to the usefulness strange work of Françoise Waquet, is attenuated into a kind of substratum and viability of Latin. His concluding Latin or the Empire of a Sign (as Gallic or matrix of our common culture, words are pessimistic – in its obscurity as its title suggests) is a occasionally glimpsed by those whose recent manifestation of the same urge. eyes are attuned to its presence, but “The choice of the language that more commonly undiscerned by the is used worldwide is a result of Repetition history; and like any creature undiscerning. Of those who learn to It is all a bit like preaching to of history, it is susceptible to focus on that immense but largely the converted. We always seem to change. Even Latin, with twenty- hidden bulk of latent Latinity, Ostler derive immense satisfaction from every five hundred years of dominance might well say, with Keats, that they – repetition of a message that we have behind it, found that. Sic transit already decided to accept, for these Look’d at each other with a wild Gloria mundi, ‘so the glory of repetitions affirm the rightness of our surmise – the world must pass’.” Silent, upon a peak in Darien. own leap of faith, yet do they not Yet he has taken the trouble to also reveal a fragility, an underlying And so Ostler sets out to reveal the compose a work of great scholarship uncertainty? This is what the present unseen portion of the iceberg (to mix and sound learning, didactic and reviewer suspects about apologies for

July-September 2008 25 Oriens

Books

Latin, for he has himself engaged in that as our multilingual future stretches necessary precaution in the struggle that activity as a teacher, and can before us. Most of us assume that against chaos. recognise in others the sometimes English will take over, but it won’t be passionate longing for the good old that simple: Finnish and Flemish may Perhaps this review will be seen days that he observes in himself. fade away, but Spanish, Mandarin, as too pessimistic. It is true that to One desires to promote and advance French and Hindi (to name but a few) this reviewer Ostler’s book was a little one’s subject, but one also has the are in there for the long haul. It was disappointing, for though its title intellectual honesty to recognise that so much ground has been lost that can never be recovered. Detail-rich Most assume that English will These somewhat pessimistic take over, but Spanish, Mandarin, remarks made, it is right to give all credit to Ostler for his marvelous and French and Hindi are in there for far-reaching scholarship. His book is rich in detail and anecdote, all of it both fascinating and attractively told, about the long haul. the fate of Latin not only in Europe but throughout the world. He tells us argued for the old Latin Mass that it seemed to hold out promise for the about the efforts of Giuseppe Peano was truly universal, that the faithful future, in reality it turned out to be to promote a sort of pre-Esperanto could go anywhere in the world and a study, albeit a most comprehensive tongue of his own devising called hear the same words prayed in the one, of the rôle of Latin in the past. Latino sine flexione, or Interlingua, same spirit. (The counter-argument This was enough to trigger a certain which in theory is simple and elegant of course was that it was equally glumness, a certain lack of fervour, in enough to have swept the world, but misunderstood by almost everyone.) of course it never did stand a chance one’s response. against English and the other almost Alien tongues But there is more that can be said, equally rampant vernaculars. He knows almost in default of the author’s failure But how has the situation improved? about the growth of the vocabulary of to take that last leap of confidence into Effectively Anglophone Catholics science and philosophy, both in pure a rosy new dawn. The fact is that Latin Latin and in its transmutation into abroad are compelled to hear their Mass in languages at least as alien to them can never die, so long as learning is vernacular forms. He is expert on the valued. There will always be a need development of the language in the as Latin ever was, and international Church events in Rome are nowadays for Latin readers, so long as we need Church, as well as in the language of to read primary sources in history, Protestant or secular letters. He will multilingual affairs, opportunities for clever clerics to show off their skill theology, philosophy or linguistics, even tell you how Latin fares on the for every translation is by definition a Internet (2.5 million pages in 2006 in the major languages of the world, secondary source. And apart from its – but 10 billion pages in English). All a practice that in fact subtly devalues scholarly value, Latin has a wonderful in all, this is a lovely book to read, a those millions of people who speak and varied literature stretching over literary indulgence for those who love minority tongues. Fine, for those who two millennia to delight us. And apart language, have a learned bent and a like it, to hear lessons and intercessions nostalgia for lost worlds of erudition. read in English, French, German and from that, Benedict XVI’s recent motu Polish; not at all complimentary to proprio will undoubtedly provide the It is understandable that he chooses native speakers of Estonian, Armenian impetus to bring Latin back into its in his wise discretion to conclude his or Basque. Readers of Oriens, and rightful place as the proper language long essay with those sadly fatalistic increasingly many others besides, of the Church. words quoted above, but he was also will be inclined to think that books right to set about the task of composing like Ostler’s need to be written, and * Dr David Daintree is Rector of St John’s it. For we have surely lost as much as that a recovery or just a safeguarding College at the University of Sydney. (dare one say more than?) we have of the Latin past, at least to some gained, and need to be reminded of degree, looks as though it might be a O

26 July-September 2008 Oriens Books continued from page 28 - Virgin Blest

civilisation, from the later Middle who find that Mary both transcends – and the same is true of his brilliant Ages to the present. Indeed, as these categories and satisfies deep-felt exploration of the devotional La Jaroslav Pelikan has stated, it is personal needs”. One such example Corona, which inspires us to re-read ‘impossible to understand the is the following piece of light verse by or read for the first time this neglected history of Western spirituality Cornelia Otis Skinner: masterpiece from the Donne canon. and devotion without paying Mary most serenely fair Also, Spurr engages with the attention to the place of the Hear an unbeliever’s prayer. theological turmoil experienced by Virgin Mary.’ And to the extent Nurtured in an austere creed, Donne, the Anglican priest who, as (and it is considerable) that that Sweetest lady, she has need John Carey has noted, was haunted by spirituality and devotion formed Of the solace of thy grace; the Old Faith he had abandoned. It is a and informed the development See the tears that stain her face mark of Spurr’s writing throughout the of literature in English from As she kneels to beg your love, Renaissance section that it is able to the Middle Ages into the You whom no one told her of. articulate clearly and without rancour twentieth century, knowledge the nature and intricacies of various of that history and tradition, Donne and Eliot teachings disputed at and in the wake and the important place in it of the Protestant Reformation, and to of the Virgin Mary, is essential Spurr’s principal areas of expertise call attention to the often overlooked for intelligent and appreciative are Renaissance and Modernist poetics, reality that Our Lady remained reading of literary texts, as for so it is not surprising that the most an important part of the faith and the understanding of Western devotion of many Protestant poets in art at large.” the seventeenth century. The thesis is disarming precisely More generally, See The Virgin Blest because it is so forthright – a rare quality Donne was reveals its author’s sympathies as both in contemporary literary criticism – Catholic and “catholic”; achieving, in and because it is so obviously true: an haunted by the its generous sweep, the double-faceted even rarer distinction. feat it ascribes to many of the poems Five sections Faith he had it discusses: at once appreciative of Marian dogma, piety and the The book is conveniently divided into abandoned.. significant though “sparse biblical five sections, arranged chronologically, material” that treats of her role, and each of which explores poetry about able to develop from this appreciation or inspired by Our Lady: “Medieval a broad discussion that exemplifies the Maria”, “Renaissance Regina”, “The beautiful and enlightening analyses are uncompromising standards of good Romantic Virgin”, “Modernist Mary” to be found in his discussions of John writing. We might even say that to and “Mary Today”. In each section, Donne’s La Corona – “which combines the extent that the book encompasses the author gracefully displays his an Italian form of linked sonnets with the amplitude of literary and critical understanding of both the poetry and a method of reciting the Rosary called sensibilities deriving from this narrow the doctrines pertaining to the Virgin ‘The Corona of Our Lady’ ” – and T.S. subject matter – representations of the that the different poems by turns Eliot’s “Ash Wednesday”, which he Virgin Mary in poetry – it mimetically propagate, nuance, and occasionally declares “perhaps the greatest Marian points to the reality it explores: the subvert. He shows in doing so that poem, in English, of the twentieth paradox of the amplitude of the Creator Our Lady has appealed to writers of century”. One critic, Ron Bush, has God “being concealed, in small, in all kinds, religious and non-religious. noted that “Spurr’s sure-footed reading Mary’s womb.” The book is sure to Indeed there is a substantial body of ‘Ash-Wednesday’ is alone worth appeal to believer and non-believer of “Marian poetry by writers who the price of admission. Spurr restores alike. could not be imagined writing poems the poem’s liturgical power without about other ‘Catholic’ subjects, but diminishing its literary complexity” O

July-September 2008 27 Oriens

Books Reviving cultural memory

See the Virgin Blest: The Virgin Mary in English Poetry, by Barry Spurr; New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2007; 288 pp.

Reviewed by Stephen McInerney

Barry Spurr’s writing is well brings these concerns into even more known to Australian literary scholars, direct and mutually enriching contact. students of English literature at The result is a book that is engaging high school and university levels, both as literary criticism and also as and even liturgists. The author of “a king of anthology” of the poems acclaimed works of literary criticism described. Possessing the same spirit – including a study of the writings of as its predecessor, which lamented the English essayist Lytton Strachey the passing of older liturgical forms, – articles and texts books, his last the newest book laments and aims woman in history … in poetry in major work, The Word in the Desert, to reverse what the author calls “a English, from the late Middle Ages addressed the question of Anglican condition of amnesia…in relation to the to the present, focusing on how she and Roman Catholic attitudes to classic sources of Western culture.” has been portrayed in theological, liturgical reform. When considered historical, cultural, sexual, and alongside Spurr’s essays and articles More than a simple survey aesthetic terms, by men and women, on such luminaries as John Milton, One reason for the writing of the from a range of different perspectives, John Donne, Gerard Manley Hopkins book, then, has been to “re-awaken” over a period of six centuries, in a and – perhaps most of all – T.S. Eliot, the cultural memory, without which it variety of poetic forms.” The central The Word in the Desert can be seen is impossible to appreciate adequately thesis of the book – revealing that to have extended the range of its a significant part of Western poetry and it is more than a simple survey, and author’s published preoccupations: art. Where The Word in the Desert is in fact an important contribution from Christian literary questions implicitly calls for such a re-awakening to literary criticism generally – is per se to the linguistic and aesthetic in relation to liturgical praxis – and announced straightforwardly in the issues affecting Christian devotion charts the consequences of failure in book’s preface: and culture more generally – this regard – See The Virgin Blest does demonstrating all the while the so in relation to a significant sub- “Poems about Mary, in all their common origin of these concerns in genre of poetry in English. It is, then, variety, are highly instructive an abiding awareness of the power of to borrow a phrase of Yves Congar, a about the preoccupations of language, both human and divine. literary ressourcement. human beings (and, certainly, not only their religious concerns), See The Virgin Blest: The Virgin The aim of the study, as Spurr in the progress of European Mary in English Poetry, his first major writes, is “to survey and analyse the study since The Word in the Desert, representation of … the most famous continued on page 27

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