ÑContra MundumÑ Volume VII, Issue 10 May 2005 The Congregation of St. Athanasius A Congregation of the Pastoral Provision of Pope John Paul II for the Anglican Usage of the Roman Rite http://www.locutor.net/ Page 66 Contra Mundum NOTES were three years ago?” Put another the inevitable conclusion to an eccle- way, is the Risen Christ more real to siological syllogism that was flawed FROM THE you this Easter Octave than in previ- from the outset. Since then, Peter’s ous times? successor has confirmed you in the CHAPLAIN You opened the door for Peter Catholic Faith personally and through and discovered him to be the great his universal magisterium exercised Fr. Peter M. J. Stravinskas fisher of men [cf. Lk 5; Jn 21], haul- as the confessor of the true Faith [cf. preached the following sermon at ing you into and in the net of the Mt 16:17-18] and its guardian [cf. Solemn Evensong in the Congrega- Catholic Church, along with one 2 Pt 12-19]. Just as the Fathers of tion of Saint Athanasius in April, billion other believers from “every Chalcedon exclaimed fifteen centu- 1998. He refers to a previous visit tribe and tongue, people and nation” ries ago, “Peter has spoken through made to us when most of us were still [Rev 5:9]. St. Jerome tells us that the Leo,” you find yourselves hearing Episcopalians, on St. Matthias’ Day, 153 fish caught in that net on Easter the faith of the Church enunciated May 13th, three years earlier. Fr. morning represent the full comple- boldly and proudly, leading you to Stravinskas is editor of Catholic Re- ment of every kind of fish known echo that ancient formula, “Peter has sponse magazine, has written many at the time. In other words, from spoken through John Paul.” And the books, and was our parish retreat the very beginning, Christ’s Church Holy Scriptures inform us that Peter conductor in 2001. boasted of diversity—not a “one-size will continue to speak through John UST a few weeks shy of three fits all” approach to ecclesial life; Paul’s successor and his, and the one Jyears ago, on the Feast of St. Mat- rather, 153 different species of fish, after him—until the end of time [cf. thias, I had the joy of being with you of different sizes, shapes, colors and Mt 28:20]. for the first time, when I encouraged tastes. Your entrance into Catholic You opened the door for Peter you to “swim the Tiber.” After some unity has added something new to the and discovered him to be the one who serious intellectual engagement of Catholic net; your presence has been precedes you into the empty tomb issues, I then enlisted the help of appreciated and encouraged. And and invites you to enter, so as to see Monsignor Ronald Knox through just as St. Peter didn’t try to make and to believe [Jn 20]. The beloved his moving sermon which decades a salmon into a trout, his successor disciple may well have excelled Peter earlier had sought to bring other hasn’t attempted to make you forego in love and perhaps even in faith but, Anglicans into the communion of the your Anglo-Catholic spirituality for through the plan of God, he had to Church of Rome. The predominant a homogenized substitute. wait humbly outside while the Prince image, you will recall, came from You opened the door for Peter of the Apostles went in to examine Acts 12, with Peter knocking on the and discovered him to be the one the evidence. Peter’s discernment door, awaiting a response from the who would confirm you in your faith, was critical. We see the same pattern Christians inside the house of John just as the Lord had promised would with the women at the tomb and the Mark. happen [cf. Lk 22:31]. Like Cardinal disciples on the road to Emmaus; You answered the door; you rec- Newman, like Mother Seton—and their personal religious experience ognized the one knocking as Peter; so many others—you did not learn had to be submitted to Peter for vali- you let him in. With what results? a new faith when you entered the dation. When it was deemed to be in Let me put it more pragmatically. Catholic fold. Through the grace consonance with his understanding, Ronald Reagan, we are told, won and mercies of Almighty God’s we hear the joyful acclamation: “The the election of 1980 by asking the Holy Spirit, you had already been Lord has risen indeed and has ap- American people one very simple but introduced to Catholic doctrine and peared to Simon!” [Lk 24:34]. Hasn’t telling question: “Are you any better had indeed been living it long before. it been exhilarating to have your long off today than you were four years In the latter days of your Anglican pilgrimage of faith and discernment ago?" We can modify that question sojourn, however, those truths were validated by Peter’s successor? for our purposes this evening: “Are becoming more and more obscured, You opened the door for Peter you any better off today than you forcing you to wonder if that was not and discovered him to have the Contra Mundum Page 67 solicitude of the Good Shepherd Catholics, which is to say, “beloved Himself. When the Risen Christ disciples”? Love for the Eucharist, conferred the primacy on Peter, it is devotion to Our Lady, and fidelity to significant that He did so, precisely the successor of Peter have been the by using images of feeding and tend- hallmarks of Catholic discipleship ing His little flock. Peter was to throughout the ages. They must con- continue throughout his own life and tinue to be the identifying marks for ministry and throughout the ages by this congregation, both individually means of his successors the tender and collectively. shepherding of the Lord Jesus. You So, are you any better off than have known this in a most powerful you were three years ago? I trust way as the Universal Pastor of the the answer is “yes”; I hope it is a Church has been so kind, so gracious, resounding “yes”. When I assist at so welcoming, so concerned. And the renewal of the marriage vows of those same sentiments have been couples on their wedding anniver- demonstrated by the shepherd of this Monday, May 2, 2005 saries, I always ask them, “Do you local Church of Boston, His Emi- PATRONAL FEAST have any regrets? Would you do it nence, Cardinal Law, and through all over again?” The exhortation to SAINT ATHANASIUS, his representative, Father Lennon. the couple in the old marriage ritual Bishop and Doctor So much of your reticence, so many had a lovely line: “Sacrifice is usu- Solemn Mass & Sermon at 7:30pm of your fears, have proved unfounded ally difficult and irksome; love can Preacher: Fr. Philip E. Merdinger, because Peter has been such a kindly make it easy; perfect love can make BH shepherd. it a joy.” Do you have any regrets? Chapel of St. Theresa of Ávila You opened the door for Peter Would you do it all over again? Have and discovered him to be a martyr. Parish, West Roxbury the sacrifices been worth it? Have When Jesus made Peter that substi- religious family; losing friends; be- they been made easy by the knowl- tute shepherd for His tiny flock, He ing misunderstood, perhaps even edge and experience of belonging likewise warned him that it would alienating family members—these to the historical embodiment of the constitute a martyrdom. From the in- have been some of your crosses from Church of the Apostles and Martyrs? side, you have seen Peter’s successor one side. However, even within the Have they been made into a joy by suffer physically and emotionally, Catholic community, you have not living “sub umbra Petri” [under the to maintain the unity of the Church. always been completely appreciated; shadow of Peter]? But the truth of the matter is that ev- the time has seemed long; the hoops One of the most evocative images ery believer must have a share in the through which to jump may have in the New Testament is that of the Lord’s suffering, if he truly wishes appeared excessive. But today we crowds trying to make contact with to experience the Paschal Mystery see all in the full light of Easter. The Peter, as they had with our Blessed in its fullness: “No crown without a cross has brought the crown. Lord, for no other reason than to be cross.” “No Easter Sunday without A few minutes ago, I spoke of cured by him or, St. Luke tells us, a Good Friday.” “Post crucem, St. John as the “beloved disciple." even by his shadow [cf. Acts 5:15]. lucem” [After the cross, the light]. What made him so? I would sug- Cardinal Newman, however, was not And that has been the case for all gest three things: He rested on the content with shadows, as the motto of you as well. Of course, you will bosom of the Lord during that first on his memorial stone makes clear: remember that I did not engage in Eucharist; he made room in his life “Ex umbris et imaginibus in verita- deceptive advertising when I made for the Mother of Jesus; he had a tem “ [From shadows and types into my “pitch” to you; I clearly promised deep respect and an undying loyalty the truth].