The Catholic Church through the Ages

The Modern Age 1789-Present

Larry Fraher

For Discussion

What do you know about the ‘enlightenment’?

What is positive?

What is negative?

The Enlightenment

Reason becomes the measure of all Science and Scientific Method

The blend of theology and philosophy is rejected Mathematics and Natural Science become the

“New Gospel” And become the measuring stick for the

Gospel Ecclesiastical influence decays as the

“Secular Age” dawns

The Enlightenment

Enlightenment Philosophy Throws off Christianity Moves into Empiricism

Individualistic Experience

Enlightenment Politics Church seen as an enemy Human Person/Reason

The French Revolution “Straw that Breaks the Camel’s Back”

European Catholicism loses influence in Northern European politics

State begins running the Church Civil Constitution of the Clergy (CCC) Reign of Terror – Martyrdom of French Clergy 1792 Capture of Pius VI by French Army (1798) Pius VII elected

Napoleon’s Use of the Church Restores tolerance of the church in France State continues to influence the church Concordant

The French Revolution

The Effects on the Church “Liberal Catholicism”

Embrace the Revolutionary Ideals “Ultramontanism”

Rely on Rome The effects on the Church

Fear of Modernism “Circle the Wagons”

Syllabus of Errors Vatican I

Out of the French Revolution

The 19th century Rationalism

Focus on the Scientific Method Human Ability to Reason can Replace Religion

Pope Pius IX: Bunker Mentality (Ultramontanism) Last Bastion of Christianity was Catholicism Focus on Authority, Obedience and Identity Papacy Devotionalism

Immaculate Conception Sacred Heart/First Fridays

1864: Syllabus of Errors Condemns Rationalism Condemns Freedom of Theological Thought

Vatican I (1869-1870)

Syllabus of Errors set Stage for Vatican I Pius IX calls council

Ultramontanist Bishops and Theologians Doctrine of Infallibility

Formally opens on December 8, 1869 Dei Filius: The Dogmatic Constitution of the Roman Catholic

Church Revelation and Faith (Repeats Trent)

Pastor Aeternus Papal Infallibility

Council recesses in the summer of 1870 War breaks out in Europe

Subsequent loss of Papal States Council is Never Reconvened

The Industrial Revolution

Major shift from rural and trade social order/economy to manufacturing economy Lower cost of production = higher profit margin Factories assist in raising the profit margin

“Station in Life” Factory owners = rich (often protestant) Factory workers = poor (often Catholic)

Catholicism and the Industrial Revolution Church Response: Pope Leo XIII

“Rerum Novarum” Human Dignity Just Wages Right of workers to form unions

Start of “Catholic Social Teaching” Emphasis on the creation of a just social order. First time in the ‘secular age’ where the Church

speaks to the world.

Protestantism & The Enlightenment

Liberal Protestantism’s Quest for the Historical Jesus Attempt to Prove Jesus using the Scientific Method…

Many Argue this Fails Jesus becomes “Just another star on the Prophetic

Horizon”

Conservative Protestantism’s Response Every thing in the Scriptures is Written as it

happened... Early 20th Century

Historical/Critical Method of Biblical Interp. Scripture within the Faith of the Writers Use & Study of Scripture: Hermeneutics

The Hermeneutical Circle

The Historical & Faith Situation of the Writer of Scripture

Drawing the message’As it was written

The situation in lifeOf the interpreter

Interpretation andUnderstanding forOur time

For Discussion…

Can you be “Catholic” and “American”?

In an age of immigration, can we trust the loyalties of the immigrant?

Catholicism in the United States

Catholics in the USA have always been “suspect” Most Colonies and early states had anti-

Catholic laws Not until early 19th c. are these taken off of the

books Typical Question, “Can a Catholic be a patriot

and a papist?” 1800’s Influx of Catholic Immigrants

Catholicism in the United States

1829: Catholic Emancipation in England Episcopal Bishops of US warn against

Catholics rising in Political Stature in the US Nativist (anti-Catholic) Movement

Publications New York Observer The Protestant The Protestant Vindicator The American Society to Promote the

Principles of the Protestant Reformation Maria Monk’s Books

Catholicism in the United States

Late 1800’s & “The Americanism Crises” Vatican I concluding while Italian armies are

taking the Papal States. Further separations between church and state

French are more anti-clerical The American Church

Can American ideals be assimilated into Catholicism? Is Catholicism juxtaposed against American Ideals?

Catholicism in the United States

The Americanism Crisis Americanists (The Irish)

Catholics need to integrate more deeply into the American mainstream

Gibbons (Baltimore) Ireland (Minneapolis/St. Paul) Keane (Richmond) O’Connell (CUA/Richmond)

The “Papists” (Bavarian Germans) Bavarian Catholic Benedictines in the USA Self-Governing Monastic Communities

St. Vincent (PA), St. John’s (MN)

Catholicism in the United States

The Americanist Crisis Americanists: There is no discord between

being a Catholic and an American. Germans: Church and State must influence

each other… Catholicism must influence the society in which it

exists

Pope Leo XIII’s Letter

Catholicism in the United States

“it would be very erroneous to draw the conclusion that in America is to be sought the type of the most desirable status of the Church, or that it would be universally lawful or expedient for state and Church to be, as in America, dissevered and divorced. The fact that Catholicity with you is in good condition, nay is even enjoying prosperous growth, is by all means to be attributed to the fecundity with which God has endowed his Church, in virtue of which unless men or circumstances interfere, she spontaneously expands and propagates herself; but she would bring forth more fruits if, in addition to liberty, she enjoyed the favor of the laws and the patronage of public authority.”

Catholicism in the United States Americanist Crisis Resolved.

American values -- trust the bishops. No consolidation between American dogma and

practice Be Catholic AND be an American (Often separated)

Effects on American Catholic Theology Do, not think… Great Pragmatism

Uneducated laity

Setting the Stage for Vatican II

Prior to 1963 how did you, within your particular upbringing, understand “Catholicism”, or, for younger members, what was your understanding of Catholicism? What was the Cultural Impression or

understanding of Catholicism?

20th Century

Neo-scholasticism Through these 80 years (1860-1940) the

Church sought to re-establish itself in the Scholastic tradition of theology.

Each pope from Pius IX to Pius XII facilitates and furthers this

Adds to Papal Isolation Firms up a sense of the Church as out of touch

with the realities of a progressing world

20th Century Movements that Influence Vatican II

The Liturgical Movement Dom Guarenger, Lambert Beauduin, Romano

Guardini, Virgil Michel Believed the Liturgical Life of the Church to be

the most important aspects of Christian life Especially the Eucharist Introduction of the ‘Dialogue Mass’ Advocacy for laity to understand the mass From and to the liturgy all Christian life flows

20th Century Movements that Influence Vatican II

The Liturgical Movement in the US Centered at St. John’s Abbey, Collegeville, MN The Liturgical Press

Latin/English Missals Participation of the Laity Worship Magazine Collegeville Credit Union Advocacy of vernacular in liturgy

Resourcemont (Return to the Sources) or New Theology Scholarship focusing in the Patristic Era (1st 3 Centuries) Ability to see doctrine as evolutionary and dynamic

As opposed to fixed and static in neo-scholasticism Recovery of the Spirit of the Early Church

20th Century Movements that Influence Vatican II

Liturgical Movement and Resourcemont Combine to Move the Church Forward DeLubac, VonBalthasar, Rahner, Metz,

Ratzinger Lay Education

Increasing Knowledge of the Laity Church in Europe

Once culturally bound to the people and society Becoming irrelevant to the daily lives of the

people

World War II

Events of WWII Force the Church to Question itself… Reign of Pius XII is last stand of ‘Imperial Papacy’ Nations are no longer Catholic

Governments no longer ‘report’ to the Papacy

Christian Nation vs. Christian Nation Neo-Scholasticism: Personal Piety Resourcemont: Social Responsibility

Pius XII can no longer deny that the Church is in need of “updating” Considered calling a council shortly before his death

Vatican II

1958 Pius XII Dies Angelo Roncalli elected

Takes John XXIII January 25, 1959

Calls for the Second Vatican Council 1959, Preparatory Commissions begin Work 1960: Official closing of Vatican I

October 11, 1962 Council Opens

Goals of the Council

Re-invigorate the Church Principal Duties of the Council

Defend, Advance, and Transmit the Truth faithfully and fearlessly

Assist Humanity to live as Citizens of Earth and Heaven Seek the Kingdom of God Contribute to the Building of Society Engage science as a means to know God’s designs Develop new ways to present and offer the Faith in the

modern World More prudently and mercifully address theological error Repudiate Atheism Promote the Unity of the Christian and Human Family

The Second Vatican Council

1st Major Hurdle Death of John XXIII, June 1963, after only 1

session of the Council. Election of Paul VI, who agrees to continue

the Council.

The Second Vatican Council

“This was the first fully ecumenical council since the Council of Jerusalem. All the world’s bishops were present. All the Christian Denominations were invited, and most were present as ‘observers’. Jewish leaders were invited as observers. The whole Church was represented!”

-Fr. Godfrey Diekmann, OSB

Expert on the Liturgy, Vatican II

The Second Vatican Council

Five Major Documents that Lead to Five Major ‘Paradigm Shifts’1. Constitution on the Liturgy (1963)

2. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (1963)

3. Decree on Ecumenism (1965)

4. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (1965)

5. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (1965)

5 Paradigm Shfts

1. From Universal Language (Latin) to Particular Language (Vernacular) in the Liturgy…

1. Liturgy is the Work of the People.

2. People must understand as they worship.

1. Full, Conscious and Active participation3. Eucharist as “source and summit”.

4. Restoration of “catechumenate” & Paschal Triduum (3 days)

1. Church revolves around Easter.

From The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 12/63)

48. “The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators. On the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action, conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration… They should give thanks to God. Offering the immaculate victim, not only through the hands of the priest but also together with him, they should learn to offer themselves. Through Christ, the Mediator, they should be drawn day by day into ever more perfect union with God and each other, so that finally, God may be all in all.”

5 Paradigm Shfts

2. From ‘People Arrived’ to a ‘Pilgrim People’1. Church (All of us) are the “People of God”2. Share a Universal Call to Holiness, rooted in

Baptism.1. Hierarchy as Gift not Dignity Based…

3. The Church as Moving Toward the Kingdom of God

1. Communal vs. Individual

4. Knowledge as “Full” vs. “Partial”1. Reception of the Gospel connotes responsibility

to it.

From the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium, 11/64)

17. “…Thus the Church prays and likewise labors so that into the people of God, the Body of the Lord and the Temple of the Holy Spirit, may pass the fullness of the whole world, and that in Christ, the head of all things, all honor and glory may be rendered to the Creator, the Father of the universe.”

5 Paradigm Shfts

3. From ‘Either you are in the Boat or your not’, to ‘We see the elephant, you may only see the trunk.’

1. Conception of Universal Truth

2. Belief in Revelation as Revelation of Objective Truth

1. Previously we said, “If you aren’t in my boat, you’re gonna drown.”

2. Now we say, “The fullness of the Boat is here, and you may have a part of it, but we’ve got the fullness”.

3. This Shift applies to World Religions as well.

1. Catholics and Main-stream denominations have led the way in ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue.

From the Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio, 11/64)3. Those “who believe in Christ and have been

properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church… But even in spite of them [obstacles which prevent unity of all Christians] it remains true that all who have been justified by faith in baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have the right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers [and sisters] by the children of the Catholic Church.”

5 Paradigm Shfts

4. From PPO Catholic to Catholic Engaged in the World

1. PPO = Pray, Pay and Obey

2. Vatican II Calls the Laity to Christian Responsibility in the World

1. Not enough to be Christian on Sunday

2. Be a Christian Plumber, a Christian CEO, etc.3. Unique Ministerial Character of the Laity is the

Advancement of Christ’s work in the World

1. Later the mission of the Church – Evangelization.

From the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gadium et Spes, 12/65)

43. “Let there, then, be no such pernicious opposition between professional and social activity on the one hand and religious life on the other… Let Christians follow the example of Christ who worked as a craftsman; let them be proud of the opportunity to carry out their earthly activity in such a way as to integrate human, domestic, professional, scientific and technical enterprises with religious values, under whose supreme direction all things are ordered to the Glory of God.”

5 Paradigm Shfts

5. From internal society awaiting the end, to Christian Society serving the World.

1. Revealed Eschatology or Realizing Eschatology1. The work of the church

2. Only through our attachment to Grace3. Human Solidarity requires action on behalf of all

humanity.1. “I came that they may have life, and life to the

full.” (Jn. 10:10)2. The work of the church in the world,

empowered by the Grace of Christ, is to bring humanity to it’s fullness.

From the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gadium et Spes, 12/65)

43. “The laity are called to participate actively in the whole life of the Church; not only are they to animate the world with the spirit of Christianity, but they are to be witnesses to Christ in all circumstances and at the very heart of the community of mankind.”

Catholicism Today

60’s – 80’s Vatican II Generation Gap Change without education

From the Baltimore Catechism to Warm Fuzzies Baltimore Catechism: The ‘What’s’ of Faith… Feelings, Nothing More than Feelings…

Crisis = Ministry Becomes about Personal Relationships and Personal Attachments

“Danger, Will Robinson, Danger.”

Catholicism Today

90’s Re-emerging Piety & Devotions

Desire for Black and White in a Gray World Rise in Laity serving as professionals in the

Church Challenge – Formation Job Qualification for a Coordinator of Youth

Ministry ca. 1990: “Degree in Psychology or social service, ability to relate well with teens…”

Theology not emphasized!!!!

Catholicism Today

21st Century Vatican II shifted paradigms, it didn’t create a

new church. Tuning the Hybrid Engine

Balance between Engine of Tradition and Engine of Reform Cannot convert the Gospel to the Culture, we must

transform the culture to the Gospel. While keeping both in the best working order

Re-discovering the intellectual tradition of faith, not apart from the experience of faith, but as essential to it.

Conclusions

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – George Santayana

See the church in history, and its doctrine through history as ‘developing’. What we know today we could not have known

yesterday The Church is human!

Guided by the Holy Spirit, united to Christ Jesus The Church is human.

Descendent of Adam, In Possession of Original Sin

Conclusions: Where to From Here?

1. Dialogue. Honest Dialogue.

2. Unity is not Uniformity, in fact, unity is only truly found in diversity.

3. Rooting in the Tradition beyond the “what” and into the “why”.

4. Moving from “Experiential Faith” to “Experienced, Reasoned and True Faith”

5. Seeking Truth as the Objective Reality it is.