Papal Mass in Philadelphia

I'm sitting at home in the comfort of my living room watching Pope Francis celebrate Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The pope delivered a wonderful homily, referring to Philadelphia native, Saint Katherine Drexel, and reminding us that we are all, especially the laity, called to do God's work in the world. 

At the moment a large group of my brother deacons are receiving the Blessed Sacrament in that beautiful church. How good to see so many of them gathered together.

One thing becomes evident at these papal Masses, though: music ministers hate silence. But I suppose that's to be expected. How often does the music ministry of a church get to exercise that ministry in the presence of a pope, and before a worldwide audience? And I must admit, the choir and musicians at the Cathedral were exceptional. Afterwards the congregation even gave them a standing ovation marked by exuberant cheers. That's not something often encountered in a Catholic church. 

I suppose this is good as it reflects the enthusiasm of Pope Francis who joyfully invites all of humanity to accept Jesus Christ. He invites all to come and be welcomed by the Church. He does not demand that all accept the Church's moral and theological teachings before they can enter its doors. Instead he says, "Come. Meet Jesus along with me and countless others. Get to know Jesus Christ as a person. Only then will you come to understand and accept His teachings." The Church has one overriding mission: evangelization. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing team in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." [Mt 28:19-20] Pope Francis accepts this mission and carries out the command of Christ just as it was proclaimed on the mountaintop: make disciples, baptize, and teach. Too many don't realize that Pope Francis remains in perfect unity with his predecessors when it comes to the Church's moral teachings. It is his approach that differs.

But now I must get ready for our parish's 4 p.m. vigil Mass at which I will assist our pastor. The music at our Mass, while not quite as spectacular as that in Philadelphia, will still make a joyful and beautiful noise unto the Lord as we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice, just as thousands of Catholic churches throughout the world will do tonight and tomorrow. We belong to a universal Church, and for that I am truly thankful. 

Orthodox - Catholic Cooperation

As I have mentioned on several previous occasions, it is particularly heartening to observe the progress that's been made ecumenically between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Following the lead of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, the Holy Father has been very active in working toward future unity. Interestingly, although the greatest obstacles to unity have seemed to arise more frequently from the Russian Orthodox community than from the Greek Orthodox, the latest initiative involves some direct meetings between the Vatican and the Russian Church. And the centerpiece of these meetings has been the arts and music.

Here's a brief video describing the concert that followed the Vatican meetings between the representatives of the two Churches:

 

After two days of meetings that included a conference focusing on "Russian culture and spirituality in the Vatican," Metropolitan Hilarion, the chief ecumenist of the Russian Orthodox Church and a composer in his own right, indicated that although the Churches must engage in theological discussions, it is also necessary that they engage in a "dialogue of the heart." He went on to say, "It seems to me that there are things which cannot be transmitted either through theological discourse or diplomacy, but can be transmitted through the language of art."

And perhaps more telling, the Metropolitan also said, "Today, both of us see the importance of promoting Christian values in society. We cannot reduce our relations to just the unresolved theological questions." This comment echoed Pope Benedict who urged the two Churches to work together to bring people to an understanding of the essential role of faith in both private and public life. 

The next major step would be a meeting between Pope Benedict and Patriarch Kirill (the Russian Orthodox Patriarch), something that will likely have to await progress on some of the issues that separate the two Churches, specifically the problems surrounding the tensions in Western Ukraine. As always, our best approach is to trust in the movement of the Holy Spirit as He strives to bring the Church to the unity Jesus prayed for.

If you're interested in reading more about the subject, here are a few links:

Music as a Path Toward Unity

Pope - Patriarch Meeting?