Is the Church Splitting?

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In 1962 at the opening of the Second Vatican II--a worldwide Council in the Catholic Church--Pope John XXIII said it was time to "throw open the windows of the church and let the fresh air of the spirit blow through."

Many of us are still waiting for our windows to be fully opened so that we can breathe in that fresh air.  

But Pope John was right, of course, and much good has come out of that Council.  It should not be dismissed, but there is a lot of work still to be done to authentically, genuinely, carry out the wisdom that flows through the documents it created.

I don't have much patience for those who cling to pre-Vatican II days as if they were better, citing the appearance of more reverence and piety.  Appearances can be deceiving.  Unless there is a longing to create a divergent path under the illusion that the Church split in the 1960s, it would be best to begin working toward healing.

I'm thinking about this because it is Holy Thursday.  Our history unifies us in the event of the Last Supper which Jesus instituted, which carried us forward to the Eucharistic Catholic Church.  Whoever celebrates tonight, must celebrate unity with their brothers and sisters in faith.  It is disgraceful for Catholics to promote a separation from within, whether in worship or ideology, and point to pre/post Vatican II as their rationale.

When the Eucharist is celebrated in the Catholic Church, it celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper.  Jesus tasked the Church to continue his work and gave his body, his Real Presence, to us.  We do not entertain any possibility that Holy Communion is a symbol, or a nice reminder, because Jesus was quite clear about what he was doing.

On this special night, let us throw off any division, and celebrate as one Church, united in Christ, on mission in a world that so desperately needs his light.

May God bless you on this Holy Thursday.

Janet Cassidy
#vaticanii
#division

 

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