Last week Francis Phillips wrote an article in Catholic Harald about why she thought the "The Cambridge chaplain is right to accept female servers at Tridentine Masses". Coming from an Eastern rite (syro malabar), my understanding of the "divisions" between the EF and OF forms of the Eucharist was pretty limited until Fr Alban McCoy decided to allow female alter servers for the Extraordinary Form. Finally today morning, there was the official clarification from Vatican stating that girls are not allowed to serve at the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. For a change, its is good to see the Holy See coming out promptly with a clear directive to settle a matter of dispute.
During the course of the last couple of weeks, it was a little sad to see some of the comments from both the traditionalists as well as the reformists on the subject. Obviously both groups felt very strongly on the subject and confrontation to an extend, is understandable. In matters of faith and specially when the groups or the individuals involved, think or 'know' deep down that they are doing the will of God, then consensus is out of question and even reconciliation becomes very difficult. Pope Benedict says this in one of his books, "There must not be a communion in which the avoidance of conflict becomes the prime pastoral value. Faith is always also a sword and may indeed promote conflict for the sake of truth and love ". Therefore, differences of opinion in themselves is in no way wrong, in fact, it can many times be considered a sign of life in the Church. The problem often is, how do we try and address this difference of opinion?
Personally, I have always been grateful to Vatican II for introducing Mass in vernacular, as I find that it enables ordinary people like me to understand the prayers of the mass in a deeper sense, thus enabling every catholic to be part of the Eucharistic celebration in a more personal way. But I also very much appreciate the beauty, history and profoundness of the extraordinary form as well. One is entitled to his likes and dislikes, personal opinions and judgements, but as Blessed John Paul II so precisely puts it, "the person is the sole author of the(his) judgement, but he is not the author of its truth ". Just because I deem something to be right, might not mean that my reasoning is in resonance with the objective truth of the scenario. In such a case, it seems to me, to be quite unchristian to openly and publicly revolt against the decisions of the Holy Father and the Magisterium in matters of faith. If only we knew the meaning of 'obedience is better than sacrifice'. By openly rejecting a teaching of the Church, one is explicitly and quite authoritatively asserting that, "I know better" and above all, if this public contradiction to the teaching of the Church comes from a seat of authority, then it sends all kinds of wrong signals to the many people out there for whom you might be a role model, and very often, the only role model. "It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin ". Yet in my turn I too ask, "Not me, Rabbi, surely? "
This in no way imply that Christians must suffer the many injustices against us and the community. No. But every person who follow Christ should have the wisdom and humility to understand where his/her thoughts and actions cross the boundary of righteousness and ventures into egoism. If every one of my judgements and actions is dictated and determined by my perception of right and wrong (and mostly by my perception alone), then probably its time to expand my horizons a little. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Veni Sancte Spiritus..
During the course of the last couple of weeks, it was a little sad to see some of the comments from both the traditionalists as well as the reformists on the subject. Obviously both groups felt very strongly on the subject and confrontation to an extend, is understandable. In matters of faith and specially when the groups or the individuals involved, think or 'know' deep down that they are doing the will of God, then consensus is out of question and even reconciliation becomes very difficult. Pope Benedict says this in one of his books, "There must not be a communion in which the avoidance of conflict becomes the prime pastoral value. Faith is always also a sword and may indeed promote conflict for the sake of truth and love ". Therefore, differences of opinion in themselves is in no way wrong, in fact, it can many times be considered a sign of life in the Church. The problem often is, how do we try and address this difference of opinion?
Personally, I have always been grateful to Vatican II for introducing Mass in vernacular, as I find that it enables ordinary people like me to understand the prayers of the mass in a deeper sense, thus enabling every catholic to be part of the Eucharistic celebration in a more personal way. But I also very much appreciate the beauty, history and profoundness of the extraordinary form as well. One is entitled to his likes and dislikes, personal opinions and judgements, but as Blessed John Paul II so precisely puts it, "the person is the sole author of the(his) judgement, but he is not the author of its truth ". Just because I deem something to be right, might not mean that my reasoning is in resonance with the objective truth of the scenario. In such a case, it seems to me, to be quite unchristian to openly and publicly revolt against the decisions of the Holy Father and the Magisterium in matters of faith. If only we knew the meaning of 'obedience is better than sacrifice'. By openly rejecting a teaching of the Church, one is explicitly and quite authoritatively asserting that, "I know better" and above all, if this public contradiction to the teaching of the Church comes from a seat of authority, then it sends all kinds of wrong signals to the many people out there for whom you might be a role model, and very often, the only role model. "It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin ". Yet in my turn I too ask, "Not me, Rabbi, surely? "
This in no way imply that Christians must suffer the many injustices against us and the community. No. But every person who follow Christ should have the wisdom and humility to understand where his/her thoughts and actions cross the boundary of righteousness and ventures into egoism. If every one of my judgements and actions is dictated and determined by my perception of right and wrong (and mostly by my perception alone), then probably its time to expand my horizons a little. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Veni Sancte Spiritus..
