It seems to me there is a series of links between:
The Rise of Protestantism, noble in so many respects, and the loss of Sacramental Union, Mystery and Practice.
The New Epistemology explicit or implicit in Descartes, Kant, Hume, Mill, Ayer, etc.
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, to borrow the title of the famous essay by the (non-Christian) sociologist Max Weber.
The rise of materialism – philosophical and commercial.
Hyper-individualism.
It seems to me that Ireland had far, far, far less of this materialism and hyper-individualism until very recently.
That it had a SIMPLICITY rooted in the collective importance given to a transcendent ideal.
Not a hyper-individual pursuit – but a **collective** aspiration to the transcendent.
And that this translated into an amazingly strong community ethic. Amazing that is, in comparison to the secular countries of Protestant heritage.
And that all of this was linked to beholding –consciously or not – transcendent mystery in the form of the Sacraments. Not only the Eucharist, but Confession.
It seems to me that the Second Vatican Council of 1962-1965, so admirable in so many respects - please do not mistake me here – it seems to me that this so-often truly admirable Vatican II in its destruction of the liturgy, led to an immense decrease of Sacramental Mystery.
And in Ireland, as elsewhere, the effects can be felt.
It seems to me that the Sacraments – wherever they are truly present, inside or outside the Roman Catholic Church - hold a profound key to addressing the immense tragedy of hyper-individualism, mass consumption and ecological catastrophe.
It seems to me.
What do I do with this ‘it seems to me’ in the face of Lovelock? I ask my heart, I ask my Lord.
1 comment:
Thank you, head. Nice to hear your thoughtful voice again.
All too hurriedly now:
I think you are right that I may have been sloppy - at least a bit.
Clearly the Novus Ordo did arise with Paul VI shortly after Vatican II.
But it also seems to me that Vatican II is the ***sine qua non*** here.
Without it, it seems inconceivable that the Novus Ordo could have emerged.
It's been some years since I looked at the Council's document on renewing the Liturgy, but it seems to me that the impetus towards the vernacular was not absent from Vatican II.
But head, I respect you. If you or anyone else cares to correct me on this - *please* do.
I agree with your fondness for Paul VI. For the issues of social justice alone, he has a **wonderful** legacy. Takes my breath away ...
I am in some resonance with your other comments re the liturgy. You make some good points.
But I think there are also other issues involved here - of a more esoteric nature.
For similar esoteric reasons, I do disagree with you saying about the Novus Ordo "there was nothing really wrong with it."
Unfortunately further elucidation of what I think here must wait.
Finally thanks for your point about ecumenism and Protestantism.
I struggle with this. I know of course, that the Protestant tradition has brought uncounted riches and beauty into the world, and we Catholics are very guilty of inciting so much hatred.
At the same time, this is a tradition based on the negation of tradition - an automatic elimination of the wisdom and genius of centuries - with furious polemic.
I believe we always pay a heavy price for such negation and polemic - and with each paasing year, I grow ever more convinced that we have lost so, so much in the negation of the Sacraments in particular.
Nonetheless I hope I do not sound like a Lefebrvist! Levi encouraged us to be more Catholic than the Pope and more Protestant than Luther.
I rather like that.
Papus said: 'Neither Voltaire, nor Loyola.'
But Anonymous d'Outre Tombe said:
'BOTH Voltaire and Loyola.'
I like that even better.
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