The Southern Cross - 111026

www.scross.co.za

October 26 to November 1, 2011

R5,50 (incl VaT Rsa) Reg No. 1920/002058/06

Dealing with grief and bereavement

Fr Ron Rolheiser on sex, God and Leonard Cohen

Page 8

Page 7

No 4747

What makes a saint?

Page 9

Nuncio Green to leave SA

By CLaIRe MaThIesoN

T

HE apostolic nuncio to Southern Africa, Archbishop James Green, has been reassigned to Peru, and will probably leave the Pretoria nunciature in December.

Archbishop Green had served in the Southern African region since late 2006. In those five years, he was involved in the appointment of more than half of the region’s serving bishops.

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), said Archbishop Green had come to Pretoria at a critical time, when almost two thirds of the bishops were at or near retirement age.

“It became his immediate challenge to consult, discern and recommend the appointment of new bishops,” Archbishop Tlhagale told The Southern Cross, noting that the nuncio travelled throughout the country to consult priests, religious and laity”.

Archbishop Green said that at the time of his arrival, the episcopal situation in the local Church was “not positive”.

“It was seen as a lot of work. When I arrived we had to study cases, learn about the dioceses’ needs. I personally visited most of the dioceses and spoke to the priests, sisters and laity and discussed issues with the other bishops. It was a long process,” the nuncio told The Southern Cross.

“Coming here was a great opportunity to contribute to the Church in Southern Africa. We’ve put bishops not only in South Africa but also Namibia and Botswana.”

Despite the volume of work, Archbishop Green was responsible for the appointment of 15 bishops and the transfer of two others, resulting in South Africa having a relatively young bishops’ conference.

Archbishop Tlhagale described this as “a remarkable achievement in five years”.

Only two dioceses are currently vacant: Port Elizabeth, following the early retirement of Bishop Michael Coleman, and Kokstad, following Archbishop William Slattery’s transfer to Pretoria.

Lesotho, which also falls under the nuncio’s responsibility, is also in need of two bishops, but Archbishop Green said he was not concerned that this will become a problem. “Work goes on and we’ve made a good start here.”

Archbishop Tlhagale praised the nuncio for attending all but one of the episcopal ordinations, and for having a genuine interest in improving the dioceses through new leadership. He said the nuncio is known for his effective communication. “He was always present at the January plenary sessions of the

Bishops’ Conference to share concerns and recommendations of the Holy Father and the various Roman dicasteries.”

He described Archbishop Green as a pastoral nuncio “who has gladly accepted invitations to the different dioceses for various celebrations—jubilees of parishes and schools. communities Leaving for peru: Many archbishop green know the face of the nuncio. His presence is linked directly to the Holy Father.”

Archbishop Green said he had particularly enjoyed a good working relationship with the SACBC. “I have the greatest admiration for the bishops. There is a large variety of bishops—foreign and local bishops with different backgrounds, which bring a global vision—something very important to the Church.”

He thanked the older bishops for their assistance in appointing new bishops.

“Today’s bishops, good health permitting, will be here for years to come, with their great commitment.”

Archbishop Green said he feels his reassignment to Peru is positive for both South Africa and the nunciature. “The new ambassador will bring new ideas and a new approach to an old situation—which will be good for both parties.”

He said he trusts the new nuncio, who must still be announced, would be good for South Africa. While Southern Africa awaits his successor, the nunciature will be run by its counsellor.

During Archbishop Green’s term, the diocese of Johannesburg was elevated to the status of archdiocese, and the nunciature in Pretoria was relocated to a more secure environment.

He said that he is looking forward to what lies ahead for him in South America, but had words of encouragement for the Church in Southern Africa.

“I must encourage everybody—bishop, priest, sister and the lay faithful—to remain committed. We must fear the comfortable.

The commitment made must continue,” Archbishop Green said. “The Church is always missionary and always moving forward. We need to keep going and always do more to be better.”

Archbishop Tlhagale said Archbishop Green will be much missed. “The South African Church is greatly indebted to him for his sterling contribution”.

Tutu: Empower Africa’s women

By Joseph NJuguNa

A

FRICA should shun cultural practices that prevent women from advancement, retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu said at a memorial Mass for Wangari Maathai, a Catholic environmentalist, social activist and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

But Archbishop Tutu, the 1984 Nobel laureate, said Africa has every reason to celebrate the “few successes” it has made in the area of empowering and promoting its women.

He said that even modern sayings such as, “Behind every successful man is a

woman”, are detrimental to women.

“Whoever said our women can only be behind men and not either [at their] side or in front?” he asked.

Archbishop Peter Kairo of Nyeri presided over the memorial Mass for Ms Maathai.

“In all aspects, she has fought a good fight in terms of environment, peace and justice and democracy. We praise the good Lord Jesus Christ for the gift of the late Professor Maathai,” he said.

Three women—Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karman—are the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winners.

students of st Francis Xavier orientation seminary in Cape Town celebrated a cultural day.

Taking part were (from left) aviwe Biata of Kokstad, advocate dzanibe and Nceba galweni of umzimkulu, and andile Nkafana of Kokstad. (photo: Russel Williams)

Pope calls ‘Year of Faith’

By CINdy WoodeN

P

OPE Benedict has announced a special “Year of Faith” to help Catholics appreciate the gift of faith, deepen their relationship with God and strengthen their commitment to sharing faith with others.

Celebrating Mass with participants in a Vatican conference on new evangelisation, the pope said the Year of Faith would give “renewed energy to the mission of the whole Church to lead men and women out of the desert they often are in and toward the place of life: friendship with Christ who gives us fullness of life”.

The pope said the observance would begin on October 11, 2012—the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council—and conclude on November 24, 2013—the feast of Christ the King.

“It will be a moment of grace and commitment to an ever fuller conversion to God, to reinforce our faith in him and to proclaim him with joy to the people of our time,” the pope said in his homily.

Pope Benedict explained his intention more fully in Porta Fidei (“The Door of Faith”), an apostolic letter released to formally announce the special year.

“Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy,” the pope wrote.

He said the Catechism of the Catholic Church, first published in 1992, should serve as the handbook for helping Catholics rediscover the truths of faith and deepen their understanding of Church teaching.

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he said, will publish a “note” to help people live the year “in the most effective and appropriate ways at the service of belief and evangelisation”.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ told reporters the document would be published by the end of the year; its tone will be pastoral, rather than doctrinal, giving bishops and Catholic faithful ideas for implementing the pope’s call to deeper faith and greater missionary commitment.

In his apostolic letter, the pope said the

young people cheer at the conclusion of an event to promote the new evangelisation in paul VI hall at the Vatican. some 8 000 people, mainly from Catholic movements, turned out to support pope Benedict’s call for a new evangelisation. (photo: paul haring, CNs) year’s focus will be on Jesus Christ because “in him, all the anguish and all the longing of the human heart finds fulfillment”.

Pope Benedict said that in addition to studying the catechism and gaining a greater understanding of the creed, the Year of Faith also must be accompanied with more acts of charity.

Faith helps people recognise the face of Christ in those who are suffering, and “it is his love that impels us to assist him whenever he becomes our neighbour along the journey of life”, the pope wrote.

Pope Benedict said Catholics cannot “grow lazy in the faith”.

“What the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people enlightened in mind and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end.”

The papal Mass and announcement of the Year of Faith followed a day-long conference sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.

The morning session brought together representatives of 33 bishops’ conferences and 115 new movements, organisations, Continued on page 4

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LOCAL

The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

SA religious leaders tell government to back off

By BRoNWeN daChs

S

OUTH Africa’s churches have told government representatives who came uninvited to a church leaders’ meeting to back off. They were accused of trying to manipulate church structures.

“This is an unwarranted intrusion on our discussions and compromises our freedom of association and of religion,” the National Church Leaders’ Consultation, which represents more than 20 churches, including the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), said in a statement.

Four men who work for the ruling African National Congress’ (ANC) religious affairs desk “were sitting in the room when we arrived for the second day of our meeting” at a Johannesburg hotel, said Fr Chris Townsend, the SACBC’s communications officer.

“They had assumed a right to be there,” he said, adding that they were immediately asked to leave.

The church leaders’ statement said they “strongly resent” the

government’s efforts “to muscle in on and manipulate church leadership structures”.

“We are leaders in our own right and lead by biblical mandate,” the church leaders said.

They urged President Jacob Zuma “to hear this clearly and to engage with us in our own capacity”.

Mathole Motshekga, parliamentary chief whip and the head of the ruling party’s cultural and religious affairs desk, “does not enjoy our confidence”, they said.

Fr Townsend said church leaders believe “there is growing political interference in religious and interfaith groups” in South Africa.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the churches worked alongside the ANC in opposing apartheid and continued their amiable relationship in the transition after the first inclusive election in 1994.

The rift between the government and the churches started when Mr Zuma accused the South African Council of Churches, of which the SACBC is a member, of siding with ex-President Thabo

Mbeki in the political leaders’ battle for power in 2008.

Mr Zuma was said to have been instrumental in the setting up of an interfaith body in 2009 that was seen as a competitor to established structures.

The establishment of the new forum was “certainly politically motivated”, Fr Townsend said, noting that its amalgamation with the 14-year-old National Religious Leaders’ Forum “is yet to be finalised”.

A statement by the ANC chief whip’s office attributed the presence of its officials to a confusion over meeting venues at the hotel.

“Walking into the wrong meeting is a simple mistake that anyone can make. We are therefore taken aback that the church leaders are turning this little, innocent incident into something major,” the statement said.

“We view this as nothing but a storm in a teacup. Dr Motshekga respects the autonomy and the role of the church in the society and will never meddle in its affairs.”—CNS

The Consolata Missionaries delegation in south africa has a new superior. Fr James Florence Mwigani (right), seen here with outgoing superior Fr José Martins Fernandes, was elected at the congregation’s meeting at the pax Christi Centre in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. (photo from Rocco Marra IMC)

Technology brings men of faith together: An act of faith

By CLaIRe MaThIesoN

W

HEN the Dalai Lama retracted his visa application, thereby cancelling his trip to South Africa, it seemed the inaugural Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) had lost its keynote speaker.

While there was global criticism and harsh wording directed at the Department of Home Affairs for not allowing the two Nobel peace laureates to celebrate one man’s birthday, there were others in the world who felt a monumental meeting could still be arranged— even if that meeting were to be online.

The controversy made headlines around the world and garnered the attention of Internet giant Google—specifically its social

J.M.J

media branch: Google+.

Google South Africa country manager Luke McKend said the company was keen to get involved simply because the two Nobel laureates had a “humility and unswerving commitment to freedom that has inspired generations”.

The green light was given from the archbishop’s people and within hours a meeting held in San Francisco resulted in technicians being booked to head to Cape Town the very same day. They arrived within just 48 hours to make the historical transmission a reality.

Meanwhile, preparations were being made in Cape Town. Google was providing the technology for the faith leaders to chat, and a local company, Skyrove, was brought in to ensure the Internet would quite literally be up

to speed.

To make matters even more challenging, the organisers were aware of a possible cyber terrorist attack from opponents of the Dalai Lama.

With the limitations of South Africa’s Internet capacity, the technicians still had to bend the rules, pull favours and make the seemingly impossible happen.

“The university was gracious enough to provision data. They slowed down parts of its network and entirely cut off other parts to free up bandwidth.” said Skyrove’s technical manager, Ross van der Pas. But this still wasn’t enough, he said. “We also had to contact the head of the university’s Internet Service Provider in the country and ask to be sent more bandwidth—something entirely unheard of.”

Two days of late night speed tests and ensuring backup systems were in place kept the local technicians and international developers busy.

Not only did everything have to be in place to ensure a seamless connection for spiritual leaders to communicate, but it would also have to be perfect to ensure the television broadcasters were able to transmit the event, and stream the feed live off YouTube.

Mr McKend said Google was confident in its product but wanted to be ready for any eventuality.

With three continents, multiple time zones and technicians from around the world taking part, the Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture truly was an international affair.

What made the event truly remarkable was just 45 minutes after the talk had ended, South

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Africa lost most of its Internet capability when the Seacom cable, responsible for much of the country’s Internet, was damaged.

And the archbishop was very excited to engage with the technology, noting with some laughter as he sat down: “I can’t believe how clear it is.”

Participants commented on how relaxed the two Nobel winners seemed and how natural the talk was. Mr McKend noted that the whole experience had been “very inspiring”.

The result was two friends were able to chat face-to-face—something which could not have happened had this technology not been in place. “We just had to go through a lot of effort to get these friends to chat face-to-face. But it was worth it and exciting to see what technology can do!” said Mr van der Pas.

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LOCAL

The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

3

One year on, SACBC renews funding call sTaFF RepoRTeR

F

UNDING the Church in Southern Africa is becoming more difficult. International organisations, which have traditionally supported the Catholic Church in Southern Africa are moving their funding to higher priority areas.

They are also experiencing their own constraints caused by the global economic environment and the scandals in the Church.

In 2004, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference issued a pastoral statement calling on the local Church to “Stand up and walk without crutches”, thereby becoming a self-supporting and self-reliant Church.

“Overall, responses have been very promising,” said SACBC secretary-general Fr Vincent Brennan.

“Many dioceses are working on programmes to understand and appreciate their own talents and wealth.”

Fr Brennan referred to the fundraising for the construction of a new archdiocesan chancery in Johannesburg as an example of this. “It has galvanised support— and stirred often heated reaction— all being done with little or no outside assistance.”

A year ago the SACBC, as the body responsible for the coordination of the works of the Church and the bishops in Southern

Africa, set up a foundation to serve as an investment pool, the interest from which goes to facilitate the works of the Church in Southern Africa.

The figure of R50 million was proposed as an initial target. “This might sound a lot, but that is only R50 from each Catholic in Southern Africa. When we look at the powerful solidarity this represents, it suddenly becomes possible and achievable,” Fr Brennan said.

The SACBC Foundation was established in law in 2010 and accepted its first donations in November 2010.

“Progress has been very positive. Aside from a few significant donations totalling just over R1,2 million, the foundation has been growing with small contributions of R20 or R100 from individuals,” Fr Brennan said.

At the time of going to press, the foundation had accumulated at R3,4 million.

“This is very heartening,” Fr Brennan said, pointing out that R2,2 million had been raised from small contributions. “It was always the intention that the foundation would be a fund that any Catholic could contribute to—from the widow’s cent, to parish fundraising initiatives, to large donations.”

The priest stressed that none of the funds raised by the foundation will be wasted. “The foundation investment is untouchable—the

trustees cannot use the money for any purpose other than for what it has been given for. The interest received is used to ensure capital growth and to assist in the coordination of works of the Church in Southern Africa.”

The trustees of the SACBC Foundation are the region’s five archbishops. They are assisted by a team of financial specialists who manage the investment of the foundation.

“Our major expense as a conference is the running of our seminaries. We rely on the Lenten Appeal and the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) to keep our fees within a reasonable range. Our students aspiring to priesthood have their tuition and living expenses paid by the conference and individual dioceses. There are no state tertiary subsidies available, even though our seminaries are registered with the Department of Higher Education,” Fr Brennan said.

“Even with the Lenten Appeal and PMS contributions, our fees payable by dioceses are about R36 000 per student per year. Even our well-off dioceses struggle to finance this, hence the regular appeals for help,” he explained.

“It is our hope to grow the foundation sufficiently to keep the annual fees within the reach of all our dioceses, remembering that most families of seminarians are

Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School Durban North

High School Teaching Post: January 2012

English Grades 8 - 12 Applications are invited from experienced educators who possess appropriate qualifications, are registered with SACE and fit the following profile: senior school trained educator (preferably a Ba graduate & a pgCe) with recent experience teaching english, grades 8 – 12. extensive knowledge of the geT and FeT curricula.

Recent experience in an IeB school will be an advantage. an appreciation of the school’s traditions and Catholic ethos. sound interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively with learners, staff and parents. duties will include: attendance at related workshops and parent interviews. participation in the school’s co-curricular programme.

Failure to meet the advertised minimum requirements for the post will result in applicants automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration.

Applicants are required to fill in a covering information form which is available from Mrs Beechey, or it can be posted to you on request (Tel. 031-563-5390). You can email fatimacs@fatima.co.za for an electronic version of this form.

Detailed CV to be submitted with the information form to: The Principal, Our Lady of Fatima D.C. School, 155 Kenneth Kaunda Drive (Northway), Durban North, 4051.

CLOSING DATE: Friday, 4 November 2011.

during a baptism ceremony at our Lady of the Visitation church in Constantia, Cape Town, Fr andrew Cox anoints umtha Ntabeni, daughter of Southern Cross columnist Mphuthumi Ntabeni (left), as mother helen and brother paris look on. (photo: Michael simmermacher)

not in the position to contribute to their study costs.”

Fr Brennan acknowledged some administrative teething problems.

“We have had some administrative difficulties getting individual ‘thank you’ letters off to our donors. Sometimes the volume of letters has been overwhelming.

Sometimes, we have not received correct or legible information. I wish to apologise if you have not got an acknowledgement and thank you. You are welcome to contact my office and we will do our best to get those letters to you.

Tax certificates have been issued. If

you have not received yours after requesting one, please contact us.”

He also encouraged Catholics to remember the Church in their wills. “One of the most significant benefits the SACBC Foundation can derive is from bequests. By nominating the foundation for a share of your estate, you can ensure that the foundation becomes a living memorial to your faith,” he said.

The SACBC Foundation is including an envelope in this edition of The Southern Cross to encourage contributions. Also see page 8 for details.

4

The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

INTERNATIONAL

Pope on a mobile platform

By JohN ThaVIs

P

pope Benedict stands on a wheeled platform as he arrives for a Mass in st peter’s basilica at the Vatican. This was the pope's first use of the mobile platform, which was used by pope John paul II during his last years. The Vatican said use of the platform is intended to reduce the physical toll on the pope. (photo: paul haring, CNs)

OPE Benedict has begun using a wheeled platform to move through crowds at major events, a change the Vatican said was designed to reduce the physical toll on the 84-yearold pontiff.

The pope entered St Peter’s basilica on the mobile podium, holding on to the bar of the device with one hand as ushers rolled it slowly down the main aisle.

The change did not signal any concern about Pope Benedict’s health, but was made “solely to lighten the burden” of processions, said Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi SJ. During the Mass that followed, the pope moved around the altar

as he normally does and navigated steps without a problem.

The platform was used by Pope John Paul II during his last years, when declining mobility made it impossible for him to walk in processions.

Use of the platform by Pope Benedict meant the pope was unable to stop and greet people on the sides of the basilica aisle.

On the other hand, standing on the raised platform made him more visible to the thousands of pilgrims who packed the church.

The pope was celebrating Mass with participants of a major Vatican meeting on “new evangelisation”.

To promote missionary zeal in the Church, the pope has announced a “Year of Faith” to begin in October 2012.—CNS

Anti-crime priest slain

A

N Italian priest doing mission work in a remote area of the southern Philippines was murdered inside the compound of Mother of Perpetual Help parish in Arakan.

Fr Fausto Tentorio, 59, of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, was shot eight times by a lone gunman.

Fr Tentorio had been an active law and order campaigner in Arakan and was recently appointed head of a civilian anti-crime task force.

Fr Tentorio took a strong stance against mining and other projects which he believed would harm and affect the indigenous peoples.—CNS

Pope: Freedom from hunger is a human right

By JohN ThaVIs

P

OPE Benedict has appealed for immediate and longterm relief for the world’s hungry, saying the right to adequate nourishment is a fundamental part of the right to life and ascribing volatile food prices to commodity speculation.

The hunger crisis that affects millions of people today is a sign of the deep gulf between the haves and the have-nots of the world and calls for changes in lifestyle and in global economic mechanisms, the pope said in a message marking World Food Day. Citing the famine and refugee crisis in the Horn of Africa, the pope said the “painful images” of starving people underline the need for both emergency aid and long-term intervention to support agricultural production and distribution.

“Freedom from the yoke of hunger is the first concrete manifestation of that right to life which, although solemnly pro-

a boy eats corn on a roadside in Kabul, afghanistan. pope Benedict has ascribed volatile food prices to commodity trading. (photo from CNs) claimed, often remains far from being effectively implemented,” he said.

The theme of this year’s World Food Day focused on food prices, and the pope said current pricing volatility reflected the tendency towards speculation on food commodities. He said a new global attitude is needed.

“There are clear signs of the

profound division between those who lack daily sustenance and those who have huge resources at their disposal,” he said. Given the dramatic nature of the problem, reflection and analysis are not enough—action must be taken.

The pope said it was easy but mistaken to “reduce every consideration to the food demands of a growing population”. Demographic experts have predicted that the earth’s population will reach 7 billion by October 31.

The real solution to food imbalances, the pope said, lies in modifying behaviour and changing structures so that “every person, today and not tomorrow, has access to the necessary food resources” and so that agricultural production has stability.

He said the major challenges include lifestyle changes to promote moderation in consumption and the protection of natural resources, as well as new investments in agricultural infrastructure.—CNS

Tour de France champion donates yellow jersey to church’s cycle museum

T

HIS year’s winner of the Tour de France cycling race has donated one of his yellow jerseys to a small church in Italy.

Cadel Evans, the tour’s first Australian winner, presented the jersey to Fr Luigi Farina of the church of Madonna del Ghisallo, near Como, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The newspaper said that the 34-year-old cyclist is not religious, “but he is a deep thinker”.

The church resonates with the professional cycling community.

When cyclists ride past the church as they cross the 754m high Colle del Ghisallo pass, which overlooks Lake Como, during the one-day Giro di Lombardia race, the church tradi-

tionally rings its bells.

In 1949, the Madonna del Ghisallo—named after a medieval Marian apparition reported by Count Ghisallo— was chosen as the patron saint of cyclists by Pope Pius XII. After being blessed by Fr Farina, Evans’ jersey was placed below a mural of Mary in the church’s small cycle museum, alongside other bikes donated by cycling legends such as Eddy Merckx, Francesco Moser, Gino Bartali and Maurizio Fondriest.

Also included in the museum is the crumpled bike which Fabio Casartelli, Como-born 1992 Olympic gold medallist, was riding when he was killed during the Tour de France in 1995.

Also included is a Barloworld jersey and photo of former

South African champion Ryan Cox, who died in 2007 at the age of 28.

An eternal flame burns in the church for cyclists who have died.

The yellow jersey will be framed and placed on a wall that already includes one of Evans’ 2009 world champion jerseys.

“There is so much history of cycling in there...it is such an amazing collection of amazing pieces of history. To be asked to donate a jersey to become a piece of history like this is incredible,” the Sydney Morning Herald reported the cyclist as saying.

“It’s nice to think that, in 20 years time, I might be able to come here with my grandkids or something.”

Theme for October 30: All Souls

INTERNATIONAL

The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

5

Aussie bishops discuss colleague’s removal

By CINdy WoodeN

A Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos slim helu smiles after receiving the “sor Juana Ines de la Cruz” medal in Mexico City. Mr slim donated about R400 million and had his construction company work on the new plaza Mariana adjacent to the basilica of our Lady of guadalupe in the Mexican capital. (photo: Carlos Jasso, Reuters/CNs)

World’s richest man saves basilica’s plaza

USTRALIAN bishops had a special meeting with top Vatican officials in mid-October to discuss the case of a bishop Pope Benedict removed from office after years of tension with a variety of Vatican offices.

Cardinals Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, met the Australian bishops to discuss the aftermath of the removal in May of Bishop William Morris of Toowoomba.

The meeting with the cardinals was “an indication of the seriousness with which the Roman authorities in the dicasteries here want to enter into dialogue with the Australian bishops in looking at these

issues,” said Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, president of the bishops’ conference.

The bishops promised the people of Toowoomba and all Australian Catholics that they would discuss the case with Vatican officials during their ad limina visits from October 10-22, Archbishop Wilson said.

Australian bishops described their ad limina visits, which are required of bishops to report on the status of their dioceses, as a prayerful, spiritual group experience.

According to news reports and statements from Catholic leaders in Toowoomba, Bishop Morris was asked to resign six times by three different Vatican congregations. Over a tenyear period, the officials questioned how liberally he allowed his priests to use gen-

eral absolution for the forgiveness of sins, but the real tension began in 2006 when he said in a pastoral letter that he would be open to ordaining women and married men if Church rules changed to allow such a possibility.

Archbishop Wilson said the Australian bishops fully recognise and accept Pope Benedict’s ministry of authority over the whole Church and they are not second-guessing his action, but they have an obligation to help Toowoomba Catholics move forward and to demonstrate their care for Bishop Morris.

“What we have to do is look at what the consequences have been, what we need to do now to bring healing and guidance to the Catholic people of Australia, do all we can to maintain a proper collegial relation-

ship with Bishop Morris and find ways in which he can continue his ministry as a bishop in our midst, although he’s no longer bishop of Toowoomba,” the archbishop said.

Bishop Michael Putney of Townsville said Cardinals Ouellet and Levada “were very generous with their time”, and the Australian bishops continue to discuss the matter among themselves, “gaining greater understanding of why it happened and ideas to ensure it never happens again.”

Bishop Putney said he personally believes “as bishops we need to have intermediate steps in place. When we see a bishop acting in such a way that could lead to censure, we should have a process of mediation in place to intervene in a spirit of affective collegiality”.—CNS

By daVId agReN

M

EXICO’S President Felipe Calderón inaugurated the new Plaza Mariana next to the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, but credit for rescuing the project from budgetary and political problems went to the world’s richest man, Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helú Mr Slim donated about R400 million and had his construction company work on the project, completing it in 16 months, the Mexico City archdiocese said in a statement.

“We were without hope. We didn’t know how to continue this project that we had started,” Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City said at the inauguration in comments addressed to Mr Slim. “Your sensibility, your great heart offered us your unselfish support so that this became a reality.”

Mr Slim had previously promoted restoration projects which included renovations to the metropolitan cathedral of the Assumption of Mary.

The basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe attracts about 20 million visitors per year—including daily pilgrimages—making it one of the most visited religious sites in the world.

“We’re ‘Guadalupanos’,” Mr Calderón said during the inauguration. His comment was unthinkable for a Mexican president in past years given the country’s history of unpleasant Church-state relations. “For many Mexicans, the majority of Mexicans, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a sign of identity and of unity,” he said.

The archdiocese has said Plaza Mariana will contain offices, meeting rooms, crypts, a museum and a shopping area featuring small merchants, many of whose businesses date back generations.—CNS

Anti-clerical party third in Poland poll

By JoNaThaN LuXMooRe

T

HE third-place finish of a political party that campaigned against Church involvement in government has generated discussion about the role of Catholicism in Poland.

A newly formed party, the Movement of Support, or Palikot Movement, garnered 10% of the vote after campaigning for liberalised abortion and voluntary religious education, as well as the legalisation of gay marriages and soft drugs.

The movement’s leader, millionaire businessman Janusz Palikot, accused the Church of “taking sides in politics”, and said religious symbols had been “used disgracefully for political struggles”.

He added that Poland needed “defending against Catholicism, not Catholicism against Poland”, and said his first moves would include securing the removal of a cross from the Sejm, Poland’s lower legislative chamber.

Poland’s Catholic bishops reacted angrily to calls for religion to be less present in public life.

“Whoever wishes to remove the cross from the public sphere in Poland also wishes to usher in their own ideology of hatred,” Archbishop Jozef Michalik, president of the nation’s bishops’ conference, told a news conference.

The mass-circulation Gazeta Wyborcza daily said debates on a secular state were unavoidable, but would be difficult to engage in with the bishops, who had “reacted aggressively to any criticism” and fuelled more radical opposition by “stifling every attempt to discuss the role of religion”.

However, a Catholic presenter with Polish Radio, Malgorzata Glabisz-Pniewska, said attempts to “push the Church from the public sphere” resembled efforts in Western Europe in the 1970s, adding that the Palikot Movement was “pursuing ideological ends rather than coherent social demands”.—CNS

COME ONE COME ALL TO OUR PARISH MISSION IN RIVERLEA, JHB WHERE:

DATE: TIME: WEEK 1: Tenor andrea Bocelli sings during an event to promote the new evangelisation at the Vatican. (photo: paul haring, CNs)

Year of Faith announced Continued from page 1 charismatic groups, parish renewal programmes and study groups.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, head of the council, told the representatives that their presence and activity is proof that “the new evangelisation isn’t something new introduced with the pontifical council; it’s a reality already working in the Church”.

Conference participants discussed how to better evangelise in the area of culture, among immigrants, in Catholics’ political involvement, through the use of media, in families, through the liturgy and in active, lively parishes.

The day’s focus on new evangelisation continued in the evening in the Vatican audience hall where an atmosphere similar to a tent revival

reigned. The speakers—the Spanish founder of a thriving new religious community of women, a journalist, an astrophysicist and a Colombian bishop—gave personal testimonies.

The crowd of about 8 000 people, mainly from new Catholic movements, erupted in applause anytime one of the speakers spoke about the basic tenet of Catholic faith: belief in Jesus as saviour.

Astrophysicist Marco Bersanelli used his own experience of wonder and awe before the cosmos as a lesson on the error of assuming that scientists cannot be faithful Christians and evangelisers.

The evening event also featured a mini-concert by tenor Andrea Bocelli and a speech by Pope Benedict.— CNS

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6

LEADER PAGE

The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Muhammad uncensored

Editor: Günther Simmermacher

Call to holiness

A

T the funeral for Pope John Paul II in 2005, the faithful in and around St Peter’s Square acclaimed the Polish pontiff a saint as they called out: “Santo Subito!”—make him a saint now.

In doing so, those who demanded Pope John Paul’s instant canonisation issued a reminder of how holy people used to be included in the College of Saints almost immediately after their death: by acclamation.

Until 1170, saints usually were elected not by canonical process, but by a consensus which could be local or international.

The practice of sainthood by acclamation was, of course, problematic. It gave rise to abuses, and the calendar was filled with saints whose existence was doubtful (a reform under Pope Paul VI in 1969 saw many of them removed from the universal calendar, including such stalwarts as St Christopher).

Instead, the Holy See instituted a formal process by which official recognition of sanctity would be granted only after due investigation. In time, this would require the performance of medically inexplicable miracles that could be attributed to a candidate’s intercession.

Pope John Paul, now a beatus himself, so valued the College of Saints that in his 26-year pontificate he canonised more saints than his 17 immediate predecessors did together, and in the process also reducing the number of miracles required.

While many were doubtful of his method—it is notable that Pope Benedict has cut down sharply on canonisations—John Paul believed that by endorsing the holiness of those whom he canonised, he promoted the call to sanctity among the faithful.

Indeed, there are several saints to appeal to every Catholic just among those created by Pope John Paul, aside from those who preceded them.

But canonisation is an inexact measure of holiness. The process is dependent on access to liberal funding—a sainthood cause is very expensive—and on other considerations.

It is said, for example, that the cause of the hugely popular El Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero (who as a martyr requires no test of miracles) is stalled

The Editor reserves the right to shorten or edit published letters. Letters below 300 words receive preference. Pseudonyms are acceptable only under special circumstances and at the Editor’s discretion. Name and address of the writer must be supplied. No anonymous letter will be considered.

because of concerns that its progress might enliven the adherents of liberation theology, which Popes John Paul II and Benedict strongly opposed.

Nonetheless, it is right that South Africans support and pray for the on-going causes of Abbott Francis Pfanner, founder of the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries and the Precious Blood Sisters, and Benedict Daswa, who was martyred in Tzaneen diocese in 1990.

Of course, it is not only the formally recognised saints who inspire us to aim for holiness.

Indeed, those who rouse us to sanctity need not even be dead yet. For example, Mother Teresa of Kolkata was regarded as a living saint, and her visibly concrete example of selfless love and service provided many people around the world with a model of holiness to which they could aspire.

That universal call to holiness is a key Catholic teaching: “Like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behaviour, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). It invites us to witness to Christ in our conduct and service in the world, in our prayer and devotions in our faith life, and in our courage and hope in suffering.

But the Church acknowledges our failings. Pope John Paul in his 2001 encyclical Novo Millennio Ineunte, pointed out that holiness is not a state of being (though one can be very good at avoiding sinful behaviour), but a perpetual mission to strive for the full Christian life, in imitation of Christ. When we fall, the Church wants us to get up and try again, and again.

We are called to holiness for our own salvation, but also for the good of all. The Second Vatican Council explained that call: “They [Christians] must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbour. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history” (Lumen Gentium, 40).

In this way, we are not only called to sanctify ourselves, but also, in diverse ways, to help sanctify others.

AM sorry that J H Goossens (October 5) thinks my article on Muhammad a politically correct avoidance of a fatwa.

I have no interest in Muhammad aside from an academic one, thus negating any need to whitewash him (plenty have done that already) or, for that matter, to denigrate him (again, no shortage of texts).

Mr Goossens quotes a short passage from Ibn Hisham, but a short passage from Ibn Hisham hardly tells the full story, any more than one example proves the argument.

Abu Sufyan was one of Muhammad’s chief military and political opponents: a wealthy Meccan businessman, he saw Islam as a threat to the economy of his city and did everything in his power to destroy it—this included raising and leading

I

armies against the Muslims in Medina and plenty of verbal abuse against Muhammad.

As the end approached, Sufyan, facing the death penalty were he to be captured, tried negotiating with Muhammad’s family, but to no avail. Muhammad, putting aside personal enmity, offered Sufyan his life should he convert to Islam and submit to Muhammad’s leadership, an offer perfectly consonant with the rather brutal life of 8th century Arabia.

This incident does not detract from the fact that forced conversions were rare—one of Muhammad’s own wives remained a Christian until the end of her days, while in the early days of Islamic expansion, conversions from Christianity and Judaism to Islam were discour-

An act of responsibility?

Catholics who are not properly evangelised (the last several popes concur) is partly the reason why many Catholics are lured away.

Finally, what is a normal Roman Catholic? I have met many fine Christian Catholics, but normal?

Rosemary Gravenor, Durban

I

READ with interest Chris Moerdyk’s column of October 5.

On the same date Pope Benedict in his general audience addressed the suffering in the Horn of Africa.

Has the time not come for the papacy and the Vatican to stop “talking-the-talk” and to start “walking-the walk”—or, as Mr Moerdyk, puts it when he quotes the pope, to share the wealth not as an act of charity but as an act of responsibility.

CI McLoughlin, Johannesburg

What’s a normal Catholic?

I

N response to John Reilman (October 12), I had to wonder whether his letter really was a reply to that by Frank Bompas.

Mr Reilman’s first paragraph certainly is not a reply, but sounds very defensive. Whom is he trying to defend, and from what?

Secondly, Mr Bompas never mentions democracy in any way and we all know that the teaching authority (of which a Council is an integral part) is a monarchic system with our pope able to override any “majority”.

The financial collapse has almost nothing to do with a democratic system and everything to do with greed. Analyse the collapse of communism, which had nothing to do with greed, or morals, but people pushing (both from inside the wall and outside it) for God-given freedom—even if they did not acknowledge the author.

I could not find a trace of accusation in Mr Bompas’ letter inferring that any “other” was schismatic. He expressed a viewpoint that

KRUGER PARK

Cutting costs and practical caring

I

READ Chris Moerdyk’s article on poverty with interest, as well as John Lee’s letter regarding Catholics’ attitudes towards other Mass goers (both October 5).

After Mass on Sunday at our church, people can socialise in the hall and buy refreshments. A cup of coffee costs R10—no cheaper price for pensioners.

It is possible that some elderly people avoid the hall (and their opportunity to socialise) because they can’t afford a beverage.

Some parishes host a free Christmas lunch for elderly parishioners every November or December.

Other parishes seem to have nothing especially for the elderly, not even tea and biscuits or sandwiches once a year.

Surely, in many parishes there are people who would be willing to donate a salad, pudding or money towards buying meat, to give the elderly or less fortunate a pleasant outing once a year.

Soon parishes will also be preparing Christmas hampers for the needy. opinions expressed in The Southern Cross, especially in Letters to the editor, do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or staff of the newspaper, or of the Catholic hierarchy. The letters page in particular is a forum in which readers may exchange opinions on matters of debate.

Letters must not be understood to necessarily reflect the teachings, disciplines or policies of the Church accurately.

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aged by the Islamic authorities (admittedly for economic reasons).

Mr Goossens speaks of “a narration of Muhammad’s real uncensored life story”. I am curious to know how he judges what is censored and what is not—in order to do that, one would have to read all the earliest Arabic texts first.

Perhaps he can supply us with a list of authors and texts which present Muhammad’s real uncensored life story (though I could hazard a guess at some of them)? Hopefully he doesn’t mean Salman Rushdie, since Rushdie writes (primarily) fiction, and his most famous (or infamous) work centred on certain Qur’anic verses and makes no claim to be a biography of Muhammad. I would be keen for some names and references.

Fr Christopher Clohessy, Cape Town Some supermarkets are giving a free grocery item when shoppers buy particular products. Also, in Gauteng, certain newspapers sometimes give buyers a free grocery item when they buy the newspaper from street sellers.

If these gifts are non-perishable and the buyer does not need them, they could be given to the parish to be included in the Christmas hampers.

Parishioners could start buying non-perishable items which are on special for the hampers. Salt, powdered soup, tea, syrup, tinned food and so on could be bought at good prices and kept till December when prices often go up. Grocery parcels could then be larger at very little extra cost.

Jane Thomson, Johannesburg

Carry Mathaai’s torch onward

T

HANK you so much for your good article on Wangari Mathaai (October 5). She was such a humanitarian, and concerned especially about the day-to-day challenges that afflict society. For her no child should go to bed without food.

I had the privilege of meeting her at most conferences on sustainable development. Now is the time for all of us to take a leaf out of her honourable book. We can do so much to improve the quality of life for all.

As Christians, especially Catholics, let us work on programmes such as tree-planting and permaculture system-building—our eco-world needs us.

Wangari did her share, but the torch must flare even brighter. We are faced with climate change issues now.

Elizabeth Mokotong, Johannesburg

PERSPECTIVES

What we say at Mass W E are now going to start looking at some of the changes in the new English translation of the Mass with the move away from Dynamic Equivalence towards Formal Equivalence (direct translation) and also to explain the reasons for these changes.

We’ll first look at those changes that were implemented in 2008 and next week we’ll look at some of the changes that will be implemented from November 27.

1. The greeting “And with your Spirit” (direct translation of Et cum spiritu tuo) replaces “And also with you” (Dynamic Equivalent). The reason for this change is that it now refers to the mystical aspect of the celebrant’s presence. The celebrant is ordained a priest spiritually, and his priesthood is present through his spirit. In addition, this greeting is derived directly from the greeting used in the New Testament (Galatians 6:13, Phillipians 4:23, Philemon 25 and 2 Timothy 4:22).

2. In the I Confess, “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault” (direct translation of mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa) replaces “through my own fault” (Dynamic Equivalent), strongly emphasising the depth, the seriousness, the selfishness and the all-pervasiveness of our sin, and why it cries out for reconciliation. It is a deeply humble confession.

3. The opening words of the Creed are now “I believe”, previously “We believe”. This makes the Creed a personal statement of commitment to personal belief. In addition, the words “I believe” are repeated at each of the statements of our belief in each of the three Persons of the Trinity and in the “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”. This makes it clear that we are confessing our belief at each stage of this powerful prayer of commitment.

4. Also in the Nicene Creed, “Consubstantial” (direct translation of consub-

Chris Busschau New Missal decoded

stantialem) replaces “of one being” (Dynamic Equivalent).

The previous wording tried to explain the concept of the incarnation in a brief statement, but it is simply not possible to encapsulate this amazing truth in a two or three word phrase.

The summary word “consubstantial” developed at the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople and used in Latin since then, has been reintroduced in the English. Through this, instead of trying to clarify the concept in the text, the door has been opened for active catechesis in homilies and other opportunities.

5. Before the Preface, the response “It is right and just” (direct translation of

a pew card published by the us weekly Our Sunday Visitor lists the changes in the congregation’s responses in the new english version of the Roman missal.

Use the gifts God gave you

W

HAT is a saint? There are many ways in which we can describe a saint.

A saint is someone who knows they are a sinner. A saint is someone who follows Christ and always lives according to his teaching. A saint is a holy person, and so on.

I want to add my description of a saint: a saint is someone who knows what their God-given gifts are and who uses these consciously.

Those familiar with the Stephen Covey leadership material will recognise what I’m referring to. In his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey talks about our four human abilities. These are God-given abilities, given to us as humans more so than to animals. What Covey refers to as abilities, I call gifts from God. Our first unique human gift is selfawareness. This is our ability to stand apart from our own life and observe it.

We can even observe our thoughts.

We can then step in to make changes and improvements. Animals cannot do this, but we can, and when we do this, it leads us to important insights about ourselves. With this improved insight about ourselves, we are able to make better choices.

You will have heard someone say something like this before: “You know, I

should not confront her now. If I do confront her now, I’ll just lose my temper.” That’s when we use our self-awareness. Aware of who we are and what goes on inside of us. This is a gift given to us by God. Let’s try to use it always.

Our conscience is another gift from God. This is our moral, or ethical or inner voice.

This voice lets us know deep inside that what we are doing, or the way we are doing things is harmful to ourselves and to others.

Our conscience is imbedded in us and gives us moral or ethical power. It is what aligns us with the deepest Gospel values and Christian principles. All major religions, maybe using different language, teach this basic idea. Our parents and upbringing shaped and formed our conscience—but if we do not continue developing our conscience, we may lose contact with our deep moral and ethical nature and so lose our moral and ethical power. Let’s guard against this.

Another gift from God is our imagination. This is our ability to envision the consequences of our actions.

Our imagination gives us an edge because we can avoid many bad situations and we can influence situations for the better.

You might have heard someone say about a person whom they have criti-

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Dignum et justum est) replaces “It is right to give him thanks and praise” (Dynamic Equivalent). This emphasises a different aspect—not simply that we should do so, but the morality and justice of our actions when we thank God 6. “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be healed” (direct translation of Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meam, sed tantum dic verbo et sanabitur anima mea) in place of “Lord I am not worthy to receive you, only say the word and I shall be healed”.

Three important aspects are highlighted here. Firstly, when we speak of someone entering under one’s roof, we speak of that person being welcomed into our home and our life, just as we would welcome a family member or a close friend into our home. This is far more intimate than simply “receiving”, which is what we do in a meal. So, we are now saying that we are not worthy to welcome the Lord into our homes and lives.

Secondly, our deepest illnesses are of a spiritual nature and the healing aspect of Jesus coming onto our lives is primarily spiritual, not physical, as could be inferred from the previous wording.

And finally, the wording is scripturally accurate in its derivation from the centurion’s plea to Jesus to heal his servant.

Something that has not changed is the Our Father, which remains in the traditional language and continues to use the old-fashioned form “thy”. The reason for this is the acceptance by almost all English-speaking Christians of this wording, and in particular the intimacy that the word “thy” provides. n This is the fourth of seven articles by Chris Busschau on the new English translations of the Roman Missal. Next week, he will discuss the changes to the parts of the Mass that are said by the priest.

Judith Turner on Faith and Life

cised unfairly or harshly: “I never knew she was going to feel like that”. But if they had used their imagination, then they could have anticipated how someone unfairly or harshly criticised would feel. Let’s use our imagination to make the right choices.

Lastly, we have the gift of our independent will.

This gift gives us the power to take action. Once we have our commitment right, our motives straight and our intentions clear, we have to act on it, without being influenced by anything else.

Have you noticed the independent will of a two-year-old? Once they have decided, they have decided. Even when you try and bribe them with toys or chocolates or a ride on your back to get them to do what you want them to do, when their mind is made up they use their independent will to execute it.

This is a reminder for us of how to pull through and stick to our commitment to get things done.

The saints used these unique human gifts to transform the world around them. It is liberating, empowering, affirming and motivating to know that we all have the ability to do this. We all have these gifts given to us by God.

NEW FOR 2012 HOLY FAMILY PILGRIMAGE

The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

Chris Chatteris SJ pray with the pope

More than one type of Catholic Church General Intention: That the Eastern Catholic Churches and their venerable traditions may be known and esteemed as a spiritual treasure for the whole Church.

ARIETY may be the spice of life but the popular idea of the Catholic Church is that it is the last bastion of uniformity and identity in the modern world.

Hence it frequently surprises people to hear that the Catholic Church actually comprises more than 20 churches all in communion with each other.

The vast majority of Catholics are Roman Catholics who use the Latin rite. The others are smaller churches, in full communion with Rome, whose liturgy, canon law and church order are significantly different from that of the Roman tradition and from one another’s.

Their origin is often a story of a historical drift from communion with Rome and an eventual return. On their return they were allowed to retain their particular ancient inculturation of the faith.

In a way the establishment of the Ordinariate for Anglicans is a recent example of the process. The return to full communion with Rome does not mean a church has to shed the particular cultural traditions within which it seeks to live the Gospel.

As the intention puts it, their traditions are “venerable” and therefore worthy of respect and preservation. We can also esteem them for having survived in harsh environments, even in places of persecution.

These are our fellow Catholics. We are asked by the pope to acknowledge them, discover more about them, and give them the prayerful support they need.

V

Prayer for Africa Missionary Intention: That the African continent may find strength in Christ to pursue justice and reconciliation as set forth by the second Synod of African Bishops.

HE Second African synod declared that the Church was to strive to be a “sacrament of reconciliation, justice and peace in Africa”.

A sacrament is an effective exterior sign which brings about what it points to. The outward sign works efficaciously and “in depth”. In the African Church we are challenged by the Synod to be such an effective sign of reconciliation, justice and peace. Clearly this means being reconciled among ourselves in the Church, preaching by what we practise, healing by being healed, bringing peace by being at peace.

Leo the Great famously said that: “Whatever was visible in our Redeemer has passed over into the sacraments”—an insight which enables us to understand the synod’s use of sacramental language. Leo would say that we have to make visible, make flesh, the peace of Christ in the Church in Africa in order to be a sacrament of his peace.

How to do this? Some very recent research may be helpful. Health researchers Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett, in their book The Spirit Level, argue that societies in which income and other resources are more equally distributed are generally less afflicted by social problems than more unequal societies. Their statistics indicate that more equal countries are better off than unequal ones (even rich unequal ones) in areas like child mortality, life expectancy, rates of imprisonment, school results, general health and crime.

They think that because in more equal societies people feel a greater sense of belonging, this results in happier, healthier and better adjusted people.

Such people achieve better because they feel they can; they are healthier and happier because they don’t feel under undue pressure to compete for status. This is common sense really, but it’s comforting to think that serious, scientific researchers concur.

It seems then, that greater equality would promote the reconciliation, peace and justice that the Church in Africa dearly seeks and for which we pray, with the pope.

T

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Contact subscriptions@scross.co.za “sainthood now”. all people are called to be saints in their daily lives, and even though sainthood may never become a reality in the lives of many, this does not detract from the many shining examples of saintly lives all around us.

All Saints, all Catholics W

E don’t strive to be saints, we strive to live the lives God wanted and if we do it right, sometimes we become saints.

This was the stance of the 2011 class at St Francis Xavier national orientation seminary in Cape Town.

The country’s future priests said that saints show signs of living in the presence of God, they live in communities, offer up their talents and change the lives of people around them.

But not everybody who answers the call to holiness will be canonised a saint, and that’s okay. “These people don’t do it for the recognition, and that’s what makes them even more special,” said one seminarian. “There is far more to being a saint than being canonised.”

Vatican II’s dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium calls on the faithful to use the strength given to them by Christ’s gift, “so that [by] doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbour”.

There are many examples of holiness around South Africa. Saints can come from anywhere, and today’s saints are quite different from the traditional saints of centuries gone by.

“It seems that married women are rarely acknowledged by the Church as being capable of holiness,” said Margaret Forsyth of St Charles parish in Victory Park, Johannesburg, but she has seen many examples of holiness in her life.

One saintly woman in her life is Val HalleyWright of the Family of God Prayer Group in Victory Park.

“She started the Family of God Charismatic Prayer Group 39 years ago, after reading about the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in America.

Fog, as the prayer group is affectionately known, has and still does conduct Life in the Spirit Seminars in Victory Park and much further afield.

Those who attend will testify to finding an intimate relationship with Jesus, a renewal of their Catholic faith and a desire to serve through ministry in their own parishes,” said Ms Forsyth.

Mrs Halley-Wright was instrumental in starting Bethany Home for abused women and children, the Little Saints crèche, promoting Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Johannesburg and initiating healing seminars to work with people with depression—all that despite suffering ill health herself. Ms Forsyth said the octogenarian has always persisted with what she felt she was called to do, exhibiting the strong sense of vocation which many saintly people have encountered in their time.

“She still continues to counsel people who have suffered bereavement, trauma or depression. She has been doing this as an act of love for God’s children and will not take any payment for her time,” said Ms Forsyth who worked with Mrs Halley-Wright at one of her children’s outreach programmes. outh Africa’s uncanonised saints range from celebrity to the little-known. In a group discussion, the young seminarians suggested Archbishop Denis Hurley—and even a couple of living bishops—could qualify for sainthood. But there were plenty of other local suggestions.

Russell Williams from Port Elizabeth said the Catholic Women’s League was made up of holy women; Malusi Ngcobo from Durban said his parish priest had become far more than just a leader to him, but had really embraced the concept of father to him. Monwabisi Ntshudu from Johannesburg said there were sisters in local communities that had stood out for him, while

S

Claire Mathieson a Church of hope and Joy Mlandi Nzama said there were many religious women who worked with the unemployed and helped create new opportunities for them.

Malusi Ncanana from Eshowe said he regarded his grandmother as a saint because she donated land on which a community clinic was built.

The seminarians acknowledged that none of these people were likely to receive canonical recognition, and believed these people did not seek it.

“They are overlooked, but they don’t want to be recognised. They are saints to so many already and don’t need to be recognised officially—they are already recognised in God’s eyes,” said Sithembile Dlamini.

Fr Dikotsi Mofokeng of Bethlehem diocese in the Free State said there are many ways the Church recognises acts of holiness. Many of the faithful in his diocese have become recipients of The Order of the Star of Bethlehem, an award initiated by Bishop Emeritus Hubert Bucher that recognises lay people who have rendered outstanding service in the Church and in society. ena Khuboni of Umndeni Oyingcwele parish in Hammarsdale, Durban, believes anyone can be a saint. “Saints display humility, live righteous lives, and show holiness, self-denial, sacrifice, constant repentance from sin, simplicity of life and do the will of God by showing love to God and one’s neighbour”.

While Catholics pray to the saints and other holy people who have not been canonised for intercession, that’s not the only thing saints should be good at, Ms Khuboni said. “I believe that on top of being an intercessor, a saint should also have the ability to draw people closer to God, to help them experience him in their lives and assist them to foster a solid relationship with the Lord,” she said. It is because saints inspire others that they are vitally important in today’s world.

She too has seen many local examples of saintly acts and holy people. Of those who are still alive, she mentioned Durban’s archdiocesan youth chaplain Fr Thembelani Ngcobo, whom she described as “our model with whom we draw strength to persevere in our own faith”.

Fr Mofokeng said this strength of character is what makes these people especially holy. “They displayed holiness in an amazing variety of circumstances, against human and historical backgrounds of fantastic diversity, and they did it with style, a verve, and an inimitable uniqueness so that each one remains a rich embodiment of what the Christian life is all about.”

He added that the Church believes that the saints inspire us by their heroic lives, and help us by their constant prayers.

The St Francis Xavier seminarians said saints have to be gutsy and daring and stand up for what is right. Not everybody can do this, they said, but everybody can be inspired by their example. This determination to do God’s work is answering the call to holiness, something which everyone could be a part of.

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The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

FAITH

All Souls’ Day: Dealing with death In a lifetime, most people will experience the grief of losing a loved one, perhaps several times. ThaNdI BosMaN spoke to two Catholic counsellors about dealing with grief and bereavement.

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N November 2 we celebrate the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, better known as All Souls’ Day, when we remember those who have died, and prayers and intentions are offered for them.

This feast day is an old tradition, celebrated in many countries.

It was officially proposed in the 10th century by St Odilo, abbot of Cluny in France, who saw the day as a time to honour the deceased, particularly those whose souls were still in purgatory.

Dealing with the death of a loved one is something almost every person will encounter, but how we cope with loss is subjective. Often guidance is needed to assist with making sense of the situation.

Fr Victor Kotze, a practising psychotherapist, said he finds that “in times of stress and misfortune” people often tend to look for someone or something to blame.

“We need to hit out at this someone, and God is very often the target of our rage and sadness,” said Fr Kotze, a counsellor at the Martindale Counselling Centre in Johannesburg.

“We project on to God human characteristics—not caring,

remote, untouched, unsympathetic and so forth and see these in God and so lash out at them.”

Counselling psychologist Sharon Melrose, a Catholic who has a private practice in Edgemead, Cape Town, said: “Anger is a very normal response during the grieving process. This anger may be directed at the deceased, but is often directed at God—‘Why did he let this happen?’”

As a psychologist, she said, “an important part of the healing process is to allow the client to express these feelings, no matter how illogical they may seem.

There may be a shift from this anger to intense sadness before a sense of acceptance is reached”.

Fr Kotze said that we should put our trust in God. “In life as in death we are called to address God and relate to God as Abba, a deeply caring and compassionate Parent God. We are called to trust Abba in life as well as death”.

Without trust, he said, we question God and our faith—and these questions can become impossible to deal with.

He said that through every part of life we are called to trust God, and at times when we feel we have lost everything, it seems impossible.

“Somewhere in all of this is the mystery of God’s will, and like all mysteries there are no answers, except to say that in every circumstance of our lives Abba is with us and most particularly in impossibly painful times and of course death,” Fr Kotze said. “It is the basis of our faith and in which we are called to trust.”

Mrs Melrose said that the way in which the loved one dies may

lead to questions that don’t always have answers, and that plays a vital role in how the loss is processed.

“Sudden, unexpected death is associated with many questions, and the loved one is not there to answer those questions.”

It is very important that we have the support of family and friends when we are dealing with the loss of a loved one. Fr Kotze said that people who experience loss should be able to express emotions like grief and anger freely.

“Death is a time of supporting one another, and very often with silent caring presence and not judging them if they lash out at God, Church or whatever,” Fr Kotze said. “It is important that we don’t encourage [the bereaved] to be brave and fill them with pious sentiment.”

Mrs Melrose said that an “essential part of the healing process” is to express the emotions without feeling ashamed or guilty.

“The emotional responses can vary greatly from person to person, just as the grieving process can take different time frames for different people. Be patient with yourself or those around you who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. Although it may seem as though the hurt will never go away, there will come a time when the survivors will be able to talk about the deceased loved one with a realistic sense of sadness—sad at the loss of their presence, but grateful for the happy memories left behind.”

She said that grief is an emotional response to what has happened, and bereavement is an adjustment process.

dealing with grief and bereavement after experiencing the loss of a loved one is difficult. In this article two Catholic counsellors explain how to deal with these emotions.

“Grief varies in intensity and duration, and it is grief that fades over time, but can be re-experienced at seemingly unexpected times. Bereavement involves changing and adjusting to new and different circumstances as life continues without the loved one being a physical part of that continued existence, for example learning to live without a spouse or parent.”

Mrs Melrose offered an example: “The mother who loses her child may reach a point of acceptance as life seemingly goes on as she has worked through the bereavement process and has adjusted to her loss. But she may re-experience the grief and sadness of her loss more acutely when for example, she recalls that her child

would now have finished school, gone to university—recalling milestones that will never be”.

Each person must find the best method for themselves to come to terms with the loss of a loved one, Mrs Melrose said, because there is no right process to follow. She added that there will always be professional counselling and help available.

What is important though, is to acknowledge the loved one and the loss. “Just because someone has died, does not mean they are forgotten,” Mrs Melrose said.

Through difficult times, said Fr Kotze, “we are called to do our best to live and direct our lives as best as we can with faith and trust that God, Abba, is in the midst of our lives at every point”.

The southern Cross, october 26 to November 1, 2011

Barry Lynch CFC

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HRISTIAN Brother Barry Lynch died in Cape Town on October 9 at the age of 85, having reached his 70th jubilee last year.

Born in Cork, Ireland, he began his formation as a Brother at the then-customary age of 14.

In his twenties, he was very ill with TB and spent a long time in hospital. He came to South Africa in very frail health and joined the Cape Town community. It was believed that he was unlikely to ever move from there, so weak was his state of health regarded.

But the climate must have agreed with him because, after ten years in Cape Town, he not only moved around a great deal, but he was also able to take on a number of leadership responsibilities.

He became principal of three schools—CBC Boksburg (196668), CBC Bulawayo (1978-82), and St Columba’s Athlone, Cape Town (1983-90)—as well as leader of the Brothers’ communities in those places.

He was also chosen for the key role of novice-master in Stellenbosch for some years (1969-73).

In between those appointments, he also taught at CBC Pretoria and CBC Springs.

His leadership of the formation community in Stellenbosch was energetic and imaginative. In addition to rejuvenating the buildings, he saw to the planting

of most of the trees that grace the Christian Brothers Centre today.

But it was in his enlightened approach to formation that he really shone. Steeped in Christian Brothers’ tradition, of which he could share a deep appreciation, he was also aware of some of its weaknesses and blind-spots; and he had made a close study of the documents of Vatican II. He introduced novices to prayer in a way that transcended the formal approach. He introduced consecrated celibacy as a way of loving, not as a fortress of avoidance. He exposed his novices to scripture and theology and Church history, probably beyond his own studies, by arranging regular classes at the Dominican priory and Schoenstatt. He offered regular individual accompaniment at a time when this word was not yet used. And he stretched young Brothers by giving them a range of responsibilities at a time when these were customarily tightly held by formation staff.

He was ahead of his time. He did all of this before he ever had the opportunity to go on a course for formators. It came from his own observation and his instinct for what was needed. He told his novices he was forming them for a new time when a new kind of Christian Brother was going to be needed.

Throughout his years of min-

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IN MEMORIAM

istry he showed a feel for younger people’s problems and many benefited from his wisdom when they approached him for advice and support.

He found a whole new role for his compassion and wisdom during his two decades at Edmund House in Woodstock, Cape Town, as the grandfather figure in a huge household of displaced families and refugees.

In his last three years, he became increasingly frail and decreasingly in touch with everyone and everything he had known, and needed specialised care.

He died at Avondrust nursing home, opposite St Michael’s church in Rondebosch, Cape Town. His funeral was at St Agnes church in Woodstock, and he was buried in the Brothers’ plot at Maitland cemetery.

Michael Burke CFC

ATSMA—harry. passed away 40 years ago. always remembered, loved and missed by Juliana and Mark.

ATSMA—hedwig. our dear mother and grandmother left us on october 16, 2002 to enjoy eternal reward. she will always be remembered and loved by us. From Juliana, Mark and family.

NICHOL—Brett allan.

20/10/2010. In loving memory of our only beloved son, brother, uncle. how quickly time has passed. precious memories will stay forever in our hearts and prayers.

Rest in peace. Love Noel dad ,emmy Mother, sharon sister, Rhonda, Weasley, Rushdi and family and Ronnie.

YAZBEK—Joe. our beloved father and grandfather enjoys eternal rest having left us in body but never in soul and spirit on october 25, 1992. he will always be remembered by Mark, Juliana and family.

PERSONAL

Family Reflections October 30: 31st Sunday. God’s message of Eternal Life. God’s message is one of humility, sincerity and truth. The responsorial psalm compares God’s peace to the interesting picture of a weaned child on its mother’s breast.

Does that mean the child is no longer needy but is still in a very close relationship with the mother?

Can we do better in our families in proclaiming and living out this message.

Liturgical Calendar Year A Sunday, October 30, 31st Sunday Malachi 1:14,2:2, 8-10, Psalm 131:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13, Matthew 23:1-12 Monday, October 31, feria Romans 11:29-36, Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36-37, Luke 14:12-14 Tuesday, November 1, feria Romans 12:5-16, Psalm 131, Luke 14:15-24 Wednesday, November 2, Feast of All Souls Isaiah 25:6-9, Psalm 23, Romans 5:5-11, John 6:37-40 Thursday, November 3, St Martin de Porres Romans 14:7-12, Psalm 27:1-4, 13-14, Luke 15:1-10 Friday, November 4, St Charles Borromeo Romans 15:14-21, Psalm 98:1-4, Luke 16:1-8 Saturday, November 5, Mass of Our lady Romans 16:3-9,16, 22-27, Psalm 145:2-5,10-11, Luke 16:9-15 Sunday, November 6, Feast of All Saints Revelations 7:2-4, 9-14, Psalm 24:1-6, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12

Word of the Week Apostolic nuncio: An ordinary and permanent representative of the pope, vested with both political and ecclesiastical powers, assigned to a definite territory with the duty of safeguarding the interests of the Holy See. Application: As the diplomatic representatives of the pope, nuncios enjoy the same privileges as other ambassadors of foreign countries.

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Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO #468. ACROSS: 3 Uselessly, 8 Hymn, 9 Enumerate, 10 Sheets, 11 Stoop, 14 Iliad, 15 Nibs, 16 Enoch, 18 Emus, 20 Obese, 21 Shade, 24 Pearls, 25 Apocrypha, 26 Sago, 27 Fresh news. DOWN: 1 Chastised, 2 Imperious, 4 Sins, 5 Limit, 6 Sargon, 7 Lute, 9 Etude, 11 Swore, 12 Pipe organ, 13 Ascension, 17 Hosea, 19 Shocks, 22 Doyen, 23 Spar, 24 Phew.

Community Calendar To place your event, call Claire Allen at 021 465 5007 or e-mail c.allen@scross.co.za, (publication subject to space) BETHLEHEM: Shrine of Our Lady of Bethlehem at Tsheseng, Maluti mountains; Thursdays 09:30, Mass, then exposition of the Blessed sacrament. 058 721 0532.

CAPE TOWN: Good Shepherd, Bothasig. perpetual eucharistic adoration in the chapel. all hours. all welcome.

Day of Prayer held at springfield Convent starting at 10:00 ending 15:30 last saturday of every month—all welcome. For more information contact Jane hulley 021 790 1668 or 082 783 0331.

Holy Mass with Guitars: unplugged. November 6, 18:00-20:00. holy Redeemer church, Bergvliet.

Fundraiser Car Boot Sale and morning market at st Brendan’s church, Cnr Longboat Rd (off ou Kaapseweg) and Corvette street, sunvalley, Fish

hoek. Last saturday every month. all welcome. Info and stall reservations: Maggi-Mae 021 782 9263 or 082 892 4502 mvidas@ mweb.co.za DURBAN: St Anthony’s, Durban Central: Tuesday 09:00 Mass with novena to st anthony. First Friday 17:30 Mass—divine Mercy novena prayers. Tel: 031 309 3496.

JOHANNESBURG: Exposition of the Blessed sacrament: first Friday of the month at 09:20 followed by holy Mass at 10:30. holy hour: first saturday of each month at 15:00. at our Lady of the angels, Little eden, edenvale. Tel: 011 609 7246.

PRETORIA: First Saturday: devotion to divine Mercy. st Martin de porres, sunnyside, 16:30. Tel shirley-anne 012 361 4545.

REMEMBERING OUR DEAD

“It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins” (II Macc XII,46) Holy Mass will be celebrated on the first Sunday of each month in the All Souls’ chapel, Maitland, Cape Town at 2:30pm for all souls in purgatory and for all those buried in the Woltemade cemetery.

For further information, please contact St Jude Society, Box 22230, Fish Hoek, 7975 Telephone (021) 552-3850

ABORTION WARNING: ‘The pill’ can abort, undetected, soon after conception (a medical fact). see website: www.humanlife. org/abortion_does_the_pill. php

SERVICES ANNUAL REPORTS, newsletters, books etc, designed and edited at competitive rates. phone gail at 082 415 4312 or gailsctn@gmail.com

PRAYERS HOLY st Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke you, special patron in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to come to my assistance. help me now in my urgent need and grant my petitions. In return I promise to make your name known and publish this prayer. amen. Vanessa Willemse.

O MOST beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of heaven, blessed Mother of the son of god, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. o star of the sea, help me and show me herein that you are my Mother, o holy Mary Mother of god, Queen of heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to secure me in my necessity. There are none who can withstand your power, o show me that you are my mother. o Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Thank you for your mercy towards me and

mine. amen. “say this prayer for 3 consecutive days and publish. Thank you for prayers answered.

Vanessa Willemse.

THANKS HOLY CROSS Convent high school, Maitland, Cape Town. our Centenary tour of two teachers and two learners returned on october 13. We explored our roots in Menzingen, switzerland, where Mother Bernarda holy Cross foundress is buried. We took a pilgrimage route through Italy to padua (st anthony) Venice (st Mark) assisi (st Francis) Rome (the Vatican) and Milan (the duomo). at the tomb of st Francis on his feast day (4 october) we especially remembered those who asked for our prayers as well as all those who supported our tour in so many ways. It was an experience of a life time. Thank you for your goodness and kindness. In the greeting of st Francis seen everywhere in assisi—paX eT BoNuM. Bernie Keeson

ACCOMMODATION OFFERED CAPE TOWN, Cape peninsula: Beautiful homes to buy or rent. Maggi-Mae 082 892 4502. Colliers International False Bay, 021 782 9263, maggimaev@colliers. co.za

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION BALLITO: up-market penthouse on beach, self-catering. 084 790 6562.

BETTY'S BAY: (Western Cape) holiday home sleeps six, three bathrooms, close to beach, R600/night (winter) R800/night (summer).

021 794 4293 marialouise @mweb.co.za CAPE TOWN: Vi holiday Villa. Fully equipped selfcatering, two bedroom family apartment (sleeps 4) in strandfontein, with parking, R400 per night. Tel/Fax paul 021 393 2503, 083 553 9856, vivilla@ telkomsa.net FISH HOEK: self-catering accommodation, sleeps 4. secure parking. Tel: 021 785 1247.

GORDON’S BAY: Beautiful en-suite rooms available at reasonable rates. Magnificent views, breakfast on request. Tel: 082 774 7140. bzhive@telkomsa.net JEFFREY’S BAY: Fully equipped self-catering flat, two bedrooms, sleeps six, 50 metres from the beach.

072 462 3993.

KNYSNA: self-catering accommodation for 2 in old Belvidere with wonderful Lagoon views. 044 387 1052.

KOLBE HOUSE: Is the Catholic Centre and residence for the university of

Cape Town. Beautiful estate in Rondebosch near the university. From mid November, december and January, the students’ rooms are available for holiday guests. We offer selfcatering accommodation, parking in secure premises. short walks to shops, transport etc. Contact Jock 021 685 7370, fax 021 686 2342 or 082 308 0080 or kolbe.house@telkomsa.net LONDON, protea house: underground 3min, piccadilly 20min. Close to River Thames. self-catering. single per night R250, twin R400. phone peter 021 851 5200.

MARIANELLA guest house, simon’s Town: “Come experience the peace and beauty of god with us.” Fully equipped with amazing sea views. secure parking, ideal for rest and relaxation. special rates for pensioners and clergy. Tel: Malcolm salida 082 784 5675 or mjsalida@ mweb.co.za SOUTH COAST, uvongo: Fully furnished three bedroom house, Tel: donald 031 465 5651, 073 989 1074.

SOUTH COAST, uvongo: secure holiday unit, with lock-up garage. sleeps 6.

In complex. 078 935 9128.

STRAND: Beachfront flat to let. stunning views, fully equipped. garage, one bedroom, sleeps 3. R450 p/night for 2 people—low season. phone Brenda 082 822 0607 UMHLANGA ROCKS: Fully equipped self-catering 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, sleeps 6, sea view, 200 metres from beach, dsTV. Tel: holiday division, 031 561 5838, holidays @lighthouse.co.za

UPHOLSTERER More than 50 years of experience guarantees you satisfaction.

Ph 021 021 447 637 4727 1938 PH after hours 021 701 2692.

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Solemnity of All Saints: November 6 Readings: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14, Psalm 24:1-6, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12

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EXT Sunday we in this country celebrate the feast of All Saints, transferred from November 1, which is the feast of all those anonymous ones who are now with God, including those whom we have known, and who have brought us closer to God. So it is, in a sense, our feast, encouraging us to keep going. We should notice, however, that the readings do not always make for comfortable reflection.

The first reading offers us a vision of all the saints, and it is a wonderful picture. The Book of Revelation takes a rather dim view of the Roman Empire, and sees most people as doomed, except for those who have the “seal on their foreheads”, from all the tribes of Israel.

Their number is a fairly substantial 144 000 (which, by the way, is code for “a lot”); but add to those the number of non-Israelites, “a great crowd, which no one could count, from every nation and tribe and people and language”.

So we need not worry about whether there is room for us among the saints; but we might notice what marks them: they have “white robes and palms in their hands”. The palm is the symbol of martyrdom, and the robes are white, it turns out, rather surprisingly,

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Reality is God-filled and God-made Nicholas King SJ sunday Reflections because they have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb.

The great thing, though is that they are joining in the great hymn of worship to God; they have emerged “from the Great Tribulation and have washed their robes and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb”.

There is the invitation to us: to worship God cheerfully, whatever happens in our lives.

The psalm does not need to be told about this; for the poet: “To the Lord belongs the earth and what fills it, the world and those who dwell in it.” So our invitation to sanctity takes the form of a summons to recognise the nature of reality: it is God-filled, and Godmade.

God is even in charge of the seas and the rivers (which the Israelites viewed with some misgivings). And we can only go up onto God’s holy mountain, and his holy place (the

Temple for the poet—but for us everywhere in all of God’s creation) if we are “pure of hands and innocent of heart, not given over to idols...they shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and justice from the God of their salvation.” Our task is “to seek the face of the God of Jacob”.

The second reading offers a slightly different take on our invitation to sanctity (though it perhaps comes to the same thing). The author invites us to contemplate “how much love the Father has given us, that we might be called ‘children of God’.” And, he argues, we don’t have to “become” God’s children—“we already are”; not only that, but there is more to come: “It has not yet appeared what we are going to be.”

Eventually, “we are going to be like God, because we shall see God as he is”. If we really hang onto this hope, we shall “purify ourselves, as he is pure”. So even a simple thing like love offers a sharp challenge to us.

And, if you like a challenge, what about the gospel for this solemnity of All Saints? It offers a picture of Jesus’ favourite people. It is those wonderful beatitudes, the start of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew’s greatest creation; and Matthew signals to us that we

God, sex and Leonard Cohen UR world thinks it understands sex.

It doesn’t. Moreover it is beginning to ignore and even disdain how Christianity views sexuality.

And we are paying a price for this, mostly without consciously realising it: Sex, outside of its proper containers, respect, unconditional commitment, and love, isn’t bringing more joy into our lives, but is leaving us more fragmented and lonely.

Part of what’s happening to us is expressed in a haunting line in Leonard Cohen’s song, “Famous Blue Raincoat”, where a man reminds a friend of the consequences of his having had sex with a woman to whom he was not committed: “And you treated some woman to a flake of your life; and when she went home she was nobody’s wife.” Casual sex: A flake of our lives. Frivolously given away.

There’s a lot of sex in culture, but it isn’t taking a lot of people home, home to that place where they feel fully respected, unconditionally safe, able to be themselves, comfortable, and confident that the joy of their love-making is making their hearts bigger, softer, more gracious, more joyous.

With this as a background, I would like to recommend a book, Sex God, by Rob Bell. He is pastor of a Christian church in Michigan and does something in this book that has been often tried, but rarely done well.

What he does is take seriously the raw

www.birthright.co.za

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI Final Reflection power, brute earthiness, and befuddling complexity of sex and sets that into an anthropological, biblical, and Christian perspective that properly honours both the earthiness and the holiness of sex.

Unlike many Christian commentators, he accepts, without denial, denigration, or pious encrustment, our sexual complexity.

Unlike most secular commentators who do accept the full impact of our sexual complexity but then lose sight of its deeper meaning, Bell marries the earthiness and the holiness of sex into a perspective that is at once both earthy and holy. Here are some examples of his insights: For too many of us, sex is a search for something we’re missing, a restless quest for an unconditional embrace; and so we go from relationship to relationship, looking for this.

But, as Bell suggests, sex is not the search for something that’s missing. It’s the expression of something that has been found. It’s designed to be the overflow, the culmination of something that a man and a woman have found in each other. It’s a celebration of this living, breathing thing that’s happening between the two of them.

In Bell’s view, sex inside of its proper containers (unconditional commitment, respect, love) is designed to counter the brokenness of our lives and the fragmentation of our world. The “oneness” experienced in sexual embrace is meant to help bring “oneness” into the world: This man and this woman who have given themselves to each other are supposed to give the world a glimpse of hope, a display of what God is like, a bit of echad [oneness] on earth.

Is that where the phrase “making love” comes from? An awareness that something mystical happens in sex, that something good and needed is created? Something is added to the world, given to the world.

This man and this woman together are in some profoundly mysterious way good for the wellbeing of the whole world.

And Bell is clear on the holiness of sex and how that in fact undergirds its unrelenting grip: In heaven we will be fully known… Which is what people crave in sex, isn’t it? To be known and still loved, still embraced, still accepted. Is sex in its greatest, purest, most joyful and honest expression a glimpse of forever?

Moreover he isn’t starry-eyed and naïve about what the grip of sex can do to us and how it can leave stains of regret on both our innocence and our baptismal robes. He assures us that God knew how powerful sex was going to be and so built in space for some misadventures.

He finishes the book with a story of a dream-marriage of an idealistic couple who, a few years later, break-up: “I finish with this story because life is messy. Gutwrenching. Risky. Things don’t always turn out well. Sometimes they don’t turn out at all. Sometimes everything falls apart and we wonder if there’s any point to any of it. We’re tempted to shut ourselves off, fortify the walls of our hearts, and forge ahead, promising ourselves that we will never open ourselves up like this again.

“But we have to believe that we can recover from anything. I have to believe that God can put anything—anyone— back together. I have to believe that the God Jesus invites us to trust is as good as he says he is. Loving…Forgiving...Merciful...Full of grace.”

The problem with sex is that the churches don’t take passion seriously enough, while the world doesn’t take chastity seriously enough. Healthy sex is predicated on the vibrancy of both, passion and chastity, earthiness and holiness.

Rob Bell’s book honours that.

are to pay very careful attention.

First he has Jesus “go up into the mountain”, using exactly the words in which the Greek Bible describes the ascent of Moses up Sinai, to receive the Law. So we should be very attentive indeed, while remembering that Jesus is going up, not to receive, but to give the Law. Then we feel a slight ambiguity about whether the message is for “the crowds” or “the disciples”, and it looks as though it might be both.

Next, Matthew uses three separate terms to indicate that Jesus is talking. He “sits down” (that is to say, he adopts the position of a teacher); he “opens his mouth”, then “he began to teach”, and finally, before we hear what he taught, comes the word “saying”.

This should really get us listening. And then we hear the list of Jesus’ favourite people, the saints whom we celebrate today. I suggest that you go slowly through this extraordinary list of those whom he congratulates: the poor, the mourning, the gentle, the hungry and thirsty for justice, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peace-makers, the persecuted—and ask for the grace to belong to them.

For those are the people whom we celebrate on this feast.

Southern Crossword #468

ACROSS 3. How it was done in vain (9) 8 and 10. Will they cover the sleeping choir? (4,6) 9. Count one by one (9) 10. See 8 11. Lean forward to condescend (5) 14. Homer’s tale of siege of Troy (5) 15. Pen points (4) 16. He walked with God (Gn 5) (5) 18. Birds in gentle music (4) 20. See around old boy who’s very fat (5) 21. Ghost having shelter from the sun (5) 24. Do they adorn the heavenly gates? (6) 25. They are non-canonical books (9) 26. Lisa goes inside for the pudding (4) 27. Today’s newspaper contains it (5,4)

DOWN 1. Cast shied from having been disciplined (9) 2. Haughty as a Roman emperor (9) 4. Offends the divine law (4) 5. Terminal point (5) 6. He was king of Assyria (Is 20) (6) 7. Stringed instrument (4) 9. Short musical exercise in French? (5) 11. Took the oath (5) 12. Will plumber play it in church? (4,5) 13. Sins once a day when the Lord goes up (9) 17. Chose a concealed prophet (5) 19. Electrical surprises (6) 22. Some annoyed about a leading position (5) 23. Raps about what you do in boxing (4) 24. Nephew’s sigh of relief (4) Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLE

A

priest was preparing a man for his long day’s journey into night. Whispering firmly, the priest said: “Denounce the devil! Let him know how little you think of his evil!”

The dying man said nothing. The priest repeated his order. Still the dying man said nothing.

The priest asked: “Why do you refuse to denounce the devil and his evil?”

The dying man said: “Until I know for sure where I’m heading, I don't think I ought to aggravate anybody!” send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to The southern Cross, Church Chuckle, po Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.