Father Cantalamessa's Good Friday Homily

[godisgood77]

I found this Homily given in the presence of Pope Francis to be interesting… could be a window in to our Pope’s thinking…

I found these few paragraphs toward the end to be most compelling…

*We must do everything possible so that the Church may never look like that complicated and cluttered castle described by Kafka, and the message may come out of it as free and joyous as when the messenger began his run. We know what the impediments are that can restrain the messenger: dividing walls, starting with those that separate the various Christian churches from one another, the excess of bureaucracy, the residue of past ceremonials, laws and disputes, now only debris.

In Revelation, Jesus says that He stands at the door and knocks (Rev 3:20). Sometimes, as noted by our Pope Francis, he does not knock to enter, but knocks from within to go out. To reach out to the “existential suburbs of sin, suffering, injustice, religious ignorance and indifference, and of all forms of misery.”

As happens with certain old buildings. Over the centuries, to adapt to the needs of the moment, they become filled with partitions, staircases, rooms and closets. The time comes when we realize that all these adjustments no longer meet the current needs, but rather are an obstacle, so we must have the courage to knock them down and return the building to the simplicity and linearity of its origins. This was the mission that was received one day by a man who prayed before the Crucifix of San Damiano: “Go, Francis, and repair my Church”.*

Here is the link to the entire homily… zenit.org/en/articles/father-cantalamessa-s-good-friday-homily–6

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I watched that liturgy live. His homily was very thought-provoking. Remember that he was also the preacher to the papal household for Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul (since 1980). I would assume that he has been preaching in the same way all this time.

 

[godisgood77]

I watched that liturgy live. His homily was very thought-provoking. Remember that he was also the preacher to the papal household for Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul (since 1980). I would assume that he has been preaching in the same way all this time.

That’s interesting… I did not know that he was preacher for JPII and BXVI… Curious if he preaches in his own “voice” or if he takes on the voice of the Pope?.. I’ll have to look in to it.

 

[Equites_Christi]

Offtopic:

Does his name mean Fr. Sing-the-mass? That’s kinda funny

 

[Jaysuitical]

Fr. Cantalamessa has a number of books in print.

I truly doubt that he ‘takes on the voice of’ the pope because the pope needs to have a good preacher (as he needs a good confessor) and for the same reason we all do: he needs to be encouraged, instructed, edified, uplifted, the same way we do, even with the charism of the Petrine office. Having a mere echo of his own ideas wouldn’t assist him in his office at all.

 

[JReducation]

That’s interesting… I did not know that he was preacher for JPII and BXVI… Curious if he preaches in his own “voice” or if he takes on the voice of the Pope?.. I’ll have to look in to it.

Only Capuchin Franciscans are allowed to preach to the pope. Only Conventual Franciscans are allowed to hear confessions in the pope’s churches, unless it’s a visiting priest hearing the confessions of his party. Only Observant Franciscans are allowed to hold the title, Custodian of the Holy Land or Custos. This goes back hundred of years. One of the Franciscan popes arranged this and no pope has ever touched it.

Franciscans, Jesuits and Dominicans have always been on very intimate terms with the papacy. Dominicans and Jesuits have always been the papacy’s theologians and consultants.

 

[Melchior_1]

Only Capuchin Franciscans are allowed to preach to the pope. Only Conventual Franciscans are allowed to hear confessions in the pope’s churches, unless it’s a visiting priest hearing the confessions of his party. Only Observant Franciscans are allowed to hold the title, Custodian of the Holy Land or Custos. This goes back hundred of years. One of the Franciscan popes arranged this and no pope has ever touched it.

Franciscans, Jesuits and Dominicans have always been on very intimate terms with the papacy. Dominicans and Jesuits have always been the papacy’s theologians and consultants.

Didn’t Pius V have a role with Franciscans being in these positions as well?

 

[godisgood77]

Offtopic:

Does his name mean Fr. Sing-the-mass? That’s kinda funny

ha

 

[Rocky24]

We must do everything possible so that the Church may never look like that complicated and cluttered castle described by Kafka, and the message may come out of it as free and joyous as when the messenger began his run. We know what the impediments are that can restrain the messenger: dividing walls, starting with those that separate the various Christian churches from one another, the excess of bureaucracy, the residue of past ceremonials, laws and disputes, now only debris.

This seems to be quite different to what Father said last year in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI.

 

[Landelinus]

This seems to be quite different to what Father said last year in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI.

I agree. I think this may represent more of Fr. Cantalamessa’s personal view of the Church - one we didn’t hear too much of under Benedict. I find some of his comments in the homily problematic. They seem to imply that the doctrinal and dogmatic “walls” that separate “churches” from one another are just so much debris - as if the Protestant reformation were just all one big misunderstanding. Also from the standpoint of traditional Catholicism, his dismissal of “past ceremonials” is troubling. I hope that his vision of Church renewal does not involve gutting the integrity of Her teachings and liturgy.

 

[Lormar]

I agree. I think this may represent more of Fr. Cantalamessa’s personal view of the Church - one we didn’t hear too much of under Benedict. I find some of his comments in the homily problematic. They seem to imply that the doctrinal and dogmatic “walls” that separate “churches” from one another are just so much debris - as if the Protestant reformation were just all one big misunderstanding. Also from the standpoint of traditional Catholicism, his dismissal of “past ceremonials” is troubling. I hope that his vision of Church renewal does not involve gutting the integrity of Her teachings and liturgy.

I, too, found some of his comments disturbing. Unfortunately, I can’t give him a call and ask him to clarify what he means. Endless speculation on forums as to what he might have meant aren’t helpful either.

 

[Landelinus]

I, too, found some of his comments disturbing. Unfortunately, I can’t give him a call and ask him to clarify what he means. Endless speculation on forums as to what he might have meant aren’t helpful either.

Good point. “Endless” speculation is probably not helpful, but I’m all for a little well-defined speculation.
Honestly though, it is difficult not to speculate when the language of the homily is couched in somewhat vague and broad terms.

 

[Lormar]

Good point. “Endless” speculation is probably not helpful, but I’m all for a little well-defined speculation.
Honestly though, it is difficult not to speculate when the language of the homily is couched in somewhat vague and broad terms.

I don’t find it vague and broad at all; rather I find it quite specific. My only question is what exactly is he referring to here:

We must do everything possible so that the Church may never look like that complicated and cluttered castle described by Kafka, and the message may come out of it as free and joyous as when the messenger began his run. We know what the impediments are that can restrain the messenger:** dividing walls, starting with those that separate the various Christian churches from one another, the excess of bureaucracy, the residue of past ceremonials, laws and disputes, now only debris.**

and here:

As happens with certain old buildings. Over the centuries, to adapt to the needs of the moment, they become filled with partitions, staircases, rooms and closets.** The time comes when we realize that all these adjustments no longer meet the current needs, but rather are an obstacle, so we must have the courage to knock them down and return the building to the simplicity and linearity of its origins.**

 

[Mrs_Sally]

In light of the fact that there had just been some wonderful ovetures from our Eastern brothers at Pope Francis’ inaguration, I took him to be speaking of Christian reunification. But I didn’t see it as saying that real doctrinal issues were “debris” but rather some of the other issues that we have let build up.

Think back to these past few days and long, long threads about the foot-washing ritual in Holy Thursday Mass. It is not an issue of dogma, and yet we got so wrapped up and argumentative about it. Same thing has been happening over the 100s of years since the reformation and the Great Schism. Yes, there are real issues that need to be clarified, but there is also tons of “debris” like the specific rubrics around foot-washing which might be better just to be “cleared away” rather than allow it to continue to separate us.

Hopefully, that makes sense and won’t just ignite another foot-washing thread!

 

[godisgood77]

In light of the fact that there had just been some wonderful ovetures from our Eastern brothers at Pope Francis’ inaguration, I took him to be speaking of Christian reunification. But I didn’t see it as saying that real doctrinal issues were “debris” but rather some of the other issues that we have let build up.

Think back to these past few days and long, long threads about the foot-washing ritual in Holy Thursday Mass. It is not an issue of dogma, and yet we got so wrapped up and argumentative about it. Same thing has been happening over the 100s of years since the reformation and the Great Schism. Yes, there are real issues that need to be clarified, but there is also tons of “debris” like the specific rubrics around foot-washing which might be better just to be “cleared away” rather than allow it to continue to separate us.

Hopefully, that makes sense and won’t just ignite another foot-washing thread!

Well said…It seems like we are heading toward a necessary distillation which will refocus the Church more on the objective truths of our faith and less on those things which are stylized and therefore subjective.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Offtopic:

Does his name mean Fr. Sing-the-mass? That’s kinda funny

It does. I’ve always thought that was fantastic.

My second favorite is Father Andrew Apostoli (Apostles)

 

[Bl_Pope_Pius_IX]

Only Capuchin Franciscans are allowed to preach to the pope. Only Conventual Franciscans are allowed to hear confessions in the pope’s churches, unless it’s a visiting priest hearing the confessions of his party. Only Observant Franciscans are allowed to hold the title, Custodian of the Holy Land or Custos. This goes back hundred of years. One of the Franciscan popes arranged this and no pope has ever touched it.

Could a Pope change this?

For example, if I were to be elected Pope, could I change the Papal Preacher and Papal confessors to Dominicans or a priest of the Diocese of Rome?

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Only Capuchin Franciscans are allowed to preach to the pope. Only Conventual Franciscans are allowed to hear confessions in the pope’s churches, unless it’s a visiting priest hearing the confessions of his party. Only Observant Franciscans are allowed to hold the title, Custodian of the Holy Land or Custos. This goes back hundred of years. One of the Franciscan popes arranged this and no pope has ever touched it.

Franciscans, Jesuits and Dominicans have always been on very intimate terms with the papacy. Dominicans and Jesuits have always been the papacy’s theologians and consultants.

Fratello,
Could you give us a brief explanation as to why the Conventuals are in charge of our Holy Father Francis’ (the first one, obviously ) tomb?

 

[JReducation]

Didn’t Pius V have a role with Franciscans being in these positions as well?

Yes he did. In the Dominican constitutions St. Dominic wrote that the Dominicans are to venerate the Franciscans. They are never allowed to find any fault in Franciscans and they are to love and protect them. St. Pius V, being a very loyal and holy son of St. Dominic did just this.

I agree. I think this may represent more of Fr. Cantalamessa’s personal view of the Church - one we didn’t hear too much of under Benedict. I find some of his comments in the homily problematic. They seem to imply that the doctrinal and dogmatic “walls” that separate “churches” from one another are just so much debris - as if the Protestant reformation were just all one big misunderstanding. Also from the standpoint of traditional Catholicism, his dismissal of “past ceremonials” is troubling. I hope that his vision of Church renewal does not involve gutting the integrity of Her teachings and liturgy.

I understood him. We have to remember that he’s preaching to Pope Francis, a pope who is deeply involved in Franciscan spirituality and Franciscan practices. His sermon was directed at his audience, which is this particular pope. His language is very Franciscan, which was not the case when he preached to Pope Benedict. It was interesting to see that much of what he said about the Church comes from the Franciscan School of ecclessiology, which advocates for a Church that is simpler, as in less bureaucratic, with less distinctions within, and more focused on fraternity. These are very Franciscan concepts. They come directly from the writings of the Franciscan Doctors, of which there are four.

Could a Pope change this?

For example, if I were to be elected Pope, could I change the Papal Preacher and Papal confessors to Dominicans or a priest of the Diocese of Rome?

Absolutely. The pope is the head of the papal household and the highest ranking authority in the Vatican.

Fratello,
Could you give us a brief explanation as to why the Conventuals are in charge of our Holy Father Francis’ (the first one, obviously ) tomb?

By our Holy Father Francis, I presume that you mean the original Holy Father Francis. The Conventual Franciscans and the Observant Franciscans co-existed under one Minister General at the time of Francis’ death. They did not have independent governments as they do today. They were simply a group of friars who lived in convents, hence the term conventual.

When Brother Elias ordered the construction of the Basilica of St. Francis, there had to be a community of brothers to protect the tomb. Brother Elias built a convent next to the basilica. The friars in that convent came to be known as Conventual Franciscans. Those friars who lived on the road came to be known as Observant Franciscans. When the two groups were given independent governments, those who lived at the convent in Assisi became part of the Conventual Franciscans by default.

 

[Landelinus]

In light of the fact that there had just been some wonderful ovetures from our Eastern brothers at Pope Francis’ inaguration, I took him to be speaking of Christian reunification. But I didn’t see it as saying that real doctrinal issues were “debris” but rather some of the other issues that we have let build up.

Think back to these past few days and long, long threads about the foot-washing ritual in Holy Thursday Mass. It is not an issue of dogma, and yet we got so wrapped up and argumentative about it. Same thing has been happening over the 100s of years since the reformation and the Great Schism. Yes, there are real issues that need to be clarified, but there is also tons of “debris” like the specific rubrics around foot-washing which might be better just to be “cleared away” rather than allow it to continue to separate us.

Hopefully, that makes sense and won’t just ignite another foot-washing thread!

That makes sense - definitely. (No desire here to start another foot-wash free-for-all…) I agree that an undue emphasis on rubrical details for details’ sake is not necessarily spiritually profitable and could be an impediment to realizing a reunion with our separated brethren. That said I think that maintaining a “hands-off” respect for liturgical tradition might resonate more deeply with the sensibilities of the Orthodox than an attitude more desirous of changing liturgical forms. So having an attitude of reverent respect for our own Latin traditions might be a sign to the Orthodox that we understand their mindset and that we would be more apt to respect their own liturgical traditions if reunion is realized.