I lift this from the Deacon’s Bench who links it to the full interview in the Pillar. It is a must read. While Holland and Europe had a different type of “cultural” Catholic, meaning people were Catholic by culture only not by the Deposit of Faith, they nonetheless called themselves Catholic albeit not good Catholics.
We had and have that too, but more so before Vatican II, cultural Catholics who, while bad Catholics, still saw themselves as Catholic, albeit bad Catholics and they attended Mass either every Sunday, but never receiving Holy Communion or came a few times a year, usually Christmas and Easter and Confession once a year (Easter duty).
After Vatican II in our country, we derided, chastised and criticized culture Catholics. Because of that, they drifted away from their cultural Catholicism to become “nones” and they don’t even claim to be Catholic by heritage and they never come to Church even once or twice a year, children aren’t baptized and no Catholic Requiems.
But Cardinal Eijk is the man for the next papacy and going forward not from Paul VI, but from Benedict XVI…
“I HAVE A DEEP JOY AT THE BOTTOM OF MY SOUL BECAUSE CHRIST CALLED ME TO BE A PRIEST. NOBODY CAN TAKE THAT JOY FROM ME. NOTHING. THAT JOY REMAINS.”
Grab a cup of coffee, and sit down to read this. You can thank me later.
Edgar Beltran, a writer for The Pillar sat down to talk with Cardinal Cardinal Wim Eijk, Archbishop of Utrecht in the Netherlands — a corner of Europe that may be one of the most secularized in the world:
In the 1980s, 37% of Dutch children were baptized in the Catholic Church – today, fewer than 3% are.
Catholics were 40% of the population in the 70s; today around 20% of the population identifies as Catholic.
News of church closures and parish consolidation are common today, as the Netherlands dioceses address low church attendance. In the Netherlands, it is not unusual to enter a daycare, a store, or a restaurant only to quickly realize that the place used to be a church.
The Netherlands is also well-known for being one of the most progressive societies in the world, being the first country to legalize gay marriage, and also being at the forefront of abortion, euthanasia, legalization of prostitution and drugs, among other issues.
And yet, in the face of all that, Cardinal Eijk sees hope. At the end of the long interview — and you really should read the whole thing — he is asked bluntly, in the face of so many challenges, “Why are you hopeful?”
His answer:
I believe in Christ, and Christ will never let down his Church. That in the first place.
Even when the Church declines in the whole world – and we see that the number of Catholics will dwindle around the globe, not only in Holland – that does not make a difference to me.
My faith in Christ will remain the same.
I have a deep joy at the bottom of my soul because Christ called me to be a priest. Nobody can take that joy from me. Nothing. That joy remains.
Even when the number of churchgoers is dwindling, the joy of the priesthood remains in me.
So, I’m very thankful that God called me to represent Him in person, especially in the Eucharist and in the sacrament of reconciliation.
Again, what will remain in Holland? A small, but strong Church, because the people who still remain in the Church and continue to go to Mass every Sunday are convinced Catholics.
Once, my spiritual father told me that we have returned to the days of the Acts of the Apostles. The Church developed in very dire circumstances, and it was a very small Church.
How could you hope to spread the Gospel throughout the world with such a small number of people?
And then very fast, it did. Ten or 20 years after the Resurrection, the faith had already spread throughout many parts of the Roman Empire.
That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. When you look at the Acts of the Apostles, you might think that the main characters are Peter, Paul, the apostles.
But no. The main character, although a bit in the background, is always the Holy Spirit given to the Apostles at Pentecost.
15 comments:
The following from the interview with Cardinal Eijk will not curry favor among right-wingers:
-- Question: "Sometimes people point to the Second Vatican Council, or a misinterpretation of it, as the cause of declines in Mass attendance. Do you think that the post-Vatican II confusion has also something to do with the drop in the Netherlands?"
Cardinal Eijk: "I don’t. I think the Second Vatican Council was necessary. It was provided for by the Holy Spirit. It came at the exact moment and was necessary in order to better explain certain truths of the Catholic faith and to adapt our pastoral care to the new social situation of the world. So, I see it as a sign of the Holy Spirit.
===============================
-- Question: "Pope Francis has repeatedly said that the synod is not for changing doctrine, but there is a sense among some Church leaders that ‘synodality’ can become a way of developing, or changing, or downplaying, Catholic doctrine. Could that be true?
Cardinal Eijk: "Some of them are hoping that the synod will lead to a change in doctrine. But that is not the aim of the synod. The aim of the synod is the three words that Pope Francis gave as a special point of departure: Community, Participation, and Mission."
"Therefore, the synod is thinking about possibilities to create a church in which every member of the community participates in the mission of the Church. That is the main topic of the synod."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
In regard to the collapse of the Church in Holland, as well as elsewhere:
Cardinal Eijk has refused to embrace a doom-and-gloom attitude. He has maintained a positive view in the face of said collapse:
-- Cardinal Eijk:
"Even when the Church declines in the whole world — and we see that the number of Catholics will dwindle around the globe, not only in Holland – that does not make a difference to me."
"Even when the number of churchgoers is dwindling, the joy of the priesthood remains in me.
"Again, what will remain in Holland? A small, but strong Church, because the people who still remain in the Church and continue to go to Mass every Sunday are convinced Catholics."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
The following is from a 2020 A.D. interview with Cardinal Eijk:
March 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The French-based association for the promotion of the traditional liturgy of the Latin Church, Paix liturgique (“Liturgical peace”) recently published an interview in French with Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, archbishop of Utrecht in the Netherlands regarding the future prospects of the Church in that deeply secularized country.
-- LP: "Are there any groups in Holland attached to the extraordinary form of the Roman rite?"
Cardinal Eijk: "Yes, there are, but they are small. An Association for the Latin Liturgy has existed in the Netherlands since 1967. In these celebrations according to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Liturgy, it is striking that the faithful are often young people. However, their numbers are not very large in the Netherlands, unlike in France, for example.
================================
-- PL: "Do these groups have a role to play in the new evangelization of the country?"
Cardinal Eijk: "I would say that they do not play a major role in re-evangelization, but they demonstrate unequivocally that the future is for the Orthodox faith, clearly and authentically manifested. This is what attracts people and what they are seeking after."
============================
Cardinal Eijk's comments in regard to the TLM apply beyond Holland. In France, and a few pockets elsewhere, there is some degree of interest in the TLM. Without question, said interest has been fueled, by and large, by young Catholics.
Speaking generally, Catholics who had grown up with the TLM do not want any part of the TLM.
As Cardinal Eijk has made clear, trad groups will not play a major role in Holland's re-evangelization. For that matter, such is the case in regard to, if you will, 99 percent of the Catholic world.
As Pope Benedict XVI insisted, in line with each additional Vatican II Era holy Pope, the Holy Mass of Pope Saint Paul VI will serve as the Latin Church's liturgical future.
As Father McDonald has reiterated several times via his blog, it is time for certain Catholics to cease their whines in regard to Traditionis Custodes. It is time that said folks accept the reality that the Holy Mass of Saint Paul VI will remain as the Latin Church's primary Mass.
The notion that the TLM will return as the Latin Church's primary Mass is a preposterous, destructive, liturgical warmongering pipe dream.
Conversely, as Cardinal Eijk declared, the (Latin) Church's future is "the Orthodox faith, clearly and authentically manifested. This is what attracts people and what they are seeking after."
In that regard, the Holy Mass of Pope Saint Paul VI will be front and center.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
The Novus Bogus has chased tens of millions of Catholics away - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is Einstein’s definition of insanity
Folks who harp upon the Latin Church's decline in Mass attendance do not carry any weight with Cardinal Eijk. The Cardinal does not fixate upon Mass attendance statistics. He has also rejected the claim that Vatican II has played a role in the decline of Mass attendance.
Cardinal Eijk prefers the following to pre-Vatican II days:
"...despite the dwindling numbers of churchgoers, every year young people decide to become Catholic in this country, and often become Christians with the fire of the Holy Spirit in them, good, active Christians who do something for the Church and have a personal life of prayer."
"And this was what was lacking after World War II. We had a solid organization of the Church, but a personal relationship with God and a life of personal prayer were lacking among most faithful."
"A very important person who noted this was Karol Wojtyla, who became Pope John Paul II. When he was writing his doctoral thesis in [Belgium], he came to [the Netherlands] as a tourist."
"And in a letter, he wrote about the church in Holland, he said he admired the organization of the church but also noticed that something was lacking, which is a personal spirituality among people."
"We now see the late consequence of that. But even though we have to close down a lot of churches, we are not desperate. And I hope that you have not the impression that you're speaking to a desperate bishop. [laughs]. I'm still hopeful."
"...we will have a small Church, but a Church of younger, convinced Catholics. That is the creative minority which can Christianize the culture."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Mark - How do you define a "right wing" fellow Catholic Christian?
Sounds like he is about as interested in evangelization as he thinks the TLM crowd is - not much. I would not put much hope in a bishop who seems not to care about people abandoning the faith. It is like going to a mechanic who's track record is broken cars.
Paul,
MT is a leftwing troll - likely on George Soros’ payroll
Paul, speaking generally, right-wing "traditionalists," through they differ in with each other, agree that the the TLM is the "True Mass." They view the Holy Mass of Pope Saint Paul VI as spiritual poison.
Vatican II is spiritual poison to said folks. Each Vatican II Era Pope has embraced modernism supposedly.
Said folks are often keen to embrace conspiracy theories. Example: The Synod has been rigged to usher in the "hostile takeover of the Church.
====================================
Then there are "neo-con" right-wingers. "True" traditionalists are keen to view said folks as second-rate conservatives.
Example: Trads often identify George Weigel as a "neo-con" right-winger. That is, neo-con right-wingers are on board with Vatican II, as well as the Holy Mass of Pope Saint Paul VI.
That does not sit well with "true" traditionalists.
Speaking generally, right-wingers are weak in regard to their acceptance of the Church's Social Teaching.
Paul, have a blessed day.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
MT, this German bishop prides Pope Francis for allowing him to bless sin, not just the sinner. Are traditionalists more of a threat to blasphemy, heresy and schism more so that this heterodox bishop?
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/german-bishop-priests-bless-homosexual-pope-francis/?utm_source=featured-news&utm_campaign=usa
Father McDonald,
Alas, you are dealing with the imprenatrable
Father McDonald, said: "Are traditionalists more of a threat to blasphemy, heresy and schism more so that this heterodox bishop?"
Father McDonald, I will reference Pope Benedict XVI's 2013 A.D. Address in regard to the Council:'
"...there was the Council of the Fathers – the real Council – but there was also the Council of the media. It was almost a Council apart, and the world perceived the Council through the latter, through the media."
"Thus, the Council that reached the people with immediate effect was that of the media, not that of the Fathers. Therefore, this was the dominant one, the more effective one, and it created so many disasters, so many problems, so much suffering: seminaries closed, convents closed, banal liturgy … and the real Council had difficulty establishing itself and taking shape; the virtual Council was stronger than the real Council."
====================================
More then a few traditionalists have long waged war against Holy Mother Church. The Church, for various reasons, is compelled to address the damage that certain trads have unleashed upon the Church.
That said, the spiritual damage inflicted upon the Church via the fake Council has been staggering. Traditionalists are not to blame for said damage.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Now we have a Pope who is waging war against the Church, which may be a first. But the braindead will not see that
Mark,
You have half of the comments made on this thread. For half of those comments, you were just presenting block quotes that nobody asked for. Your barely-relevant comments fill three pages of a Word document, and everyone else's less than half a page. In addition, your relentless parroting of others constitutes 90% of the words commented on this thread thus far.
For crying out loud, if this is so important to you, start your own blog. I cannot think of a single person here who is not sick and tired of this other than yourself.
Nick
Monkmcg,
You commented, "It is like going to a mechanic who's track record is broken cars."
Agreed. Much the same can be said for most of the bishops in Europe. And yet they are the ones who think they have the most to add to the Stupid on Stupidity!
Nick
Post a Comment