Transcript of Abbot Clement=s Talk on Tuesday, August 10, 2004
In 1968 after Vatican II, Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis lost about half of its priestly faculty and the other half wasn
=t really teaching the teachings of the church. In fact, they challenged the archbishop with public media, etc., to make the seminary join with all the ecumenical seminaries across the nation and one of their arguments was that theology was up for grabs.The archbishop sent Bishop George Gottwald, who was a Missouri farmer when he joined the priesthood and eventually became bishop. When he came on the scene with all the media and microphones the leader was basically arguing saying that there was nothing solid in the church to teach anymore so they may as well close the seminary and besides going with the ecumenical would give them a chance to do more research.
The bishop answered that question saying:
AIt=s important to do research and it=s important to study and reflect on things but there are some basics that are needed for formation.@ The leader of the group said: ATell me one truth that is not changing and conviction and we can teach it.@ The bishop after looking at the audience and being quite self-possessed said: AI believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth...@ and he completed the whole Creed. At which point everybody disbursed and went home. Certainly one of Jesus= main thrusts is to teach us to have the mind of God and therefore our faith is a consciousness. We can test how we are growing in that consciousness not by necessarily by having great degrees or going to school but just by pausing and really reflecting on the Creed.If we really claim that we believe that God is the creator then we have to admit that life is not really a threat to us. It is a place that we can live comfortably and reasonably because as Genesis says:
AEverything God created is good.@ But if we find that this creator is also a father then we know that God cares. That care is extended to us because we are also his children. So we have a home and a home to go to. But how do we really let these truths in and live out of that kind of consciousness?If we claim that God became man then we should even dance and sing for the simple reason that this infinite creator who is all-powerful and all-knowing, is now someone we can talk to, walk with, work with, even play with, since he has a sense of humor, and above all love. It is possible to love this infinite being.
If we believe that Jesus suffered and died for us then we certainly are fearless people, at least ultimately, that nothing in this world can really overwhelm us because Jesus has already won the victory and is sharing it with us. If we believe that Jesus rose from the dead it means that our whole life, even the simplest things, has meaning and value. Even doing dishes, sweeping floors, washing clothes and ordinary things. But if we believe in the church, in the sacraments, and especially in the forgiveness of sins, then we realize that our mistakes, our sinfulness, is not ultimate, it doesn
=t have to drag us down. We can repent, be forgiven and start again. And we can live in a community that supports these values and really live.If we understand that we are the mystical body we have a rather profound peace. We need to pause and reflect on how we really live our faith. How do we really let it become part of our consciousness out of which we not only view, but respond to life?