Monday, December 1, 2008

Institute of the Good Shepherd: Translation for Confiteor

Confiteor:

Was this a question put to Abbe Laguerie about his attitude to Vatican II? If so I think he was being asked to say what, from his experience of the implementation of Vatican II, did he agree or disagree with.

The rest of the paragraph would seem to be a characteristic answer. (And one with which i agree!)

"Certainly Vatican II asks the Church necessary questions about the modern age: conscience, religious freedom, truth, reason and faith, the natural or supernatural unity of the human race, violence, dialogue with cultures, etc. But the Council goes back to 1965 and is no longer a closed debate. We recognise it for what it is: an ecumenical council related to authentic magisterium but not infallible on all its points, and for that reason some of its novelties expose difficulties of continuity with the Gospel and with Tradition. In the face of a false 'spirit of the Council' which he named and called into question before the Curia on December 22nd 2005, as being a cause of 'rupture' in the Church, Benedict XVI affirmed that he intends to submit Vatican II to a re-reading in order to produce an authentic interpretation as yet to come. From this perspective, we are invited, in a constructive manner and from our humble level, to take on (conduct?/lead?)a serious work. The fundamental debate which has been latent for forty years will make it possible to open the heart of the Church and embark on an unhindered examination of the major points of discontinuity brought about by the council and which trouble the Faith."

ICPP
JM

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Jane!

I have set in bold font below the parts of the text that I find most interesting:

Certainly Vatican II asks the Church necessary questions about the modern age: conscience, religious freedom, truth, reason and faith, the natural or supernatural unity of the human race, violence, dialogue with cultures, etc. But the Council goes back to 1965 and is no longer a closed debate. We recognise it for what it is: an ecumenical council related to authentic magisterium but not infallible on all its points, and for that reason some of its novelties expose difficulties of continuity with the Gospel and with Tradition. In the face of a false 'spirit of the Council' which he named and called into question before the Curia on December 22nd 2005, as being a cause of 'rupture' in the Church, Benedict XVI affirmed that he intends to submit Vatican II to a re-reading in order to produce an authentic interpretation as yet to come. From this perspective, we are invited, in a constructive manner and from our humble level, to take on (conduct?/lead?)a serious work. The fundamental debate which has been latent for forty years will make it possible to open the heart of the Church and embark on an unhindered examination of the major points of discontinuity brought about by the council and which trouble the Faith.

It sounds to me like the IGS is not being forced to accept the Council documents at face value. Indeed, I am quite struck by the suggestion that the problem of discontinuity has been "brought about by the council". This puts rather a fine point on the "reform of the reform". In the case of Dignitatis Humanae, for example, an "unhindered examination" and "authentic interpretation" might require, in the end, an actual REVISION.

Fascinating. Thanks again for the translation!