A Sexagesima Sunday Thought About Why "New" Teaching Isn't Really Necessary After All

It's Sexagesima Sunday in the traditional Church Liturgical calendar. We prepare for Lent.

Some (or most) of the controversies that have hounded Holy Mother Church lately come with what appears to be some sort of "new" teaching. It's like the constant teaching that traces its roots through the Apostles to Our Lord have somehow been deficient. The deficiency get sold as not meeting the needs of our current society - or some variation of that.

It's all nonsense, of course. And it's totally unnecessary. There's nothing deficient in our Catholic tradition.

We typically avoid Catholic controversies. Lord knows how many we've had to suffer through over the years. And Lord knows how many Catholics sponsor websites and write blogs that engage in all those controversies. 

(If you're not aware of any controversies, where have you been?)

The worse sort of controversies are the ones where our shepherds (priests, bishops, even - ahem - the pope) say stuff that's not only controversial, but outright disturbing and disruptive. (I was going to say "heretical" but decided leave that classification to the theologians out there).

We might consider much of what's gone on in Holy Mother Church since Vatican II as a wellspring or veritable waterfall of controversial comments, actions, assertions, etc. It wouldn't be a stretch. But in recent years, the action seems to have picked up - a lot. And its source has been the top of the pyramid - as you likely already know.

The recent comments from "up there" about priests blessing homosexual couples can serve as an egregious example. Where did that come from? Must be some sort of underpinning of new teaching. Frankly, after an initial perusal of the "logic" behind the ruling, or permission, or mandate, or whatever that was, I just got back to my normal spiritual reading and study. I'll leave this controversy to those who somehow find satisfaction in spending their time in the theological trenches.

We really don't need new teaching. Really. 

If you're not sure about this, just read the following passage written by Abbot Blosius, a Benedictine from the 16th century. Take your time with this. Don't skim it. It's great advice for any serious Catholic

If you're not serious, you might as well just skip it. It won't make any sense to you. Maybe the "new" stuff is your cup of tea.

But for the rest of us, read it and see why the supposed need for new teaching won't cut it for any real Catholic.

Of Scrupulous Confessions and Faintheartedness
Abbot Blosius, O.S.B. (1506-1566)

 

    “Drive away all inordinate sadness, hurtful depression of mind, superfluous scruples of conscience, untimely and confused repetitions of confessions once made, and other similar disquietudes of mind. It is not pleasing to God that we should be uneasy when we commit trifling offences, as if it were all over with our salvation; and as if He were ready to ensnare and ruin us, because, through inattention, we had forgotten and omitted such and such a circumstance in our confession. He wishes us to give reasonable attention to the discovery of what we have done amiss; and to declare before the priest all that we remember, openly, simply, and without dissimulation. It is most useful to frequently confess our sins in this manner: lest the confession of them being long delayed, our sins should be forgotten. Moreover, great benefits of grace result from frequent and humble confession. For those who wish to lead a spiritual life, and especially for new beginners, the devil is accustomed with great persistence to lay the snares of timidity, sadness, mistrust, and sloth, which thou wilt not escape but by pious confidence in God and spiritual alacrity and promptitude, and by keenly seeking the divine assistance. Great discouragement and excessive fear bring with them many evils; he who is possessed by them is involved in many errors, and fancies all that he does to be sinful; whence it happens that, being in perpetual anguish and disturbance of mind, he torments himself miserably without cause. Such persons are to be treated with great kindness; if they will promptly and boldly follow the counsels of a prudent guide, rather than their own judgment, they will easily be cured. When thou art wavering, when thou art anxious and doubtful, when arduous and difficult matters arise, fly instantly to God, consult God, and with all thy heart, with steadfast confidence, commit the whole affair to Him. Trust not to thine own industry, nor to thine own powers, but to the mercy of God; acknowledging thyself to be unable to conduct things rightly, and thus all things will end happily. God will never neglect what thou has humbly committed to Him; but He will arrange, direct, and complete every affair, as He sees best for the good of thyself and others.”

 

Happy Sunday!