HERE I AM, LORD
IS THE POPE CATHOLIC?
Fathers Ignatius and Donald drove back from Bishop’s House after an all-day meeting with the Bishop and several other priests from the Diocese. The Bishop had called a conference to discuss dwindling numbers attending church every Sunday.
It was about seven in the evening and the priests looked forward to a light snack and watching football on TV. England was playing Italy in an important game which they just had to win.
As they entered the kitchen they found their housekeeper, Mrs Davenport, still there with her friend Edna Winterton. Now Mrs Davenport was not exactly the brightest star in the firmament, and Edna was even less so.
“Good evening ladies,” said Father Ignatius, “I would have thought you’d retired to your cottage Mrs D …”
“It is far from being a good evening, Father,” she said, “far from it indeed.”
“Something the matter?” asked Father Donald in his pronounced Glasgow accent with a hint of levity in his tone, as he usually did, “have we run out of milk again? Or is it something more dire?”
“This is no laughing matter, Fathers,” continued the housekeeper, “Edna and I have waited for your return and would have waited all night if needs be.”
“What is the problem?” asked Father Ignatius as the two priests sat down at the kitchen table.
“I’ll let Edna tell you, Fathers,” she replied, “better you hear it from the horse’s mouth … not that you are a horse, Edna; or resemble one. It’s a figure of speaking.”
Edna smiled feebly and started to explain. “It’s my niece Father. She’s a lovely girl. Only eighteen and the apple of her parents’ eyes; and mine too. We love her so, don’t we, Mrs Davenport?”
“We sure do, Edna; she’s a lovely girl all right. You’ve never met her, Fathers. She lives in Birmingham with her parents; or rather she did. The shame of it.”
Father Donald was getting impatient looking at his watch about the timing of the football game. He was about to say something when Edna continued. “Well … she is no longer with her parents.”
The priests feared the worst. Father Donald changed mode instantaneously and was about to offer comfort when Edna interrupted again. “She’s gone to University in London … you know, London down South. A real den of iniquity it is, for sure.”
“That London?” quipped Father Donald.
“I don’t understand,” asked Father Ignatius gently.
“Well,” said Edna as she wiped tears from her eyes, “she mixed with the wrong kind sadly for her. She said the Catholic Church is boring with all them Latin words in Mass and she now goes to an Anglican Church in London. Can you imagine, Fathers? One of our own going to another church? Her parents would be spinning in their graves at the news, if they were dead that is!”
Father Donald hid a smile and said nothing. Mrs Davenport joined in. “It is terrible news for sure, Father Ignatius,” she said, “Edna and I have been reciting the Rosary all evening waiting for you. We’ve done it six times I think!”
“Seven,” corrected Edna.
“Yes that’s right,” said Mrs D, “it is terrible news. Especially since our Lord was Catholic and all. And Latin was His language was it not?”
“Actually, he was Jewish,” corrected Father Donald having discovered his impatient streak once again.
“What do you mean?” asked the housekeeper.
“The Catholic Church has ancient and common ties with the Jewish religion,” explained Father Ignatius gently, “the Old Testament is full of writings from the prophets and people like Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and so on. They were all Jews. And so were Jesus and the disciples.”
“But the Pope is Catholic!” declared Mrs Davenport.
“He was the last time I checked,” said Father Donald looking at his watch.
“Look ladies … Edna,” continued Father Ignatius in his usual calm and kind manner, “the Catholic Church developed years later, but let us not concern ourselves with that now. You are worried that your niece is going to an Anglican Church, and no doubt her parents are worrying too. But let us look at another scenario. Would you rather she did not go to church at all?”
“Heavens and the Saints forbid,” Edna said, “her parents would …”
“… be turning in their graves,” mumbled Father Donald.
“The thing is,” Donald continued more seriously, “young people at that age tend to rebel against their parents, society, anything. I’m sure you ladies rebelled in some way or other when you were that age; although I cannot imagine how or what you did!
“The fact is, when you come down to it, this teenager has chosen to go to an Anglican Church. Nothing wrong with that, as Ignatius implied. Better than not going to church at all. At least she still is in the faith. In time, she may return to our Church or not. We’ll wait and see. I doubt it really matters.
“Christianity encompasses many denominations. The Catholics don’t have a monopoly on that. There are many non-Catholics in Heaven, you know. Although some Catholics seem to think we’d be the only one’s there!
“But that’s beside the point. What I advise is that you two, and the girl’s parents, should pray about this. Don’t try to persuade your niece in any way as this might push her away from Christianity altogether. And that wouldn’t be too clever, will it?”
“No Father,” the two women mumbled.
“Good,” he continued, “now … is there anything else, because there’s an important football match due to start soon!”
“So it is OK for her to go to another church?” confirmed Edna, as the two priests nodded gently and left the kitchen.
As they sat in front of the TV Father Donald said, “What a state we’re in. We have an ignorant generation breeding another ignorant generation … was Jesus Catholic indeed!”
“We have a lot of teaching to do,” replied Father Ignatius, “maybe an inter-denominational series of Bible studies sessions …”
And that’s exactly what happened. Father Ignatius contacted a number of vicars and ministers he knew from other denominations, and they set up a series of joint seminars for their various congregations.
Little did that young niece know that she was instrumental in encouraging mutual understanding and unity amongst the various churches of this little Northern town.
EXCERPT FROM "HERE I AM, LORD"
ISBN-13 : 979-8868253072
Available in Paperback and KINDLE versions from AMAZON
Hi Victor, there is only one church, it is the body of Christ on earth. In Christ we are one, and God does not live in a house made with hands. Whatever is preached must line up with the Word of God, and not with the word of a denomination that might teach against that Word sometimes. God bless.
ReplyDeleteAmen Brenda. God bless.
Delete...but in many minds religion can become the great divider!
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Tom. God bless.
DeleteFather Ignatius' answer was the Spirits whisp, and he heard it in face of the imminent important football match!
ReplyDeleteYes, thank you Ladka. Father Ignatius pointed out that we should not concern ourselves with denominations but concentrate in what unites us in Christ and the Word of God.
DeleteNice to see you visiting here again. God bless you always.
Ordering your new book today, Victor!!! I absolutely loved the excerpt you shared with us today.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Thank you for your kindness and support, Martha.
DeleteToday's story underlines the mistaken belief (amongst some Catholics) that they are the chosen ones. The Catholic Church has a lot of teaching to do; and it is failing in my opinion.
God bless you always, Martha.
I once saw a bumper sticker that said "Catholics are the real people of God;"
ReplyDeleteWe are all people of God. He chose the Jews as the ones He communicated with and led first - hence the Old Testament. Christianity has its roots in the Jewish religion.
DeleteGod bless you, Bill.
I once saw a bumper sticker that said Catholics were the original Christians.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they base that on Peter being the first "Pope".
DeleteGod bless, Bill.
I just ordered my own copy! Mrs. Davenport and Edna remind me a bit of my late mother. She was so concerned when I began attending a Unity church in Florida (that) she consulted a Lutheran minister asking, did he think that was okay?
ReplyDeleteThank you for loyally supporting my writings and buying my book, Mevely.
DeleteIndeed, there are many people who get concerned if anyone leaves the denomination they were brought up in. I believe it is OK as long as the denomination one follows is based on Biblical Word.
God bless always, Mevely.
AS always Father I does not fail me. ;-)
ReplyDeletelooking for ward to getting better. I am sure i will like this one....
Praying for your quick recovery to good health; and for you all.
DeleteGod bless Jack and Sherry.
I attend a Presbyterian church and one of my daughters is now Ukranian Orthodox. It suits me just fine, if it suits her.
ReplyDeleteWe can't all attend the same church, after all, there wouldn't be enough parking, and the pews would get too crowded.
Joking aside, the infinitely creative Creator didn't make any of us alike, He doesn't repeat Himself, and He created different worship styles and music styles and each of us has a place to fit in a local body to learn and to serve. Each of those local churches will be just a bit different, as it has different people in it.
Keep the main thing the main thing, as Father Ignatius and Father Donald seem to be saying here, and the main thing is Christ, and Him crucified and risen to save us.
Very well said, Mimi. Especially, "We can't all attend the same church, after all, there wouldn't be enough parking, and the pews would get too crowded." You're very wise.
DeleteGod bless you and yours always.