Pope Benedict chides Canadian Bishops: rediscover centrality of the Eucharist

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Vatican City, May 11, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- In a meeting earlier today with a group of prelates from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Pope Benedict XVI had strong words regarding the state of the Church in that country, stressing the need for increased devotion to the Eucharist, stronger priestly formation and greater outreach to young people.

The Holy Father began his address by chiding Canadian society, calling it marked by “pluralism, subjectivism and increasing secularization.” In this light, he said he was grateful for the visit as it allowed him the opportunity to reflect on the Church’s mission in that country.

Recalling that in 2008, Quebec will celebrate the fourth centenary of its foundation and, simultaneously host the International Eucharistic Congress, Benedict called on the city to "rediscover ... the place the Eucharist must occupy in the life of the Church."

This was a particular point of concern for the Pope who highlighted "the notable drop in religious practice over the last few years," and "the lack of young people at Eucharistic assemblies," cited in the bishop’s own reports.

Benedict told them that "The faithful must be convinced of the vital importance of regular participation in Sunday Mass, that their faith may grow and find coherent expression.”

He said in fact, that “the Eucharist, source and summit of Christian life, unites and conforms us to the Son of God. It also builds the Church, strengthening her in her unity as the Body of Christ. No Christian community can be built up if it does not have its root and its core in the celebration of the Eucharist."

The Holy Father also lamented a national drop in the number of priests "which at times”, he said, “makes it impossible to celebrate Sunday Mass in certain places,” but stressed his particular worry over “the place occupied by sacramentality in the life of the Church… The requirements of pastoral organization must not compromise authentic ecclesiology.”

He said that “The central role of the priest - who 'in persona Christi capitis, 'teaches, sanctifies and rules the community - must not be diminished."

He also expressed his gratefulness for the generous and important role of the laity, but pointed out that it “must never obscure the absolutely irreplaceable ministry of priests in the life of the Church.Consequently, priestly ministry cannot be entrusted to others without effectively prejudicing the very authenticity of the Church's being.”

“Moreover,” he asked, “how will young men want to become priests if the role of ordained ministry is not clearly defined and recognized?"

Despite these problems, the Pope affirmed that "the thirst for renewal perceptible in the faithful is a sign of hope," referring to the "positive impact"which 2002’s World Youth Day, held in Toronto, had on young Canadians.

That occasion, he said, awoke a fresh interest in Eucharistic adoration.

Benedict continued, saying that "If, as John Paul II wrote, Christianity in our time must distinguish itself above all for 'the art of prayer,' how can we not feel a renewed need to dwell in spiritual conversation ...before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament?"

Solid Ecclesial Communion

He then thanked Canada’s consecrated communities for the "apostolic and spiritual commitment of their members," highlighting how "consecrated life is a gift of God benefiting the entire Church and serving life in the world."

However, the Pope urged, it must take place in a context of "solid ecclesial communion," where consecrated men and women "to work ever more closely with pastors, welcoming and spreading Church doctrine in all itsintegrity."

He told the bishops that "You, as well as the whole Christian community have a primordial duty to transmit the call of the Lord fearlessly, to awaken vocations and to accompany young people along the path of discernmentand commitment, in the joy of celibacy.”

“In this spirit,” he said, “you must take care over the catechesis of children and young people.”

In closing, he likewise invited the Catholic community in Quebec “to pay renewed attention to its adherence to the truth of Church teaching on theology and morals, two inseparable aspects of being a Christian in the world."

Comments: 21

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Published by: Linda R. J. Labelle
Sudbury, ON Canada 09/12/2006 01:31 PM EST

Sure seems to be a lot of finger pointing! I thought that "WE are the Church" - the Mission of the Laity is to change society into one that is Christocentric! Perhaps it would bode well for us to take responsibility for our "church" + our society as we strive as laity to proclaim the Good News to all - especially those in the political milieu.

Published by: Jamie Noel
London, ON, Canada 09/11/2006 01:55 PM EST

The Times of London newspaper once sponsored a contest asking people to write in and tell what was wrong with the world. The prize went to the shortest essay. The winner was the noted scholar and writer G.K. Chesterton who wrote in two simple words: "I am."

Published by: Owen Toop
Victoria, BC Canada 06/05/2006 02:38 PM EST

There is one Canadian Bishop that does us all proud, and seems to be able to straddle the line between tradition and modernity while walking the walk and talking the talk. I'm referring to Bishop Fred Henry in Calgary.

I might add that our bishops need the support of their priests. Just came from a mass up-island and I would say that the priest there gently dumped on the good work of our diocesian office in Victoria.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, NY USA 06/02/2006 02:16 PM EST

The prophetic dream of St. John Bosco of the Ship (the Church) flanked by two columns with the Eucharist and Mary being attacked by smaller ships with the wind (the Holy Spirit) blowing back the attacks is transpiring now.

Published by: Jack Leone
Wantagh, NY USA 06/02/2006 02:00 PM EST

I agree with Mercedes Jones.

Published by: mercedes Jones
st. john's nl ca 06/02/2006 12:32 PM EST

Obviously i'm a Canadian and the Pope's message to the bishops of Canada terrified me! I was raised to follow my parish preist without hesitation. But now that our clergy has been so severely chatised, I don't even know now if our sacraments are good. I am praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary to show us how to get that divine chain of rosaries around the evil one to bind him forever. We must look deep inside our own selves to see where we have been slack in our faith and pray, pray, pray! Remember our previous pope said that after the mass the rosary is his favourie prayer and we know that the rosary is the most powerful prayer. In my church the mother of God seems to be sliding quickly into a non-entity and we will lose our most powerful intercessor with God. If we neglect the rosary we might as well not even approch the heavenly gates because God did come down from heaven and did have and love a human mother, Mary.Do we expect Him to admit us to His heavenly home when we have neglected, dishonored, and even reviled His Mother? Of course not! We had better now increase all our prayers but especially the Rosary. May God bless all who read my rambligs.

Published by: Henk Gal
Calgary, Alberta, Canada 05/25/2006 10:54 AM EST

I am not surprised but I am saddened by many of the comments above. It seems that many of the writers above feel that passing judgment on the catholic church in Canada is what living the Christian life and faith is all about, and that this will help in some way to revive the church where revival is needed. But remember: we no longer live in a black and white world in which certain catholics are the only ones who have "The Truth" pure and simple.
In the meantime, I am afraid that we are losing young people. There is a huge disconnect between how the young experience life and the way the church often comes across to them, in spite of "flash-in-the-pan" events like World Youth Days. I have been involved with youth all my life, and I know whereof I speak! We can look teary-eyed at a gathering of hundreds of thousands of excited youths singing the praises of the pope, etc., but the silence of the vast majority youths in this country is deafening! There are many of us who try to close the disconnect gap mentioned above, but the old "Baltimore Catechism" style of approach won't work anymore (if it ever did).

Published by: Allan Gibb
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 05/22/2006 12:31 PM EST

I have some hope that our bishops are slowly coming around and allowing orthodoxy in the Catholic Faith to be taught, there is still much work to do. It's easy criticize, and we must sometimes refrain. But in this case we cannot refrain because there's too much at stake. The sins of our bishops are publically apparenent to us as the faithful. They are sins of omission. For too long they have been teaching cafeteria Catholicism, and Catholic lite. I know a bishop who is in schism who is a much better Catholic, much more orthodox and sincere to the Gospel than most of the Canadian bishop in union with Rome.

Our bishops took a downward turn since the Winnipeg statement of 1968 in response to Humanae Vitae, where they accepted the use of contraception with some very clever wording.

It's sad, but generally our bishops seem spiritually weak. They will not stand firm (with a few notable exceptions), they only argue the pro's and not the con's. Never in the bishops condemnation of homosexual 'marriage' have I heard/read the term sodomy used. This is essential to the argument against homosexual sodomarriage.

Our bishops never publically admonished publically pro-abortion politicians who publically claimed to be Catholic. This sin of omission to remedy public scandal has let things get out of control.

Please pray for our Canadian bishops that they may be strong against dissent, and that they may stop punishing the orthodox.

Published by: Frank O'Leary
St. John's, Newfoundland 05/19/2006 10:49 AM EST

'chides' is such a diplomatic word. I hope the Holy Father gave them a severe tongue-lashing, for they deserve one. Sadly, it will make no difference. These hirelings studiously ignored the numerous admonishments of Benedict's predecessor, and they're quite prepared to ignore Benedict. After all, what's he going to do? FIRE them?

The Canadian bishops continue to subject us to a version of the Holy Bible (the NRSV) which the Church has said is NOT to be used for liturgical or catechetical purposes. They are clearly trying to stall and finesse Rome until the NRSV is so entrenched and familiar it will be impossible to remove.

These same bishops also subject our young people to an illegal national catechism, the un-Christian, virtually anti-Catholic 'Born of the Spirit' series. USED as a national catechism, that series has never been sent to Rome for approval, as required, ... because the Canadian bishops KNOW it would not receive approval.

In the most dishonest fashion, our bishops circumvent the requirement by resorting to devious semantics : they have applied the term 'catechetical RESOURCE' (rather than 'catechism') to the 'Born of the Spirit' series. They deny that it is a 'national catechism,' even while in practice they compel its use.

The Church in Canada is in de facto schism.

Published by: Paul Gordon
cannington ont. canada 05/19/2006 12:00 AM EST

Couldn't have said it better, and definitely not as kindly. The Church in Canada is dying with the old and has handed over Catholic teaching of children completely to strong militant Marxist teacher unions particularily in Toronto area. Public Catholic Boards are set up to be politically correct by the numbers and heavily regulated and controlled by governments. The teachers unions and CUPE unions EAs (teachers aids) are actually strongly anti-catholic in beliefs and practice. Bishop Henry is brave at times but not consistant, and more a loose canon egotist than a pragmatic straight shooter. He is also a strong Marxist and pro union guy (has actually joined strikers to be one of the guys) which can never be reconciled with the True faith.

Published by: www.inquisition.ca
Sillery, Quebec (Canada) 05/17/2006 06:35 AM EST

AMEN! Go Benedict Go!

Published by: Joseph DeCaria
Toronto/Milano 05/16/2006 12:01 AM EST

Pray for the church in Canada. Our bishops (with a few exceptions) are cowards at best, and just evil more commonly. Rather than teach the faith, they just babble, using their croziers to poke holes in the Barq of Peter.
As a victim of sexual abuse by a priest who was actually responsible for the formation of new priests in a seminary, I can only say that the level of depravity in the Archdiocese of Boston is NOTHING compared to what is still going on in this country.

Published by: Diane Paquette
Brampton ON Canada 05/12/2006 10:37 AM EST

The Holy Father did well to "have a little chat" with Canada. We are in a sorry state. We have some very good bishops but I don't hear much from anyone of them on moral matters. (Bishop Henry of Calgary is the exception.) I have been a practicing Catholic for 62 years and in the past 30 years I have heard one homily on the dangers of artificial birth control and maybe two on Marriage. I have never heard a homily on the dangers of "Same Sex Unions" Our leaders in Ottawa, who passed these laws have been Catholic. God help us!!!

Published by: Marianne
Sri Lanka 05/12/2006 09:09 AM EST

How our priests need prayers! It is heartening to read how Pope Benedict continues to speak fearlessly about what is wrong with our church. May his words not fall on deaf ears but rather on repentant hearts. May God have mercy on us for the disrespect we give to His Precious Body and Blood.

Published by: Barry MacDonald
Canada 05/12/2006 08:50 AM EST

In some areas of Canada there seems to be a movement afoot to do circumvent the true teachings of the Catholic faith and this concerns me and other Catholics that have noticed the same thing in thier communities. I hope and pray that another seed of corruption is not about to begin

Published by: John
Montreal, Quebec, Canada 05/12/2006 08:31 AM EST

I totally agree with Frank.The Pope's closing comment about Quebec's status is also true. Much prayer is required for both the youth and family unity. Morality and true Christian and Catholic values are at an all-time low. The clergy should be more bold and courageous in exhorting the faithful and the people in all walks of life to true Biblical principles.

Published by: R. Anderson
Ontario, Canada 05/12/2006 08:03 AM EST

In Canada, as in elsewhere in the world, we need to rich spiritual heritage of the Church brought to life again. This is especially true in the case of the many devotions which help to anchor Catholic living. Many of these blessings and traditions have been set aside, de-emphasized or relegated to "things of the past". Catholic schools have a much larger role to play in the invigoration of the youth. While there are many wonderful and committed Catholic teachers who model a truly counter-cultural life that is union with the Church, there are many more who do not. The Holy Father is right in chiding the pastors, but responsibility for this goes far beyond episcopal leadership. It is a message that each of us should heed. As Catholic Canadians, we need to re-discover the richness of our faith, which proceeds from the Eucharistic nature of our creed. The lack of Christian fervour in the Catholic West can only be addressed through ongoing personal conversion and cooperation with the Spirit. As far as the pastoral challenges go, there is one answer: Pray for vocations!! Our pastors need support, not only in practical terms, but in the sure knowledge that others will join and follow in their footsteps. For this to happen, vocations need to be encouraged and fostered in our Catholic homes and schools. Pope Benedict's words are a challenge to us all and we must listen carefully in all humility.

Published by: hilary
Canada 05/12/2006 07:58 AM EST

I'm astonished! For 40 years the Vatican has acted as though Canada does not exist and the Canadian bishops and their "Religious" have covered the Canadian Church with a glacier of liberalism, feminism, socialist demagoguery and idiot liturgy. Canadian Catholic politicians are the spearhead of the population control/abortion movement at the UN and Rome does nothing.
Well, Benedict seems to be aware that there is a country north of the 49th parallel. Wonderful. When is he going to place us under interdict, as we have so long deserved and needed?

Published by: Mark Szabo
Canada 05/12/2006 07:32 AM EST

His Holiness is welcome to St. Michael the Archangel in Calgary. We have a thriving youth community and a good balance between modern sensibilities and rock-solid liturgy.

Published by: phil floersh
tucson/az/usa 05/11/2006 03:46 PM EST

Benedict would chide our bishops too!!!!

phil

Published by: Frank Ruffolo
Canada 05/11/2006 02:42 PM EST

Pope Benedict is absolutely right! The bishops and the church in Canada need to do much more to reach out to the youth of Canada. I personally witnessed a miracle at the Ricoh Coliseum at the C.N.E. in Toronto, Canada on Tuesday May 9, 2006. Close to 1,500 youths attended a rally that was a tribute to the life of Pope John Paul II. Even though this youth rally organized by St. Bernadette's Family Resource Centre Founder and Executive Director Angie Carboni, received no support from the bishops with only a few priests and parishes behind this event, the day was a huge spiritual success touching even the most hardened of hearts. A buisnessman friend of mind who was there said this event was amazing. I spoke with a teacher who brought her grade seven class, and she personally told me that her students said this was the best event they ever attended. This teacher even went on to say that many seeds were planted at this youth rally which included Christian Catholic musical acts like Janelle from Alberta, Canada, Susan Hookong Taylor and St. Jude's United who performed at World Youth Day in Cologne Germany last year. There were also dance groups, inspirationl speakers concluding with the celebration of Holy Mass. This youth rally even received an Apostoclic Blessing and letter of support from Pope Benedict XVI. The youth from Canada and around the world are thirsting for the word, love and peace of Jesus Christ. We need to support events like this rally in Toronto.

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