Acclaimed Australian spiritual author, retreat master and scholar, Fr Michael Casey OCSO, gave one of the major addresses at the Carmelites’ General Chapter in Italy, reflecting on the theme of the Chapter, in terms of Tradition, Challenge and Witness.
In his presentation, Fr Michael, of the Cistercian Abbey at Tarrawarra in Victoria, said the Second Vatican Council described the task of the renewal of religious life as returning to the sources and responding to the signs of the times.
“The key word is, of course, ‘and’,” he said. “One or other of these courses of action is no more than moderately challenging; to pursue both objectives simultaneously is much more demanding. Within the ranks of those who follow particular traditions there have always been some who hanker after returning to the past and others who want to leave it behind and precipitate themselves into the present. And this requires – to use another much-favoured ideal of Vatican II – dialogue. Otherwise, the result is polarisation and sometimes division between what might be termed ‘conservative’ and ‘progressive’. In such situations, the wisdom of the well-known saying of Hegel is often forgotten. ‘Genuine tragedies in the world are not conflicts between right and wrong. They are conflicts between two rights.’ Two rights often make a wrong.”
Fr Michael Casey ocso. Photo: glencairnabbey.org.
Fr Michael said if contemplative Religious are to play a prophetic role in the postmodern world, “the first requirement is that we are what we say we are”.
“To be what we are called to be involves more than extricating ourselves from the constricting coils of capitalism, consumerism and exploitation. We certainly need to shake off these constraints. But there is more. We need to allow the grace of our charism to flourish and bear fruit in our individual and corporate lives. To be what we are meant to be. In the midst of banal everyday realities. Fidelity to our particular call is the most fundamental means of evangelisation,” he said.
“All of this points to the importance of a spirituality that is simultaneously authenticated by a long tradition and saturated with lived experience. Perhaps what God’s faithful people most expect of us is help in living a spiritual life, help in coming closer to the reality of God and the meaning of their own lives. There is a growing demand for centres to which seekers of solitude may return. This means, of course, that first we have to be faithful in our own practice so that it will reveal to us what will be helpful to others. It is not merely teaching that is sought, but the example of fidelity in practice – both personal and communal. Why it is important that some assume the role of giving guidance to others is simply that the spiritual journey is full of counter-intuitive twists and turns, the outcome of which is predictable only by those who themselves have passed through them.
“Nor should we underestimate the political importance of the silent and contemplative life in the postmodern world and in the institutional Church. Putting ourselves beyond the pale of mass-marketing and standing apart from populist clamour are political acts. Such a stance – whether absolute or relative – not only protects the integrity of our Christian discipleship, but also represents a refusal to become complicit in the systems of oppression that surround us. When, by a deliberate choice, Pope Francis declines to watch television or participate in the Internet, this is more than a private option. It is fulfilling the admonition Saint Paul addresses to us all, ‘Do not be conformed to this world’ (Rom 12:2).”
Christian joy and cheer is also integral to carrying the faith forward in our world and sharing it with others, Fr Michael said.
“Taking the spiritual life seriously demands much of any who would follow Christ,” he said. “I think Pope Francis is right is considering the cheerfulness of committed Christians to be a powerful instrument in the evangelisation of unbelievers. As Saint Thomas More quipped, ‘A sad saint is a sorry saint indeed.’ Notwithstanding the challenges facing us in today’s world, we have a living tradition to support us in the confident hope that, indeed, God will bring to completion the good work that has been begun in us.”
This news item was features in a recent edition of the Carmelite Communications e-News.
To read Fr Michael’s presentation in full, click here.