Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Life Faith Sacred Space

Embracing the Second Vatican Council

byStaff writers
5 December 2013
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA
Person lighting candle
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SACRED SPACE by Br John Venard FMS

AS a boy I sometimes spent holidays on my grandfather’s dairy farm. After dinner a daily family Rosary was the custom and with 12 children in the family it was beefed out with conviction.

Sometimes one of the girls would come home all excited about a young man she had met and my grandmother would always ask, “Is he a Catholic?”

A negative answer would lead to disapproval and the expectation that the relationship would go no further. That was the norm in that family.

My faith journey in the understanding of other religions has been a bumpy one. When I first heard of ecumenism, I had to look it up in the dictionary and thought the solution was simple but not negotiable. If other Churches want a united Church, they should come and join us Catholics, but on our terms. After all, I believed that we are the only true Apostolic Church founded by Jesus, so there.

However, when I came to understand ecumenism as explained by the Second Vatican Council together with it being an essential element in Jesus’ teaching, I became an enthusiastic supporter. In the New Testament, speaking to his father about his disciples, Jesus said, “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one.” (John 17:22)

To show support for the ideas of the Second Vatican Council, three well known Protestant ladies, in a spirit of ecumenism, went along to a crowded Catholic church to join in the liturgy. Wishing to make them welcome, the priest whispered to his altar boy, “Three chairs for the Protestant ladies.”

The organ was playing loudly and the altar boy, misunderstanding the priest jumped to his feet shouting, “Three cheers for the Protestant ladies”. The congregation unaware of the mistake joined in enthusiastically and although it was not quite what the priest intended, the ladies felt welcome and thought that at least some Catholics were taking note of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council on ecumenism.

One obvious way is for Churches and religions to unite and fulfil the role for which they were founded. The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) attempted to do this but after a promising start only limited progress has been made. Apparently Church leaders and their congregations are too timid and do not want to give up their comfort zones and positions of power. I imagine Jesus in the background mumbling “Hear, Hear”.

Ecumenism is the word used to describe this movement which the dictionary explains as “all human relations that are tolerant and constructive”. Jesus would be happy with this definition because it is central to his teachings. Praying to his Father, Jesus said, “I in them and you in me that they may become completely one. (John 17:22, 23)

Related Stories

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

A touching story about our new Pope Francis appeared in a newspaper last week with the heading: “Orphan charms Pope”. Some Catholic families had gathered in Rome to celebrate the Year of Faith with His Holiness. Among the crowd was Carlos a six-year-old orphan from Columbia, adopted by an Italian family who made his way up onto the stage. He seemed a little besotted by the Pope but Francis showed the true meaning of the phrase “Holy Father” and acted like a proud dad as Carlos hugged his leg. Cardinals present tried to usher him away but Carlos could not be moved.

There were more hugs for Pope Francis. In his innocence maybe Carlos was telling us what Jesus’ Church should be like?

[divider]

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Children hungry despite oil wealth in Nigeria

Next Post

TV news headlines point to a contradiction of life

Staff writers

Related Posts

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition
QLD

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning
QLD

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Next Post
Dom Meese

TV news headlines point to a contradiction of life

Royal Commission flyers released

Francis’ work a ‘gift from God’

Fr Rucinski blessing the icon of St Brigid of Ireland.

St Brigid’s icon caps Nerang work

Popular News

  • Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

    Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

by Joe Higgins
20 May 2022
0

BRISBANE grandmother Gwendoline Grant has clocked up 15,000 hours cuddling and caring for sick and premature babies...

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022
Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping