Surprised by Joseph Ratzinger (a.k.a. Pope Benedict XVI)

Paul writes – A surprising “voice” in my recent reflection on missional and ecclesial communities (e.g. nu-monasticism, nu-mendicant orders (see for example The New Friar’s by Scott Bessenecker) is Pope Benedict XVI.

Several weeks ago I popped into our local Catholic Church and borrowed from their library a copy of the slender New Outpourings of the Spirit: Movements in the Church (140pp / pub. 2007) by Benedict XVI. Benedict, in this little book, helpfully reminds me of the larger historical framework within which many of us grapple with questions of mission and church in our own contemporary contexts.

The volume comprises two parts and predates Ratzinger’s elevation to the Papacy. The first is a lecture (Church Movements and their Place in Theology – delivered in 1998) which overviews ecclesial movements and new communities within the Roman Catholic Church, e.g. monasticism, the Franciscan’s, Jesuit’s etc. They are described by new and welcome  "outpourings of the Spirit". The central theme is the relationship between the established (in this case “the local church”) and the new (new “ecclesial movements”). Of equal importance for Ratzinger is the role of the Pope in relation to both. In Anglican contexts you could easily substitute “Pope” for “Bishop” and retain the sense of connection with the tradition that Ratzinger emphasizes. Another of his themes is “Christology and Pneumatology”. 

The second part of the book is different from the first, but complements the first part. It contains the dialogue of Cardinal Ratzinger with a large group of Bishops from all continents, convened together for a seminar on the topic, The Ecclesial Movements in the Pastoral Concern of the Bishops held in Rome in 1999.The dialogue touches on keys topics such as the relation between the old and the new charisms, the institutional dimension and the charismatic dimension of the Church, and the Church's mission in a non-Christian society.

The first lecture has been described as having a “warm pastoral tone”. I wouldn’t disagree, and for me this was a source of surprise. I’ve had a view of Ratzinger that didn’t line up with what I was reading. I’ve had to modify that view – in part. I also liked his explicitly putting together “missionary” and  “monasticism” – “missionary monasticism” (as distinct I think from later more "fixed" forms of monasticism), he writes “flourished especially from Gregory the Great (590-604) to Gregory II (715-731) and Gregory III (731-741)

Ratzinger tells us,

“…There must always be in the Church ministries and missions that do not belong purely to the local Church but serve the task given to the whole Church, the task of spreading the gospel…

…So as to avoid misunderstanding, I should say quite clearly that here that the apostolic movements appear in history in forms that are ever new – necessarily so, because they are the Holy Spirit’s answer to the changing circumstances in which the Church is living. And just as vocations to the priesthood cannot be created, cannot be administratively determined, then movements most certainly cannot be administratively determined. They have to be given to us, and they art given. We simply have to pay attention to them: by the gift of discernment, pick up what is right in them and learn to overcome what is not useful. Looking back on Church history, we may remark with thankfulness that through all the difficulties it has always been possible to make a place in the Church for the great upsurges of new life…” (p.53)

More on Ratzinger’s theology in a future post.

Comments

[Anne]

Many thanks for your thoughtful post and the references to Ratzinger/Pope benedict XVI.

I'm a cradle Protestant of the Reformed tradition (also living in a faraway country!) Secondly I'm a musician who loves to read theology and with a great interest in the history of Christianity.

Well, I "discovered" Ratzinger when he became Pope. The serenity and integrity with which he "offered" Mass completely bowled me over and changed my life. I knew nothing about him but it was as clear as daylight that this man was/is a true lover of Christ. Christ, for him, is a reality on a moment to moment basis.

I then started to read his books (which I had to order from Amazon and Ignatius)and will always be deeply grateful that he was the instrument that brought me back to faith in Jesus Christ.

I was more than amazed to learn that he had previously been hated by some and caricatured as a Pantzer-general and God's Rottweiler. Huh?? He may be principled and is no push over, but this is a man who can really listen to others and who is gentle and rather shy. He may be orthodox in some of his views and aspects of his theology, but I also find him most inspiring and much more open minded than he got credit for.

Ratzinger draws about twice as many people as the wildly popular Jon Paul II to his Wednesday General Audiences in front of St Peter's, where he "teaches" and educate about matters of the Christian faith in a systematic manner. He has the great gift of clearly communicating (without theatricals) the most profound and "difficult" subjects, which he madek accessible for the lay person, without in any way "dumbing down". He has too much respect for God's human creatures to do that - something today's pastors, preachers and education leaders can really learn from him! Ratzinger in fact succeeds in elevating the souls and intellect of everyone present.
And the "flock" loves him.

Have you read his two encyclicals, available at the Vatican web site? First one: Deus caritas est. Second one: Spe salvi. Not to be sneezed at.

All the best to you from South Africa!

[Anne]

Sorry for the typos in my previous comment!! I was typing without my glasses and should have done some proof reading before posting...

[monk]

Having been a hermit (monk) for 40 years, and aware of all sorts of neo/new/nu-developments (for example the increasing number of lay oblates to traditional RC orders whose membershisp decline), and the fascinating new-monasticism, and many new groups, for example in France (where I used to live, until I moved to the center of the world South Africa, not at all a farawat place, everyone is faraway from the centre. I'm only joking, okay) - I appreciate the New Friars (Bessenecker), and Kiwi's posts. Thanks.

[monk]

talk about should have done some proofreading, an apology for my own typos.
monk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/monasterion for monastic subjects