Dutch sociologist notices the obvious
Yesterday in the post "Saviours are a dime a dozen" I made some comments on the characteristics of those Catholic groups and organisations for the young which are thriving. In an interesting article in the Nederlands Dagblad (Nieuwe ordes weer in habijt), the sociologist Theo Schepens is quoted on the pattern of religious life he has observed in the Netherlands today.
The Netherlands has 700 buildings constructed as religious houses - only 150 are still in use. The Netherlands Conference of Religious last year wrote to the Bishops about their decline, saying that they had to be obedient to the signs of the times which seem to indicate that their way of life is coming to an end, that there must be a new form, less emphasis on priests, the embracing of differences as different aspects of God, emphasis on equality and diversity etc.
It is true that we should be attentive to the signs of the times; but they do not necessarily tell us to close up and sell all the convents. The orders that are growing are characterised by the wearing of a distinctive habit - whether in the convent or on the street - and by solid, orthodox teaching and devotional life. Schepens says:
"You see growth in those orders that emphasize the Pope, the Eucharist and Mary. Among the religious there was always a lot of support for progressive movements [...] These would lead to an attractive Church, these were the future. Well, it seems not [...] not that there's so much growth in traditional orders, but they're the only ones growing at all."One example mentioned in the article is the "Blauwe Zusters" (Blue Sisters) who are from the congregation of "Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará" which was founded in Argentina. They work particularly among children and young families and founded a new community at Heiloo in the diocese of Haarlem a couple of years ago, operating the diocesan missionary centre. The sisters lead monthly walks for teenagers - a simple but effective idea. Fortunately, the diocese was able to purchase a beautiful convent building for them.
Many thanks to Paul from Catechese Savio for posting a link to this article in the combox.
12 comments:
Thanks for posting this, Father!
One of the most interesting things about this is that the Nederlands Dagblad is staunchly Calvinist. When the Pope's book "Jezus van Nazareth" came out they gave a very grumbly very favourable review. If they are writing about these things...
Incidentally, the SSVM sisters have three convents in the Netherlands: they started with three missionary sisters in the diocese of Roermond, then they opened the convent in Heiloo, and there's also a group of contemplatives stationed in Valkenburg (L).
Last October, four Dutch sisters took their first vows in the European noviciate in Rome.
When religious notice that it was God who was stripped down and tortured and hung on the Cross, they start to put on their religious habits in witness to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass by which they are consecrated to the Lord to the greater glory of God and the salvation of the many.
Father George
"saying that they had to be obedient to the signs of the times which seem to indicate that their way of life is coming to an end, that there must be a new form, less emphasis on priests, the embracing of differences as different aspects of God, emphasis on equality and diversity etc."
They have been "obedient" to those "signs" already that is the cause of their decline, all signs are not from God. Yes there must be a new form to what they have been practising but it is a ancient timeless form not a modern new form.
"The orders that are growing are characterised by the wearing of a distinctive habit - whether in the convent or on the street - and by solid, orthodox teaching and devotional life.
There are three essential conditions for the Church to flourish. First and foremost is Eucharistic piety. Our Lord, present in the Blessed Sacrament, is the sun of the Church. From Him come all graces. However, these graces necessarily pass through Mary, the Universal Mediatrix through whom we go to Jesus and through whom Jesus comes to us. Thus, an intense, lucid and filial Marian devotion is the second condition for virtue to flourish. While Our Lord does not speak to us in the Blessed Sacrament, He makes his voice heard through the Pope. Hence docility to the Successor of Saint Peter is the proper and logical fruit of devotion to the Holy Eucharist and to Our Lady.
When these three devotions flourish, sooner or later the Church triumphs. When they decline, sooner or later Christian civilization decays.
Perhaps because the end result of all these progressive movements is NOT that people bond together in solidarity and live in community, but that they are driven further and further into private interpretation (dividing the group), personal doctrines (destroying the faith), and the triumph of individuality over community (rending apart the Body of Christ). How ironic.
Kieran Flanagan has been saying this for 20 years. My one regret is that I never paid enough attention to him when I was a undergraduate at Bristol
One thing I notice is that they always look happy.
Father Tim,
the Sisters are the female branch of the religious family of the Incarnate Word (in spanish: Instituto del Verbo Encarnado, IVE). It is an argentinian order, founded by Fr. Carlos Buela.
Institute of the Incarnate Word
They have their argentinian seminary close to the city of San Rafael, in Mendoza.
Sadly, the argentinian episcopate is pretty hostile to them, with some exceptions, among them Mons. Aguer (Bishop of La Plata).
The IVE can be defined as conservative, and very orthodox in matters of faith and morals. Still, they do not seem inclined to departing from the Novus Ordo.
If one is in Buenos Aires, and sees a priest wearing a cassock, chances are he is IVE, or Miles Christi (well, or SSPX, of course).
Last Sunday I attended Mass at a Carmelite convent, where the Novus Ordo Mass is celebrated in a very respectful way. The celebrant was probably IVE. In one of the pews, there was a blue IVE Sister, and a young priest wearing a cassock.
Regards,
Javier from Argentina
Fr. Tim,
this is the site of the other conservative order from my country I mentioned in my previous post:
Miles Christi
I think they are somewhat more inclined to a liturgical reform of the reform. I've heard (but cannot affirm), that sometimes they celebrate privately the Novus Ordo Ad Orientem.
(In fact, the Priest in the upper left picture seems to be celebrating Ad Orientem):
Mass
Regards,
Javier from Argentina
Many thanks, Javier - looks a very good set-up and another "sign of the times".
Father,
My apologies if I have missed this, but I am still sifting through things after travelling: do you know which form of the liturgy (e.g. the Office) this congregation employs? I wouldn't be surprised if it's the 'old', you see...
Fr. Tim,
regarding Mark's question, I don't know the answer. But if the question is about the IVE, it could be addressed to Fr. Miguel Angel Fuentes, IVE. He speaks english, and usually answers all the questions he receives (there might be a delay because of our summer).
The Theologian Answers
Still, I suspect all their liturgical aspects are Novus Ordo. Things might be different with Miles Christi.
Regards,
Javier from Argentina
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