The general understanding of the word “prophetic” is that it describes a perceptive and incisive statement concerning the world in which we live, a statement that warns of danger and points to a safe way forward. It refers to something of consequence, something that has the perspective of a broad historical picture, and something that stands back and interprets crucial movements in society. It generally bucks the trend and requires a degree of courage for its expression.
The Pope began his recent visit by saying in the Queen’s presence, “Today, the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society. In this challenging enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that the more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate. Let it not obscure the Christian foundation that underpins its freedoms”.
This simple statement put its finger on a crucial national spiritual issue, and warned of the national danger of abandoning its Christian heritage. It can rightly be called prophetic. It can be called prophetic all the more so because this was being said at the very highest level of government in the person of the monarch, who is also the Head of the Established Church, and with the national media in eager attendance, eager to hear what this man had to say. It was a godly statement, given to a nation in a way that all could hear. It was not given “in a corner”.
This prophetic statement, it soon became obvious, was not to be a mere starter, it was to be the main course of the whole visit. Later in the day the Pope said, “The evangelisation of culture is all the more important in our times when a “dictatorship of relativism” threatens to obscure the unchanging truth about man’s nature, his destiny and his ultimate good. There are now some who seek to exclude religious belief from public discourse, to privatise it or even to paint it as a threat to quality and liberty. Yet religion is in fact a guarantee of authentic liberty and respect …” Not only did he here again point out the danger but went on to exhort, “For this reason I appeal to you, the faithful. in accordance with your baptismal calling and mission, not only to be examples of faith in public, but also to put the case for the promotion of faith’s wisdom and vision in the public forum.” This warning and rallying call came into focus every time he spoke.
We should be profoundly grateful that such a challenge has been laid down in such high places against the rapid descent of our nation into godlessness, a descent which has been the work of so many of the intelligentsia, intellectuals and libertine opinion formers of our nation. Small wonder the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster said this Pope’s visit could be more significant than Pope John Paul’s great visit.
I have appended below a Post Script of further significant points of the Pope's visit for any who might wish to read further.
Bob
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The Pope began his recent visit by saying in the Queen’s presence, “Today, the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society. In this challenging enterprise, may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that the more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate. Let it not obscure the Christian foundation that underpins its freedoms”.
This simple statement put its finger on a crucial national spiritual issue, and warned of the national danger of abandoning its Christian heritage. It can rightly be called prophetic. It can be called prophetic all the more so because this was being said at the very highest level of government in the person of the monarch, who is also the Head of the Established Church, and with the national media in eager attendance, eager to hear what this man had to say. It was a godly statement, given to a nation in a way that all could hear. It was not given “in a corner”.
This prophetic statement, it soon became obvious, was not to be a mere starter, it was to be the main course of the whole visit. Later in the day the Pope said, “The evangelisation of culture is all the more important in our times when a “dictatorship of relativism” threatens to obscure the unchanging truth about man’s nature, his destiny and his ultimate good. There are now some who seek to exclude religious belief from public discourse, to privatise it or even to paint it as a threat to quality and liberty. Yet religion is in fact a guarantee of authentic liberty and respect …” Not only did he here again point out the danger but went on to exhort, “For this reason I appeal to you, the faithful. in accordance with your baptismal calling and mission, not only to be examples of faith in public, but also to put the case for the promotion of faith’s wisdom and vision in the public forum.” This warning and rallying call came into focus every time he spoke.
We should be profoundly grateful that such a challenge has been laid down in such high places against the rapid descent of our nation into godlessness, a descent which has been the work of so many of the intelligentsia, intellectuals and libertine opinion formers of our nation. Small wonder the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster said this Pope’s visit could be more significant than Pope John Paul’s great visit.
I have appended below a Post Script of further significant points of the Pope's visit for any who might wish to read further.
Bob
To make a comment: click on word “comments” below, write your comment in the white box which appears and add your name and e mail address (if you wish), choose “select profile”, click “anonymous” and then continue.
POST SCRIPT
Further brief comments.
1. The Pope in his capacity as head of the Vatican was speaking to England as a nation, not simply to the Catholic Church as its pastor, though, of course he did do that at the same time. Hence there was a great weight to his addresses.
2. The prophetic message he brought was part of his wider vision for the challenging of secularism across European society as a whole. In fact he touches an issue that affects all western society, European or otherwise. That is a significant perspective we need in our prophetic thinking.
3. The sheer width of the reach of his message during his visit was astonishing. This is because he came as a head of state. He not only spoke to the Queen and, but he spoke to a very distinguished audience of politicians, diplomats, academics and business leaders at Westminster Hall. He spoke in Westminster Abbey to the dignitaries of the Anglican Church. He went on to speak to speak to representatives of other religions, to teachers in the presence of the Secretary of State for Education, to youth and to children. And, of course, he spoke to large crowds of Catholics. This huge reach solidifies the prophetic nature of his visit.
4. The language of his message was such as enabled it to be received seriously. It was very simple and never pretentious; it was direct; one knew exactly what he was saying. It was on the one hand spiritual and on the other hand intellectually of a high order; he knew the issues. There was no religious jargon that might cause an immediate “turn off”.
5. Alongside his wider message he clearly had an agenda as a Roman Catholic. His visit to Westminster Abbey was considered a pilgrimage to the tomb of Edward the Confessor, his discussion of the relationship between politics and religion at Westminster Hall featured Thomas More who was a Catholic martyr, and the beatification of Cardinal Newman who left Anglicanism for Rome became the central piece of his final statement about the importance of the spiritual in human life. We should not begrudge him that stance; after all he is the Pope. It was never arrogant, and it was taken in the context of genuine goodwill and genuine desire for spiritual co-operation on an issue where co-operation could be possible.
6. Seeing a prophetic aspect to this visit in no way implies a compromise concerning purely Christian theological issues. For us the “elevation to the altar” of Cardinal Newman as a figure to be invoked in prayer will always remain a step much too far, as will the central doctrine of trans-substantiation in the Mass. And there are many other issues where we may judge that Rome has strayed. However, if you have a kipper for tea, you would be wise not to throw away the flesh with the bones; we do not have to swallow all, but we certainly have to take on board what is edifying. There was a powerful prophetic stance here that we throw away at our peril.
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