A Homily for Pentecost Sunday

+ In recent days it has been made public that our diocese has, for some time, been subject to a “fraternal visitation” by its Metropolitan Archbishop, and that as a result of this visitation restrictions have been placed on our bishop by the Holy See—quite possibly (even probably) there are more to come. Mgr Rey has issued a statement in respect of this which I invite you to read. The feast of Pentecost 2022 in the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon is tainted with concern, if not grave fear, for the future: so many good initiatives fathered by our truly catholic bishop over more than two decades seem to be at risk. Many vocations called forth and fostered by him may be damaged or lost.
 
In recent weeks, contrary to our wishes, our diocese imprudently made known that in April our monastic community accepted the ordinations it has long since needed at the hands of a senior prelate who could see clearly that without them we were ourselves at grave risk. The publicity generated by our diocese’s indignant indiscretion has titillated the trolls—every possible malfeasance and ignoble motivation is ours it seems!
 
For those who care to study the matter it should now be clear that our conscientious decision, our considered judgement of practical reason under the circumstances in which we found ourselves (outlined by our statement of May 13) was based on a prudence that was and is real. The Holy See was moving against our bishop (it has been for more than two years now) and it was indeed highly probable that without the ordinations we repeatedly requested, and which were repeatedly recommended to the bishop by Visitors invited by him, we would soon find ourselves here, in a beautiful medieval church, without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or access to the other sacraments, despite his good will and encouragement for more than ten years.
 
For some, particularly in our diocese, our acts seemed treasonable—how could one behave thus in respect of Mgr Rey, of all bishops? Now, unfortunately, it is clear that in our times even the best of all bishops can be (and in this case, has been) paralysed by fear. For others our actions were decried as those of unsuitable candidates cutting corners or avoiding due scrutiny: various ad hominem attacks have ensued. The repeated words of our bishop, and even those of the diocesan spokesman, attesting to our good character, have more than refuted these all-too-predictable narcissistic forays. For others still, it is thought that our actions prompted the Holy See’s intervention in the diocese. Whilst in a way this is flattering, it is patently false—the follow up to the “fraternal” visit had been under consideration for some time.
 
Let us be clear: a father is duty bound to provide what is necessary for his family to survive, particularly when it becomes obvious that a severe winter is approaching. And when what is truly necessary for the survival of his family is repeatedly denied him by those whose responsibility it is to provide it, it is not wrong to accept the gift of what is necessary from another, even if that will bring opprobrium.

We are profoundly grateful to the hundreds of people from around the world who have contacted us with kind messages and who have very generously sent means of support. So too we are thankful to our friends who are troubled by all of this but who have maintained a respectful silence, appreciating that we would not act thus without very good and serious reasons. Now that those reasons are plain for all to see we pray that they will understand more clearly.
 
We celebrate this feast of Pentecost with a great peace, therefore—that peace which the world cannot give. But we do so without pride or any sense of self-righteousness. Rather, in these circumstances, we do so in profound humility for the gifts we have been given and with a renewed resolution to employ them for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls. If our little monastery must needs become an oasis in a desert, we renew our commitment to do all we can, with God’s help, to welcome and serve those who seek refuge and refreshment here.
 
But we also celebrate this feast with heavy hearts. Our Bishop has been attacked and our diocese is shaken. Our first response must be prayer—imploring the gifts of God the Holy Spirit in abundance, particularly the gifts of wisdom and courage in these times, begging Almighty God with the collect of this Mass for the gift of right judgement.  
 
On Thursday I assured the bishop of our prayers and received a grateful response by return. Please pray for him in particular. Please pray for the seminarians and communities of the diocese whose future is now unclear. Please pray the beautiful Sequence of this Mass—as does the Sacred Liturgy—repeatedly this week, imploring the outpouring of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in the hearts, minds and souls of all concerned.
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Veni Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium: et tui amoris in eis ignem accende ! (Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of thy love.) +

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