The Father Fessio Debacle

I woke up to THIS news today, courtesy of the NOR. I have not been following the doings at Ave Maria University too closely, so I really cannot offer an educated opinion on what has happened. A friend sent me some links to a very traditional forum in which some of the members blame the healing masses for the fiasco. I have learned from similar situations that unless one is an insider it is difficult to know exactly why a person was asked to resign. What strikes me is that it has become another example of divisions between believing Catholics, all of whom should be fighting on the same side.

I grew up in the charismatic movement. My father (RIP), was very active in it. My parents' divorce and my father's eventual rejection of his faith lead me to be wary of the charismatic movement, of healing Masses, of the "slain in the spirit" phenomena. I was drawn to Carmelite sprituality, the Little Way of Saint Therese, the Dark Night of Saint John of the Cross, and the Mansions of Saint Teresa. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Alphonsus Liguori and Saint Francis de Sales have been my spiritual fathers as well.

As a young person, when I was finding my way and learning everything I could about liturgy and Church history, I would be tormented by liturgical abuses at Mass, and all the changes in the calendar, in the breviary, in the sacramentary. Zeal is part of being young; you want to be perfect and you want everyone else to be perfect, too. Now, I am too busy making sure that certain members of my family do not run through the aisles at Mass and otherwise disrupt the proceedings. Now, I am just grateful to be at anything resembling a valid Mass.

The first year of our marriage my husband and I attended the indult Latin Mass at Saint Boniface Church in Pittsburgh. It was like being in Heaven. We also went to many Byzantine divine liturgies, which were also heavenly. There is no Latin Mass where we presently live; we belong to a quirky country parish in Bellefonte, PA, once graced (or cursed) by the presence of the infamous Talleyrand. Our parish is like a support group for sinners; we all are fallen, but we are all striving to be better. We are helping each other get to heaven. We have Eucharistic and Marian devotions, and are only occasionally afflicted with Glory and Praise.

My father eventually came back to the Church and died a holy death, fortified by the sacraments, surrounded by his family praying, as his younger children sang hymns. I know many fervent individuals who are involved in the charismatic movement, but it is not for me. I see it as a phase similar to adolescence which hopefully people will grow out of. Meanwhile, I pray for the extension of the Latin Mass. Share