ARCIC issues text on Mary

Independent Catholic News ^ | 4 February 2004

[Land of the Irish]

The Anglican - Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) met from 28 January - 3 February at the Palisades Retreat Centre, Seattle, under the co-chairmanship of the Most Rev Alexander J Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle, and the Most Rev Peter Carnley, Archbishop of Perth and Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia.

The Commission completed work on the text of the Seattle Statement, "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ", which it is now submitting to the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and to the Archbishop of Canterbury together with the Anglican Consultative Council.

The publication of "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ" will bring to completion the second phase of work of ARCIC, which was mandated in 1982 by Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Robert Runcie. In the last twenty years, the Commission has published four agreed statements - Salvation and the Church (1987), The Church as Communion (1991), Life in Christ (1994) and The Gift of Authority (1999). In 1999, the Commission began work on a consideration of the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life and doctrine of the Church.

The Church's understanding of Mary has been a subject of deep controversy between Anglicans and Roman Catholics. Discussion at Seattle has placed the Roman Catholic dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary, and how they may relate to any future restoration of Communion, within the broader context of Scriptural and theological reflection on Mary. Following its established methodology, the Commission has sought to go behind entrenched positions, and to articulate a common approach to the subject under discussion.

The meeting concluded with an ecumenical Celebration of Vespers for the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary (the Presentation of Christ in the Temple) in St James' Cathedral, Seattle.

Bishop Brian Farrell and Canon Gregory Cameron, speaking on behalf of Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, and Canon John L Peterson, Secretary General of the Anglican Consultative Council, expressed heartfelt gratitude to current and former members of the Commission for their hard work over a period of twenty years on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. They also expressed the commitment of the Pontifical Council and the Anglican Communion to the ongoing theological dialogue, and looked forward to the establishment of a new Commission in the near future.

The members of ARCIC are:

Anglicans

The Most Rev Peter Carnley (Archbishop of Perth and Primate of Australia, Co-Chair) The Rt Rev John Baycroft Professor Rozanne Elder The Rev Canon Jonathan Gough The Rev Professor Jaci Maraschin The Rev Dr John Muddiman The Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali The Rev Professor Nicholas Sagovsky The Rev Dr Charles Sherlock The Rev Canon Gregory Cameron (Anglican Communion Office, Co-Secretary)

Roman Catholics

The Most Rev Alexander J Brunett (Archbishop of Seattle, Co-Chair) Sister Sara Butler, MSBT The Rev Dr Peter Cross The Rev Dr Adelbert Denaux The Most Rev Brian Farrell LC The Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon OP The Rev Professor Charles Morerod OP The Rev Professor Liam Walsh OP The Rev Canon Donald Bolen (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Co-Secretary)

Source: ACN

© Independent Catholic News 2004

[sitetest]

Dear sandyeggo,

What's interesting is that some folks report that they don't remember ever hearing Mary's name mentioned at "Novus Ordo" Masses. I wonder where they were when we pray:

"And I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, and all the angels and saints..."

Or whether they were listening when Eucharistic Prayer I was being used:

"In union with the whole Church we honor Mary, the ever-virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. We honor Joseph, her husband, the apostles..."

Or whether they were listening when Eucharistic Prayer II was being used:

"Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again; bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence. Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles..."

Or Eucharistic Prayer III:

"May he make us an everlasting gift to you and enable us to share in the inheritance of your saints, with Mary, the virgin Mother of God; with the apostles, the martyrs, (Saint N. - the saint of the day or the patron saint) and all your saints, on whose constant intercession we rely for help."

Or Eucharistic Prayer IV:

"He was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, a man like us in all things but sin."

"Father, in your mercy grant also to us, your children, to enter into our heavenly inheritance in the company of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and your apostles and saints."

One wonders whether these folks bothered to recite the Creed:

"by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man."

In fact, while we say this, we are to bow.

It kind of reminds me of folks who say they don't ever remember anyone hear the Bible in the Catholic Church. ;-)


sitetest

[american colleen]

I haven't heard the Rosary a single time ever once. Before, during or after ....NEVER.

In one Parish you get to listen to the keyboard player and everyone claps (like we're at a concert), but no Rosary.

Why didn't you approach the pastor and ask to start a rosary group? Have you ever done that? That's how rosary groups start - via the laity - it's especially effective if you are a guy.

[sitetest]

Dear american colleen,

If Catholic men wish to pray the Rosary and honor Mary, they ought to consider the Knights of Columbus.

We pray to Mary for her intercession, at the end of each meeting. Every Knight is given a Rosary, and instructions on reciting it, and encouraged to keep it with him at all times, and pray it frequently.

Many Councils and Assemblies pray a decade of the Rosary at each meeting (my Assembly does). Every Council has a statue of Mary, to be displayed at every meeting.

Most Councils pray at least a single Hail Mary when we pray for the sick at each meeting.

All this, in "Novus Ordo" parishes, no less! LOL.


sitetest

[sitetest]

You're welcome.

[sitetest]

Dear sandyeggo,

No. Not saying the Rosary.

But I have read the complaint that no mention of Mary could be heard during "NO" Masses attended, and I was just wondering where such individuals were during these various prayers.

Especially the Creed, which we are all to recite.


sitetest

[sitetest]

Dear sandyeggo,

Sorry. ;-)

My crystal ball's busted.


sitetest

[sitetest]

Yeah, they can't get spare parts for the darn thing.

I really ought to trade in for a new model. ;-)

[AAABEST]

You're right. Mentioning her - even in prayer - now and again is a very far cry from being "venerated" (good word).

Which was my exactly my point. Despite the elaborate tap dance on the thread, the traditional church I've been going to was the first time I've prayed a clergy led Hail Mary for ages.

Disclosure: This has been my experience.

[Campion]

I have never heard a Rosary prayed before or after a N.O. Mass.

Church of the Assumption, Nashville, TN. Be there at 10:30 on Sunday morning. Seeya.

[sinkspur]

I have never heard a Rosary prayed before or after a N.O. Mass.

8 am, before daily Mass, each day at my parish. About 50 people in attendance at the Rosary, 75 for daily Mass.

[Unam Sanctam]

Please quote where there has been any compromise whatsoever on Marian dogmas. I don't see any incriminating quotation here.

[AAABEST]

He's suspicious and maybe even a bit paranoid... as I am. In all honesty can you blame us?

You know like if someone beats a dog often enough then the next time you raise your hand he either cowers or bites?

It's kind of like that.

I can't see how this "come together" thing could possibly work, unless we compromise something. What exactly should we compromise? That is unless the Anglicans capitulate, and that can't be expected.

I think we'd be far better served by offering their disaffected members a place of refuge, if we could clean house ourselves a bit.

[AAABEST]

American Colleen made a good suggestion which was done in all the parishes ..

I don't attend those parishes anymore, so I can't do that.

[Land of the Irish]

In it's vain efforts at false ecumenism, the Church "has sought to go behind entrenched positions".