THE P RTAL
June 2015
Page 6
This Holy Desire
In the next part of her series of articles Antonia Lynn
continues her exposition of Anglicanorum Cœtibus
L
ong ago (before the days of the Ordinariate) in a diocese far, far away I had a conversation with a
Catholic priest who had previously been an Anglican priest (I use this rather clumsy wording deliberately:
bear with me). He told me of a tacit understanding that, when he came to his new parish as assistant priest,
he was not to mention his former ministry. He had been a faithful and gifted pastor with many remarkable
experiences to share but as far as the parishioners were concerned he had simply been ordained yesterday.
Now fast forward to our Apostolic Constitution.
The text, at VI § 1, speaks of ‘those who ministered
as Anglican deacons, priests, or bishops…’ It is not
my intention here to open a can of worms (or, indeed,
of old chestnuts) about the validity or otherwise of
Anglican orders.
describing Anglican ministries
We have all struggled with that and, I trust, are
coming to an understanding in which we can live in
harmony with the Catholic Church. We have perhaps
also struggled with ways of describing our Anglican
ministries: I was once introduced as ‘Antonia, who
used to be an Anglican clergyman.’ But I do not believe
can alienate newcomers
Pope Benedict is one to use words carelessly.
and bore everyone.
At the very least, I think his message here is that
Nouwen speaks of pain and despair as well as joy
those who once served as Anglican deacons, priests,
or bishops - yes! - bring, as part of their patrimony, and hope, and we learn best what it means to share
past graces which can be acknowledged with open Christ’s ministry from some of these times. I don’t
gratitude and which bear fruit to nourish the whole suggest for a minute that Anglican clergy are the only
Church, no less than the flocks they may have led with ones who have known despair in their ministry. But
I am thinking, for example, of Martin Thornton’s
them.
reflection (chapter 5 of The Heart Of The Parish) on
Henri Nouwen wrote: ‘ministry means the ongoing the local Anglican church as the ‘faithful remnant’:
attempt to put one’s own search for God, with all the small, insignificant, rather ridiculous - yet preaching
moments of pain and joy, despair and hope, at the the Gospel to ‘every creature’, whoever they are or
disposal of those who want to join this search but do however they are labelled.
not know how.’
To appreciate what we bring from our former
Let’s remind ourselves that the purpose of the priestly, diaconal or episcopal ministry, by all means
Ordinariate, as described in the opening paragraphs listen to Choral Evensong from some cathedral on
of Anglicanorum Cœtibus, is the unity of the Church the radio; but please also watch some reruns of the
which allows for ‘that most holy cause, the preaching BBC sitcom ‘Rev’. Eavesdrop on the dedicated but
all-too-human Vicar as he talks to God from among
of the Gospel to every creature.’
his tiny congregation of life’s wounded in a church
our call to evangelisation
falling apart.
To be encouraged to draw on what God has ‘wrought
in us’ in our former ministries, and to share it, is part
If the Reverend Adam Smallbone were to join
of our call to evangelisation; as I believe Pope Francis the Ordinariate (and what a TV series that would
has recognised, that is what the Ordinariate is all make!) just imagine what he might bring with him. I
about. And I don’t mean endless anecdotes about ‘how hope to say more about this aspect of our patrimony
we used to do it at St Ogg’s’ (mea culpa, too!) which next month.
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