OPUS.CLERGY ***** THE PRIESTLY SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CROSS by RAPHAEL CAAMANO The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross is an association of diocesan priests which is united to the Prelature of Opus Dei. This article about the Society is a belated response to a suggestion I received some time ago from my beloved friend, the late Msgr. Raul del Valle. Readers of Clergy Report may not know of this Society. There are two reasons for this: first, activities organized by the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross -- such as monthly days of recollection, workshops, retreats -- have only barely begun in the archdiocese and in a relatively small way. Second,priests who have attended tend to label these activities "Opus Dei." This is understandable; the Priestly Society, though distinct, is inseparable from Opus Dei. Opus Dei is better known and its name is shorter and simpler. An Associative Bond If a priest of the archdiocese, for example, belongs to the Priestly Society, it is inevitable that he will be referred to as having "joined Opus Dei." This is not accurate; the distinction is fundamental to the nature of the Priestly Society. A priest incardinated in a diocese is not a member of the Prelature of Opus Dei and can not join the Prelature. Priests of Opus Dei are those who, having been called to the priesthood by the Prelate of Opus Dei from among the lay members of the Prelature, are ordained for the Prelature. The "Declaration Concerning Opus Dei," published by the Sacred Congregation for Bishops explains it this way: "The Priestly Society of the Holy Cross is an association which is inseparably united to the Prelature. Priests of the diocesan clergy who wish to strive for sanctity in their ministry in accordance with the spirituality of Opus Dei may form part of this association. These priests, by virtue of their membership in the association, do not form part of the clergy of the Prelature. They remain, to all effects and purposes, under the jurisdiction of their own Ordinary, whom they will inform, if he wishes, of their membership in the association." Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo, the Prelate of Opus Dei and the President General of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, explained in an interview that clergy pining the Priestly Society do not in any way lessen their dependence on the local ordinary -- quite the reverse: "This merely associative bond...does not place them under the jurisdiction of the Prelate of Opus Dei. Nor does it break, or in the slightest way weaken, the bond which these priests have with their respective dioceses and their own Ordinary....The spiritual and ascetical assistance they receive from the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross leads them, among other things, to maintain an exemplary attitude of availability regarding the requests of their ordinaries and the needs of their dioceses." Msgr. Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, repeatedly affirmed that priests who join the Priestly Society have only one superior -- their bishop. There is no internal hierarchy for them in the association. He said: "The diocesan priests who make legitimate use of the right of association to become members of the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross do so solely because they desire to receive personal spiritual help. They act in a manner entirely compatible with the duties of their state. "When a priest joins the Priestly Society, he neither modifies nor abandons any part of his diocesan vocation. His dedication to the service of the local Church in which he is incardinated, his full dependence on his own ordinary, his secular spirituality, his solidarity with other priests, etc., are not changed. On the contrary, he undertakes to live his vocation to the full, because he knows that he must seek perfection precisely in the exercise of his obligations as a diocesan priest." Spirituality The spirituality of Opus Dei -- shared by the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross -- emphasizes the value of the everyday circumstances of life; they are the means God uses to make us holy. Love for God transforms them from merely human events into supernatural treasures. Msgr. Escriva preached:" Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it....There is no other way. Either we learn to find our Lord in everyday life, or else we shall never find him. That is why I tell you that our age needs to give back to matter and to the apparently trivial events of life their noble, original meaning. It needs to place them at the service of the Kingdom of God; it needs to spiritualize them." It should be easy for a priest to turn all the circumstances and events of his life into occasions of meeting Christ; but experience teaches us that both priests and lay faithful need to be supported, encouraged, and guided in their spiritual life, if this sanctification of daily life will ever go beyond wistful daydreaming. The Priestly Society provides this kind of support for diocesan priests, just as the Prelature of Opus Dei does for lay people. Thus, in addition to receiving the general spiritual guidance which the bishops impart to all clergy through personal conversations, pastoral letters, instructions and preaching, the members of the Priestly Society receive personal spiritual direction which respects and complements that common guidance. This personal spiritual direction, so strongly recommended by the second Vatican Council, helps foster the priests life of piety, his love for souls, his reverence and obedience toward his own bishop, his concern for vocations to the seminary. Those who seek the spiritual support provided by the Priestly Society are encouraged to use the traditional means recommended for centuries in the Church: daily mental prayer, spiritual reading and study of Sacred Scripture, examinations of conscience, the Rosary and, of course, daily Mass, the root and summit of interior life. Activities The activities organized by the Priestly Society are those familiar to the diocesan clergy: days of recollection, retreats, workshops, etc. Of course, they are open to all secular priests who want to attend them. There are several five-day retreats every year, conducted by priests of Opus Dei. Retreats are held at Arnold Hall Conference Center (Pembroke, MA); St. Mary's Villa (Sloatsburg, NY); and Don Bosco Retreat Center (West Haverstraw, NY). There is a monthly afternoon of recollection in Manhattan, conducted by priests of Opus Dei, at St. Thomas More Church at 65 East 89th Street in Manhattan. Further information about the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross and the activities organized for diocesan priests can be obtained by calling or writing to Fr. Bradley Arturi, 99 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle, NY 10804. Tel. (914) 235-1201. Reprinted with permission of Clergy Report, Office of Pastoral Research and Planning, Archdiocese of New York, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY, 1002-2134; March/April 1990 ***** ROMAN ACADEMIC CENTRE OF THE HOLY CROSS The Roman Academic Centre of the Holy Cross is a centre for advanced ecclesiastical studies, composed of the Roman campus of the Faculties of Theology and Canon Law of the University of Navarre (Spain), a corporate work of the Prelature Opus Dei. This campus, which offers at present the courses of the second and third cycles, grants the corresponding academic degrees of Licenciate and Doctorate, with full canonical validity, in conformance with the Decree Dei Servus (9.1.1985) of the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education. BRIEF HISTORY The Roman Academic Centre has been made possible, to a large extent, thanks to the work of research and teaching of the Faculties of Canon Law and Theology of the University of Navarre, established in 1959 and 1964, respectively, by the Founder of Opus Dei, the Servant of God Msgr. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, and erected canonically in 1960 and 1969. Msgr. Escriva was also the founder and the first Grand Chancellor of the University. The history of the new Centre, however, goes back to the forties. When the Founder of Opus Dei moved to Rome in 1946, he nurtured the hope of establishing near the See of Peter, an academic institution for the ecclesiastical sciences. He took the opportune steps with a view to this objective, which was fulfilled -- with the paternal blessing of the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II -- by Msgr. Alvaro del Portillo, Prelate of Opus Dei and the present Grand Chancellor of the University of Navarre. OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY The central objective of the Roman Academic Centre of the Holy Cross is to foster, with a spirit of service to the Church and faithfulness to her Magisterium, teaching and investigation in the ecclesiastical sciences, as well as the formation of specialists in theology and canon law. The Centre seeks to attain its objective in cooperation with other institutions of higher learning. It fosters interdisciplinary exchange with other fields of scientific knowledge, with their particular methods of research, so that the various disciplines, and specially the theological and canonical sciences, may enrich and help one another, joining in a common effort to confront contemporary problems and needs. Following the indications of Vatican Council II, the Roman Academic Centre of the Holy Cross sets for itself the following aims, among many others: - to offer a preparation which unites professional competence and intellectual development with the improvement of apostolic and missionary spirit, which the students should maintain and develop while they complete their studies here, never forgetting the pastoral or teaching duties which they will have in their native countries; - to develop greater sensitivity to cultural and human problems which should be brought into focus with christian criteria, taking into account ethnic differences; - to foster love for the truth, through disciplined search for, faithful adherence to, and generous transmission of the truth; - to place the specific task of teaching or investigation within the broader perspective of the cultural and spiritual life of the person; - to prepare experts and scholars in the ecclesiastical sciences, so that they may work with scientific spirit, coherent faith and sincere piety. THEOLOGY The Roman campus of the Faculty of Theology has as its specific aim to foster a deeper study of Catholic doctrine, recognizing the harmony between faith and reason in the search for the truth, and seeking the solution to human problems by the light of Revelation. At the same time, the Faculty attempts to form scholars in the science of faith, who will promote theological research, cooperate in the Church's mission of preaching the Gospel, and be able to recognize ideologies, systems and methods which are not in accord with christian faith. It seeks, therefore, to provide the students with a solid knowledge of christian Revelation, through the study of Holy Scripture, and the documents of ecclesiastical Tradition and of theology, so as to enable them to resolve the particular problems of different cultures according to the light of Revelation, in their work of investigation and teaching, or in undertaking the various tasks of evangelization and catechesis. CANON LAW The Roman campus of the Faculty of Canon Law proposes to study the law of the Church, harmonizing the knowledge and value of the canonical tradition with the most recent contributions of juridical science, within the present theological and canonical setting of the Church. In effect, the promulgation of the new Code has constituted the beginning of a process of renewal of the laws of the Church: its canons leave wide disciplinary margins in the determination of the particular norms the bishops' conferences and the respective diocesan bishops of each country will promulgate. These new laws call for a greater effort in the Church to prepare experts, who will be able to help in the pastoral government of the bishops -- in the respective particular churches -- with their technical knowledge, placed at the service of the People of God. TEACHING FACULTY The Academic Assembly of the Centre is composed of the Professors of Theology and Canon Law. They have been teaching, up until now, in the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarre and in various Pontifical Universities in Rome. Since the establishment of the Faculties of Theology and Canon Law of the University of Navarre, its professors have combined specialized investigation with cooperative efforts and interdisciplinary exchanges. All this work has been collected in many publications, which help in the preparation of the students and the progressive improvement in the quality of teaching. AT THE HEART OF CHRISTENDOM... The Roman Academic Centre of the Holy Cross is provisionally located in a building adjoining the Church of San Girolamo della Carita in the Piazza di Santa Caterina della Rota, which is near the Palazzo Farnese, one of the most distinguished areas of Ancient Rome. The primitive church of San Girolamo della Carita was constructed in the 5th century above the place where this illustrious Father and Doctor of the Church resided during his stay in Rome. In the 16th century, this site became a centre of irradiation of the spiritual, doctrinal and pastoral reforms undertaken by the Council of Trent. It witnessed a true renewal in the life of the Church, thanks to a group of diocesan priests who resided in the building adjacent to the church. Among them was Philip Neri, around whom were gathered many revered figures of that era, men full of spiritual and apostolic zeal: Charles Borromeo, Camillus de Lellis, John Leonardi, and others. A UNIVERSAL ASPIRATION Through the teaching and scientific investigation of the Roman Academic Centre of the Holy Cross, the Prelature Opus Dei hopes to contribute to resolving the compelling need which is so much felt in the entire Church: the need for priests, religious, and laymen who will join their thorough intellectual, spiritual, pastoral and apostolic preparation with faithful adherence to the indications of the Roman Pontiff and the college of bishops. The Prelature aspires, at the same time, to encourage investigation in the ecclesiastical sciences, in accord with the Magisterium of the universal Church and in cooperation with the particular churches in their work of evangelization of men and cultures. General Director Rev. Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, Ph.D. Via S. Girolamo della Carita, 64-00185 Rome, Italy Tel. 654-3752 U.S. Representative: Rev. C. John McCloskey, III 330 Riverside Drive, Nev York, N.Y. 10025 Tel. (212) 222-3285 ***** ROMAN ATHENEUM OF THE HOLY CROSS The Roman Atheneum of the Holy Cross is a center for higher studies in ecclesiastical sciences. It was established by the Holy See through a decree issued by the Congregation for Catholic Education on January 9, 1990, and is entrusted to the Prelature of Opus Dei. The Atheneum's history can be traced back to 1946, when the Venerable Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, moved to Rome. He planned an institution for ecclesiastical sciences close to the Holy See. This dream became a reality after his death in 1975, through the efforts of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, the Prelate of Opus Dei, with the blessing of the Holy Father, John Paul II. The institution began in 1984 as the Rome campus of the University of Navarre. Through the above mentioned decree of 1990, it was officially established as an atheneum or independent university. Classes and research are conducted at two facilities in the center of Rome, the Sant'Apollinare building and the San Girolamo della Carita building. Both locations have a long history as centers of ecclesiastical learning and priestly formation. Within the Departments of Theology and Philosophy, students may pursue three levels of university education. Cycle I, called institutional studies, may be undertaken to obtain the bachelor's degree; Cycle II corresponds to the specialized licentiate; and Cycle III to the doctorate. The Roman Section of the Department of Canon Law of the University of Navarre continues to provide licentiate and doctorate courses. The Atheneum is open to men and women, clergy and laity, who fulfill the admission requirements of the respective departments. The academic titles awarded by the departments are fully recognized by ecclesiastical authorities. The Atheneum publishes a number of collections of scientific works on specific topics of Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law, and also the following journals: Annales Theologici, Ius Ecclesiae, Acta Philosophica. The financial costs of the Atheneum are covered in part by numerous donations, large and small, coming from all over the world. Students at the Roman Atheneum can select from a variety of living arrangements. Diocesan seminarians may choose to reside in Sedes Sapientiae, an international ecclesiastical college directed by the Prelature of Opus Dei. For further information and application materials, please contact: Rev. C. John McCloskey 34 Mercer Street Princeton, New Jersey 08540 Telephone/Fax: (609) 497-0906 To contact the Atheneum directly: Piazza S. Apollinare, 49 1-00186 Roma Via S. Girolamo della Carita, 64 1-00186 Roma Telephone: 654-37-52 country code is 39, city code is 06 Fax: 689-70-21 ***** Filial love among priests and bishops is rooted in the Sacrament of Holy Orders (Special Report on Seminarians Conference) BY WALLY CAREW PlLOT STAFF Last week, 44 diocesan seminarians from the United States and Canada gathered together to experience the loving sacramental bond of Holy Orders and to share in the joys of fraternal, priestly service to God and His Universal Church in a spirit of total trust in the Holy Spirit and unbreakable unity and oneness with the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, and all Church bishops. The ninth annual Seminar For Seminarians, which was entitled "John Paul II Speaks To The Church of The United States," was held at the Arnold Hall Conference Center in Pembroke from March 27-31. The seminar was sponsored by The New England Theological Forum, an educational service activity of priests of the Opus Dei Prelature and priests of the dioceses of New England. Candidates for diocesan priesthood had a rare opportunity to become acquainted with each other, to get to know bishops and cardinals on a personal basis and to gain first-hand knowledge about "the shared sense of responsibility and fraternity between generations of men who have answered the call of the Lord to His service in the priesthood." `A PRIEST MUST BE A FAMILY MAN. For parishes and dioceses to become families, priests must have filial affection and love for their bishops.' - REV. SAL M. FERIGLE Uplifting experience The seminarians prayed, studied, reflected and recreated together in a relaxed, home-like setting on beautiful retreat grounds. Uplifted by an indivisible family tie - one priesthood serving one Lord and one people - the seminarians joined hearts and minds and entered into the homilies and addresses of Pope John Paul II during his pastoral visits to the United States and his talks with American bishops during their "ad limina" visits in 1983 and 1988 as well as their most recent visit with the Holy Father, early last month. The seminar was anchored on the words: "Ubi Petrus ibi ecclesia - Where Peter is, there is the Church." Cardinal Bernard Law told the seminarians how precious they are to the Holy Father, Peter's successor and Vicar of Christ. While attending the conference of American bishops in Rome last month, Pope John Paul II said that by their presence, the American bish- ops placed all American priests and seminarians even closer to his own heart. Rev. Sal M. Ferigle, founder and director of the seminar, said that one of its main purposes is to foster a sense of priestly fraternity rooted in the sacrament of Holy Orders for those who are preparing for the priesthood. "You could see a wonderful sense of unity developing," said Father Sal. "The seminarians didn't see Cardinal Law and Cardinal Hickey only as Princes of the Church; they experienced their human dimension and they now can look to them as priests, older brothers or even fathers." Father Sal also said that no priest with a sense of family is ever alone. "A priest must be a family man," said Father Sal. "For parishes and dioceses to become families, priests must have filial affection and love for their bishops." Two-way conversations Matthew Lee, a seminarian from the Washington, D.C. Archdiocese, has attended each of the last four seminars at Arnold Hall. He is drawn to the intimate atmosphere of the seminar. "The speakers with their pastoral experiences have such credibility," he said. "The atmosphere is really unique. It is friendly and caring. lt gives you the one-to-one feeling of having a two-way conversation with a friend." The seminar program consisted of nine study sessions featuring an impressive list of speakers. For instance, Most Rev. Donald Wuerl, Bishop of Pittsburgh, talked on Priests for the Third Millennium; Cardinal Law's theme was entitled The Centrality of the Eucharist; Most Rev. Thomas V. Daily, Bishop of Palm Beach, Fla. and former Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, spoke on The Ministry of the Word; James Cardinal Hickey, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., addressed The Importance of Good Catechesis; and Most Rev. Thomas J. Welch, Bishop of Allentown, Pa., lectured on The Family. ...... CARDINAL HICKEY SAID THAT prayer and rich sacramental life bring the Christ's infinite power to catechesis. ...... Also making presentations at the seminar were Rev. Msgr. William F. Murphy, Archdiocese of Boston Secretary for Community Relations; Michael Pakaluk, from the Clark University Department of Philosophy; Rev. David Q. Liptak, chairman of the theology department at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Ct. and Father Sal M. Ferigle, director of the Seminar for Seminarians. Monsignor Murphy made a presentation on Social Justice. Mr. Pakaluk spoke on The Role of the Laity. Father Liptak examined The College and University: Environment of Faith and Father Sal lectured on the Sacrament of Penance. Illuminating message Bishop Daily, speaking on The Ministry of the Word, used the addresses and homilies of the Holy Father to illuminate his message. He challenged the seminarians to be fearless in their ministry of serving Christ and His people. "You are leaven to be used for the sanctification of the world," said Bishop Daily. "You have the gifts and talents from God to transform society." Bishop Daily also told the seminarians that there is no cure for schisms. He encouraged them to become holy men and then they will be come credible witnesses of the gospel message. He also said that unity with their bishops and the Apostolic See strengthens faith and builds the Church. Cardinal Hickey said prayer and rich sacramental life bring Christ's power to catechesis. "Catechesis without the sacraments is cold " said Cardinal Hickey. The Cardinal Archbishop of Washington, D.C. stressed the importance of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and he said that Eucharistic Adoration is a treasure of our faith that infuses Catechesis with Christ's life. He also asked the seminarians to imitate Mary and use her as their model. "Faith without devotion to the Mother of God is like food without salt," said Cardinal Hickey. Spiritual starvation He also said that people are starving for spiritual nourishment. "The task is to bring all people into communion and to intimacy with Jesus of Nazareth, not just in touch with Our Lord and Savior." The Cardinal also implored the seminarians to be totally faithful to the teachings of the Church. "God's people have a right to receive the fullness of all that the Church teaches," said Cardinal Hickey. "Instead of refashioning Christ, we want to allow Him to refashion us." 'Prayer time before the Blessed Sacrament was key' The seminarians began each day in individual and communal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, for as long as one hour and 45 minutes begin- ning with silent Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Following Eucharistic Adoration, there was the Liturgy of the Hours, morning prayer and then a preached meditation with more time for reflection. These were tender moments when barriers faded away, hearts were joined and the warmth of fraternal affection united all in attendance with each other through Christ. "The prayer time before the Blessed Sacrament was the key to every day of the seminar," said Father Sal. "Everything flowed from that. The special mood of being relaxed and feeling at home grew out of the time people spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament." Jim McManamy, a seminarian from Toronto, Canada, said the seminar was refreshing and down to earth. "We are comfortable with ourselves and we are comfortable with our vocations," he said. McManamy also said he experienced a sense of the Church breadth and depth. "We feel love, support and fraternity," he said. "Each of us has been made aware that the Church is so much bigger than each one of us and our particular diocese. It is universal!" The seminar spread truth, enkindled fervor, cultivated optimism, increased hope, deepened trust, multiplied joy and widened the scope of priestly fraternity. Father Sal turned to the words of Pope John Paul II when the Holy Father visited Harlem while touring the United States in 1979 to capture the bursting spirit that came alive during the Seminar for Seminarians at Arnold Hall in Pembroke. The Holy Father proclaimed that we are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song," said Father Sal. "That same joy is evident here this week at Arnold Hall. Just look around. Look at the faces you see!" God is in command and the Holy Spirit will triumph over all. That hopeful proclamation was exclaimed last week to 44 seminarians scattered around the United States and Canada. This article was originally published in the April 7, 1989 edition of "The Pilot", Boston, MA.