21 April 2019

Risus Paschalis 2019

Some years before Vatican II, Dom Gregory Dix was, rather daringly, invited by Cardinal Gerlier of Lyons to give a lecture on Anglican spirituality.

In the discussion, he was asked by an unidentified priest whether the Anglican clergy were taught Ignatian spirituality.

Dix replied that it was the only kind that most of them were taught, and that this was very unfortunate, as it was a type that was very unsuitable to English people, so that most of them, having tried it without success, abandoned prayer altogether.

There was a burst of laughter and the questioner, somewhat disconcerted, sat down with the remark, "Father, that is a truly Benedictine sentiment".

The chairman of the meeting whispered to Dom Gregory, "That was the Father Provincial of the Society of Jesus".

Narratore E L Mascall.

5 comments:

John Nolan said...

I rather like the anecdote of the schoolboy who asked his (Jesuit) master: 'What is the spiritual authority of the Church of England?'

The reply was: 'Henry VIII's church has as much spiritual authority as British Railways.'

Anita Moore said...

Happy Easter Father! I would be very interested to know why Ignatian spirituality is unsuitable for the English.

Prayerful said...

Very happy Easter Fr. Its characteristics seem praiseworthy, even necessary for someone in holy orders, so I too would be interested in why Dom Gregory was dubious about it.

Pastor in Monte said...

Two anecdotes; the first concerning George Tyrrell the famous modernist. Before leaving his Jesuit community for good, he went around each of the brethren and asked them 'Ignatian meditation: does it work for you?' From each one, he received the same reply: 'well no, not really, but I know it works for everyone else, so it's worth doing'.
Fr Faber of the London Oratory famously gave an eloquent sermon on the feast of St Ignatius extolling that man's many undoubted virtues. He ended with the words 'That, dear brethren, was St Ignatius' way to God. And thank God it is not the only way!'

John Patrick said...

If Henry VIII's Church is British Railways, then I suppose Cranmer was its Lord Beeching.