Opening Essay

Mercywords: an E-Journal is published online four (4) times per year: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall.

From the Editor

I am a Vatican II woman religious. I entered the convent (as we used to say) in September 1962, just weeks before the opening of Vatican Council II. I was too young to vote for John F. Kennedy for President of the United States in 1960, but if I had been of voting age, I sure would have voted for him. I was one of those young people the American sociologist Father Andrew Greeley labeled “the new breed”. I continue to be energized by Pope John XXIII and the spirit of Vatican II – and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe many of you reading this newest issue of Mercywords are as well, which is why I want to suggest some great, free resources for you to read, study and discuss issues around that important ecumenical council, Vatican II.

First, of course, this issue of Mercywords. The essays are not long. They are not intended to be long discourses on this or that topic but conversation starters. Each of the essays has an idea, or two, intended to make you think, intended to encourage you to read more, discuss more. There is, for example, John Pawlikowski’s challenge to each of us to “use this 50th anniversary to revive the conciliar vision with voice, pen and programming.” Then, there is Helena O’Donoghue’s encouragement of “ordinary Catholics” to “do something valuable before this anniversary year disappears by lifting up one or other of the Vatican II themes and launching it again to inspire, encourage and throw light on our contemporary struggles in society and Church.” And there is Patrick Henry’s observation that “Nothing seems more important for purposes of peace in a world of growing nuclear proliferation than this interfaith dialogue which must be extended to all faith communities.” Finally, I have included some books about Vatican II, plus I have included Michael Dickerman’s short review of John Roth’s and my new book, Rape: Weapon of War and Genocide. (OK, it’s not about Vatican II, but the issue of rape as a weapon is one all of us should be concerned about.)

In addition to Mercywords, there are many great, free resources on the internet. All you have to do is ‘google’ sites like the UK publication, The Tablet (www.thetablet.co.uk) where you can find free articles to read, including the complete texts of two lectures – one by Cardinal Godfried Danneels, “Vatican II – an unprecedented event, a council like no other,” and another by Robert Blair Kaiser, “Don’t let anyone tell you the Council didn’t change much.” These are but two of many resources about Vatican II you can find on The Tablet website.

An absolute treasure-trove of Vatican II resources can be found on the Creighton University Daily Reflections website (www.onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html). When you access the site, click on The Year of Faith with Creighton’s Online Ministries. Doing so will bring you to that page, and if you look closely, under the banner, you will see “Vatican II Resources.” Wow! Really terrific material, particularly Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education. You do not have to be involved in Jesuit higher education – or Mercy higher education, for that matter – to find excellent, readable, challenging essays to revive your own spirit of Vatican II.

Another useful site is Salt & Light, a Canadian media site (www.saltandlighttv.org). It has everything from videos to blogs, from essays to artwork as well. Of course, you do need the ability to view videos on your computer, but for most of us, it simply means downloading the appropriate free software, unless of course your computer is several years old and does not have the technical ability to make use of such software. The important thing about Salt & Light is that if you learn best by “seeing and hearing,” this may be the site for you to visit for material about Vatican II and its importance for us today. (I might just mention that there is a terrific video interview with the Canadian theologian – and participant as a peritus (theological advisor) at Vatican II – Gregory Baum.)

If you are confused by all this chatter about “Nothing new or significant happened at Vatican II. It was just a continuation of what always was,” find out for yourself. Read. Reflect. Discuss.

Like Helena O’Donoghue in Dublin, I sure wish our women in elected positions of Mercy leadership around the world would put this 50th anniversary of Vatican II at the top of our collective agenda. After all, religious life, even for those of us over 60, is about more than consolidating financial resources, better budgeting, retirement policies, and blah, blah, blah, blah.

Religious life, for the under 60s and the over 60s alike, is about serving all God’s people in the spirit of Jesus Christ, which is the spirit of Vatican Council II, yesterday and today.

Do let me know what you think.

Carol Rittner RSM

Editor, Mercywords