Monsignor Erik Varden (right), a Cistercian monk who is also the bishop of Trondheim, Norway, fielded questions about his book “The Shattering of Loneliness” from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, at this year’s New York Encounter on Feb. 17–19, 2023. / Credit: New York Encounter
New York City, N.Y., Feb 22, 2023 / 12:47 pm (CNA).
“Come in yearners, come in yearners, this way, yearners!” said a young volunteer welcoming visitors to the New York Encounter, a three-day public cultural event held in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City last weekend.
Her playful use of the word “yearner” was a reference to the title of a panel discussion that was about to begin, “Why Do I Have This Yearning?” featuring a conversation with two Catholic novelists, Chris Beha and Ron Hansen.
“Yearning” was a watchword for much of the New York Encounter, an annual weekend-long series of panels and exhibitions on topics of the day that is hosted by members of Communion and Liberation, the Catholic movement started by Father Luigi Giussani in Milan, Italy. His influential theological work, “The Religious Sense,” starts with the proposition that human beings have within them an innate longing — or yearning — for God.
A highlight of this year’s event was a conversation between a Catholic monk and a top papal diplomat that explored the desires of the human heart and its fulfillment in Christ.
Monsignor Erik Varden, a Cistercian monk who is also the bishop of Trondheim, Norway, fielded questions about his book “The Shattering of Loneliness” from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States.
“When you read this book, you are accompanied by your monk who helps you precisely to discover your own reality, your own life,” said Pierre in recommending Varden’s book.
The discussion that followed traced the path of Varden’s spiritual journey, touching on the signposts that are there for everyone embarking on a search of his or her own.
Varden, 48, explained how he came to believe in God, beginning with his first realization of the existence of evil and suffering. After hearing his father relate having seen the lash marks on the back of an old man who had survived torture and imprisonment during World War II, he said, he began to see the world in a new light.
“Even as a child, I felt a strong desire to try and understand what this was about. Is there a way of making sense of something which is senseless — which suffering is, which pain is? And in that respect, I think it’s true to say that my journey of searching began at that point,” Varden said.
That journey eventually led him to the monastery, where, Varden said, the sudden absence of technology and general lack of stimuli forces one to see more clearly.
“You start realizing the importance of actually taking care about what you consume in terms of stimulus and imagery, because it stays there. You also begin to encounter your own poverty as a human being, and the mystery of suffering, of pain or violence, and the fact that it’s not just that the world isn’t as it should be — that I am not as I should be. And this drama is being played out in me,” he said.
Varden explained that his awareness of suffering and evil was followed by the discovery of something “extraordinary” — “the depth of kindness that you can meet in people, their hospitality and generosity, and nonjudgmental openness and the desire to help.”
The real “aha moment” for Varden came in the form of music, he said.
“Then, in addition, for me personally, there was the discovery of a supernatural dimension to this whole conflict, if you like, that happened for me through an encounter with music. It was through listening to the Second Symphony of Mahler, the ‘Resurrection’ Symphony, that something quite mysteriously was as if a door was opened in me. And I realized that there was in me a level of sensibility and a vulnerability that I hadn’t been aware of. And I had that certainty that I carried in me something that was greater than me, that was somehow a presence.”
He explained that he then began to seek out that presence he longed for, “through reading, attempting to pray, through beginning to read the Scriptures, and eventually, through encountering a praying community.”
Addressing the meaning of longing, Varden echoed a theme heard at the weekend’s Encounter.
“The desire for comfort, the desire to be known, to be seen, to be loved, the desire for infinity, that we carry in ourselves. All those stupendous aspirations are, in fact, true aspirations that correspond to a real object that by grace is within reach, and that reaches out to us — that’s the great mystery,” Varden said.
In his conversation with Pierre, Varden introduced a figure who features prominently in his book: Seraphim of Sarov, a Russian monk and mystic canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1903. The holy man, who lived much of his life as a hermit, according to an account in the book, once suddenly appeared as a blaze of light in the course of a conversation with a visitor. It was a miracle of sorts that forever changed the one who witnessed the phenomenon.
“And Seraphim says to us, well, we’re not all called to that degree of singular and excessive experience because that’s the result of a very special call. But we’re all called to enter into the life of Christ as our own Christ so that we can pronounce that line from St. Paul, not just as a pious sentiment: ‘that it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.’”
Varden explained that when we “enter into the life of Christ” people notice, just as if we had suddenly appeared in a miraculous blaze of light.
“And that presence of Christ will be perceptible as peace. Towards the end of his life, again Seraphim said, ‘If you acquire the spirit of peace — and remember, St. Paul says, Christ is our peace, thousands around you will find salvation — you will, in all your inadequacy, by the grace of God, be a pointer to Christ’s gift and Christ’s promise,” the bishop of Trondheim said.
Other panel discussions and presentations over the weekend covered subjects as diverse as “influencers, cryptocurrencies, and the metaverse,” inflation, the war in Ukraine, and the James Webb Telescope, following St. Paul’s suggestion, the event’s website says, to “test everything and retain what is good.”
For more information about the New York Encounter, a free annual event that is open to the public, visit its website.
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Looking forward to the reporting of the sinicization of Scripture & Catechism….only then will Rome truely know the fruits of their agreement.
Oh we have already had that. In their version, after rescuing the adulteress from stoning, Christ personally beat her to death. Soon that will be the nihil obstat version.
It’s quite dangerous because it prepares and conveys an accommodating, heretical Marxist Catholicism to a world becoming more egalitarian and socialist. And who might we fault with this if not the Vatican [Isn’t the Church itself moving in similar direction?].
“Catholic” Chinese “patriotic” bishops take the oath to support the State in everything.
This is wrong in itself and never was a part of the Church or her witness; nor was it ever a part of her juridical accommodations with States. In addition her children accepted martyrdom in order NOT to fall in with such schemes.
The problem can exist in other countries but informally; where it can transpire that it is not addressed but effectively lived. Meanwhile the current Pontificate decries formalism, intellectualism, legalism, etc., that deflect from problem-areas such as this one and can never address them squarely.
Whether formal or informal, it’s not her mission and can not be accommodated to the mission on account of the things just identified.
In the case of China, what they are swearing to support is already wholly contrary to faith.
But in the lesser “notarized” circumstances, where things are “at large” and not acknowledged explicitly, yet on-going, what is contrary to faith seeps in and then is accepted and upheld “informally”. Then there is a lot of hush over and hush-hush as well as some easy-going jokes and counsels about how to get along smartly.
In the Pope’s actual message he wants to lend an authority to these by referencing “Time is greater than space”. But the wandering preacher is not a rolling stone and not all situations are about wandering.
On the one hand these are not supported in the passages from Acts and St. Paul -whether the ones that are cited or other ones; nor, for that matter in the Gospels.
On the other hand there are already some very clear instances where they would not add up, in the first place, to “the working of the Spirit”; so that adding the “craft of community” to it or upon it, can not do anything for it and make it what it is not.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252106/pope-francis-warns-about-arbitrary-and-ideological-adaptations-to-church-ministries
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/messages/pont-messages/2022/documents/20220815-messaggio-ministeria-quaedam.html
‘ The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on other ways, that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord. ‘
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2013/03/14/full-text-pope-francis-first-homily-as-pontiff/
The Catholic Church in China aligned with the Patriotic Association embracing sinicization of the Chinese Communist Party is comparable to half of the white Catholics of the Catholic Church in the U.S. embracing Trumpism of the GOP.
James D, this comment is ignorant and offensive. There is no apt comparison between the atheist CCP and the GOP. It is sad that “trolls” infect even CWR.
Not sure what it all means but that the church will be brought in line with Marxism in China are only parallel to its having been brought in line with (full list of western social and economic nonsense) in UK USA etc…
China ain’t no worse than the rest of them
John Doe, I have to disagree. We’ve all seen how the CCP treats Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, in part due to the CCP’s view that acts of political dissent, protest and cultural expression are forms of terrorism. Half a world away, we see another dictator, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, referring to the country’s Catholic bishops as “terrorists”, and subsequently arresting Bishop Alvarez and imprisoning priests and seminarians.
Is there “western social nonsense” to which bishops in the US and other Western countries have subscribed? Yes. But falling in line with a government that will treat you as a terrorist for daring to dissent from party orthodoxy is a clear difference…one of kind, not of degree.
Francis is thrilled. And ecstatic that he has enough votes in the conclave now to be confident that after he is gone, the next people will continue the ministry of sinicizing the entire Catholic Church.
Praise You Jesus Christ.
Why is the Provisional Agreement called that and is it also some kind of suzerainty pact?
If it is that the Provisional Agreement is a shared acknowledgement between China and Rome, that the oath is made “provisionally” on certain conditions, then, the conditions are laid out in some fashion. The argument would be that for either side and for the sake of the arrangement, the conditions legitimize swearing such an oath. The conclusions that would ensue are:
1. If the patriotic bishops swear this oath to the State it involves a suzerainty pact and is apostate.
2. If the patriotic bishops swear the oath to God it is sacrilegious and abominable.
3. No matter what the conditions are or could be, either way it is NOT saved by having it in one’s heart or the Pope’s heart that it is “sworn provisionally”; nor is it excused or excusable.
4. For those bishops who have been legitimated by the Rome, they, by this China oath, become schismatic in the same instant, with the Pope.
5. All who knowingly support it, even those not party to it, are schismatic.
6 This visitation would reveal that it is also a Papal secret; and as such is the active secret propagation and secret nuancing of heresy by the very author of the heresy and his counselors, of heretical words, deeds, attitudes and formulations.
7. The alleged justification of being well-attuned in some “facts” and “norms” and “sensibilities” of “unity, reality, wholeness and time”, is simultaneously falsehood and heresy -in the case. In this instance it serves apostasy and schism and secreted heretical formulations in variety.
‘ The new leaders’ statement also highlighted the need for the Catholic Church to implement the spirit of the National Conference on Religious Affairs held last December and fulfill the requirement of the Communist Party’s Central Committee for the Catholic Church in China. During that conference Dec. 3-4, Xi stressed the strict implementation of Marxist policies, increased online surveillance and tightening control of religion to ensure national security.
The bishops said it was “necessary to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘new era’; continue to hold high patriotism and love for religion; (and) adhere to the principles of independent and self-run churches,” the bishops’ statement said. ‘
https://cruxnow.com/cns/2022/08/new-chinese-catholic-leaders-say-theyll-follow-communist-party-principles
The congregation of chalk agrees to proceed with the cheesification of the white cliffs of Dover.
Charlotte Evans, pay attention, in your reporting above, an important element that would be in the source material, got omitted, which is, the reference to the Chinese word for “thought”. This word is one and the same with Xi Jinping’s “sinicization” of China and it is important to grasp its position.
See my comment above, August 29, 2022 at 4:58 am.
China is already Chinese, it does not need to be “sino-ized”; so that in fact what they are doing is trying to mutate the natural culture of thousands of years into a collectivism in communism.
See my discussion in the comments in the first link “Pope Francis hopes the China deal will be renewed”; where I point out the difference, in Chinese communism, between “thought” and “theory”- CWR.
I find the statement from the Chinese Bishops at this time particularly striking as they coincide with the publicized reflections given in the consistory, among them:
– Pope Francis stressed “discernment qualities” as well as the meaning of “root” for liturgy
– cardinals are reminded they share “joint responsibilities” for the Church
– the Order of Malta got the assurance it will be conformed to its “original inspiration” and “foundational context”.
These Chinese Bishops have declared for the “thought” line from Mao Zedong and are stating openly how it is engaged with them.
In a related affair, my bishop is promoting the modernist Jean Gebser and the idea of collective consciousness while proclaiming that China is already way ahead in achieving what the Church should become eventually. The world supposedly has “gone past post-modernism” and the Church supposedly is lagging.
With China, the line from “thought” comes down from Mao Zedong. The term “theory” is ascribed to Deng Xiaoping. What has happened to Deng Xiaoping is quite strange.
Back in contemporary times Deng Xiaoping was regarded differently and has the nickname Xixian, meaning, “admired for virtue”, “precious character” and even “boundary”. This has the sense of a true popularity.
With Xi Jinping the situation is really that “admiring” him is a requirement imposed from on high and entails certain strains of a demand for adulation.
The Chinese communists are very skilled in the language business. You can get another angle on it through the discussion of the 1992 Consensus issue.
What is indisputable is that Sinicization, which to begin with disrespects true Chinese culture, is, also -: “Xi Jinping thought”.
The quotation is from the last link, THE BOSTON PILOT, “New Chinese Catholic leaders say they’ll follow Communist principles”.
‘ The new leaders issued a statement to commit themselves to engaging priests, religious, and laypeople across the country for pastoral evangelization and further promotion of sinicization for “truth, pragmatism and inspiration” to move ahead toward a “bright future.”
The new leaders’ statement also highlighted the need for the Catholic Church to implement the spirit of the National Conference on Religious Affairs held last December and fulfill the requirement of the Communist Party’s Central Committee for the Catholic Church in China. During that conference Dec. 3-4, Xi stressed the strict implementation of Marxist policies, increased online surveillance and tightening control of religion to ensure national security.
The bishops said it was “necessary to unite and lead the priests, elders and faithful to follow Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a ‘new era’; continue to hold high patriotism and love for religion; (and) adhere to the principles of independent and self-run churches,” the bishops’ statement said.
The church leaders said they find it is important to adhere to the direction of sinicization of Catholicism in China to “vigorously strengthen the building of patriotic forces” to realize “the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” ‘
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/07/05/pope-francis-says-he-hopes-vatican-china-deal-will-be-renewed/
“thought”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maoism
“thought”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping_Thought
“theory”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deng_Xiaoping_Theory
“Xixian”
https://chinese.yabla.com/chinese-english-pinyin-dictionary.php?define=%E5%B8%8C%E8%B4%A4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Consensus
https://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.php?ID=193035