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Subtitled "A story of survival in the tensions of the Catholic Church", it has obviously been written "con amore ". I can say that with gold-plated certainty because I count Father as a friend and I know his ardent love for the Church, even if the evidence of his life's work did not already demonstrate the fact.
The book is a novel, but everything in it happened in one way or another, even though the names have been changed, and some characters are the "telescoped" product of two personalities. Anyone who lived through the period the book re-creates will, as I did, immediately see through the delightfully altered names of people and places to recognize the Archdiocese of Sydney, St.Patrick's Seminary Manly that was, St. Columba's Minor Seminary, Springwood etc., etc. Anyone who loves the Catholic Church and its Priesthood will quickly come to read the book "con amore" also. It traces the journey to Priesthood of two best mates and schoolmates, and their encounter with the post-Conciliar false "spirit of the Council" rogues. the book is very special for me, not only because I know the author, but because I knew or knew of, many of the real characters.
Let us "taste and see":
Father Mark O'Brien has just arrived in Rome to commence post-graduate studies and comes to meet his best friend Father Harry Stuart whose studies are more advanced due to his arrival in Rome a couple of years earlier. Harry is talking to the Queensland Priest Father Greg Jenkins. The Second Vatican Council is continuing............"Greg Jenkins took great interest in the newcomer. Harry had spoken so much of his life-long friend, but always in glowing terms, and Jenkins wondered whether or not this Mark O'Brien was a candidate for canonization.
One free afternoon, Father Jenkins invited Father O'Brien to accompany him on a walking tour. They went across the Tiber and had spent a good while examining the Roman Forum when Jenkins decided it was coffee time. They found a nice place near the Colosseum. Mark was somewhat disappointed at the break in the tour- he was getting immersed in the history.
They settled at one of the little tables on the wide footpath, looking out across the ancient amphitheatre, Constantine's Arch and other surrounding remnants of past grandeur.
"What do you think of Rome?" asked Jenkins.
Mark smiled,"That hardly matters-I'm sure Rome won't be concerned what I think of her; but I love the place anyway."
"Anything in particular?"
"Well, of course, Peter and Paul are here, plus some other apostles-catacombs, remnants of the Empire. The Pope - should have mentioned him first" he laughed. Then there's the Council -biggest event in the Church for centuries."
"How are you going on the Council documents? "
"Read everything that,s released so far."
"You don't muck around, do you, Mark.
"Didn't come here to muck around, Greg."
Jenkins took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. He offered Mark one. It was refused. But Mark told him to go ahead and have one.
Jenkins blew out the first cloud of smoke, then looked at Mark squarely. An enticing smile came over his face. Mark thought it looked too deliberate.
"If I may say so Mark, you and Harry are going to be quite a force back home."
Mark lowered his cup a little. "What makes you think so?"
"I've never met anyone like you two- you've got all the gifts. I think you're going to be a pair of giants."
Mark laughed once more. " Then we'd better make sure we don't put our feet in it," he said looking straight into Jenkins' eyes.
Jenkins' smooth smile re-appeared." That's very good " he said. I'd say each of you is going to make quite a splash."
" As long as what we do helps people and the Church," said Mark.
"The people are the Church," said Jenkins.
" Now that's a revelation - I thought the Church was just buildings," said Mark, looking at him squarely.
That smile was there again on Jenkins's face. "Sorry", he said, " I shouldn't be trying to teach you. It's just that I think the Church hasn't been taking enough notice of what the people are thinking. This Council's not going far enough."
"it's certainly going long enough", said Mark.
Jenkins gave a laugh, " Then you're getting a bit tired of all these Bishops around the place, eh?"
" I didn't say that. It's a tremendous event- I just think it could be a lot simpler."
" Everything's black and white with you, isn't it, Mark," said Jenkins through his smile.
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| Father John O'Neill - Tried and True |
"If that means everything's clear, then yes."
"So we have all the answers, then."
"In the necessary things, yes."Jenkins' smile changed to a smirk. Mark's inherited Irish brow hardened. "If we haven't the basic answers to man's questions, then Christ is pointless," he said, almost glaring at Jenkins. " What's the use of God becoming man if He leaves us in our confusion, and our weakness.".........
The story continues and the divide between those seeing in the Church and the Council the hermeneutic of continuity as the only possibility, and those who chose a hermeneutic of rupture to secure their New Church opens before our eyes. Just as it happened. Jenkins by the way - the real man became a Queensland suffragan Bishop. But by the force of his personality, he became the "Godfather" of the Queensland bishops - and the wreckage of "Jenkins'" activity persists from Brisbane to Cairns.
Father John O'Neill is Parish Priest of Doonside in Parramatta Diocese, having survived the Episcopates of Cardinals Freeman and Clancy in Sydney, and then the all too vulnerable Bishop Bede Heather (resigned) and Bishop Kevin Manning (Emeritus, and now out of retirement to act as Apostolic Administrator of Wilcannia Forbes). Doonside is fortunate indeed.
Father's latest work is "BENJAMIN"available at http://www.connorcourt.com/catalog1/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=128
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