As the Pope celebrates the Silver Jubilee of his election, the new Constitution of the European Union is very much on his mind.

 Fr. J. Linus Ryan, O. Carm.

  

The New Year should be a time for Irish people to reflect seriously on the proposed E.U. Constitution as Ireland takes over the Presidency of the E.U. (January 2004). Given the Christian roots of Europe, it is almost unbelievable that there should still be an argument as to whether to mention Christian values in the Constitution?s preamble. Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul, however, leaves us in no doubt, ?Europe must recover true identity?. His post Synodal reflection Ecclesia in Europa (The Church in Europe) is a magnificent exposé of how much Europe and its civilization has been shaped by Christianity. Not only that, but the whole post World War II concept of European unity was the brainchild of magnificent Christian thinkers like Robert Schumann, Alcide de Gaspari and Konrad Adenaur. A Jewess philosopher, Edith Stein, who had converted to Christianity in the twenties and later became a Carmelite Nun, was martyred in Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942. She recently was canonized by Pope John Paul II as St. Benedicta of the Cross and also has been named by him as Co-Patroness of Europe.  This saint also had a great devotion to St. Thérèse.

Europe must recover true identity.

 On Sunday, 17^th August, 2003 the Holy Father prayed the Angelus together with the faithful gathered at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. The Pope mentioned how God renews and transforms the world ?through the Church? and that it is precisely the Christian faith that has given Europe its ?shape and some of its fundamental values?. The Holy Father stated that ?it cannot be denied that in our times Europe is going through a crisis of values? and he continued by saying that ?it is important that it recover its true identity?. The Pope raised a special prayer to the Blessed Virgin that she help Europe be aware of its spiritual vocation. Clearly: either Europe is Christian or it is not Europe. The future of the European Union cannot be based on geographic and economic factors alone, but it must be founded on the rock from which it has been formed: on the Christian values ?which must find expression in its law and in its life? (Ecclesia in Europa, n. 110).  Here is his reflection: 

1.      The day before yesterday, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Liturgy urged us to turn our gaze towards heaven to contemplate Mary in the new Jerusalem, the Holy City that comes down from God (cf. Apoc 21:2).

 

?Behold?, says the Lord; ?I make all things new? (ibid., 21:5). The Gospel of hope resounds with vigour in the Apocalypse which urges us to welcome the ?newness of God?, an eschatological gift which goes beyond all human possibility and which only he can make. This ?newness? will be accomplished in full at the end of time but it is already present in history. In fact, even now, God is renewing and transforming the world through the Church, and the effects of his action are perceived ?in every form of human coexistence inspired by the Gospel? (Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Europa, n. 107).

 

2.     The European continent that for two millennia ?has heard the Gospel of the Kingdom inaugurated by Jesus? (ibid.), cannot but let itself be challenged by this ?newness?. The Christian faith has given it its shape and some of its fundamental values have subsequently inspired the ?democratic ideal and human rights? of modern Europe. Besides being a ?geographical area?, Europe is ?primarily a cultural and historical concept?, now defined as a Continent thanks also to the unifying force of Christianity, which has been capable of integrating different peoples and cultures (cf. ibid., n. 108).

 

It cannot be denied that in our times Europe is going through a crisis of values and it is important that it recover its true identity. The expansion of the European Union and other countries cannot be reduced merely to its geographic and economic dimensions; rather, it must consist in a renewed, accepted set of values which must find expression in its law and in its life (cf. ibid., n. 110).

 

3.      Let us pray to the Holy Virgin, venerated in many European shrines, so that she may help the Continent to be ever more aware of its own spiritual vocation and help to build solidarity and peace ?within its borders and throughout the world? (ibid., n. 112).

 

As if to emphasize these points, the Holy Father returned to the same topic exactly one week later.

 Reflections on European integration.

On Sunday, 24 August, 2003 before leading the recitation of the Angelus at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father commented on European integration and the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union, currently undergoing study and revision. He said that ?explicit recognition of the Christian roots of Europe in the Treaty represents the principle guarantee for the continent?s future?. In conclusion, the Pope invited the faithful to invoke Mary Most Holy so that the spiritual dimension may never be lacking. Here is his reflection:

 Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

1. My thoughts turn once more to the current process of European integration and especially to the determinant role of its institutions.

 

I am thinking in the first place of the European Union, involved in seeking new forms of openness, encounter and collaboration between its member States.

 

I think, moreover, of the Council of Europe, with its headquarters in Strasbourg and of the attached European Court of Human Rights, which carry out the noble task of creating a Europe of freedom, justice and solidarity.

 

Finally, it is necessary to mention the Organization for Security and

Cooperation in Europe which is committed to promoting the cause of the fundamental freedom of the persons and nations of the continent.

 

2

Recognition of the Gospel is for the benefit of all.

 

2.  I follow in prayer the laborious drafting of            the Constitutional Treaty of the

European Union, now being studied by the governments of the various countries. I am confident that those who are devoting their energies to it will always be motivated by the conviction that ?a proper ordering of society must be rooted in authentic ethical and civil values shared as widely as possible by its citizens? (Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Europa, n. 114).

 

For her part, the Catholic Church is convinced that the Gospel of Christ, which has been a unifying element of the European peoples for many centuries should be and continue to be today too an inexhaustible source of spirituality and fraternity. Taking note of this is for the benefit of all, and an explicit recognition of the Christian roots of Europe in the Treaty represents the principle guarantee for the continent?s future.

 

Spiritual dimension must not be lost: future of Europe is at stake.

 

3    Let us invoke Mary Most Holy, so that in the       building of the Europe of today

and tomorrow, that spiritual inspiration which is indispensable to ensure authentic action at the service of humanity may never be lacking. Such an inspiration finds in the Gospel a sure guarantee in favour of the freedom, justice and peace of all, believers and non-believers.

 

The people of Ireland should easily be able to identify with the Holy Father?s sentiments. We can be truly proud of the influence of so many Irish Monks who contributed to the making of Europe and whose names are revered and venerated across the continent to this day.  Europe ignores that tradition at its peril.