The death of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor – a solid and cheerful presence at the helm of English Catholicism for almost two decades – has touched Catholics across the world. And not only Catholics: some of the most moving tributes to the former Archbishop of Westminster have come from the leaders of other Christian communities.
These condolence messages point to the cardinal’s most obvious legacy: his success in crossing the barriers between Christians. His commitment to ecumenism survived the most shattering disappointments. The Church of England’s vote for women priests 25 years ago seemed to demolish his dream of unity between Anglicans and Catholics. But he never stopped reaching out, convinced that eventually Christians would be united, just as Jesus had prayed. In his final public message the cardinal gave thanks, characteristically, for “the many Anglican and Free Church colleagues whose friendship I have valued very much”. We must be careful not to neglect the bridges that he spent a lifetime constructing.
The cardinal also strengthened another delicate relationship: the one between the British monarchy and its Catholic subjects. He was rightly proud of becoming the first Catholic cleric since 1688 to preach to the reigning monarch. He also enjoyed a delightful rapport with the Queen Mother. The last time they met she sang him a song. “I thought I knew all the songs of the Second World War, but I have never heard of that one,” he told her. “You wouldn’t,” she replied. “It was a hit tune in 1910.” Building on Cardinal Basil Hume’s work, he helped to bury the stubborn myth of Catholic disloyalty to the Crown.
Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor led the Church in England and Wales through one of its worst crises of modern times. Facing calls to resign as Archbishop of Westminster over his handling of an abuse case in the 1980s, he pushed on and helped to introduce strict child protection measures. While the new rules were unpopular among priests, who felt vulnerable to false accusations, Rome came to regard them as a model for the whole Church.
Those who knew the cardinal only from his halting television appearances might have been surprised to learn that he was a warm, gregarious soul. Many who went to see him bearing burdens left feeling lighter.
He was a great encourager – as the Catholic Herald can testify. When we became a magazine in 2014, after 126 years as a broadsheet newspaper, he spoke generously at our launch party. He urged us to “open up new avenues” for the faith. We hope that we can honour him by striving to meet that challenge, week in, week out.
The final gift that the cardinal left us was his example in the face of death. His last message, in which he spoke of how he was at peace and had “no fear of what is to come”, showed an uplifting trust in God despite sickness and the sadness of earthly farewells.
Faith, perseverance, joy and humour: the cardinal possessed these qualities in abundance. He shared them liberally with the thousands he met on his pilgrim path. We give thanks for his life, his serene last days and his legacy, and ask readers to join us in praying for the repose of his soul.
The news that the bishops of England and Wales have decided to restore the feasts of Epiphany and Ascension to their original dates will be greeted with great satisfaction by the faithful. These feasts (along with Corpus Christi) were moved to the nearest Sunday back in 2006, in order, one supposes, to relieve the faithful of the obligation to attend Mass on three Holy Days in the year. Despite this, the moves were never popular.
As has been pointed out by many, this magazine included, it makes no sense to celebrate the Ascension on any day other than the 40th day after Easter, and nine days before Pentecost, the latter period being the origin of every Novena ever made. Neither does it make sense to celebrate the Twelfth Night of Christmas on any day other than January 6.
By being restored to their proper dates, the two feasts recover an important aspect of their meaning. As anyone who has read the Bible will know, the number 40 is of great significance; as any reader of English will know, the Twelve Days of Christmas are an important part of our tradition, as A Christmas Carol and the play by Shakespeare remind us.
Corpus Christi will remain on a Sunday, but Corpus Christi is a theological feast, not a feast that marks an event in the life of Our Lord.
Meanwhile, parish priests will face a challenge. Now that we have our feasts back, it is up to them and their lay collaborators to encourage the faithful to attend Mass on these days. Our Catholic schools will have their part to play, for they will have to arrange for celebrations of Mass in school time. This will not, one hopes, be seen as a burden, but as a joyous opportunity to bring people, especially the young, closer to the mystery of Christ.
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