Although I wont be joining them, I leave the Oratory with nothing but admiration from the Fathers. Judging from what I have read about the Oratory (the Life of St. Philip Neri by Antonio Gallonio, the Excellences of the Oratory, and a modern commentary on the rules of the Newmanite Congregations), the Toronto Oratory is very different from the medieval Roman Oratory, but has maintained a strongly Oratorian spirit, which is St. Philips principle inheritance onto his sons. The original Oratorians was against becoming teachers, and their primary apostolate was of the lay Oratory (to such a degree that they said that was the reason the Congregation existed at all), which is absent in Toronto, but neither of these were essential to the Oratory. The prohibition against teaching was so that the Oratory could focus on increasing devotion among people rather than becoming an intellectual tradition, but in this age it does a lot of good for the Church to have a strong seminary, and thus it does spread devotion through its seminarians. The lay Oratory, meanwhile, was meant to increase popular devotion, and so if this task can be well accomplished elsehow, than it would be unOratorian to not pursue it. Its said that the success of an Oratory should be measured not by how holy the Fathers are, but by how holy the laymen they serve are. And on this matter, I just came back from a first Friday devotional Holy hour that was very beautiful. It began with prayers and the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed shortly by prayers, some of which were traditional Latin chants and others were traditional vernacular prayers (English). There was then silent adoration for a time, followed by a consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, followed by more adoration. This was then followed by a brief exhortation to love Christ for the sufferings He endured for each one of us. It was listed each time He bled: (I forget the first but after that was:) secondly, in the Garden; thirdly, during the scourging at the pillar; fourthly, during the crowning with thorns; fifthly, during the ascent to Calvary; sixthly, during the Crucifixion; and seventhly, when the spear was plunged into His side. We were exhorted to reverence the Lord in the Eucharist because of this, and reconcile our differences on account of the fact that He died for all with no distinction (he quoted Pope St. John Paul II on this). After this there followed more adoration in silence. After this there was a Benediction with incense and altar boys, followed by a Latin chant and a vernacular hymn while the priest processed out. And the Church building had around 70 people in it being edified by the Oratory. While I visited them, I learned by example why hospitality is considered a Christian ministry. I was greeted at the entrance to the Oratory when I first arrived and shown to my room, which was ready for me along with a washroom, which was also ready. At formal dinner (by which is meant, in silence with two brothers acting as servers, and readings accompanying the meal), I was shown my place and always assisted when I didnt know what I was supposed to do. At recreation after dinner, I couldnt even pour myself a cup of coffee since it was always offered to me before I could even ask. Many of the Fathers would meet with me over the week, giving me advice and getting to know me, as well as showing to me how involved they are in the community (they would greet and be greeted by many people on the streets that they serve). One of the student brothers suggested and brought to me reading material about the Oratory that I could read over the course of the week (namely, the aforementioned modern commentary on Newmans Constitutions). Charity is expressed in the ministry of hospitality, and it is edifying. And besides all this, they lived together in such charity that they resemble a family, as an Oratory should and as St. Philip stressed. I may not be joining the Toronto Oratory, but then again, most were turned away from the Roman Oratory by St. Philip. However, the Constitutions of the Oratory state that they are to be turned away with all gentleness, and I was turned away with advice as to where my vocation could be better pursued, namely with the Dominicans, and suggested to look into the Eastern province in the US. So just as it very often happened with the original Oratory, I came to St. Philip to be sent to the Dominicans, for that is the order that St. Philip sent many of the rejects to with all kindness and blessing. God has been very good this week. May He bless the Toronto Oratory and the other Oratories in the world, including the one being attempted in Australia, a member of which has been living with the Toronto Oratorians. Deo Gratias.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 01:58:17 +0000
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