While the jubilee Year of Paul focuses upon the tent maker, has it ever made you wonder why neither Peter nor Paul has a feast solely for himself. Since the days of the fourth century our Church has yoked the two proto-martyrs together. Jesuit Father Brendan Byrne, professor at the Jesuit Theological College, Melbourne, Australia, raises this question: "Is it just historical accident or has it in fact bequeathed to the Church two distinct charisms? (The Tablet, July 12, 2008, p.16)
This blogger had never recognized the possibility or perhaps the reality. S0, Father Byrne's article -- presumptive of contemporary awareness of theological investigation -- presents an interesting picture of the two charisms or the two characters, if you will! He suggests that the Peterine charism should be presented as the standard bearer for "unity and continuity with tradition, and the faithful preservation and transmission of the tradition." Most would readily agree that (a) this is a good description of the Church that prevailed after Vatican Council I and (b) that may be returning front and center at the current time.
The Pauline charism can be understood as "the more outward-going missionary impulse, and the prophetic challenge to traditional understanding and practice that the experience of mission constantly raises." With these two different directions perhaps we can see Holy Spirit efforts in the fourth century! Surely the two positions face one another in a "state of tension." And, there is no doubt had these two powerhouse figures not been yoked together there most likely would have been an out-of-balance situation in growing Church.
As Fr. Byrne noted, Paul despite his "prophetic challenge" style, had a great love for the Church. This was evident in his effort to raise funds for the "mother community" situated in Jerusalem. The irony here might be that the annual international fund raiser to support our Holy Father's charity works each year is designated as "Peter's Pence" without any reference to Paul's development skills!
The driving force behind the gathering of bishops and cardinals in Rome for Vatican Council II seems to have been a "recapturing on the part of the Catholic communion of the Pauline charism. Keeping the two charisms together became the challenge for the heart and mind of Pope Paul VI. More on this in Friday's blog.
