(Akure, 7 April 1960, written in Latin)
Cf. ADA II/V, 347-348
* William Richard Field (1907-1988), S.M.A., was an Irish missionary to Nigeria
| Eminentissime Domine, Maxime piget me et ex animo me excuso de hac longa mora responsum dandi litteris missis die 18 iunii 1959, pertinentibus ad futurum Concilium Oecumenicum. Afui a Nigeria ob ferias agendas et non redieram ante menses septembris, tempore in quo responsa expectanda errant apud Pontificiam Commissionem. Nunc autem festino ad meas sententias conferendas et ex animo spero eas esse aliquantulum utiles. In hac parte mundi missionum, occurrimus tantis problematibus attrahentibus immediatam curam — et haec videntur singulis diebus augescere — ut inclinati sumus ad oblivionem negotiorum maioris graviorisque momenti et generis pro Ecclesia in toto; quapropter meae observationes ex necessitate importabunt localem, fortasse, potius quam universalem significationem. Hae sequentes sunt res quae magnopere attraxerunt notationem, praesertim recentioribus annis: 1. Normae admissionis ad Seminaria Maiora debent mea sententia augeri et emphasis ponenda est aeque in studium linguarum modernarum quam classicarum. Hic prae oculis habeo praecipue Africam, in qua alumni in genere attingunt normas requisitas pro admissione Universitati tantummodo ante inchoata studia sacra. In curriculo aliqua disciplina de scientia sociali solide quoad eius principia tradenda est ut nostri sacerdotes autochtones rite praeparati sint ad exercendam auctoritatem inter suas gentes. Auctoritate ducis eo magis magisque opus est cum praesertim novae regiones, ut Nigeria, attracturae sint Statum Nationalem et — fortasse brevissimo tempore — Internationalem. Respectu eiusdem finis et etiam certe ad perficienda intima ligamina cum Roma, corde Ecclesiae, suggeram magis magisque alumnos, candidatos ad sacerdotium, invitandos ad studia sacra absolvenda in Urbe; vel ad facienda altiora studia specialia. Probabiliter hoc secum fert necessitatem extensionis praesentium collegiorum in Urbe ad complendas habitations pluribus alumnis. Mihi persuasum est quod qua plures essent candidati qui frequentant cursus in Urbe ex recentioribus regionibus missionum eo melius pro futuro Ecclesiae in his terris. 2. Tota quaestio de apostolatu laicorum exigit intimum et amplum studium in futuro Concilio et regulae formandae sint et mandata directiva danda ad maiorem gloriam et beneficium Ecclesiae. Hic, in Africa, sentimus necessitatem adiutorii et gubernationis in hoc respectu, in quibus regionibus sacerdotes sunt miserrime pauci; etiam ubicumque non penuria existit sacerdotum, activa cooperatio omnium necessaria rectaque est … magis necessarium nunc, fortasse, quam umquam antea. Videtur presenti tempore laicus-catholicus non intellegere opus esse adiuvare etiam strenue et interesse personaliter in propagatione Evangelii. 3. Partitio inaequalis sacerdotum per mundum — mundum Catholicum, mundum Missionum — frequenter disserta est etiam a laicis. Agnosco illam quaestionem plenam esse difficultatum et neque clariter discernere aliquod responsum et solutionem de hac re; attamen, haec quaestio fortasse disserenda sit in futuro Concilio. 4. Mihi videtur nunc opportunum esse tempus ad introducendum et disputandum quod Maria est Mediatrix Omnium Gratiarum, in prospectu ad hoc faciendum articulum Nostrae Sanctae Fidei. Haec gemma addita diademati Mariae contributura est ad uniendum Mundum Catholicum etiam magis intime sub vexillo Mariae Matris. Ac certus sum quod Illa per Suam intercessionem, sub hoc titulo glorioso, obtineat a Divino Filio Suo, gratiam eximiam Unionis Ecclesiae, quae tam cara est cordi Sancti Patris… ut fiet Unum Ovile et Unus Pastor. Non desinemus orare ut Deus, per intercessionem Mariae, benedicat et dirigat Eminentiam Tuam et adiuvet Te ad peragendum officia onerosa, responsabilitates graves, impositas in manibus Tuis. In Memento Sancti Sacrificii quotidiani mei eris. Osculans Purpuram Sacram et humiliter rogans benedictionem supra nostrum laborem in hac parte Dei Vineae, Maneo Eminentiae Tuae Rev.maeadd.mus et oboediens servus in Christo + GULIELMUS R. FIELD Episcopus Ondoensis |
| Most Eminent Lord, I deeply regret and sincerely apologize for this long delay in responding to the letter sent on 18 June 1959, pertaining to the future Ecumenical Council. I was away from Nigeria for holidays and did not return before the month of September, at which time the responses were awaited by the Pontifical Commission. But now I hasten to sum up my thoughts, and I sincerely hope that they will be somewhat useful. In this part of the world of missions, we encounter so many problems that draw immediate attention – and these seem to increase every day – to such a degree that we are inclined to forget issues of greater and more serious importance and kind for the Church as a whole, and therefore my observations will out of necessity convey a local, perhaps, rather than a universal meaning. The following are the things that have exceedingly drawn attention, especially in recent years: 1. The standards for admission to Major Seminaries should, in my opinion, be raised and emphasis should be placed equally on the study of modern as well as classical languages. Here I have Africa in mind especially, wherein students in general meet the standards required for admission to the University only before starting sacred studies. In the curriculum, some training concerning social science should be solidly given as to its principles so that our indigenous priests are properly prepared to exercise authority among their people. The authority of a leader is consequently all the more necessary when especially new countries, such as Nigeria, are about to gain a national and – perhaps in the shortest possible time – an international status. With respect to the same goal, and also certainly to achieve the most intimate bonds with Rome, the heart of the Church, let me suggest that more and more students, candidates for the priesthood, be invited to complete their sacred studies in the City; or to do more advanced special studies. This probably entails the need for the extension of the existing colleges in the City to complete the housing for more students. I am convinced that the more candidates there would be who follow courses in the City from the more recent mission regions, so much the better for the future of the Church in these countries. 2. The whole question of the apostolate of the laity requires a deep and extensive study in the future Council and regulations should be formed and directive orders to be given for the greater glory and benefit of the Church. Here in Africa, we feel the need for help and guidance in this respect, in which regions priests are very miserably few; and even wherever there is no shortage of priests, the active cooperation of everyone is necessary and right … more necessary now, perhaps, than ever before. It seems at the present time that the lay Catholic does not understand that there is a need to indeed actively help and take part personally in the propagation of the Gospel. 3. The uneven distribution of priests throughout the world – the Catholic world, the world of missions – has been frequently discussed even by the laity. I acknowledge that this question is full of difficulties and neither do I clearly discern any answer and solution to this issue; nevertheless, this question perhaps should be discussed in the future Council. 4 It seems to me that now is the opportune time to introduce and discuss the fact that Mary is the Mediatrix of All Graces, in view of making this an article of Our Holy Faith. This gem added to Mary’s crown is going to contribute to uniting the Catholic world even more intimately under the banner of Mother Mary. And I am certain that through her intercession, under this glorious title, she will obtain from her Divine Son, the extraordinary grace of the Union of the Church, which is so dear to the heart of the Holy Father… that she will become One Sheepfold and One Shepherd. We will not cease to pray that God, through the intercession of Mary, may bless and guide Your Eminence and help you to carry out the onerous duties, the grave responsibilities placed in Your hands. I will remember you in my daily Holy Sacrifice. Kissing the Sacred Purple and humbly asking for your blessing upon our labor in this part of God’s Vineyard, I remain Your Most Reverend Eminence’s very devoted and obedient servant in Christ + WILLIAM R. FIELD Bishop of Ondo |
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Processes of Agency, Negotiation and Identity Construction: Lived Religion and LGBTQ+ in relation to Catholic Norms and Practices in Europe from Historical, Ethical and Practical Theological Perspectives 