| | | People of Praise Deserves OursAmerica has a lot to learn from Amy Coney Barrett’s ‘covenant community.’
By Mary Hallan FioRito
Oct. 1, 2020 12:39 pm ET
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Most Americans had never heard of People of Praise before President Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Thanks to the media and the Democratic Party, many have been led to believe this community of faith-filled people is somehow sinister. It isn’t.
The Catholic Church would identify People of Praise as a “lay ecclesial movement.” Popular in Europe but not well known in the U.S., such groups allow married couples, families and single Catholics to experience their faith in a variety of more personal ways. Pope John Paul II said in 1998 that these movements “represent one of the most significant fruits of that ‘springtime in the Church’ which was foretold by the Second Vatican Council.” He added, “Their presence is encouraging because it shows that this ‘springtime’ is advancing and revealing the freshness of the Christian experience based on personal encounter with Christ.”
After attending a worship conference at the University of Notre Dame in 1971, a small group of Catholic participants felt called to form a new community that would endeavor to live as the early Christians did. This became People of Praise. The group isn’t a religious order like the Franciscans or Dominicans. Nor is it a fraternal and charitable group like the Knights of Columbus. Instead People of Praise is an association of Catholics and Protestants, most of whom live in their own homes with their families. They live and think independently, choose their own careers, engage in their own outside interests, and attend weekly services in their own communities or parishes.
What distinguishes Catholics involved in People of Praise from the average person in the pew is that they belong to a “covenant community.” After a period of prayer and reflection, members make an intentional commitment to participate in a way of life that is Christ-centered and supportive of others in the group. They participate in weekly prayer meetings, reflect on Scripture together, and attend community gatherings. The “covenanted,” or full members of the community, rely on the widely known Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, the world-wide religious order whose members include Pope Francis—as a source of guidance.
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People of Praise also maintains well-regarded “classical” schools. The Trinity Schools, serving middle- and high-schoolers, are ecumenical, private Christian institutions. The majority of Trinity students aren’t members of People of Praise, and the schools have received nine Blue Ribbon awards from the U.S. Education Department. Another notable People of Praise effort includes members moving into impoverished neighborhoods. They offer summer camps, help their neighbors to repair dilapidated homes, initiate community beautification projects, and even start urban farms. The fresh produce goes to residents with little access to grocery stores.
Cardinal Francis George, the late archbishop of Chicago, was introduced to the People of Praise in the early 1990s. He took an interest in some of the group’s male members who wanted to pursue the Catholic priesthood. After attending gatherings and meetings, he remarked, “What you want to do is from the Holy Spirit. You have something to tell the church.” Under his patronage the Brotherhood of the People of Praise eventually became an officially recognized “society of apostolic life” in the Catholic Church. The Cardinal advised the Catholic priests in People of Praise to be especially respectful of Protestant members. He urged them to ensure the consciences of non-Catholics would be honored, with no pressure to convert. Pope Francis is similarly supportive of People of Praise, naming one if its members as auxiliary bishop of Portland, Ore.
People of Praise members build up communities in a time when so many are being torn down. They strive to promote the common good while working toward understanding among those with differing views. As a Supreme Court justice, Amy Coney Barrett wouldn’t try to make the U.S. a theocratic dystopia. But she might help bring civility and unity to America’s much-degraded public discourse.
Ms. FioRito is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/people-of-praise-deserves-ours-11601570394 |
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