Friday, August 9, 2019

The Intersecting of Good and evil

     These few days in August provide us with a glimpse of the mystery of life.  It entails an intersecting of tales of evil that are touched by the goodness of Faith.

     On August 6, 1945, a bomb fell on Hiroshima, Japan unlike any ever used before.  In an instant, 80,000 people died, and by the end of that year the number reached 140,000.  That atomic bomb, with another on today's date, August 9th, 1945 on the city of Nagasaki (killing 40,000 immediately and 74,000 by the end of that year) effectively brought about the end of the war with the Empire of Japan that the United States and others had been fighting.  You may argue the morality and the justification of our actions at that time, but you cannot ignore the tremendous loss of life and the fear that we have lived with ever since - in the Cold War and beyond.

     It is interesting that August 6th in the Church is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord.  In that instance Jesus took his closest friends, Peter, James and John, to the mountaintop and was transfigured before their eyes.  They saw Jesus in all of his glory as the Son of God ... in a blinding light and with a power that had never been seen before.  This awesome experience was life-changing, and from it came hope and deep faith in the goodness of God and a glimpse of the glory that we are all called to share.  It was life-giving.  I have always found it ironic that on this day when the power and glory of God brought life and hope and peace to humanity, we saw a demonstration of the power of man unleashed that brought with it death and fear and continued warfare.



     Today, August 9th, was the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan.  There was a substantial Catholic presence in that city.  In fact, a few years earlier, in 1930, Father Maximillian Kolbe, a Fransican priest from Poland, lived and worked there before returning to his native Poland.  At a time of terrible persecution of Jews, intellectuals, priests and others considered undesirable by the Nazi's, he was arrested briefly in 1939, and then again in 1941, and was sent to the camp at Auschwitz.  He died on August 14th, 1941, by lethal injection after surviving an attempt to starve him.  He had stepped forward and offered his life in order to save another prisoner who had a family.  He has been declared a saint, a martyr and a faithful witness to the glory of God.




     Auschwitz was also the place of death of another saint of the Church whose feast is today - Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - who was put to death on August 9th, 1942, a year after Saint Maximillian Kolbe.  Sister Teresa Benedicta was put to death because she was born in Germany of the Jewish faith.  Her given name was Edith Stein. She was a learned woman, a philosopher and professor, who after the devastation of World War I converted to Catholicism and entered the Discalced Carmelite Community as a Religious Sister.

     The last written words of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross before being sent to the gas chamber are these: 

"The Savior hangs before you with a pierced heart.  He has spilled His heart's blood to win your heart.  If you want to follow him in holy purity, your heart must be free of every earthly desire.  Jesus, the Crucified, is to be the only object of your longings, your wishes, your thoughts … He wants your life in order to give you his." 

     The evil of hatred and bigotry, of war and genocide, of all things contrary to the revelation of God are overshadowed by the knowledge of our faith in an awesome, loving and life-giving God and the champions and friends that he places before us as models of sacrifice and of holiness.  It may seem like a stretch .. it may seem impossible ... but Good does overcome evil ... life triumphs over death ... and true power and glory comes from the Lord alone.  Hold on to that reality.

Wednesday, August 7, 2019

An Encouraging Word

     When I was growing up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, there was a Franciscan Friary in the town.  The priests there assisted the local parishes, and shared the charism of Saint Francis of Assisi with the local community.  They hosted a Third Order Secular community at the Friary.  In my high school years I had already entered the seminary on my journey to priesthood.  I remember during the summer months joining with the Friars and being invested as a Third Order Secular Franciscan.  You had to choose a "religious" name, and I chose Jean Marie, after the Cure of Ars, Saint Jean Marie Vianney.

     Last Sunday, August 4th, was the feast of Saint John Mary Vianney.  He died on that date one hundred and sixty years ago this year, in his parish in the village of Ars in France.  His story is an interesting one, one that I could relate to as I studied for priesthood and then ministered as a priest in the life of the Church.

     Pope Francis on Sunday issued a "Letter to Priests" in the Universal Church to commemorate this anniversary, for the Cure of Ars was proposed by Pope Pius XI as "patron of parish priests throughout the world".  In the introduction, Pope Francis states: "Like the Cure of Ars, you serve 'in the trenches', bearing the burden of the day and the heat (cf. Mt 20:12), confronting an endless variety of situations in your effort to care for and accompany God's people."  He goes on to give an encouraging word: "I want to say a word to each of you who, often without fanfare and at personal cost, amid weariness, infirmity and sorrow, carry out your mission of service to God and to your people.  Despite the hardships of the journey, you are writing the finest pages of the priestly life."

     It is refreshing to hear a word of encouragement from the Holy Father.  We are fortunate to hear such words often from Bishop Edward Malesic of our diocese.  So many of the faithful have also shone their support of priests through their prayers and friendships and encouraging words.  These are difficult days in the priesthood for many reasons, not the least of which are the allegations of sexual abuse of minors by some priests.  Next week marks the one year anniversary of the Grand Jury report in Pennsylvania that labelled the Church and her priests as "predators".  The desire for justice for the victims of abuse cannot negate the rights and reputations of the Church and of those accused.  Justice is required for all, but so is truth and the rule of law rather than the rule of the news cycle and prejudice.

    The Cure of Ars gave his life and his heart in quiet, faithful service to his flock.  So do our priests!  Like him we struggle and fall at times ... like him we know our shortcomings and sinfulness ... and like him we strive toward that goal of holiness and eternal life that is a gift of mercy from the Father.   I mentioned this a while back, but my greatest concern is that our response to the crisis does not seem to come from the gospel message of Repentance ... Reconciliation ... Renewal and Restoration.

 The Relic of the Heart of Saint John Mary Vianney

An icon of the Saint.

     The relic of Saint John Mary Vianney's incorruptible heart was brought to our diocese on the Wednesday of Holy Week this year, through the efforts of the Knights of Columbus.  It was a blessing and joy to be able to pray with the people of God at Our Lady of Grace Church, so close to this pastor whose heart was poured out for the service of God's People of one hundred and sixty years ago.

     Please pray for your priests and pray for the Church.  Saint Jean Marie Vianny, pray for the Lord's priests and his people.