Hopeful signs

Good news.  The first phase of the restoration project is swiftly coming to an end.  Even with two rain days last week, there is still a good possiblity that the scaffolding will all be in place by mid-week.  This would be a full three days (or more) ahead of schedule.

Providing that all the necessary documentation is in place on time, this means that the work on the towers might very well begin ahead of schedule.

More to come.

Start with the GIRM

This past week, priests of the diocese were invited to attend a two-day workshop during which the Director of the CCCBs Liturgy Office presented an introduction to the revised Roman Missal, including some exposure to the accompanying General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the directives (if you will) that explain how the Roman Missal is to be used.

In point of fact, although the revised Roman Missal and the GIRM were published in their original Latin versions some years ago now, the task of publishing the text in various languages has been confided to the care of the various Episcopal Conferences.

The work of translating the Latin text of the Revised Roman Missal into English has been confided to the International Committee for English in the Liturgy (ICEL), and has been in process since 1974.

Within the last couple of years, the text of the GIRM and the Revised Roman Missal have been pubished for use in England and Wales, in Australia and in the United States of America.  It is also scheduled to be implemented in Canada by Advent 2011.  Before the text can be printed though, there are a few permissions that must be settled between the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

In the meanwhile, preparations for the implemention are in high gear all across the country.  According to the forward published in the edition of the GIRM proper to England and Wales (which is the closest to the working copy of the version pending for Canada), the Instruction is the Church's official guide to how Mass should be celebrated.  It is a document which everyone responsible for the celebration of the liturgy should be familiar with.

During the coming months, the work of introducing this new translation to people in the pews must take place, so that beginning with the first Sunday of Advent, we will be ready to implement the new wordings of the Eucharistic prayer of the Church.  This begins with meetings held with local liturgy committees and then with varying levels of introduction to the various communities.

Stay tuned.  This promises to be an interesting ride.

First Communion Sunday

Today, children at both our worship sites are receiving the gift of the Eucharist for the first time.  This is a day of great rejoicing for them and for their families.  It's also an opportunity for the whole community to deepen our understanding of this precious gift, and to grow in our appreciation for God's great love, shown in the Bread of Life that he confides to our care.

Listen to this week's homily, or read it for yourself:


Jesus’ love at work in us
There are twenty children in our parish who are celebrating today.  They have reached another milestone and it is right that we should celebrate, because they will receive the precious gift of Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time today.

The Eucharist is one of those milestones that we call Sacraments, visible signs and moments of grace that mark our progress in life, and the deepening of our commitment to follow Jesus.  When we were young children, our parents brought us to the Church and asked that we be baptised.  In doing so, they introduced us to a Jesus, and since then he has been at work, loving us.  As time passes, we learn about the important people mentioned in the bible: about Jesus and his miracles, about the others who were present, from whom he learned, and to whom he called with an invitation to follow him.  Because of our baptism, each one of us is also a disciple, invited by Jesus to follow him, to learn from him.  Some of us are able to answer this invitation quite readily.  Others of us struggle at times but we answer as best we can.

The good thing is that there is room for all of us to gather around the table.  Each time we come, Jesus provides food to satisfy our hunger, but the food that Jesus gives is not meant only to satisfy physical hunger.  Jesus gives us food, and then asks us in turn to share it with others.  In today’s gospel reading, he challenges us with the words If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  Now we can understand this challenge in terms of literally keeping the commandments as they are passed down to us in the Old Testament, but I have a feeling that to do so would be to narrow the scope of Jesus challenge.  Keep in mind that when he spoke these words, his disciples were listening intently, like we are today.  They couldn’t understand why he was using such strange words, language usually reserved for those who know that their time is limited.  They knew nothing of the events of his suffering and death that were to come, so of course they were concerned.  We all would be.

Only after his death, and after they had encountered him in his risen form did they perhaps understand what he meant when he said The one who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me, and the one who loves me will be loved by my Father.  In fact, it was this profound knowledge that the Father loved them that allowed the disciples to go out to the world and to tell others about Jesus.  The first reading we heard today tells us about Phillip who traveled to the foreign land of Samaria to share the good news.  Samaria was also the place where Jesus encountered the woman at the well, so I wonder whether she had begun to spread the good news even before Phillip arrived.

That’s the thing about this good news.  Once you hear it, it grabs hold of you, it changes you, it makes you want to tell others about it, but how do we do that.  The apostles began by telling others about the good things they themselves had encountered.  Because these words are always spoken with gentleness and reverence, people then want to hear the story of Jesus, and once they are introduced to him, they’re hooked.  They too want to do their part: to do good, to be his disciples.

A few months ago, we began working with a number of children in this parish, helping them to deepen their understanding about who Jesus is, how he calls us to share in the gift of his forgiveness, and how he invites us all to be his disciples.  These young friends have learned about our practices of prayer, and about the special gift we receive each week, called the Eucharist.  They have also learned that we do not receive this gift just so we can feel good about ourselves.  Instead, this gift is given to us so that we can go out into the world to continue telling others about Jesus.  We do this in all kinds of ways: helping those in need, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, encouraging the lonely, and rejoicing with those who have already discovered the face of Jesus.  Today, our friends will receive Jesus in the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time.  With joy, we celebrate this special day with them, we pray for them, and we encourage them to continue every day to grow in love with our friend Jesus.

The preparation begins

The word is out.

After what seems to be a very long wait indeed, the long-anticipated revision to the Roman Missal (English edition) will finally be published later this year, and all indications are that it will be put into practice across this country by the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, priests in this diocese were present for a workshop during which the texts of the revised Roman Missal were presented.  Now the work begins.  During the next few months, we will need to help our parishioners to prepare for the use of this new text.  How that happens depends on the places we are assigned to, the resources we can call upon and the ingenuity with which we present the material.

A proper understanding of this implementation begins with an historical overview, and that takes us back to the Second Vatican Council, and the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum concilium.  This was the very first of the documents promulgated by the Council, and based upon its clarifications, work began in earnest to translate the texts of the Mass into languages other than Latin in order to provide for the celebration of the Mass in the languages of the people.

In the case of the English translation, this was completed in a four-year period, ending in 1972, and a book known as the Sacramentary was then published (the Canadian version appeared in 1974), but this version was intended to be temporary, until a complete study of the texts and a 'proper' translation was completed.  The original timeline for this project was five years (which would have seen it completed by 1980 at the latest, but then a number of factors caused further delay, and the result is that we are only now (in 2011) seeing the result of the translation.

Since there are 11 English-speaking nations in the world, representatives from each of these countries was invited to participate in the International Commission for English in the Liturgy, the Commission charged with the task of overseeing the translation of the Roman Missal.  Over the years, particularly since 2002, this work has involved consultation with all bishops from the eleven member nations, as well as the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, including the Vox Clara committee.

Final editions of the Editio typica terzia as it is known have been approved for England and Wales, as well as the United States of America.  The Canadian edition is still awaiting some recognizi but is scheduled for publication in early November, and preparations are now under way across the country for its implementation beginning with the first Sunday of Advent.

More to come on this subject too.

Remembering and celebrating

Five weeks after they completed the Sacraments of Initiation, we invited our newly-minted adult Catholics to share a meal with us last night.  Accompanied by their spouses, their sponsors and in some cases their families, they sat at table along with the members of the RCIA formation team to break bread.

Colin managed to make it, after his shift, and met his wife (not pictured) who had also joined us, along with his sponsor and his sponsor's wife.  Unfortunately, their little one did not come to this party; she had a party of her own to attend.

Fresh in their minds were the moments that led up to the Easter Vigil, and the fulfillment of their journey (thus far) in faith.  Like Jesus gathering with the disciples on the seashore after his resurrection, we too sat at table to break bread.

Kim and her fiancé will be married later this year.  In the meanwhile, she came to this party with her sponsor (who happens to be her fiancé's grandfather), her fiancé and their little one, who stole the show of course.  There were also two other neophytes who could not join us last night.  We missed them, and look forward to the next encounter we will have with them both.

Even as we recounted memories of the Easter Vigil, and then told of the encounter in Rome with the faithful who had gathered there for the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II, it was not unlike what the encounters of the early Christians must have been like: sharing adventures and moments of faith lived and celebrated.  What a wonderful way to strengthen the seeds of faith that have been sown.  May they continue to grow within until they reach fruition in heaven.

Construction, phase 1, day 2

So it begins.

A few days ago, I wrote about the fact that the contract for the tower renovations here had been awarded.  Only a few days later, the construction has begun.  Actually, yesterday was the first day, but as it happens (I think it happens more often than one would like to admit), there were some minor glitches in the initial start up.

This wonderful forklift was supposed to arrive early in the morning on Tuesday (immediately after the holiday Monday), but as fate would have it, it was delayed because of some mix up with the company from which it was supposed to be rented.  When it finally arrived, some of the scaffolding had already been unloaded from the flatbed truck that had arrived and taken up some of the parking spots in the neighbouring parking lot.

It wasn't long before it was put into motion, and one by one the palates of metal were transported into place, stacked neatly along the walkway, one by one to be transformed into the various parts of the skeleton that will allow the stone masons to get to work.

By the time the workers left this afternoon, the first parts of the scaffolding had already begun to take shape.  In this case, the openings that must be left accessible to all the exits (including the emergency exits) so that people can continue to enter the church during the construction period.

In the next week or so, the rest of the scaffolding will be put in place.  I'm told that it will reach the better part of the way up to the top of the towers.  I'm also led to believe that there will be a part of the access to the brick work that will involve lowering supplies from the open parts of the towers.  Who am I to know the specifics, but I have a feeling that I'm about to learn.

Stay tuned for the updates.  I'm sure that there will be lots to recount as the progress continues.

Listening in

So, I'm still catching up.  It seems like that's an endless task, but here goes:

The texts for the last two homilies presented to the folks at Christ the King were published in time, but the podcast versions weren't because of technical glitches that were keeping other folk busy.  Finally these things seem to be under control so here are the vocal editions of the podcasts for the homilies spoken on the fourth (last week's version entitled That you may have life) and fifth (this week's edition entitled Good news beyond a doubt) Sundays of Easter respectively.

Happy listening.

Good news, beyond a doubt

Can you believe it?  We're already five weeks into the Season of Easter.  This liturgical time of year is about believing (or coming to believe) that miracles do happen.  Miracles like the resurrection are perhaps difficult for people of our generation to accept, but then again, it never was easy for people of any generation to understand this truth.  Only in faith can we come to believe the full truth of a carpenter turn prophet who proves himself to be the Son of God.

Faith for troubled hearts

During the eighteen years of my priesthood, I've had many occasions to preside at sacramental moments in the lives of Catholics.  Some such moments are joyous: baptisms, reception of Communion for the first time, weddings; while others come with all manner of emotion: children's first celebrations of Reconciliation, and even funerals. Each one of these occasions provides an opportunity for me to speak with people about the journey of faith and about the truths that are discovered along the way: that Jesus died, that he rose from the dead, that he has promised this same truth to all those who believe. The thing about faith though is that it comes hand in hand with doubt, so when my own grandparents died, and when a few close friends died, there were moments when I too believed (even just for a moment) that this was the end.

What bothered me most was that the individuals, the persons I had known and loved might have come to an end. We know that in the persons we love there is so much that deserves to go on, to survive, to be rewarded. The kindnesses they showed, the attitudes they had, the way they did their work or said their prayers, the sacrifices they made, the loyalties they showed, the hopes and ambitions they had, and the personal relationships they had with family and friends. When death comes, there's a part of us all that somehow believes that life is incomplete or even an absurd experience in itself.

The followers of Jesus too understood death as destructive and final. Even more, death by crucifixion, inflicted by the Romans wasn't just final. It was humiliating and disgraceful too. No wonder the disciples would have understood Jesus' death as final, but then something happened that changed their whole perception of death. Christ rose. Because of Christ's death and Resurrection, the death of the ordinary individual is now understood not as something final and immediately destructive, but rather fruitful and eternally victorious. You might say that because of Jesus' resurrection, death has now taken on a positive, creative, introductory character. It is now the beginning of something rather than the end of everything.

Despite our occasional and persistent doubts, and there are few of us who live without doubts, Jesus of Nazareth is the hope for us all. During his life on earth he made some startling claims. He claimed to have come from heaven, to have seen the Father, to have been sent by the Father. He claimed to be the bread of life, not just as food and friend in the Eucharist (wonderful though that is) but as the answer to all our hungers: for survival, for meaning, for permanence, for love. He even uttered some wonderfully reassuring words in today's gospel: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.


If Christ's claims are true, and they are very well supported, very well attested to by the goodness and integrity of his character, the evidence of those who knew him, the multiplicity of his miracles and the historical reality and explosiveness of his Resurrection, then he is not just another prophet, another teacher, another guru. He is the Son of God, the only person in human history who gives total meaning to our existence. Others may enlighten it - poets, scientists, philosophers, theologians - but only Jesus fully illuminates it.

During his earthly existence, he encouraged the apostles to not let their hearts be troubled, to trust in him. From heaven, the Risen Jesus calls to us, beckoning us toward our final home, so that even when all traces of earthly existence are gone, we can be assured that life will go on, in that place to which we are all headed. This is the faith that sustains troubled hearts. It is the faith that we profess and proclaim. It is the faith that makes us Easter people, people of hope for this generation.

From sand and sun

Thanks to the wonders of technology, it's possible to keep in contact with loved ones even from places distant and far.  It used to be that this luxury was only attainable by those fortunate enough to have telephones, and those with the means to pay for the long distance calls, but not so any more.

Earlier this week, some members of my family travelled to the caribbean island of Grand Cayman for a week in the sun.  Even though some of us had to stay behind, we've been able to keep in touch, virtually joining them for the beautiful sunsets and even a day at the beach, and all from the 'comfort' of our own homes.

At 18 months of age, this is baby's very first international travel, and from all reports, she's right at home on the hot sand, in the sun and even in the ocean water.  She loves the waves (don't we all?), and I'm sure that later today when it's time to leave the sun behind in favor of the jet that will bring them home, she will not want to leave.

Would you?

You can do it

Earlier this morning, a group of young ladies arrived in the parish hall and spent three hours or so preparing various dishes which were eventually shared among all the participants: the proceeds taken home to feed their families.  Each one of the participants comes through our doors, bringing with them a mixture of stories and all finding within our walls a place where they are accepted ... no matter what.

These are wonderful ladies.  They're exceptionally capable of reading people, of perceiving sources of trust and love, and quick to befriend those who they know want only the best for them.

I happened to be present for the morning today, and it wasn't long before I'd found my partner, a young lady who I'd had the pleasure to cook with in this context once before.  Today, we had changed locations within the kitchen and instead of standing over the stove, we were gathered around one of the work tables, making cinnamon buns (from scratch).  When we began, my partner was more than a little reticent.  She recounted memories of her grandmother who used to make these delicacies, but her unease because although she's a good cook, she rarely bakes.  Well, within a few hours, she had sprouted new wings, found new confidence and began (at least) to believe that she can indeed make the buns 'almost' as well as her grandmother.

In just a few hours' time, six dozen of them were created, each one formed, raised and baked with care.  They all left the building, and made their way to people's homes: food for their stomachs, memories for others of good times with those they love, and a step along the way for others who have begun to rebuild their confidence.

It's amazing what a little bit of sweet bread can do.

To love and serve the Lord

Children in our parish who are preparing to receive the Eucharist for the first time on Sunday, May 29 met tonight for the last of their preparation sessions.  Over the past couple of months, these children have gotten to know each other, and little by little they have learned about the mystery of God's forgiveness, and about the various gestures and words we speak and hear during the celebration of the Eucharist.

The final words of the Eucharistic celebration are usually spoken by the presider (or by a deacon if one is present), so tonight we focused on these words: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

What does it mean to love and serve the Lord?  How do we do this? Answer, by taking care of one another.  This was a wonderful opening for a teaching about the homeless in our community (by no coincidence, the subject of a previous post).  It didn't take much coaxing to begin a discussion with our little friends about the things that the homeless might need ... food, love, blankets, clothing ... the list went on.

Then we suggested that each child might want to prepare a package of 'things' for one of the homeless in this community.  We don't often know who these people are, but we do want to show them that somehow we are thinking about them, and even in small gestures, we want to show them some love.  Each child therefore prepared a little note addressed to one in our community who doesn't have a home.  In addition, each child (with the help of his or her parents) then prepared a package of gifts which will be forwarded to those in need.

Inside each plastic zip lock bag (so that they are protected from rain) is a note written to each package's eventual recipient, a water bottle, some tissues, a package of gum, a granola bar, cookies, bandages, a package of wet wipes, a pair of socks, some deodorant and even a few emery boards in the 'female' packs.  When all was said and done, there were 22 packages prepared.  In the next couple of days they will be distributed as signs of love from little ones to the needy.

Some of those who were involved in preparing these packages may indeed themselves have loved to take the proceeds home, but this was a lesson about sharing with the less fortunate.  What a lesson for young ones!  What an opportunity to recognize that no matter how needy we ourselves may feel, there is always someone else who is more in need of our help, and it's always better to share the blessings we've received.

In two weeks' time, when these children receive the Eucharist for the first time, perhaps they will recognize that the gift of Christ's body is already being shared with others, thanks to their generous gesture begun tonight.

Number 6 for 2012

Even before the young parents had completed their encounter earlier today, the next meeting was already being prepared.  In this case, the sixth couple to speak with us about planning a wedding for 2012.

Over the past couple of years, the number of weddings celebrated here each year have been increasing, with the exception of this current year.  Last year, we hit an all-time high (there were 22 weddings), and so far this year, including all the bookings, there are a scant 14, but even those might be high by comparison with some other religious locales.

Preparing couples to celebrate a wedding that incorporates a faith element is, shall we say, a bit more involved than just planning a wonderful celebration.  Truthfully, all the facets of making the special day special are also there, but apart from the concerns about the decor at the reception, the music, the meal (and all the other myriad of details), preparing for a church wedding also means that we try to help couples to understand that Marriage is a vocation.

The entire process for preparing a wedding can technically be completed in a period of days, but more often than not, it takes a few months and sometimes at least a year.  The time is not required so that we can inflict pain.  Rather, the time is considered a gift, an opportunity for future husbands and wives to ask the questions that matter, to grow in their love for one another, and hopefully to confirm the choice they have already made by the time they show up for the first time at the doors of places like this one.

Depending on their own faith experience up to this point, some of the questions we ask may seem a bit strange, but when the process is explained, most couples end up learning a whole lot about the requirements we put in place, especially when they understand that these requirements are there in order to help them to appreciate the seriousness of their decision to take the next step.

Happenings closer to home

For the first two weeks of May, there was a very special exhibit at one of the local art stores.  Known for highlighting local talent, Artists on Elgin hosted a show entitled Living on the outside.

Presented by a local organization known as the Poverty, Homelessness and Migration Project Centre for Research in Social Justice and Policy, the exhibit featured photographs created by homeless persons and near homeless persons living in Sudbury.  The pictures portray in graphic detail the realities that the homeless live with every day.

Along with the exhibit, a small booklet was also created which contained some of the pictures as well as text depicting some reflections from the homeless.  This reader noticed that most of the contributing authors only identified themselves by first names (or were they pseudonyms?).  The pictures were not doctored, but rather strove to portray the reality of life on the streets.

Ours is not a large city by any means, yet we seem to have an inordinate amount of street people.  In some respects these are a different breed.  Among them are many who struggle with addictions of various kinds, others who are mentally ill, some who have been evicted because of any range of excuses, and still others who have yet different stories to tell.  In many ways, these are the invisibles of our society because so many of the haves in our world prefer not to see the have-nots (or maybe they themselves prefer it that way).

I wonder sometimes who would be changed if things were different, if some of the fortunates among us had a chance to care for some of the less fortunates, or if some of the struggling among us had a chance to truly believe (even just for a moment) that someone else in the world truly cared about them, or better yet, that someone else cared for them.

No single cause

Hot on the heals of the guidelines published earlier this week by the Vatican Congregation for the Defense of the Faith relative to the abuse of minors by priests, the John Jay College research team, based in New York City published today a report which examined the causes and context of clergy abuse in the United States of America.  In short, researchers at that institution have concluded that there is no single cause or predictor of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy.
An electronic copy of the full report is available on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Considering the recommendations of the Vatican guidelines, which call for Arch-bishops to implement them within the next year or so, this is either a well-timed response or a mere coincidence.  Regardless, it's a step in the right direction.  Similar steps have also been taking place in dioceses throughout this country and others.  Each Arch-diocese is responsible for publishing its own guidelines, but in short the CDF is now calling on all national Conferences of Bishops to facilitate the process, effectively recognizing that this is not an isolated incident, but a far more wide-spread reality than may have been first believed.

The Vatican has also posted documentation and commentary on the subject of responding to the reality of sexual abuse of minors by clergy on its website.

In Canada, the most newsworthy case of late concerns the former Bishop of Antigonish who himself pled guilty to charges of possessing child pornography.  On May 4, 2011, the CCCB published a statement reiterating the Catholic Church’s long-standing condemnation of the possession, distribution and use of child pornographic images in all forms.

From the clearing house

It is customary that the offices of the Holy See in Rome move progressively to a veritable standstill as the weather in the Eternal City continues to grow warmer.  With only a few weeks to go before the Roman holiday begins, the past few days have seen a few publications of length find their way into the public forum.

Among these is a clarification notice published by the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei last Friday which is meant to provide some clarifications (that usually means that there have been more than a few questions raised) about the implementation of the Holy Father's Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio (literally published on his own authority) entitled Summorum Pontificum (original text published in Latin only on July 7, 2007).

Just a few days later (yesterday to be exact), a circular letter was published by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and addressed to the various Episcopal Conferences throughout the world.  This circular letter provides guidelines for dealing with cases of reported sexual abuse of minors by clergy.  A letter of introduction written by Cardinal Levada (pictured above), as well as the guidelines themselves are published in various languages.  There's even a synthesis of the docuement included in the publication packet, perhaps for the sake of brevity, but more probably in order to help various media outlets to make quick work of presenting the essentials of the document.

From here, each Episcopal Conference (the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops being one of them) must take these guidelines and develop them for use within their specific countries.  Each Arch-diocese will then (presumably) have to develop specific details for implementation within their own jurisdictions.  The work has been a long time in the works, but still has a way to go before it's fully enacted, but then this is the stuff of the living Church, and where there is life, there is always change.

On Vocation Sunday

As the Church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Vocations, the scriptures offer us the image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  How to translate this into words for today's world, that's the challenge.  There are so many other interests vying for our attention that often the voice of faith can be drowned or ignored.  Yet, this is the only voice that can truly satisfy.

Ah, by the way, I've noticed that the parish website, where I normally store the podcast versions of these reflections is currently out of service.  I promise to keep the recordings though, and to make them available as soon as we find a way to make it happen.

Here's this week's offering:

That you may have life

This week in Southern Spain there were two earthquakes.  People there are still scrambling to tend to the wounded, to bury the dead and to bring order back to their lives.  In Pakistan this week, there was a suicide bombing.  People in that country too are still scrambling to put the pieces back together again, even as some are wondering why they have to pay the price for someone else's actions.  The human instinct to fight for life is perhaps the strongest innate part of the human spirit.

All of us want to live life, and to live it to the full.  What makes this life interesting though is that we all define the particulars of living life to the full in different ways.  For the majority of human beings on this planet, fighting for life is defined in physical tangible terms: it means finding enough food so that we and our families will not go to bed hungry ... but what about those who have never known what it's like to be hungry.  What kind of fight do such fortunates have to be prepared for?  Sociologists tell us that if our basic needs for food and shelter are taken care of, the next order of need is for friendship and acceptance.  That's why teenagers and many adults in our society define our lives based on how we are perceived by others.  Many people make fortunes based on our need to be accepted by others because if we're seeking peer support, we can become convinced that this too will bring us the fullness of life, but the gift of life that Jesus offers is bigger than this.

I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.  On more than one occasion, Pope John Paul II urged young people not to settle for second best, not to be content with the things that promise instant gratification, but rather to turn to Jesus who alone has the power to satisfy every hunger.  Jesus' words in today's gospel call out to all of us with this same promise.  This promise is one we can count on.  It begins with a personal relationship with Jesus, like any personal relationship, built on faith and trust.

Today, the Church observes the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  Each one of us, by virtue of our baptism has been given a vocation to grow in our relationship with Jesus.  From the time he first called the disciples on the seashore to this day, Jesus continues to invite all is disciples to enter into this relationship.  In a society that seems to be changing at such a rapid pace that no one seems capable of keeping up with all the latest technological advances, Jesus calls us to come, to sit at his feet and to listen.  To those who find it increasingly difficult to trust because they have experienced one too many broken promises, Jesus calls us to receive the gift of his body and blood, food that he provides in abundance.  To those who have grown jaded in their relationships and find it impossible to trust, Jesus calls us to us and tells us that he is willing to wait for us, until the time that we are willing to allow him to heal us of our skepticism.

Each one of us has a vocation to be a disciple.  If we accept it, we have to be ready to look beyond the transient promises that our world offers.  We have to be ready to look to the only one who can truly give us the answers that will satisfy.  From the first apostles he met and called, to today's disciples who are still being called, Jesus invites us to believe that he came to this earth so that we could have life in abundance, to believe that he died for us, in order to take away sin that can separate us from the love of God, to believe that he has indeed risen from the dead and still calls to find life in him, life in abundance.

Learning about sacred things

Part two of the preparation sessions for children who will receive the Eucharist for the first time in the coming weeks took place a few days ago.  These little ones are veritable sponges, soaking up all the instruction we have to offer.  Even their parents seem to be benefiting from the catechesis.

In this case, we wanted to introduce the children to a number of the vessels and objects that we use for the celebration of the Mass.  These are things that Catholics see every time they come to celebrate this sacrament, but rarely do they get a chance to see them up close, to touch them, to learn about how we use them.

First the larger parts of the furnishings: the altar, the ambo, the tabernacle and the paschal candle were pointed out, and a bit about their use was explained.  Then we moved on to some of the smaller things that only make cameo appearances: the monstrance, the thurible, the boat.  Finally some time was spent pointing out the vessels that are used for the celebration of the Eucharistic banquet: the chalice, the patten, the pall, the purificator, the corporal.  They even got to see an alb, a stole, a chasuble and a humeral veil up close.

With characteristic zeal, the children welcomed this show and tell.  We can only hope and trust that they will have many opportunities to see these things being used, and from now on they will have just a little idea about what they are, and why they are used.

Preparing for baptism

It's only been three weeks since Easter, the last day on which we baptised little ones (and some adults too), but already we're preparing this morning to welcome more newcomers to the fold.

The font is ready, the towels are waiting to catch the drips of holiness falling from the freshly baptised heads, the candles are waiting to be lit with paschal light, and even the words that need to be spoken are just waiting upon their pages for the right time to be transformed into messages for waiting ears.

As to whether the hearts of parents who are bringing their children here for this celebration are ready to accept the responsibility that comes with this gesture, human hearts can only trust that God is at work.  From our places, walking in faith beside these parents, we can pray and we can watch.  We can assist with words of welcome and encouragement (and every now and then a word of challenge doesn't hurt either).

Let the celebration begin.

Giving thanks

Today, the Church celebrates the Liturgical Memorial of Saint Matthias, the thirteenth apostle, chosen to succeed Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15-26).  Eighteen years ago today, family and friends from near and far were gathered in the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption to celebrate the liturgy of Ordination.

There were two ordinands that evening.  Like the apostle Matthias, we too were being called then to follow in the footsteps of the Master, and even today the words spoken by the Bishop during his homily still ring in my ears: Feed God's people with special food.  The food given by Jesus in the form of his body and blood is now confided to our care for the nourishment of His people.  The food given by Jesus to his followers in the form of words and teachings written down in the scriptures is now entrusted to those called to the office of teaching, that we in turn might transmit this gospel of holy joy to God's people today.

Today provides an opportunity for giving thanks: to God for his generosity and his invitation to walk this very special road, and to all those who have been placed at various points along the road to provide their wisdom and encouragement in so many ways.  Pray today for those who work in the vineyard, and for many more to have the courage to listen for His call .. and to have the courage to respond.

Feeling right at home

A casual visitor who happened upon the parish kitchen yesterday may very well have been surprised to see so many people there.  What was going on?  This was the semi-monthly meeting of the street kids who have been coming to cook with us for the past (almost) two years.

This week, perhaps more than normal, there was an increased number of participants.  Part of the reason has to do with the people who are in leadership positions: the ones who invite (sometimes persuasively) the youth who gather at the neighbourhood drop-in to come spend some time with us.  Coerced or not, participants are learning that this venture is not about patronizing.  It's about helping them to be the best they can.

In this case, teenagers and young adults are invited to prepare a meal which is then shared with their friends.  The level of comfort that already exists between those who call the neighbourhood drop-in one of their hang outs is also being transferred to our kitchen, where the young people are getting more and more comfortable with others who are working with them in the kitchen.

The banter that flies back and forth causes some to cringe even while others are constantly appearing to test the limits.  What makes the coordinators more and more admired and appreciated is the fact that they don't play into the games.  Instead they gently allow participants to learn the lessons they need to learn, to share the stories they are comfortable to confide, and to grow at their own pace until they too can mentor others to reach for the stars.

What do we believe?

How to teach children about the creed.

This was one of the questions we entertained last night, as part of the preparation session offered for young people who will celebrate the Sacrament of First Eucharist with us in the coming weeks.  The discussion that was sparked by this round of questions was most enlightening.  Parents, who were seated with their children, did their best to help their youngsters to join in the conversation, and it was evident from the rhythm of the evening that at least some of these little ones had done some homework.
 

Among the various answers we received about the question What do we believe, the various tenets of the faith began to surface:

• We believe in God;
• We believe in his son Jesus Christ;
• We believe in the Holy Spirit;
• We believe in (the Blessed Virgin) Mary;
• We believe the (Holy Catholic) Church;
• We believe in the communion of saints;
• We believe in the forgiveness of sins; and
• We believe in life everlasting.

Deepening their understandings of these truths is the ongoing stuff of a life of faith.  With the help of their parents, and others who are willing to walk with them, these little ones will (day by day) come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of their faith ... but then again that's a journey that we're all on, one step at a time.

Preparing to welcome

Once a month or so we have a meeting with young parents.  These are the folk who have asked us to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for their children.  Sometimes we know the people because they are regularly part of the assembly that gathers, but every month, there are also new faces: new people who themselves need to know that they are welcome.

Each person who walks through our door brings with him- or herself a unique story, and it's rare that upon a first encounter, anyone would know the hidden stories.  What has brought these parents to our door?  What role does faith play in their lives?  Who is really behind their decision to come and to ask for this sacrament?  At times it seems that there are more questions than answers, and yet the prevailing attitude (I think) is that we want to welcome them.  Unless there is a glaring reason not to baptise the child (and there rarely is), this first encounter should be as warm as possible.


I will often quasi joke with parents that I get paid vast sums to ask some delicate questions from time to time.  These are meant to make parents think though about the seriousness of the commitment they are about to undertake, and ultimately the decision is left up to them to continue with the celebration or not.  If they do (and I haven't had one yet who has backed away), the responsibility that comes with the celebration must also be weighed and accepted.

Many young people today don't understand much about the Church, and what they do understand often comes from the media.  A meeting such as this is often the first point at which some real answers to the questions that are asked can be furnished, and if this encounter goes well, parents will be back because whether they admit it or not, parents always want the best for their children, and if they perceive that the Church has something to offer to their children, parents will bring them, will learn the lessons themselves, and will in turn teach their little ones.

Start then by catechising the un-catechised and trust that the lessons will trickle down.

Twenty-five and counting

It was at least a quarter century ago that a man knocked at a door, looking for some help.  For whatever reason, there was no response to his plea.  He later died, reportedly from the cold.  When the news of this incident reached the ears of the local priest, he knew that things had to change.  Before long, the Inner City Home was born.

Staffed mostly by volunteers, the Home has continued to offer a welcoming atmosphere, a listening ear and a compassionate heart to transients and wayward souls.  Some need food, others just need someone to talk to.  All of them need warmth, and the staff at the Home are always there to greet them.

Tonight, the volunteers and staff gathered for the celebration of a Mass, an opportunity to give thanks for the continued graces that are given to all those who continue to give of themselves.  This celebration is about giving thanks, but also about looking to the future.  The poor will always need our help.  The poor will always be with us to teach us the lessons of humility and service.  The poor will always afford us a unique opportunity to see the face of God, if only we have the eyes of faith to see.

Repairs awarded

With the push of a few buttons, the deed was done this morning.

Two years ago, the folks who call this church their spiritual home finally saw new shingles fastened to the roof of the worship space.  The re-roofing project itself took a number of years to get organized, and it took the better part of a wet and soggy summer to complete.  Now, more than 17 months later, the next phase is about to get underway.

About a month ago, we received the drawings and specifications for the reconstruction work necessary in the bell towers.  This is work that's been talked about around these parts for the better part of three decades, but always with a sense of resignation that it has to wait until someone else can do it.  The waiting can't last much longer though so over the past couple of weeks, we've invited bids from five different companies, received bids from three of them, and now we've awarded the contract.  To be sure, there is still the question of making sure that all the legalities are out of the way, but it won't be long now before the work will begin.

I'll do my best to keep you all apprised, and of course to post some pics of the work in progress.

On the road to Emmaus

This weekend's scripture passages place the Church with the two apostles on the road to Emmaus.  Like all the moments of encounter described in the gospel accounts, this is not just a story to be recounted, but a story to be lived.  In fact, whether or not we realize it we are indeed living this moment of disbelief, reassurance and faith in the light of Easter.

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Do not be afraid
Last Saturday evening, I stood with a crowd impossible to count in the Circus Maximus in Rome.  People from all corners of the earth were there, and even as the crowds of people were still filing in, there were was a group of about twenty who began to sing.  Accompanied by three guitars and a jimbay (a hand drum), this group sang joyful songs and the rhythm of the music was infectious.  It wasn't long before their group of dancers, who encircled the musicians, began to grow, and then as if by magic, there were more musicians who also joined in.  Not everyone involved understood the Spanish that was being uttered, but that wasn't important.  Music has a way of transcending the boundaries of language to unite hearts.  I couldn't help thinking that this was one of the gifts of John Paul II's papacy: finding means to transcend the barriers that separate us, so that we can grow closer, so that we can share one another's joys and trials.

All through Rome last weekend, people streamed in.  From all corners of the world, they came.  The organizers of the Beatification ceremony decided that they would not issue tickets for the liturgies, or for the events which had been planned.  To do so would be just too complicated, and would risk closing a door to some who would want to be there.  Not since the funeral of John Paul has Rome seen so many pilgrims arrive, but then again, during his twenty-seven year pontificate, he had so often surprised everyone with words and gestures that both challenged us and nourished our hearts and souls.  Throughout the city, banners hung from the lampposts.  In this case, they did not depict the nations flag, but pictures of John Paul, close to the people he served.  Emblazoned on each banner were words he had uttered, phrases he had used to call us to action.
 
Do not be afraid.  Open wide the doors of your hearts to Christ.  These words, spoken to the world at the beginning of his pontificate, became the theme of his work among us.  They also formed the theme of our reflections as we gave thanks to God throughout the weekend for all he had accomplished through this faithful servant.  These words still echo in my ears and my heart as I stand here among you this weekend, in the midst of the Church's liturgy, having read the story of the road to Emmaus just a few moments ago.

Each of us gathered here, each of us who is a disciple of Jesus, each of us is on the road to Emmaus.  Like Cleopas and the other disciple who accompanied him on that day, we too are coming to believe the full meaning of the Lord's resurrection.  This is a life-long process that is guided and deepened each time that we hear the stories of our salvation recounted in the scriptures.  It begins when we are baptised, and is nourished when we receive the other sacraments, but all of us are at some level timid about believing the true power of the gift of faith entrusted to us.  In some way or other, we are all like those two disciples on the road, slow of heart to believe all that has been declared.  We all need voices in today's world to encourage us to not be afraid and to open wide the doors of our hearts to Christ.

This weekend, we celebrate Mothers' Day, a time to give thanks for the gift of our mothers.  Apart from our heavenly mother, each of us has only one mother in this world: the one who has hoped and dreamed for us from the time we were born.  Mothers are often the ones who most consistently welcome us and support us.  They are the ones who believe in us sometimes even when we find it difficult to believe in ourselves.  Was this not what Jesus was doing with the disciples on the road to Emmaus?  Was this not what John Paul II did throughout his earthly life with those entrusted to his care?  Is this not what our faith continues to proclaim to us in the scriptures we read?

Confidence in faith, like in all other aspects of life, becomes stronger the more it is tested.  Even the apostles needed to hear the words of Jesus: Peace be with you ... do not be afraid.  More than once in the post-resurrection accounts, we see Jesus appearing to them, encouraging their hearts, gently prodding them to believe.  Why should we be any different?  Perhaps as we hear the story of Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost, we too are amazed at the conviction in his words.  Maybe we have difficulty believing that Peter himself would also have written the words we heard proclaimed in the second reading of today's Mass: you were ransomed ... not with silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ.  These are words of conviction, words that come from the heart of one who himself was tested, words from one who also knew what it was like to be afraid, but who had come to believe and to trust.  These words were spoken by the same Peter who had denied Jesus, by him who had been fortunate enough to know the gift of Jesus' forgiveness in the repeated question Do you love me?  Perhaps we too have known the fear that tempts us to deny knowing Jesus.  Maybe we have even known the intimate experience of hearing Jesus ask, Do you love me?  For every time that we deny him, he always responds with this gentle invitation to renew our commitment to be his disciple.

Today, Jesus calls to each of us with the invitation Do not be afraid.  Open wide the doors of your hearts.  Let us respond with hearts that also burn within us with the excitement of faith, with the enthusiasm to share the Good News, with the conviction to call others to believe.

Praying and learning

Back on this side of the pond, students from one of the neighbouring secondary schools made their way to the church on Thursday for the parish mass celebrated at high noon.  Celebrated within the second week of Easter, a week that has been set aside to highlight the importance of Catholic Education, 200 students filed through the door, bringing with them their musical talent, their eagerness to participate in any number of ways to make this liturgy as lively as possible, and their ever increasing sense that the church is somewhat different from the school gymnasium.

For some, this is an outing, but for all, this is a teachable moment, a chance for them to learn bit by bit the treasure of their faith, and to begin to understand, even if feebly at first how to relate to Jesus as a confidant and a friend.  Who knows to what depth of faith they have already been invited .... some things can't be told in spoken word.

As it turns out, Thursday evening of this week was also the first of preparation classes for the young people (of elementary school age) who are preparing for the reception of First Eucharist.  These gathered in the evening hours to begin the latest phase of their own instruction.

After a review of the sessions they have already lived in the past weeks, relative to preparation for First Reconciliation, they were invited to gather around a table where we reviewed for them the similarities between the Eucharistic meal and a meal offered out of hospitality in their own homes.  Moving from the familiar to the not so well known does help them (and us too) to understand that this gesture is not so far from our comprehension as to be beyond us.  Rather, Jesus used familiar customs to show us that He is always close to us, present in all that we do.

The next phase of these children's preparation takes place this morning.  They will be invited to present their names, effectively enrolling themselves in the process of preparation for the Sacrament of First Eucharist, and taking a birds-eye view of the preparations, gestures and vessels that are used around the table of the heavenly banquet.

A final resting place

A question that has been asked more than once in the past number of weeks has indeed been answered.  The mortal remains of Blessed John Paul II were transferred on Monday evening of this past week, after the last of the pilgrims had filed past, to the Altar of Saint Sebastian.

His triple coffin, transferred from the grotto beneath the high altar of Saint Peter's has now been re-interred there and his name has been inscribed so that we will all know where to find him when we go next to that place of prayer.

Early in the morning of Tuesday, John Paul's former personal secretary and now Archbishop of Krakow celebrated the first Mass over his tomb in it's new resting place.  As some commentators have already remarked, this spot may very well become one of the most popular choices for the pilgrims and residents alike to celebrate their morning Masses within the world's largest church.

Meanwhile, the tapestry that hung outside the Basilica, above the main door has by now been removed from its perch and stored, and the stone that covered John Paul's resting place in the Vatican crypt is on its way to Karkow where it will be displayed prominently in a yet-to-be commissioned church which is under construction, probably to be dedicated under his patronage.

Giving thanks

Finally, on the day following the Beatification liturgy, the flock found its way back to St. Peter's Square, this time for the celebration of a special Mass of Thanksgiving.  Like the Vigil of Saturday evneing, and the Mass of Beatification, there was time for greetings to be shared between the Blessed's former secretary (in Polish) and the Secretary of State, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone.

Cardinal Bertone went on to preside at the entire Mass, accompanied by his brothers (Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Religious and faithful) as an act of gratitude to the Father for having bestowed such an honor on John Paul.  For his part, the text of Cardinal Bertone's homily has also been translated into various languages. The entire text is available on the Vatican website in English, Italian and Spanish.

The parade of faithful in and out of the Basilica as they each took the time necessary for veneration of the body of John Paul II, continued late into the evening hours of Monday as well, but came to an end at the end of the day.

Venerating the venerable

Six years ago, when his funeral liturgy was complete, the Cardinals then gathered in Rome each took their turn to venerate the coffin of the late Pontiff, John Paul II.  This past week, following the completion of the Mass of Beatification the lines formed once again, this time made up of the Blessed's successor, his confreres (Cardinals and Bishops) and visiting digitaries. 

Then the line continued, made up of the faithful, each of which had come to venerate the Pope who had done so much to show the human face of the Pontificate to the world.  In fact, the line of the faithful continued to move slowly toward the doors of the Basilica of Saint Peter, then through the doors and into the church where the coffin had been placed in front of the Altar of the Confession, and was guarded by four spear-yielding Swiss Guards.

The lines continued until at least 11:00pm on Sunday evening, and formed again on Monday morning as early as 6:00am.  In the end, the lineups finally dissipated around 11:00pm on Monday evening.  With reported numbers coming in around the 50K level for Poles alone, and estimates of the crowds hovering around 1M+ level.

Homily for Beatification

Within hours of the completion of the Beatification Mass, the printed copy of the Holy Father, Benedict XVIs homily were published and available for reflection.  As has become the habit in recent times, the text is published in a variety of languages so as to be understood by the widest audience possible.  Here is a copy of the English language text (just to make it easier for you to read).  The complete list of texts is available on the Vatican website.

PAPAL MASS

ON THE OCCASION OF THE

BEATIFICATION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD JOHN PAUL II

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI

Saint Peter's Square

Divine Mercy Sunday, 1 May 2011

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Six years ago we gathered in this Square to celebrate the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Our grief at his loss was deep, but even greater was our sense of an immense grace which embraced Rome and the whole world: a grace which was in some way the fruit of my beloved predecessor’s entire life, and especially of his witness in suffering. Even then we perceived the fragrance of his sanctity, and in any number of ways God’s People showed their veneration for him. For this reason, with all due respect for the Church’s canonical norms, I wanted his cause of beatification to move forward with reasonable haste. And now the longed-for day has come; it came quickly because this is what was pleasing to the Lord: John Paul II is blessed!

I would like to offer a cordial greeting to all of you who on this happy occasion have come in such great numbers to Rome from all over the world – cardinals, patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches, brother bishops and priests, official delegations, ambassadors and civil authorities, consecrated men and women and lay faithful, and I extend that greeting to all those who join us by radio and television.

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, which Blessed John Paul II entitled Divine Mercy Sunday. The date was chosen for today’s celebration because, in God’s providence, my predecessor died on the vigil of this feast. Today is also the first day of May, Mary’s month, and the liturgical memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker. All these elements serve to enrich our prayer, they help us in our pilgrimage through time and space; but in heaven a very different celebration is taking place among the angels and saints! Even so, God is but one, and one too is Christ the Lord, who like a bridge joins earth to heaven. At this moment we feel closer than ever, sharing as it were in the liturgy of heaven.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (Jn 20:29). In today’s Gospel Jesus proclaims this beatitude: the beatitude of faith. For us, it is particularly striking because we are gathered to celebrate a beatification, but even more so because today the one proclaimed blessed is a Pope, a Successor of Peter, one who was called to confirm his brethren in the faith. John Paul II is blessed because of his faith, a strong, generous and apostolic faith. We think at once of another beatitude: “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven” (Mt 16:17). What did our heavenly Father reveal to Simon? That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Because of this faith, Simon becomes Peter, the rock on which Jesus can build his Church. The eternal beatitude of John Paul II, which today the Church rejoices to proclaim, is wholly contained in these sayings of Jesus: “Blessed are you, Simon” and “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe!” It is the beatitude of faith, which John Paul II also received as a gift from God the Father for the building up of Christ’s Church.

Our thoughts turn to yet another beatitude, one which appears in the Gospel before all others. It is the beatitude of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer. Mary, who had just conceived Jesus, was told by Saint Elizabeth: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (Lk 1:45). The beatitude of faith has its model in Mary, and all of us rejoice that the beatification of John Paul II takes place on this first day of the month of Mary, beneath the maternal gaze of the one who by her faith sustained the faith of the Apostles and constantly sustains the faith of their successors, especially those called to occupy the Chair of Peter. Mary does not appear in the accounts of Christ’s resurrection, yet hers is, as it were, a continual, hidden presence: she is the Mother to whom Jesus entrusted each of his disciples and the entire community. In particular we can see how Saint John and Saint Luke record the powerful, maternal presence of Mary in the passages preceding those read in today’s Gospel and first reading. In the account of Jesus’ death, Mary appears at the foot of the cross (Jn 19:25), and at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles she is seen in the midst of the disciples gathered in prayer in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14).

Today’s second reading also speaks to us of faith. Saint Peter himself, filled with spiritual enthusiasm, points out to the newly-baptized the reason for their hope and their joy. I like to think how in this passage, at the beginning of his First Letter, Peter does not use language of exhortation; instead, he states a fact. He writes: “you rejoice”, and he adds: “you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet 1:6, 8-9). All these verbs are in the indicative, because a new reality has come about in Christ’s resurrection, a reality to which faith opens the door. “This is the Lord’s doing”, says the Psalm (118:23), and “it is marvelous in our eyes”, the eyes of faith.

Dear brothers and sisters, today our eyes behold, in the full spiritual light of the risen Christ, the beloved and revered figure of John Paul II. Today his name is added to the host of those whom he proclaimed saints and blesseds during the almost twenty-seven years of his pontificate, thereby forcefully emphasizing the universal vocation to the heights of the Christian life, to holiness, taught by the conciliar Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium. All of us, as members of the people of God – bishops, priests, deacons, laity, men and women religious – are making our pilgrim way to the heavenly homeland where the Virgin Mary has preceded us, associated as she was in a unique and perfect way to the mystery of Christ and the Church. Karol Wojtyła took part in the Second Vatican Council, first as an auxiliary Bishop and then as Archbishop of Kraków. He was fully aware that the Council’s decision to devote the last chapter of its Constitution on the Church to Mary meant that the Mother of the Redeemer is held up as an image and model of holiness for every Christian and for the entire Church. This was the theological vision which Blessed John Paul II discovered as a young man and subsequently maintained and deepened throughout his life. A vision which is expressed in the scriptural image of the crucified Christ with Mary, his Mother, at his side. This icon from the Gospel of John (19:25-27) was taken up in the episcopal and later the papal coat-of-arms of Karol Wojtyła: a golden cross with the letter “M” on the lower right and the motto “Totus tuus”, drawn from the well-known words of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort in which Karol Wojtyła found a guiding light for his life: “Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt. Accipio te in mea omnia. Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria – I belong entirely to you, and all that I have is yours. I take you for my all. O Mary, give me your heart” (Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, 266).

In his Testament, the new Blessed wrote: “When, on 16 October 1978, the Conclave of Cardinals chose John Paul II, the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, said to me: ‘The task of the new Pope will be to lead the Church into the Third Millennium’”. And the Pope added: “I would like once again to express my gratitude to the Holy Spirit for the great gift of the Second Vatican Council, to which, together with the whole Church – and especially with the whole episcopate – I feel indebted. I am convinced that it will long be granted to the new generations to draw from the treasures that this Council of the twentieth century has lavished upon us. As a Bishop who took part in the Council from the first to the last day, I desire to entrust this great patrimony to all who are and will be called in the future to put it into practice. For my part, I thank the Eternal Shepherd, who has enabled me to serve this very great cause in the course of all the years of my Pontificate”. And what is this “cause”? It is the same one that John Paul II presented during his first solemn Mass in Saint Peter’s Square in the unforgettable words: “Do not be afraid! Open, open wide the doors to Christ!” What the newly-elected Pope asked of everyone, he was himself the first to do: society, culture, political and economic systems he opened up to Christ, turning back with the strength of a titan – a strength which came to him from God – a tide which appeared irreversible. By his witness of faith, love and apostolic courage, accompanied by great human charisma, this exemplary son of Poland helped believers throughout the world not to be afraid to be called Christian, to belong to the Church, to speak of the Gospel. In a word: he helped us not to fear the truth, because truth is the guarantee of liberty. To put it even more succinctly: he gave us the strength to believe in Christ, because Christ is Redemptor hominis, the Redeemer of man. This was the theme of his first encyclical, and the thread which runs though all the others.

When Karol Wojtyła ascended to the throne of Peter, he brought with him a deep understanding of the difference between Marxism and Christianity, based on their respective visions of man. This was his message: man is the way of the Church, and Christ is the way of man. With this message, which is the great legacy of the Second Vatican Council and of its “helmsman”, the Servant of God Pope Paul VI, John Paul II led the People of God across the threshold of the Third Millennium, which thanks to Christ he was able to call “the threshold of hope”. Throughout the long journey of preparation for the great Jubilee he directed Christianity once again to the future, the future of God, which transcends history while nonetheless directly affecting it. He rightly reclaimed for Christianity that impulse of hope which had in some sense faltered before Marxism and the ideology of progress. He restored to Christianity its true face as a religion of hope, to be lived in history in an “Advent” spirit, in a personal and communitarian existence directed to Christ, the fullness of humanity and the fulfillment of all our longings for justice and peace.

Finally, on a more personal note, I would like to thank God for the gift of having worked for many years with Blessed Pope John Paul II. I had known him earlier and had esteemed him, but for twenty-three years, beginning in 1982 after he called me to Rome to be Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I was at his side and came to revere him all the more. My own service was sustained by his spiritual depth and by the richness of his insights. His example of prayer continually impressed and edified me: he remained deeply united to God even amid the many demands of his ministry. Then too, there was his witness in suffering: the Lord gradually stripped him of everything, yet he remained ever a “rock”, as Christ desired. His profound humility, grounded in close union with Christ, enabled him to continue to lead the Church and to give to the world a message which became all the more eloquent as his physical strength declined. In this way he lived out in an extraordinary way the vocation of every priest and bishop to become completely one with Jesus, whom he daily receives and offers in the Church.

Blessed are you, beloved Pope John Paul II, because you believed! Continue, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God’s people. You often blessed us in this Square from the Apostolic Palace: Bless us, Holy Father! Amen.