 |
|
|
|
 |
|
||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
 |
|
||
Document Archive
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the worst of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us ..."
Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua
Archbishop of Philadelphia
Homily at Chrism Mass
Cathedral-Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul
28 March 2002Who can forget these stirring words from Charles Dickens', A Tale of Two Cities, as he described France at the time of its Revolution in 1789. Though the times portrayed occurred over two centuries ago, the description of that era can apply very well to our present age. Nor would it be off the mark to see in these words a description of the priesthood at this present time. We face the challenge and joy of our priestly ministry while at the same time we are struggling with the pain and sorrow of scandal and constant attack.
How many times have you and I proclaimed our condemnation of the sexual abuse of minors as one of the most depraved of sins? Who is there who would not agree that we the whole Church - clergy, consecrated religious and lay faithful - must increase our efforts to eradicate this horrific misconduct by the clergy or anyone else? But our statements and our apologies to the victims cannot be words alone. They must be accompanied always by our renewed commitment to demonstrate pastoral care for the victims and to be holy and faithful shepherds who guide and protect those most precious to the Church - our children and youth.
For those of us in the priesthood, it may be humanly understandable if we succumb occasionally to thinking that this is a time of death, darkness and despair. Some outside voices are even asking the question: "Can the Church survive this crisis?"
We know the dark side of this time all too well, but we are gathered at this Chrism Mass to celebrate not death, darkness and despair but rather life, light and hope. Today we lift up our hearts to God in spiritual joy because in the midst of what some may consider the worst of times, there truly does exist eternal life, real light and authentic hope in the person of Jesus Christ. He is our eternal High Priest, the same yesterday, today and forever.
This morning's Opening Prayer reminds us that Jesus Christ has been anointed Messiah and Lord of creation by our Heavenly Father. Jesus' consecration has been shared with us at the moment of our priestly ordination. We are privileged to be Christ's priestly servants, bringing to everyone the salvation which Christ has won for us.
What Our Lord says in today's gospel, recalling the prophet Isaiah, we priests also can gratefully say: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me; therefore he has anointed me. He as sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord." Such thoughts can only fill our hearts with boundless gratitude to God for the gift of our priesthood and summon in us the beautiful words of this morning's Responsorial Psalm: "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."
As we sing the goodness of the Lord for giving each of us the gift of His priesthood, let us also radiate the light and life of hope. Never for a moment think that because God may be hidden, He is absent. God is always with us even in the worst of times. Saint Luke describes how one day Jesus told a large crowd: "This is an evil generation." (Lk. 11: 29) But He did not leave the crowd in despair. He gave them hope by announcing to them that even in this evil generation, there is someone present among them who is greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon.
As those who, in a special way, re-present Christ on earth, we too must give hope to our people in troubled times. How often Christ bolsters our hope with His reassuring words: "Be not afraid." (Mt. 28: 10) Does He not also tell us "Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in Me." (Jn. 14: 1) After 2000 years of often turbulent Church history, can anyone doubt Christ's guarantee given only to the Church that "the gates of hell will not prevail against it"? In its 2000 years of life, the Catholic Church has "died" numerous times because of scandals of its members (clergy, religious, laity). But each time this occurred, the renewed holiness of its laity, religious and clergy led to a "resurrection" of the Church. Christ's presence in the Church and His guarantee that the evil of hell will not triumph over the Church gives us "the sure and certain hope" that through holiness the Church and the priesthood will have another glorious resurrection. Christ's message of hope to us is beautifully captured in the French writer Peguy's words: "We must put our hope in God; He has put His hope in us."
My brother priests, God has put His hope in us but so has the faithful flock. We are the instruments of God's grace for our people. Yes, we often feel our unworthiness at the altar about to say the words of consecration. Yet we know that God uses us priests to make Himself present. Our responsibility to be instruments of sacramental grace, however, far outweighs our unworthiness. This, of course, does not exonerate us from striving each day to be worthy ministers of God's grace. "Imitate what you handle," we heard at our ordination ceremony. This we try to do each day. Hopefully, with God's grace and our willingness to try, we will realize in our minds and in our priestly actions that there is only one thing that counts - to be a saint.
Words to the Congregation
My beloved Deacons, Consecrated men and women and lay faithful.
On behalf of my brother Bishops and priests, may I express my deepest gratitude to all of you for coming this morning and for renewing your support and love for your priests.
While the public disclosure of the failings of some of our priests may have scandalized you, I pray that you will continue to be inspired by the priestly service and goodness of the overwhelming majority of our priests.
In a few moments, we priests will make a special re-commitment of our priestly ministry to God, to the Church and to you. At the same time, pray for us and we will pray for you as together we struggle with our humanity.
I conclude with a spiritual appeal by a famous theologian, Father Karl Rahner, in which he asks the laity to be accepting of the humanity of priests.
"My brothers and sisters, accept us as we are: men who, like you, need the mercy of God; poor men, weak, sinful, with faults and limited talents.
"Though we are the men called by God, chosen by Him to be the servants of the altar in your holy community, we too grope through the darkness of the world. All we can do is travel with you into the light of God, our Father, who loves us, forgives us and sends Himself in Jesus Christ and in the grace of the Holy Spirit.
"So you see, you must carry us just as we must carry you. And we can only beg you: Pray for us. Have patience with us. Carry us. Accept God's word and His holy mysteries from us."
Homily Addendum
Substance of Post Homily Extemporaneous Words of Cardinal Bevilacqua
May I say again how deeply moved I am by the presence of so many priests at this Chrism Mass as well as by the overwhelming number of lay faithful, religious and deacons. I am painfully aware how much all of you have suffered during these past four-five weeks. I ask all of you never be ashamed but rather always be proud to say: "I am a Catholic."
And to you, my brother priests, let us never be ashamed but always be proud to say: "I am a Catholic priest."
Finally, if from this moment forward, all of us be truly resolved to grow in holiness, this Chrism Mass may well mark the beginning of our brightest and finest hour.