ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Dear Bishop Mansour, Bishop Shaheen, Bishop Doueihi,
Dear Brother Priests and Deacons,
Dear Religious and Lay Faithful of the Maronite Church,

It is a great joy for me to welcome all of you to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul here in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Your presence is a great blessing for our local Church. We assure you of our prayers for the success of your annual convention and for the realization of your theme this year, which is Identity and Evangelization in the Spirit of Saint Maron.

This is indeed a very important moment for the Maronite Church. You are gathered together to reaffirm your holy Catholic faith and all the sacred values of your Maronite Church. Through the assistance of Tele Lumière you do so before so many brothers and sisters in the Arab world and beyond.

As we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on this Sunday as we always do, at the same time you are blessed to have a commemoration on this day of the Three Massabki Brothers, Martyrs at Damascus. The commemoration of these Martyrs is a great remembrance of the tremendous sacrifice that is part of the legacy of the Maronite Church. These brothers, Francis, Abdul Mohti and Raphael shed their blood in fidelity to Jesus Christ our Lord. They will remain forever luminous witnesses of the Maronite Church, holy martyrs who will remind future generations forever of the fidelity of the Maronite Church.

The power of Christ's Resurrection is seen in the power of these martyrs to offer up their life in sacrifice. The treasure of their martyrdom remains part of what you, dear friends, as Maronite Catholics transmit from generation to generation as a special gem of your Church.

The world changes rapidly, customs change rapidly but the power of God's word endures forever and the message of your holy martyrs is something that is forever relevant. How moving are the words of the Letter to the Hebrews which we proclaim today. In the context of the assembly of the Maronite Church at this time, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us: "We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith." How accurately, dear friends, these words express the context of our Christian life. We are running the race that lies before us and we must indeed keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, just as the great witnesses of the Church have done in every generation and just as the Massabki Brothers so eloquently testify today. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us also that Jesus "endured the Cross, despising its shame and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God". And then the sacred author tells us to reflect in order not to grow weary and lose heart. I am thinking of your ancestors. I am thinking of the great tradition of loyalty and love that has come out of the Maronite Church. I am thinking about all the suffering that has been endured by faithful Maronites throughout the centuries, continuing up to our own age, in our own day. It is this great treasure of fidelity that you must reflect on during this convention.

And as you do this, as you recall all the trials inherent in your Catholic history, at the same time you remember the consoling words of Jesus that are repeated in the Gospel today: "Do not be afraid." Jesus also assures us of the importance of each one of us. He says: "You are worth more than many sparrows." Yes, dear friends, do not be afraid. The Spirit of God is with you. The Lord Jesus remains in your midst. Despite all the challenges and difficulties for our young people, despite all the sufferings that have been endured and that will always have to be endured in Christianity, the Lord is with you. And in your unity among yourselves, in the holy Maronite Catholic Church, you find strength.

Today we express our unity with Pope Benedict XVI. We are united with him in the communion of the universal Church, just as we are united with the Maronite martyrs at Damascus and just as we are united with all the Saints of God.

We are happy to recall all those whom God has chosen as your leaders. We express our communion in faith and love with Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, your new Patriarch who follows the tradition of your Church and assumes the name of Peter to express his union with our Holy Father. I remember my own encounters with the new Patriarch during my time in Lebanon. I remember his hospitality. And I remember also the visit of the Lebanese Bishops to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis when Bishop Shaheen was consecrated a Bishop ten years ago, in 2001. I have been privileged to be close to the Maronite Church on so many occasions, including the enthronement of Bishop Mansour. And I shall always remember with deep affection and profound admiration Patriarch Nasrallah Pierre Cardinal Sfeir, together with the beloved pioneer Shepherd of the Maronite Church in the United States, Archbishop Francis Zayek, whose memory we all hold in reverence and benediction.
As we reflect on the great Catholic unity that we experience today, we also renew our intention and our solemn commitment to be faithful to Jesus Christ, to His holy Catholic Church, to His Gospel, to His way of life and to His Blessed Mother, Mary, who is Our Lady of Lebanon and the Mother of His Church.

We know that our Blessed Mother is with us in all the challenges and in all the joys and sorrows, all the hopes and difficulties of our earthly pilgrimage. With her help, therefore, beloved friends, we will keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith, and we will run the race in the unity of faith, knowing that we are loved by God, sustained by His grace and supported by His promise of unfailing help. Amen.