Talk of Cardinal Justin Rigali
Neumann College, Aston, PA
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws and Founder's Day
March 16, 2005
Sister Lynn Patrice Lavin, OSF and the leadership and members of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia, I offer my prayers and congratulations on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of your founding by Mother Francis Bachmann and Saint John Neumann. Dr. Mirenda, members of the Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty, Staff and Students of Neumann College, I extend to you my prayerful best wishes on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Neumann College. These two milestones are also a significant celebration for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as generations of Catholics, as well as other fellow Christians and members of other religions, have benefitted from the works of the Sisters and of the College.
I express also my gratitude for the opportunity to serve as keynote speaker for the Dr. Dorothy A. P. Leunissen Presidential Lecture Series during this joyful time of celebration for both Neumann College and the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia. Furthermore, I am honored to be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by Neumann College.
The observance of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Neumann College affords an opportunity for reflection on origins that were both humble and ambitious. Motivated by the desire to educate and also to provide educators, the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia invested years of planning as well as finances into establishing their own college dedicated to Our Lady of Angels. In 1980, the college was renamed to honor the great Saint John Neumann who co-founded the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia and who was so passionate about Catholic education. For four decades, Neumann College has educated the Sisters as well as many hundreds of students in the spirit and tradition of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose mind, heart and entire being were so deeply rooted in Jesus Christ and His Church. The successes of the past help to form a clear vision for the future.
Neumann College is proud of the Franciscan tradition in which this institution was founded. In Saint Francis of Assisi, countless men and women, throughout the past eight centuries, have an example of one who encountered Jesus Christ and was completely transformed by that encounter. Having been transformed himself, Saint Francis then wanted to help transform others.
It is fitting to recall the words of the great Franciscan priest, bishop and Doctor of the Church, Saint Bonaventure, written in his Prologue to The Life of Saint Francis: “In these last days the grace of God our Savior has appeared in his servant Francis.... He was poor and lowly, but the Most High God looked upon him with such condescension and kindness that he not only lifted him up in his need from the dust of a worldly life, but made him a practitioner, a leader and a herald of Gospel perfection and set him up as a light for believers so that by bearing witness to the light, he might prepare for the Lord a way of light and peace into the hearts of his faithful. Shining with the splendor of his life and teaching like the morning star in the midst of clouds, by his resplendent rays he guided into the light those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death” (no. 1).
In the tribute which Saint Bonaventure paid to Saint Francis, it is evident that any college or university which is embedded in the Franciscan tradition must then reflect those virtues which made Saint Francis a light to the people of his time. Those same virtues have inspired and illuminated the Church throughout the centuries following the life and death of Saint Francis. His life and witness always point the way to Christ through His Church, and, as we so well recall, Saint Francis saw his mission as a call from Christ to build up the Church. So, too, must the college point the way to Christ and work toward the building up of the Church, which in turn serves all humanity.
When, over twenty-five years ago, our Holy Father Pope John Paul II visited the Catholic University of America, he outlined three goals to which institutions which bear the title “Catholic” should aspire. He stated: “A Catholic university or college must make a specific contribution to the Church and to society through high-quality scientific research, in-depth study of problems, and a just sense of history, together with the concern to show the full meaning of the human person regenerated in Christ, thus favoring the complete development of the person. Furthermore, the Catholic university or college must train young men and women of outstanding knowledge who, having made a personal synthesis between faith and culture, will be both capable and willing to assume tasks in the service of community and of society in general, and to bear witness to their faith before the world. And finally, to be what it ought to be, a Catholic college or university must set up, among its faculty and students, a real community which bears witness to a living and operative Christianity, a community where sincere commitment to scientific research and study go together with a deep commitment to authentic Christian living” (Address of October 7, 1979).
These words of Pope John Paul II reflect what could serve in a mission statement for any Catholic college or university. Every institution of higher learning aims toward the betterment of society and culture through the education it imparts. However, it is the unique and supreme task of a Catholic college to strive toward the formation of the human person in the light of Jesus Christ. Thus, the Catholic college contributes to the betterment of society and culture, not only through the academic training of minds, but also through the spiritual development of hearts. Formed in the school of the Gospel and versed in the truths of the Church, students are then sent into the heart of society to radiate the light of Christ Himself.
When we consider the condition of our modern world, we must also acknowledge that there is darkness as well as light, a darkness that tries to extinguish the light of Christ but which will never do so. Troublesome ideologies have indeed taken hold of society and have adversely influenced many minds. Consumerism, with its daily invitation to possess the superfluous, has led to a rampant materialism. In this context, one's worth is determined by one's wealth, achievements and status. This mindset results in the utilitarianism which has tainted the contemporary view of the value of human life. Some people reason that if a person cannot be "productive", then that person no longer has value. "Unproductive" individuals are seen as inconveniences to be eliminated. Some fruits of this mindset are abortion, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide.
The world of today has become obsessed with physical perfection, leading to sensualism. In society today, God’s gift of physical beauty is often distorted. In addition, the disturbing reality of pornography is actualized in a rampant billion-dollar industry. The accessibility of pornography through film, magazine and internet has led to hedonism, sexual addictions and violent crimes, notably against women and children.
Escapism, another cultural addiction, can be a strong temptation to youth. Young people of today face great difficulties. They have observed horrible acts of violence and terrorism, and have sometimes imitated them. They see an aggressive attack on the dignity of marriage and the family. Some have been victims of domestic violence and abuse. Without a solid foundation of faith and family, many young people seek to “escape”from their troubles through excessive use of alcoholic beverages and through so-called “recreational” drugs. Far too many young lives have been ruined - even ended - through substance abuse.
All of these ideologies - consumerism, materialism, utilitarianism, sensualism, escapism - are components of contemporary culture. Against the backdrop of these elements, Catholic colleges have the responsibility and exhilarating mission to let shine the light of Christ and thus to fortify minds and consciences to stand in contradiction to false ideologies.
In another address given to the leadership of Catholic Higher Education in the United States, Pope John Paul II emphasized the tremendous influence which our Catholic Faith can and must have on culture: “It is true of course that the culture of every age contains certain ambiguities, which reflect the inner tensions of the human heart, the struggle between good and evil. Hence the Gospel, in its continuing encounter with culture, must always challenge the accomplishments and assumptions of the age. Since, in our day, the implications of this ambiguity are often so destructive to the community, so hostile to human dignity, it is crucial that the Gospel should purify culture, uplift it, and orient it to what is authentically human” (Address of September 12, 1987). For Catholic colleges, steeped in Catholic teachings and values, what could be more significant than to offer to students the light of Christ and of those timeless truths which have formed, guided and inspired humanity and culture for two thousand years?
Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians can very well be applied in our struggle against the errors of our age: “Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6: 13-17).
Christ’s commission to His Church is: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mk 16: 15). Against seemingly unsurmountable odds, the Apostles heeded Christ’s commission and built up the Church in the ancient world. Following the example of the Apostles, armed with the Word of God and the truths of faith, Saint Francis of Assisi arose to convert the world of his time. Armed with the Word of God and the truths of faith, the Church sets out in our day to reverse the erroneous philosophies and ideologies which have weakened society, and to point out to all people the uplifting message of Jesus Christ, which offers true freedom and calls for justice and peace, charity and chastity, and a profound respect for human life and human dignity.
In the Church’s efforts constantly to insert Gospel values into our culture, Catholic colleges and universities have such a significant role to play. In upholding and teaching the truths of faith, Catholic institutions of higher learning must work in a close and intimate relationship with the Church’s Magisterium. Both the local Bishop and the Catholic college have at the very heart of their concerns proper Christian formation.
As the local Bishop is entrusted with the threefold office of teaching, governing and sanctifying, so Catholic colleges and universities work in solidarity with the Bishop to ensure that the Catholic Faith in all its richness is upheld and taught, without being diluted by popular opinion or error. Thus, in offering to students the faith—whole and entire—Catholic colleges and universities guide students to discover the light of Christ. In their encounter with Jesus Christ, students recognize their call to holiness of life as well as their unique ability to contribute to the new evangelization of culture, in every sphere of public life—government, law, commerce, media, medicine, science and the arts—as well as by serving the Church in the state of the priesthood or that of consecrated life.
Certainly, as Neumann College reviews the achievements of the past forty years, there is much to celebrate. The reflection on the past, however, encourages a plan for the future. The mission statement of Neumann College highlights a very significant goal: “Implicit in the College’s Mission is the responsibility to offer educational programs which anticipate and respond to the changing needs of society.” The consideration of the condition of society in our day, as well as some anticipation of society in the near future, spurs the Neumann College community to appreciate more deeply the specific and indeed salvific task of those committed to Catholic higher education. By virtue of its nature as a Catholic college, Neumann College has had and can continue to have a tremendous impact on culture and society by forming women and men in the faith, by aiding in their sanctification by communicating to them the light of Christ and of His teaching. By virtue of its Franciscan heritage, Neumann College necessarily must be passionate in its faith in Christ and His Church and in the desire to share that faith with all those who freely wish to explore it and embrace it.
As a Catholic college, Neumann College has not only the obligation to educate the mind, but it also enjoys the ability to minister to the spiritual needs of the college community. How well the words of Pope John Paul II, addressed to the Leadership of Catholic Higher Education, can be applied to you: “It is your privilege to serve your students in faith and love; to help them deepen their friendship with Christ; to make available to them the opportunities for prayer and liturgical celebration, including the possibility to know the forgiveness and love of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Penance and the Eucharist. You are able, as Catholic educators, to introduce your students to a powerful experience of community and to very serious involvement in social concerns that will enlarge their horizons, challenge their life styles and offer them authentic human fulfillment.”
During this special season of grace known as Lent, and, in particular, during this Year of the Eucharist, Jesus Christ crucified and risen encourages those who are engaged in the Catholic education of leaders. Once more, humanity, whose vision is often blurred by the false notions of the world, must be confronted with the “folly of the Cross” (cf. 1 Cor 1:18), to see Jesus Christ “publicly portrayed as crucified” (Gal 3:1). Although, “the whole of Christ’s life was a continual teaching: his silences, his miracles, his gestures, his prayer, his love for people, his special affection for the little and the poor,” most particularly we see that “his acceptance of the total sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of the world, and his resurrection are the actualization of his word and the fulfilment of revelation. Hence for Christians the crucifix is one of the most sublime and popular images of Christ the Teacher” (Catechesi Tradendae, 9).
Saint Francis of Assisi knew this. Christ crucified spoke to the very heart of Francis. From his own heart, Saint Francis saw in Christ crucified the ideal of all that he longed to be. In his struggles and trials, in his weakness and sufferings, in his desire to understand and accomplish the will of God, Saint Francis poured out his heart in the Church of San Damiano at the feet of Jesus Christ crucified. In a supplication which certainly reflects the genuine longing, yearning and hopes of so many men and women in this modern world, Saint Francis prayed:
Most high,
glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me, Lord,
a correct faith,
a certain hope,
a perfect charity,
sense and knowledge,
so that I may carry out your holy and true command.I pray that this year of celebration will be for the Neumann College community, as well as for the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia, a time of grace and hope. In the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi, you are invited to look to the future of the human family through the eyes of Jesus Christ and to help change hearts by sending out into the marketplace enthusiastic young people set afire with the love of Jesus Christ crucified and risen from the dead. Maintain the vision of Saint John Neumann, your patron, and Mother Francis Bachmann, your foundress. Recognize the power of Catholic higher education to contribute mightily to society and to serve humanity in truth and love. Recognize the power of Christ’s light shining through your lives, never forgetting the experience attested to by Saint John who wrote: “...the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5). In the midst of difficulties and challenges be always people of hope and trust.
In the Franciscan tradition, I prayerfully greet all of you: Pax et bonum!