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Priests,
Barefoot Preachers and Holiness
Father
John
J. Lombardi
"Spiritual
progress tends toward ever more intimate union with
Christ…the way of perfection passes by way of the
Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and
spiritual battle." Catechism #2014/15
With recent events regarding
priests in Boston-and around the country-many people are
asking, What should be our response?
First, without hyperbole, let us
remember, "Any crisis is a crisis of
saintliness."
In other words, as usual, we
need Christ-centered disciples and deeper conversion
into His way of Life. This means union with Jesus
through HOLINESS (a balanced and righteous life in
Christ), SPIRITUAL BATTLE (making tough choices with
gritty fortitude), and RENUNCIATION (separating from
seductive evil and choosing the Lord's Gospel).
Along those lines, we need to:
- REPENT: The Church must ask
for forgiveness. This is the first message of John
the Baptist and Our Lord (Mt. 3:2 & 4:17)-it
begins the process of conversion. The Church-through
her bishops and priests-need to beg pardon for the
sins of priests who abused the young. Repentance
entails:
- seeing and feeing the
consequences of sin;
- making amendments
accordingly;
- apologizing to those
hurt. In pedophilia cases we must see how the
"unenlightened practices" regarding
the past have either been unquestioned or
consciously promoted, thereby prolonging sin and
hurting youth and parishes. Let's recall Pope
John Paul heroically called Catholics in the
Jubilee Year to ask forgiveness for past wrongs
of Church members to begin the process of
conversion and healing. The Pope teaches us to
humble ourselves so we can come into right
relationship with Christ and His people, which
is the true meaning of righteousness/holiness
(see Gal. 3:25ff).
- REPAIR: After saying,
"I'm sorry" to someone, we obviously need to
repair the harm done. Penances help us to do this: the
"nail" of sin is removed with confession;
however, a "hole" (the effects of sin)
remains to be filled, healed. We must remedy the past
abuses of sin toward children and families by doing
what Cardinal Law (of Boston) and others are already
doing: providing Health professionals to review
priests who are in trouble; to remove them if
necessary, and to help the abused persons heal; also,
offering financial reparations are appropriate. Only
the Holy Spirit can do much of the needed healing-but
the Church must try to do all she humanly can.
- RESTORE: The Church can
reassure the faithful-and public at large-by: 1)
making sure harmful practices cannot continue; 2)
putting safeguards in line to help; 3) keep us all
marching on in the Church's mission: reminding us
that, despite challenging tribulations, nothing
"will separate us from the love of God in
Christ Jesus" (+Rm. 8:35), meaning we must…
- RENEW: We need more saints-
both priests and laypeople. Through God's healing
power-heroic people will re-animate the Church-as
has always been done in our long, challenged history
of Catholicism. While acknowledging the humanness of
Church members
We likewise encourage heroic
holiness and saintly renewal amidst them. Instead of
responding bitterly, obsessively or resentfully
regarding painful church issues, ask yourself, "How
would a saint respond?" Perhaps there are more
saints around than is reported because it's usually the
bad things, or bad people, that get noticed.
The New York Times (2/3/02)
recently reported how "Pope John Paul has
recognized 455 saints and beatified 1277…in the view
of may supporters, John Paul's attempts to democratize
sainthood will be among the most important legacies of
his pontificate." The Pope does not canonize so
many saints to gawk at but to enthuse us into following
the Divine Master and thereby answer the Vatican II call
of the universal call to holiness…Three examples…
St Phillip Neri, amidst
fifteenth century Roman decadence and clerical laxism
decided the best response to the religious morass was
holiness. He began giving talks to laypersons, organized
concerts and festivals, and walked the streets to
converse with people, all while stressing daily Mass,
frequent confession, and service to the poor. He never
despaired or attacked the Church, never criticized
unjustly; but he rather saw himself as part of the
solution-and embraced a new intensity for holiness.
Along with many laypersons, he answered the call-by
creatively making personal and ecclesial holiness the
foundation of life (he is now known as the Second
Apostle of Rome). Instead of giving in to desolation and
gloom in those trying times, St. Phillip armored himself
with unflagging hope and cajoled and encouraged
individual people-priests and laypersons alike-to
respond more deeply, heroically and consistently, to
Jesus' total call to heroic holiness. We all need a wake
up call to renew our love of Jesus Christ.
Dorothy Day answered the call of
Jesus in the 1960's by turning away from communism,
materialism and an agnostic way of life by becoming a
Catholic, and then dedicated her whole life to the poor
of New York City-and her Archbishop, Cardinal Spelman.
Though she had an abortion and child out of wedlock,
this did not enslave her; overcoming personal troubles,
social dissonance and church obstacles her unwavering
focus was on serving Christ through the local New York
Church. Though she had a disagreement with Cardinal
Spelman and often wanted both laity and clergy to become
more evangelical and poor, she always led by example and
always deferred to the Bishop and inherent sacredness of
the Church, no matter how "clumsily"
manifested. Now her cause is being studied for
veneration and saintliness.
Another, current example is of a
man who walked Franciscan-like into our lives recently
and reminded us of the dramatic call of the Gospel.
Carl-also known as "What's Your Name?"- Walks
barefoot, wearing only a robe and blanket, and has given
his life fulltime to evangelization. Walking from town
to town, he inspired us with his gentleness, spiritual
talks, and his dedication to Jesus, to holy poverty and
the Catholic Church- amidst the many storms today.
Steeped in prayer and the sacramental life, "What's
Your Name?" illustrated the only answer to life
today, to the world's problems and being a Catholic is
holiness. Amidst questions of church doctrine and issues
of "conservatives" vs. "liberals"
and various spiritual factions today he answered by
emphasizing love and a personal, total dedication to
Jesus and His way of Life-without distraction! And
regarding clerical laxity and abuses he stressed that
the faith commitment of everyday Catholics is, really,
underreported, underestimated, and personally inspiring
to him. He said, "Everyone is called to be holy-and
not just follow others. God has a unique call and
charism (holy gift) for each person"
"Be not conformed to the
world but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind." +Rm 12:2…
What will be your response? …
More heckling or more holiness? Jesus and the Church are
counting on you…
MEDITATION:
"PRUDENCE is the virtue
that disposes practical reason to discern true good in
every circumstance and to choose the right means of
achieving it…Prudence is 'right reason in action' (St.
Thomas Aquinas)." +Catechism, #1806.
Read
other Sermons by Father John J. Lombardi
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