Pope Francis’ First Chrism Mass

As I watched and listened to Pope Francis give his homily at his first Chrism Mass, I felt in awe of the man who is to lead the Roman Catholic Church.  Each time I hear His Holiness speak, I know the Holy Spirit is at work in his life and all the lives of the faithful.  Pope Francis is a true man of God.  He has a love for humanity, a love for the least who struggle to survive due to the burdens that life has presented them.  He is a humble man who has been called to lead the largest Christian church — over 1 billion strong.  He is a Jesuit.

And, in his homily, he gave a “clear test” to the meaning of the priesthood.  He challenged each of us to work to pass this test as we serve the poor, the sick, the prisoners, the homeless, and those who are alone.

“The Lord will say this clearly: his anointing is meant for the poor, prisoners and the sick, for those who are sorrowing and alone. The ointment is not intended just to make us fragrant, much less to be kept in a jar, for then it would become rancid, and the heart bitter.

A good priest can be recognized by the way his people are anointed. This is a clear test. When our people are anointed with the oil of gladness, it is obvious: for example, when they leave Mass looking as if they have heard good news. Our people like to hear the Gospel preached with “unction”, they like it when the Gospel we preach touches their daily lives, when it runs down like the oil of Aaron to the edges of reality, when it brings light to moments of extreme darkness, to the “outskirts” where people of faith are most exposed to the onslaught of those who want to tear down their faith.

People thank us because they feel that we have prayed over the realities of their everyday lives, their troubles, their joys, their burdens and their hopes. And when they feel that the fragrance of the Anointed One, of Christ, has come to them through us, they feel encouraged to entrust to us everything they want to bring before the Lord: “Pray for me, Father, because I have this problem”, “Bless me”, “Pray for me” – these words are the sign that the anointing has flowed down to the edges of the robe, for it has turned into prayer. The prayers of the people of God. When we have this relationship with God and with his people, and grace passes through us, then we are priests, mediators between God and men.”

I ask for prayers that I may be the priest — the Jesuit — who strives to pass the “clear test” presented to us by His Holiness, Pope Francis — a Jesuit.

White Smoke

OK, I know I am a little late with this blog post, but I have been cloistered in a Jesuit retreat center with no contact to the outside world — sort of.  Although seemingly silent, I was very much aware of what was happening within the Catholic church.  Those of us at the retreat center were able to stay abreast of current events, even when choosing to remain silent to our loved ones.  And, so . . .

Changes are brewing within the Roman Catholic church.  Pope Benedict XVI chose to live out his remaining years in prayerful seclusion at a monastery near the Vatican.  He was known as “the reluctant Pope,” never wanting to lead the worldwide 1.2 billion Catholics.  Joseph Ratzinger is a scholar, most happy with his books — the books he reads and the books he writes.  I greatly admire his decision to retire, to pass the baton to a man who is a little younger and who has more energy to lead the Church.

I have seen changes in the Church — beginning with the Second Vatican Council when I was a teenager.  Suddenly, Mass was said in the vernacular, the priest faced his congregation, and there was no more fish on Friday.  Of course, there were many other changes, but these were the changes most people, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, remember.  I have memories of each Pope who has led my Church during my lifetime.  Most significant were the changes of Vatican II, under the leadership of Pope John XXIII at its opening, and Pope Paul VI, at its closing.  I was a seminarian during the very brief time of Pope John Paul I, who died just 33 days after becoming Pope.  And, then, there was Pope John Paul II.  As part of my studies, I spent summers in Rome.  I was truly honored to be blessed by His Holiness on more than one  occasion.  Still early in his time as Pope, he was young and vivacious and full of the Holy Spirit.  It was with great sadness that the world watched as his health declined.  And, so, Pope Benedict XVI chose to retire at the age of 85 to live out his remaining years in quiet solitude.

Whether factual or not, word is that Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the conclave’s second choice eight years ago, when Joseph Ratzinger was elected pope and took the name Benedict XVI.  With the election of Pope Francis, there are many firsts — the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, the first pope from the Americas, the first pope from South America, the first pope who is a Jesuit — one of God’s Marines.

Pride — one of the 7 Deadly Sins.  Is it sinful to be proud that “one of our own” has been elected Pope?  With the announcement that Pope Francis had been elected, the jubilation among those in residence at the Manresa Retreat Center was — prideful?  Happy.  Joy.  Peace.  Humility.  Pride.  Yes, we are proud that one of our own is now Pope.  Jesuits not only take solemn vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and a fourth solemn vow of Obedience to the Pope in regard to Missions, but five simple vows that, essentially, state that we will live by the Constitution of the Jesuits and we will not seek higher office, either within the Jesuit order or as a bishop.  For a Jesuit to become bishop is rare, to become pope is unprecedented.  So, yes, we are proud of our new pope — for many reasons.  He is a very humble man, who works arduously to help the poor.  He is a warrior for social justice.  By what we are learning in his first few weeks as pope, Pope Francis will be a pope of the people and for the people.  To the chagrin of his security detail, he has ventured out in an open vehicle so he can touch his public.  He has met with Pope Benedict XVI to pray together.  The Church is in good hands.

As Pope Francis leads the Roman Catholic Church into a new era, let us all keep His Holiness in our prayers.  The Church has been under scrutiny for two decades and there is much healing that must still take place.  We are a conservative church, with beliefs and traditions that date to 2000 years ago, to the time of Christ.  Many of our adherents would like to see changes — changes that would seemingly bring the Church into the 21st Century.  Change can be slow — painfully slow — but it does sometimes take place.  We must be patient and know that if it is God’s Will, changes will be made.  We must remember that everything happens in God’s time, not ours.  We must also remember that, because of our interpretation of Holy Scripture, some of the “modern, secular” changes will never happen.

And, so . . .

O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all Your faithful people, mercifully look upon Your servant Francis, whom You have chosen as the chief Shepherd to preside over Your Church.  We beg You to help him edify, both by word and example, those over whom he has charge, that he may reach everlasting life together with the flock entrusted to him. Through Christ our Lord.  ~~Amen.

Married Priests???

St. Ignatius of Loyola

I am also a Jesuit.  A Catholic priest.  My vows are sacred and I would never do anything, knowingly, to break those vows.  I love the Catholic Church and what it represents in my life, in the lives of my family, and to the world as a sacred place of worship.  My personal relationship with Jesus began when I was five years old, sick with polio.  Jesus visited my hospital bed and he comforted a scared, sick little boy.  Jesus has walked beside me ever since.I teach.  It is what God has called me to do.  Teach.  I love my job.  I love my students.  I love sharing my passion for historical Christianity with those who have a desire to learn.  I have been a teacher for so long I think I have lost track of the years — high school, elementary school, college.  My present job as professor of religious studies began almost 20 years ago.

The days of polio are long forgotten by those never touched by that horrific disease.  The vaccine became readily available the same month I got sick.  My brothers and sisters were inoculated in their schools; I hadn’t begun school, yet, so I was the “lucky” person to contract polio.  Very few Americans remember the disease, nor do they know of anyone who is a survivor.  Unfortunately, polio remains prevalent in some underdeveloped countries — unlike smallpox, polio has not been completely eradicated from the earth.

As I recovered from that bout of polio so many years ago, I spent a great deal of time with our family priest, who was also a family friend having been a childhood friend of my parents.  Father Mike was permitted to visit me every day in the hospital where he taught me the Rosary and read Bible stories.  After being released from the hospital, I still had months of rehabilitation.  I couldn’t run and play with my siblings and my friends, so I’d hang out with my priest, my friend, my godfather.  I’d been named for Father Mike and, because of polio, we had a very special bond which remained tight until his death at the age of 95.  It was that bond and my friendship with Jesus that led me toward the priesthood.

From the time I was five years old I knew I wanted to serve God and those feelings never wavered.  As I was studying and training, I realized my talents would better serve in a classroom rather than in a parish.  It was Father Mike’s dream that I would come home and become the pastor of “our” parish when he retired.  For two years I tried but I missed the classroom — hence my move to another state where I was hired at a public university.

Jesuit Circuit Rider

After 18 years of teaching at that university, I am taking a semester sabbatical.  I came home to spend time with my family and to enjoy the beauty of my home state.  I have also been filling in for vacationing priests — the past few weeks have been fulfilling and exciting.  At times I have felt like a circuit riding Jesuit of years gone by  — all I needed was a horse, a long black cassock, and a big brimmed hat!

At one of the churches I visited this past week, I had an experience that proved to be more emotional than I expected.  One of the priests I filled in for was vacationing with — his wife.  His wife.  How, do you ask, can a Catholic priest be married?  This particular priest, as with most married priests, comes from a Protestant background, most of them Episcopalian.  Following God’s call, he was first ordained in the United Church of Christ and later in the Episcopal Church.  Because I never met the man, I do not know his reasons for renouncing his Episcopal orders, but I can guess.  The Episcopal Church has become, in the eyes of many, too liberal — ordaining women, ordaining gay priests, acknowledging gay marriage.  I do not know if these are the reasons this particular priest left the Episcopal Church, but it is a good guess.  I have known for quite some time that Episcopalian priests have been given permission by the Holy See to be ordained as Catholic priests.  But, this was the first time it hit me in the face, so to speak.

I live all my vows faithfully — the vow of chastity, the vow of poverty, and the vow of obedience.  Over the past 30 + years, there have been times when I have doubted my human ability to be faithful to my vows.  But, the strength of my devotion to God has always prevailed and, with Jesus standing by my side, I have found the courage to work through my doubts and to remain faithful.  And so, this week, I wondered why it is possible for a former Episcopal priest to be ordained Catholic and bring his wife and children with him?  Why can he be married and I can’t?  Why can he come home after a long day “at the office” to the loving arms of his soul mate and I can’t?  Why?  Why must I suffer through bouts of loneliness when he doesn’t?  I was born Catholic — a cradle Catholic.  I knew when I was a child I wanted to become a priest.  Being as idealistic as any young man entering the priesthood, I wanted to save the world and I knew I could live my vows.  What I did not know is how difficult it is sometimes — to be lonely.  To come home to an empty house.  It just doesn’t seem fair.  I can hear my mom saying, “But, Michael, life isn’t fair.”  Every kid learns that lesson.  Right?  Right.

This, too, shall pass — like all the other times I have wondered about the fairness of the vow of chastity. Priests haven’t always been required to be celibate and, I believe, sometime in the far off future, a liberated Pope will change the “rules” and allow priests to marry.

I know many who are reading this are saying, “Yeah, right, a celibate priest.”  We all know what has been in the media for the past couple of decades.  Please remember how the media plays on the negative.  With all the “bad” priests that have made the news, how many “good” priests have you heard or read about?  Not many, I’d guess.  For the record, the good priests do outnumber the bad ones.

As a dear friend tells me frequently, I will sleep with my angels, and pray they soothe my soul.  God bless each and every person who reads this.  God bless all those who serve Him, whether they be Catholic or Protestant or Jewish or Muslim.  God bless.