Address to the Bishops of the United States of America
at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington
April 16, 2008
Summary by Rev. Msgr. Peter Vaghi
This year is the bicentenary of the Sees of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville; bicentenary also of the elevation of Baltimore to Archdiocese
American values
o Americans have welcomed immigrants from the beginning, and are encouraged to continue that cultural tradition of welcoming newcomers
o Americans are also known for compassion, vitality, creativity and generosity (e. g. Katrina, Twin Towers destruction and 2004 tsunami)
o America is a land of great faith known for bringing moral arguments to public discourse and respect for freedom of religion ingrained
Barriers to encountering the living God
o Secularism: the notion that religion is a purely private matter
o Materialism: focusing only on this world, and the denial of the deep thirst for God in the human soul
o Individualism: losing sight of our dependence on others and our responsibilities toward them
The Holy Father highlighted the importance of a sound formation for Catholic laity – especially in moral teaching regarding health care issues – so that they can serve as a “leaven” in society
He noted that bishops should participate in the exchange of ideas in the public square to help shape cultural attitudes in light of the Gospel
Pope Benedict expressed a particular concern for the family
o As the primary place of evangelization and the basic element of society
o Concern about effects of divorce, infidelity and "open-ended" arrangements
o As a society we need to underscore the institution of marriage as a lifelong commitment between man and woman, open to the transmission of life
Regarding the sexual abuse of minors: the Church needs to bind up wounds and ensure the greatest protection of children, as well as pursue a more active moral formation of the young while continuing to support the purification of priesthood
Importance of strong relationships between bishops and clergy
Pope emphasized need for prayer, adoration, liturgy of the hours, and rosary to insure a radical configuration to Christ the Good Shepherd
Homily at Holy Mass at Washington Nationals Park
April 17, 2008
Summary by Rev. Mark Knestout
The Church in the United States can be proud of its accomplishments and its remarkable growth in past generations as it has brought together widely different immigrant groups within the unity of the Catholic faith and Gospel message.
Conscious of this rich diversity of cultures, the Catholic community in the United States can now look to the future firmly founded in faith to face the new challenges of the world with the hope born of God’s love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5)
Great promise exists, and the Church in America is at a crossroads in time:
o It is experiencing the promise of the interdependence of the human family in faith that is vibrant, strong, and growing.
o Yet great challenges exist also; society and the Church sees equally strong and sad signs of alienation, anger, polarization, violence, weak moral attitudes, and relativism. Attitudes and ideals are often embraced that are contrary to the truth of the Gospel message.
Pray for a renewal of the Church in America through the power of the Spirit.
o This renewal begins through the fidelity of so many servants of the Lord: bishops, priests, deacons, religious, parents, teachers, and catechists. All must strive to faithfully hand on to the next generation the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus.
o The challenges confronting the Church in America and the world “require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith” and the cultivation of a mindset that is genuinely Catholic and that is deeply rooted in faith and reason.
“Americans have always been a people of hope.”
o Generations of Americans have sought freedom and opportunity despite many injustices that have been endured. Through these generations, hope for the future has sustained the American character.
o The virtue of hope will assist us in acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by the sin of abuse in the Church; the virtue of hope will assist us to deal honestly and fairly with its tragic consequences. It is the virtue of hope that will allow us to foster reconciliation and healing and it is through hope that we should affirm and love all hard working priests in the church. It is a prayer of unfailing hope through patient endurance, with a share in the mystery of Christ’s suffering, but ultimately with an awareness of the victory of Christ’s cross.
“Those who have hope must live different lives!” (cf Spe Salvi, 2)
Address to Catholic educators at the Conference Hall of The Catholic University of America in Washington
April 17, 2008
Summary by Mr. Thomas Burnford
The mission of the Church to proclaim the good news is accomplished through Catholic education by the dynamic of personal encounter, knowledge, and Christian witness; this is a great apostolate of hope for over three million children and students in the United States.
o The long-term sustainability of these institutions provides a great opportunity for the “entire Catholic community to contribute generously.”
Catholic identity
o Not about numbers, but about conviction, belief, commitment and acceptance of the truth, such that the faith is tangible and given “fervent expression” in our schools.
o The whole education institution focuses on encounter with God who reveals himself and the students’ response through faith, leading to a move from the “I” to the “we” of the Body of Christ; for educators this means not only focusing on the intellect but also the will, “to evoke among the young the desire for the act of faith, encouraging them to commit themselves to the ecclesial life that follows from this belief.”
o The Holy Father encouraged educators “that the power of God’s truth” may “permeate every dimension of the institutions they serve.”
Intellectual charity
o Truth is more than just knowledge; truth “speaks to the individual in his or her entirety, inviting us to respond with our whole being” because this truth is a person, the incarnation. It is not just informative but is performative, becoming incarnate in the lives of students through faith.
o The Church purifies reason by reminding society that praxis does not create truth, but truth is the basis of praxis.
o Catholic educators must maintain high standards of professionalism, particularly if society ignores objective reality and the transcendental dimension of the human person. They are called to “intellectual charity,” that is, leading the young to truth as an act of love.
o In this way reason and truth remain united and the young enjoy authentic freedom in relation to truth, and “once their passion for the fullness and unity of truth has been awakened, young people will surely relish the discovery that the question of what they can know opens up the vast adventure of what they ought to do.”
The Holy Father concluded with encouragement to religious educators, clergy, religious and the whole Catholic community to “account for the hope that characterizes your lives by living the truth which you propose to your students.”
Homily at Holy Mass with priests, men and women religious
in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York
April 19, 2008
Summary by Rev. Msgr. Kevin Hart
The Stained Glass Windows of St. Patrick’s Cathedral
o Can only be seen and appreciated from the inside. The Holy Spirit illuminates the mystery of the Church “from the inside,” i.e., in the experience of faith and ecclesial life
o From the outside, they are dark, heavy, even dreary. The world tends to look at the Church “from the outside. It seems legalistic and “institutional”
o Challenge: to communicate the joy born of faith and the experience of God’s love.
The Cathedral’s Pure Gothic Style
o “A highly complex structure whose exact and harmonious proportions symbolize the unity of God’s creation.” We need to see all things through the eyes of faith and grasp them in the unity of God’s eternal plan.
o Obstacles: division between different groups, different generations, different members of the same religious family members and the fallout from the sexual abuse scandal.
o Challenge: Turn our gaze together to Christ and move forward in the light of Christ. “This unity of vision and purpose, rooted in faith and a spirit of constant conversion and self-sacrifice, was the secret of the impressive growth of the Church in this country.”
The Vertical Dimension of Gothic Architecture
o The unity of a Gothic cathedral is not static. It is born of a dynamic tension of diverse forces that impel the structure upward, to heaven.
o The Church is a unity of many different members, each with its own role and purpose which leads us to acknowledge and reverence their gifts as “manifestations of the Spirit given for the good of all” bearing in mind the distinction between hierarchical and charismatic gifts.
o “Let us lift our gaze upward…and ask the Spirit to enable us each day to grow in the holiness that will make us living stones in the temple that even now the Lord is raising up in our midst.
o If we are true sources of unity, we must also seek inner reconciliation through penance for our own faults as well as forgiving the wrongs we have suffered and putting aside all anger and contention.
Conclusion: The skyscrapers surrounding it may well dwarf the spires of this cathedral, but they remain a vivid reminder of the human spirit’s constant yearning to rise to God. Let us go forth as heralds of hope in the midst of our world so that the Church in America will know a new springtime in the Spirit and point the way to that other, greater city, the new Jerusalem.
Address to young people and seminarians at St. Joseph Seminary in New York
April 19, 2008
Summary by Rev. Msgr. Robert Panke
The example of holy men and women give us witnesses of ordinary people who grew up to lead extraordinary lives in the service of the Lord.
o Though each had a unique background, their lives were all inflamed with the love of Jesus and therefore were lives of hope and joy.
o Who will be bear witness to the voice of Christ today? Imitating the life of Christ begins by responding to His call in the ordinary places of life.
In every age there are areas of darkness in our lives and society that seek to destroy the path to Christ.
o Darkness of the heart: afflicting those affected by drug and substance abuse, homelessness and poverty, racism, violence and degradation.
o Darkness of the mind: a misused freedom that leads us away from truth and towards relativism. All youth are encouraged to join along the path of goodness and hope which is only found in the light of Christ.
Following Christ
o The way of Jesus is the path to true happiness. It is a vision of hope – Christ’s light beckoning us to be guiding stars for others, walking Christ’s way of forgiveness, reconciliation, humility, joy and peace. Embracing this truth leads us to the consoling knowledge that our faith is not about prohibitions, but the gift of friendship with God.
o The importance of a close and personal relationship with Christ through prayer: Christ is a constant companion to whom we can turn in all moments in life. Silence is an essential component to prayer and all are called to seek silent contemplation. Do not be afraid to listen for the Lord in the silence of your heart, especially in adoration before the Eucharist.
o The work of Jesus, His passion, death and resurrection, is brought into our lives when we celebrate the sacraments, especially at Mass, and during confession. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus draws us to himself, into his sacrificial love of the Father, which becomes love for all.
o When we look at Jesus on the cross we come to know His radical love and the need for charity in our lives. Each young person is called to respond to the needs of our world today, filled with suffering and in need of compassion and love.
Vocations
o All vocations are a gift from God. Matrimony, Priesthood, and the call to Consecrated Life all have unique characters, blessings and gifts.
o The youth of today are encouraged to seek and embrace with joy their God-given vocation. Jesus Christ is the hope that never disappoints!
Homily at Holy Mass at New York’s Yankee Stadium
April 20, 2008
Summary by Dr. Jem Sullivan
The Church in the United States celebrates the two hundredth anniversary of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville from the mother See of Baltimore, a first great chapter of growth.
o From a small flock and with successive waves of immigrants the Church in America has united diverse peoples in the profession of faith, and has contributed significantly to society through educational, charitable and social works.
o On these solid foundations rises the future of the Church in America.
We recall here a fundamental truth: the Church’s unity has no other basis than the Word of God, made flesh in Christ Jesus our Lord.
o All external signs of identity, all structures, associations and programs, valuable or even essential as they may be, ultimately exist only to support and foster the deeper unity that, in Christ, is God’s gift to his Church.
o The Church’s unity is “apostolic.” It is a visible unity, grounded in the Apostles chosen by Christ and born of “the obedience of faith.”
In a society that rightly places high value on personal freedom words like “authority” and “obedience” are “stumbling stones.” Only with faith in Jesus Christ do we see the fullest meaning, value, and indeed beauty, of these words.
True freedom is found only in a self-surrender that is part of the mystery of love. Jesus tells us that only by losing ourselves do we truly find ourselves. True freedom blossoms when we turn away from sin and find the source of our ultimate happiness in Him who is infinite love, infinite freedom, infinite life.
o Real freedom brings a new and liberating way of seeing reality. When we put on “the mind of Christ” (cf. Phil 2:5), new horizons open before us.
o In faith, within the communion of the Church, we enrich American culture with the beauty and truth of the Gospel and glimpse now a splendid vision of a world transformed by the liberating truth of the Gospel.
o In this land of religious liberty, Catholics are free not only to practice faith, but to also participate fully in civic life, bringing their deepest moral convictions to the public square. The Holy Father exhorted the youth at Dunwoodie to open their hearts to the Lord’s call.
In two hundred years the Church has changed greatly. A strong faith built the network of churches, educational, healthcare and social institutions that are the Church’s hallmark. The steady ministry of priests, the contributions of men and women religious, and parents who hand on the faith to their children. These many “spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God” have been offered up over two centuries, and prompt us to use wisely the blessings of freedom we have been given.
at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington
April 16, 2008
Summary by Rev. Msgr. Peter Vaghi
This year is the bicentenary of the Sees of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville; bicentenary also of the elevation of Baltimore to Archdiocese
American values
o Americans have welcomed immigrants from the beginning, and are encouraged to continue that cultural tradition of welcoming newcomers
o Americans are also known for compassion, vitality, creativity and generosity (e. g. Katrina, Twin Towers destruction and 2004 tsunami)
o America is a land of great faith known for bringing moral arguments to public discourse and respect for freedom of religion ingrained
Barriers to encountering the living God
o Secularism: the notion that religion is a purely private matter
o Materialism: focusing only on this world, and the denial of the deep thirst for God in the human soul
o Individualism: losing sight of our dependence on others and our responsibilities toward them
The Holy Father highlighted the importance of a sound formation for Catholic laity – especially in moral teaching regarding health care issues – so that they can serve as a “leaven” in society
He noted that bishops should participate in the exchange of ideas in the public square to help shape cultural attitudes in light of the Gospel
Pope Benedict expressed a particular concern for the family
o As the primary place of evangelization and the basic element of society
o Concern about effects of divorce, infidelity and "open-ended" arrangements
o As a society we need to underscore the institution of marriage as a lifelong commitment between man and woman, open to the transmission of life
Regarding the sexual abuse of minors: the Church needs to bind up wounds and ensure the greatest protection of children, as well as pursue a more active moral formation of the young while continuing to support the purification of priesthood
Importance of strong relationships between bishops and clergy
Pope emphasized need for prayer, adoration, liturgy of the hours, and rosary to insure a radical configuration to Christ the Good Shepherd
Homily at Holy Mass at Washington Nationals Park
April 17, 2008
Summary by Rev. Mark Knestout
The Church in the United States can be proud of its accomplishments and its remarkable growth in past generations as it has brought together widely different immigrant groups within the unity of the Catholic faith and Gospel message.
Conscious of this rich diversity of cultures, the Catholic community in the United States can now look to the future firmly founded in faith to face the new challenges of the world with the hope born of God’s love, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:5)
Great promise exists, and the Church in America is at a crossroads in time:
o It is experiencing the promise of the interdependence of the human family in faith that is vibrant, strong, and growing.
o Yet great challenges exist also; society and the Church sees equally strong and sad signs of alienation, anger, polarization, violence, weak moral attitudes, and relativism. Attitudes and ideals are often embraced that are contrary to the truth of the Gospel message.
Pray for a renewal of the Church in America through the power of the Spirit.
o This renewal begins through the fidelity of so many servants of the Lord: bishops, priests, deacons, religious, parents, teachers, and catechists. All must strive to faithfully hand on to the next generation the knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus.
o The challenges confronting the Church in America and the world “require a comprehensive and sound instruction in the truths of the faith” and the cultivation of a mindset that is genuinely Catholic and that is deeply rooted in faith and reason.
“Americans have always been a people of hope.”
o Generations of Americans have sought freedom and opportunity despite many injustices that have been endured. Through these generations, hope for the future has sustained the American character.
o The virtue of hope will assist us in acknowledging the pain and suffering caused by the sin of abuse in the Church; the virtue of hope will assist us to deal honestly and fairly with its tragic consequences. It is the virtue of hope that will allow us to foster reconciliation and healing and it is through hope that we should affirm and love all hard working priests in the church. It is a prayer of unfailing hope through patient endurance, with a share in the mystery of Christ’s suffering, but ultimately with an awareness of the victory of Christ’s cross.
“Those who have hope must live different lives!” (cf Spe Salvi, 2)
Address to Catholic educators at the Conference Hall of The Catholic University of America in Washington
April 17, 2008
Summary by Mr. Thomas Burnford
The mission of the Church to proclaim the good news is accomplished through Catholic education by the dynamic of personal encounter, knowledge, and Christian witness; this is a great apostolate of hope for over three million children and students in the United States.
o The long-term sustainability of these institutions provides a great opportunity for the “entire Catholic community to contribute generously.”
Catholic identity
o Not about numbers, but about conviction, belief, commitment and acceptance of the truth, such that the faith is tangible and given “fervent expression” in our schools.
o The whole education institution focuses on encounter with God who reveals himself and the students’ response through faith, leading to a move from the “I” to the “we” of the Body of Christ; for educators this means not only focusing on the intellect but also the will, “to evoke among the young the desire for the act of faith, encouraging them to commit themselves to the ecclesial life that follows from this belief.”
o The Holy Father encouraged educators “that the power of God’s truth” may “permeate every dimension of the institutions they serve.”
Intellectual charity
o Truth is more than just knowledge; truth “speaks to the individual in his or her entirety, inviting us to respond with our whole being” because this truth is a person, the incarnation. It is not just informative but is performative, becoming incarnate in the lives of students through faith.
o The Church purifies reason by reminding society that praxis does not create truth, but truth is the basis of praxis.
o Catholic educators must maintain high standards of professionalism, particularly if society ignores objective reality and the transcendental dimension of the human person. They are called to “intellectual charity,” that is, leading the young to truth as an act of love.
o In this way reason and truth remain united and the young enjoy authentic freedom in relation to truth, and “once their passion for the fullness and unity of truth has been awakened, young people will surely relish the discovery that the question of what they can know opens up the vast adventure of what they ought to do.”
The Holy Father concluded with encouragement to religious educators, clergy, religious and the whole Catholic community to “account for the hope that characterizes your lives by living the truth which you propose to your students.”
Homily at Holy Mass with priests, men and women religious
in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York
April 19, 2008
Summary by Rev. Msgr. Kevin Hart
The Stained Glass Windows of St. Patrick’s Cathedral
o Can only be seen and appreciated from the inside. The Holy Spirit illuminates the mystery of the Church “from the inside,” i.e., in the experience of faith and ecclesial life
o From the outside, they are dark, heavy, even dreary. The world tends to look at the Church “from the outside. It seems legalistic and “institutional”
o Challenge: to communicate the joy born of faith and the experience of God’s love.
The Cathedral’s Pure Gothic Style
o “A highly complex structure whose exact and harmonious proportions symbolize the unity of God’s creation.” We need to see all things through the eyes of faith and grasp them in the unity of God’s eternal plan.
o Obstacles: division between different groups, different generations, different members of the same religious family members and the fallout from the sexual abuse scandal.
o Challenge: Turn our gaze together to Christ and move forward in the light of Christ. “This unity of vision and purpose, rooted in faith and a spirit of constant conversion and self-sacrifice, was the secret of the impressive growth of the Church in this country.”
The Vertical Dimension of Gothic Architecture
o The unity of a Gothic cathedral is not static. It is born of a dynamic tension of diverse forces that impel the structure upward, to heaven.
o The Church is a unity of many different members, each with its own role and purpose which leads us to acknowledge and reverence their gifts as “manifestations of the Spirit given for the good of all” bearing in mind the distinction between hierarchical and charismatic gifts.
o “Let us lift our gaze upward…and ask the Spirit to enable us each day to grow in the holiness that will make us living stones in the temple that even now the Lord is raising up in our midst.
o If we are true sources of unity, we must also seek inner reconciliation through penance for our own faults as well as forgiving the wrongs we have suffered and putting aside all anger and contention.
Conclusion: The skyscrapers surrounding it may well dwarf the spires of this cathedral, but they remain a vivid reminder of the human spirit’s constant yearning to rise to God. Let us go forth as heralds of hope in the midst of our world so that the Church in America will know a new springtime in the Spirit and point the way to that other, greater city, the new Jerusalem.
Address to young people and seminarians at St. Joseph Seminary in New York
April 19, 2008
Summary by Rev. Msgr. Robert Panke
The example of holy men and women give us witnesses of ordinary people who grew up to lead extraordinary lives in the service of the Lord.
o Though each had a unique background, their lives were all inflamed with the love of Jesus and therefore were lives of hope and joy.
o Who will be bear witness to the voice of Christ today? Imitating the life of Christ begins by responding to His call in the ordinary places of life.
In every age there are areas of darkness in our lives and society that seek to destroy the path to Christ.
o Darkness of the heart: afflicting those affected by drug and substance abuse, homelessness and poverty, racism, violence and degradation.
o Darkness of the mind: a misused freedom that leads us away from truth and towards relativism. All youth are encouraged to join along the path of goodness and hope which is only found in the light of Christ.
Following Christ
o The way of Jesus is the path to true happiness. It is a vision of hope – Christ’s light beckoning us to be guiding stars for others, walking Christ’s way of forgiveness, reconciliation, humility, joy and peace. Embracing this truth leads us to the consoling knowledge that our faith is not about prohibitions, but the gift of friendship with God.
o The importance of a close and personal relationship with Christ through prayer: Christ is a constant companion to whom we can turn in all moments in life. Silence is an essential component to prayer and all are called to seek silent contemplation. Do not be afraid to listen for the Lord in the silence of your heart, especially in adoration before the Eucharist.
o The work of Jesus, His passion, death and resurrection, is brought into our lives when we celebrate the sacraments, especially at Mass, and during confession. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus draws us to himself, into his sacrificial love of the Father, which becomes love for all.
o When we look at Jesus on the cross we come to know His radical love and the need for charity in our lives. Each young person is called to respond to the needs of our world today, filled with suffering and in need of compassion and love.
Vocations
o All vocations are a gift from God. Matrimony, Priesthood, and the call to Consecrated Life all have unique characters, blessings and gifts.
o The youth of today are encouraged to seek and embrace with joy their God-given vocation. Jesus Christ is the hope that never disappoints!
Homily at Holy Mass at New York’s Yankee Stadium
April 20, 2008
Summary by Dr. Jem Sullivan
The Church in the United States celebrates the two hundredth anniversary of the Sees of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville from the mother See of Baltimore, a first great chapter of growth.
o From a small flock and with successive waves of immigrants the Church in America has united diverse peoples in the profession of faith, and has contributed significantly to society through educational, charitable and social works.
o On these solid foundations rises the future of the Church in America.
We recall here a fundamental truth: the Church’s unity has no other basis than the Word of God, made flesh in Christ Jesus our Lord.
o All external signs of identity, all structures, associations and programs, valuable or even essential as they may be, ultimately exist only to support and foster the deeper unity that, in Christ, is God’s gift to his Church.
o The Church’s unity is “apostolic.” It is a visible unity, grounded in the Apostles chosen by Christ and born of “the obedience of faith.”
In a society that rightly places high value on personal freedom words like “authority” and “obedience” are “stumbling stones.” Only with faith in Jesus Christ do we see the fullest meaning, value, and indeed beauty, of these words.
True freedom is found only in a self-surrender that is part of the mystery of love. Jesus tells us that only by losing ourselves do we truly find ourselves. True freedom blossoms when we turn away from sin and find the source of our ultimate happiness in Him who is infinite love, infinite freedom, infinite life.
o Real freedom brings a new and liberating way of seeing reality. When we put on “the mind of Christ” (cf. Phil 2:5), new horizons open before us.
o In faith, within the communion of the Church, we enrich American culture with the beauty and truth of the Gospel and glimpse now a splendid vision of a world transformed by the liberating truth of the Gospel.
o In this land of religious liberty, Catholics are free not only to practice faith, but to also participate fully in civic life, bringing their deepest moral convictions to the public square. The Holy Father exhorted the youth at Dunwoodie to open their hearts to the Lord’s call.
In two hundred years the Church has changed greatly. A strong faith built the network of churches, educational, healthcare and social institutions that are the Church’s hallmark. The steady ministry of priests, the contributions of men and women religious, and parents who hand on the faith to their children. These many “spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God” have been offered up over two centuries, and prompt us to use wisely the blessings of freedom we have been given.