June 19, 2009
The Catholic News & Herald 15
Year for Priests important for everyone
We must not forget all that priests do for their flocks Last weekend I had the honor of attending the priestly ordination of Father Benjamin Roberts. I love ordinations. They are such joyous occasions, not only for the newly ordained and his family, but for the entire church family. It is a ceremony that is steeped in tradition and showcases the beauty and solemnity of our faith. Aside from witnessing the new priest profess his vows, the part that I enjoy most is seeing all of the priests from across the diocese, present on the altar for the celebration of the Eucharist. It is a powerful thing to see so many priests standing together, united in prayer. Our church consists of a unique melding of individuals united as a eucharistic family. We are one in the Body of Christ. But as members of the church on earth, we are human and, as such, we are flawed and susceptible to the tarnish of sin — priests included. Unfortunately, the sinful actions of a few have repercussions that fall on the shoulders of the many. Pope Benedict XVI recently announced that June 19, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, marks the beginning of the Year for Priests to emphasize the important role of priests in the mission of the church. In an appearance on a recent episode
of Vatican Television’s “Octava Dies,” Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, reflected on the upcoming Year for Priests and on the importance of supporting priests through prayer and maintaining spiritual solidarity as a church family. “If the problem of union with God confronts all Christians, it especially confronts priests, who are sought after by everyone at all times and whose number is diminishing or remains small in the face of all the demands,” Father Lombardi observed. “Obviously, the holiness of priests is first of all their responsibility, but it also concerns the whole community of the faithful. It only takes a few unworthy priests to profoundly harm the credibility of the church,” he said. When members of our church community fall short of our expectations, I am always saddened by those individuals who allow the incident to negatively impact their own faith lives. The Catholic Church is bigger than any one individual and we must not allow the failings of the few to pull us away from our union with the whole church family. In the Diocese of Charlotte, we are blessed to have 75 active diocesan priests, 54 religious priests and 25 retired priests. They serve Mass in parishes every day, hear confessions, anoint the sick,
‘Put God in the center ...’ Life lessons for the Class of 2009 I can hardly believe it: My oldest son just graduated from high school! It seems like yesterday that my wife and I were changing Joe’s diapers. I know it’s a cliche, but time sure does fly. And these are not just my thoughts: Countless moms, dads and guardians are expressing similar sentiments all around the world. So what words of wisdom can we give to our new graduates? While I’m sure you have gems of your own, allow me to share with you a few of the thoughts I gave to my newly graduated son. “Congratulations! You should be proud of yourself. You have worked hard; you hung in there, even when things were difficult. That shows real character. Because when it’s tough, it’s easy to quit. “It’s always easier to walk away from problems, rather than work to resolve them. But the easy way is rarely the best way. Hard work and determination are essential ingredients to successful outcomes. “This lesson is foundational, because while life is filled with many joys, it also is filled with many difficulties — especially if you continue to nurture a sensitivity to the sufferings of others both
locally and globally. “However, feeling empathy for others who are hurting is not enough. It’s just the beginning, not the end. Hard, determined work must follow. “If life on this planet is to have meaning, it must be put at the service of others — with a very special emphasis on the unborn, poor, hungry and those affected by war. “But much in our culture does not encourage such care and selflessness toward our fellow human beings. Our consumer-oriented society continuously urges us to buy things we simply do not need, at the terrible price of ignoring the hunger and poverty of billions of fellow human beings. “So be alert. Don’t let the tempting, self-centered part of our culture grab hold of you. Don’t let it numb you toward the sufferings of so many. Rather, set your sights on selfless service. “The great humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer said, ‘I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.’ “Finally, on my bookcase, you know I have a little plaque that reads: ‘Put God in the center — and everything will
Some Moore Thoughts KATIE MOORE staff writer
celebrate marriage and baptize new members into the church. They give talks and attend meetings. They volunteer with our youths and they visit the elderly. And their desire to do all of this and more stems from a deep and profound calling to love and serve the Lord and his people. Each has been chosen by God and has accepted the call. Every day they sacrifice their own personal wants and needs for the good of the church and the people they serve. As laity our role is to support them in their mission to serve the church. “The spiritual solidarity of the community is a powerful support for their spiritual and apostolic life,” Father Lombardi said. “In sum, the Year for Priests is important not only for priests, but for everyone.” With that in mind, let us not forget the countless sacrifices that our priests make for us on a regular basis. Let us remember that as they continue to guide and shepherd their flocks, they depend on our prayers and continued support. And let us allow this Year for Priests to serve as an opportunity for us to show our appreciation for our priests here in the Diocese of Charlotte.
Making a Difference TONY MAGLIANO cns columnist
come together.’ This is the single most important piece of advice I can give. “For a nation, a church, a marriage, a family, a single human life will never experience true wisdom, unity, peace and joy unless God is at the center. “And the essence of the one true God is love. ‘Love’ is a verb; it is actionoriented. It works for the good of others. And by actively loving others, we prove and experience our love for God — and thus allow him to dwell at our center. “Be determined to make a difference! Make sure that the world is a better place because of the love that you put into action. “The late, great archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Emmanuel Celestin Suhard, once said, ‘The world will belong to those who love it!’ “Graduation should not bring an end to education. Rather, it should encourage a lifelong adventure of learning, especially learning how to love more deeply. “A life filled with love is each person’s final exam. Pease God, may we all graduate with flying colors!”
People must hear Gospel, praise God in their own language, pope says The Pope Speaks POPE BENEDICT XVI VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Gospel message cannot be fully part of people’s lives unless it has been faithfully translated into their language and is reflected in their culture, Pope Benedict XVI said. Talking about the life and mission of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, ninth-century brothers and missionaries, the pope said the two recognized that although the Slavic people of Central Europe had embraced Christianity and were baptized, the people needed to hear the Gospel and praise God in their own language. At his weekly general audience June 17 in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict said the two brothers not only helped invent an alphabet for the Slavonic language — an alphabet now known as Cyrillic in honor of one of the brothers — but they also carried out a theological battle against what is known as the “Trilingual Heresy.” Here is the text of the pope’s audience remarks in English. Dear Brothers and Sisters, As we continue our catechesis on the early Christian writers of the East and the West, we now turn to the brothers Sts. Cyril and Methodius. They were born in Thessalonica in the early ninth century. Cyril, whose baptismal name was Constantine, was educated at the Byzantine Court, ordained a priest and became an acclaimed teacher of sacred and profane sciences. When his brother Michael became a monk, taking the name of Methodius, Cyril also decided to embrace the monastic life. Having retrieved the relics of Pope Clement I during a mission in Crimea, the brothers successfully preached Christianity to the people of Moravia. Inventing an alphabet for the Slavonic language, they together with their disciples translated the liturgy, the Bible and texts of the Fathers, shaping the culture of the Slav peoples and leaving an outstanding example of “inculturation.” Pope Adrian II received them in Rome and encouraged their missionary work. When Cyril died in Rome in 869, Methodius continued the mission in spite of persecution. After his death in 885, some of his disciples, providentially released from slavery, spread the Gospel in Bulgaria and in “the Land of the Rus.” In recognition of the brothers’ vast influence, they were named co-patrons of Europe by Pope John Paul II. May we imitate their strong faith and their Christian wisdom as we bear witness to the Gospel in our daily lives!