La virtud de la esperanza

No sabía nada mejor. No creo que nadie lo supiera mejor. De niño, uno de los juegos de barrio era “vaqueros y indios”. Las tiendas vendían kits de disfraces y figuritas de plástico para apoyar este juego.

A fines de la década de 1970, tuve la oportunidad de vivir en Devils Lake, Dakota del Norte. Leo en un turista folleto que el nombre de la ciudad y el lago provienen de una antigua leyenda de los nativos americanos sobre dos partidas de caza en las orillas opuestas del lago. Uno era sioux y el otro Chippewa. Ambos desobedecieron las leyes de los indios americanos para la guerra y en medio de la noche, ambos se lanzaron silenciosamente al lago para atacar al otro. Debido al mal en sus corazones, una gran tormenta apareció con olas gigantes y los ahogó a todos. Así, el lago del diablo. Le pregunté a una anciano tribal sobre la historia. Se rió y dijo: “La leyenda del hombre blanco”. Me dijo que el nombre nativo

In the brilliance of Thomas Jefferson’s writing of the Declaration of Independence was also his blindness toward the Indigenous peoples. In one of the lists of grievances against the king, he referred to them as “merciless Indian Savages.” Ironically, he later believed that the greatest threat to the nation was the ignorance of its citizens.

Awareness is a painful process. It is anachronistic to take today’s knowledge of human rights to judge the ignorance of the past. Whether toward Native Americans or African slaves, the worldview of European settlers is only in hindsight rightfully judged as a great evil. Today’s understanding of genocide and ethnic cleansing was unknown and led to the mistaken and horrific belief that boarding schools were more humane than eradication. During Pope Francis’ 2022 visit to Canada specifically to address the atrocities in these boarding schools, he apologized with “sorrow and shame” for the Church’s role in their operations. Archbishop Bernard Hebda has expressed the same apology for the boarding schools in Minnesota.

“We didn’t know any better” is no excuse. The truth that the sins of one’s ancestors are not americano para el lago significaba que debido al alto contenido alcalino, no era bueno para beber. Estaba empezando a ver una de las muchas tragedias ocultas entre “vaqueros y indios.” inherited does not mean there is no responsibility for understanding today’s issues. Likewise, justifiable anger toward the past can cause a blindness to tomorrow’s opportunities for the common good.

En la brillantez de la escritura de Thomas Jefferson de la Declaración de Independencia también estaba su ceguera hacia los pueblos indígenas. En una de las listas de agravios contra el rey, él se refirió a ellos como “salvajes indios despiadados”. Irónicamente, más tarde creyó que el mayor amenaza para la nación era la ignorancia de sus ciudadanos.

La toma de conciencia es un proceso doloroso. Es anacrónico tomar el conocimiento actual de los derechos humanos para juzgar la ignorancia del pasado. Ya sea hacia los nativos americanos o hacia los esclavos africanos, el mundo vista de los colonos europeos sólo en retrospectiva es justamente juzgada como un gran mal. De hoy se desconocía la comprensión del genocidio y la limpieza étnica y condujo a la errónea y horrible creencia de que los internados eran más humanos que la erradicación.

Anyone can divide and tear down. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are elevated above and beyond all that is wrong. We have been given the gifts of grace to find unity in our Communion and to heal and build up all that is broken. The mystical body of Christ is the Church that is a far greater reality than those who lead it, all those who belong to it and all the past chapters of history.

As the archdiocese hosted the Tekakwitha Conference, a celebratory vision for the future was inseparable from the pains of the past. The virtue of hope is strengthened by the graces given during times of pain and suffering. The virtue of hope is made more real when, as Jesus taught (Lk 8:17) and St. Paul wrote (Eph 5:11), the deeds of darkness are exposed and brought to the light.

The only devil in Devils Lake is the persistent ignorance of the history and stories of Native Americans.

Durante el Papa Francisco 2022 visita a Canadá específicamente para abordar las atrocidades en estos internados, él se disculpó con “tristeza y vergüenza” por el papel de la Iglesia en sus operaciones. Arzobispo Bernard Hebda ha expresado la misma disculpa por los internados en Minnesota.

“No sabíamos nada mejor” no es excusa. La verdad de que los pecados de los antepasados no son heredado no significa que no haya responsabilidad para comprender los problemas de hoy. Asimismo, la ira justificable hacia el pasado puede causar una ceguera a las oportunidades del mañana para el bien común.

Cualquiera puede dividir y derribar. Es sólo a través del poder del Espíritu Santo que somos elevado por encima y más allá de todo lo que está mal. Se nos han dado los dones de la gracia para encontrar la unidad en nuestra Comunión y sanar y edificar todo lo que está roto. El cuerpo místico de Cristo es el Iglesia que es una realidad mucho mayor que los que la dirigen, todos los que pertenecen a ella y todos los capítulos anteriores de la historia.

Mientras la arquidiócesis acoge la Conferencia de Tekakwitha, una visión de celebración para el futuro es inseparable de los dolores del pasado. La virtud de la esperanza se fortalece con las gracias dadas en momentos de dolor y sufrimiento. La virtud de la esperanza se hace más real cuando, como enseñó Jesús (Lc 8,17) y San Pablo escribió (Ef 5,11) las obras de las tinieblas son expuestas y llevadas al Luz.

El único diablo en Devils Lake es la ignorancia persistente de la historia y las historias de los nativos americanos.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointment in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

Effective August 15, 2023

Reverend Thomas Tuan Van Nguyen, CRM, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Anne –Saint Joseph Hien in Minneapolis. Father Nguyen is a priest of the Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer.

By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service

Even if the fruits are not immediately visible, Christians are called to sow seeds of faith in the world and people around them in their daily lives, Pope Francis said.

Before praying the Angelus with some 15,000 visitors in St. Peter’s Square July 16, the pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading from St. Matthew, in which Jesus tells his followers the parable of the sower.

In Jesus’ parable, the seed that falls on rich soil produces fruit, while seed that falls on hard or rocky ground or among the thorns does not.

“If the Word is the seed, we are the terrain,” Pope Francis said, “we can receive (the Word) or not.”

The word of God, he explained, is like a seed: “It is small, almost unseeable, but it grows plants that bear fruit” and Jesus is the “good sower” who “never tires of sowing (seeds) with generosity” and calls Christians to do the same.

As an example, the pope said that parents are called to sow seeds of goodness and faith in their children and to not be discouraged if their kids do not seem to understand or appreciate their teachings.

“The good seed remains, this is what matters, and it will take root in due time,” he said. “But if, giving in to doubt,

(parents) give up sowing (seeds) and leave their children in the hands of trends and cellphones without devoting time to them, without educating them, then the fertile soil will be filled with weeds.”

Young people, he explained, are called not only to receive seeds of faith but also to “sow the Gospel in the furrows of everyday life.”

Young people, he said, can begin by sowing the Gospel through prayer: “a small seed that is not seen, but with which you entrust to Jesus everything you live through, so he can develop it.”

Pope Francis also suggested young people spend time with people in need.

It can seem like time wasted, “but really it is holy time,” he said, “while the

and hedonism leave hands empty.”

The pope also encouraged young people to devote themselves to study, which, like sowing seeds, “is tiresome and not immediately rewarding,” he said, “but is essential to build a better future for all.”

The pope recalled the important role of consecrated religious and laypeople who preach the Gospel “often without recording any immediate successes.”

“Let us never forget, when we announce the word, that even where nothing appears to happen, in reality the Holy Spirit is at work and the kingdom of God is growing, through and beyond our efforts,” he said.