Dear friends,
As you may know, I am not one to publicly decry the many things that are happening in our society which confirm for me a speech made by the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan advancing a theory called "defining deviancy down." In it, he decried the tendency to constantly lower the bar on attitudes, actions and public policy which were once found unacceptable but are now acceptable. At least, I don't think I do it from the pulpit which, I believe, should be the time and place when the Word of God inspires, encourages and uplifts.
Sometimes, in advancing those changes, the media and people in public life, throw all sorts of accusations and criticisms against the Catholic Church, to the extent that some may come to believe that we are once again living in the time of the "Know Nothings" and other groups which regularly practiced discrimination against Catholics, even to the point of violence against Catholics and their property (such as the church burnings in New York and Newark). We see all sorts of modern attempts and threats such as these happening around the country.
How do we respond? Some have taken to raising the level of the rhetoric, a sort of punch-counter punch. Personally, I believe standing for our faith in what we believe, without engaging in the personality wars is a much better sign of who we are, Catholics who follow Jesus' directive to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27-28).
Which brings me to our celebration next Sunday, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, the Sacrament of Divine Love, the Feast of Corpus Christi. It originated in the Thirteenth Century and it celebrates Christ's gift of the Eucharist, the source and summit of our life together as Church. Since the Protestant Reformation, the Feast has come to be proposed as a way to publicly acknowledge the specifically Catholic understanding of the Sacrament of the Eucharist as the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life. This is the ultimate reason for the public Procession with the Blessed Sacrament, around the block. It is a demonstration of who we are (Catholics) and what we believe. With or without the Procession, we celebrate and reflect on the Eucharist as the center of our Catholic life, both in the action of the Mass and Christ present in our Adoration Chapel, 24/7.
If this is the center of our life, and THE most distinguishing fact of our Catholic life, what better way to acknowledge this before the world and propose this to the world, without harshness, violent rhetoric or personal condemnation than to take part in this public demonstration? I propose that this is the best sign we can offer to the world, our faith in Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Divine Love, Who transforms the world through that same love, and in Whom we find the power to do the same.
As a sign that this is the way of life to which you commit yourself, join us at the12:30 Mass and afterward follow Jesus in procession, as a public witness to that commitment. Next week, I will have more about Perpetual Adoration.
God Bless,
Fr. Ron
