Yesterday I went to the solemn mass celebrating the Feast of the Presentation at St. Peter's with Pope Benedict presiding. Traditionally, the mass honors the life and commitment of those living in consecrated life: nuns, brothers , monks and priests. The basilica was filled with nearly 10,000 women and men living the consecrated life in a religious community. I made it inside the basilica just as they closed the massive doors.
There I stood in the back of the basilica gazing in awe at the sight before my eyes: thousands of people who have completely dedicated their lives to Christ by living the vows of chastity , prayer, obedience and poverty. The pope spoke eloquently of their necessary presence in the church of people who have answered the gospel calling in a most radical way.
Included in the celebration for me wee the countless sisters serving out parish schools, the current Helpers, Franciscans and sisters of the poor who are so much a part of our life as a parish community.
I remember the nun, a sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, who placed me on her lap when I was six years old and told me about Jesus and his love for me. She did this in the chapel of Holy Family hospital in Des Plaines while my dad was having tests. Seeing these dedicated men and women have brought to mind the quiet presence of these people in the church living the life in an apostolic or contemplative way with no fanfare and few thanks.
The Feast of the Presentation celebrates Christ being brought into the temple to be presented by Mary and Joseph to the Father, who then gave his Son to the world as the Light for all people. The women and men living the consecrated life bring the Light into all areas of the world and in places most of us would rather avoid. Their voice has sometimes been one that has unsettled those in positions of authority. And their radical choice to live the Great Commandment of Love certainly is a sword that "pierces the heart" as we see the smallness of our hearts.
We need these "lights" in our church to inspire us to live lives of simplicity and prayer. Their witness is not for themselves but for all the people they encounter in ministry , daily life and prayer. They don't want us to put them on pedestals, making them an object to be admired ; they want us to find the strength and courage to become a "light" in our own worlds, given our own unique situation and calling. Each one of us is called to become a saint and we know we are on the road to sanctity when our own hearts are pierced because we love. Buen camino. Padre
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