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May
2005 be a time of spiritual growth
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
Even though the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church begins with
the first Sunday of Advent, we live in a secular society that follows
the Gregorian calendar. To proclaim “Happy New Year” on the first Sunday
of Advent brings whimsical stares. Not so on or about Jan. 1.
Nonetheless, the Catholic Church had a part to play in setting the
365-day calendar that begins on Jan. 1.
The early Christians, converts from Judaism, found it natural to mark
time by the Roman calendar of Julius Caesar. It had an established
seven-day week divided into months and it was the calendar utilized by
their Jewish brothers and sisters. Those first converts developed their
own specifically Christian feasts. Those feasts were somewhat parallel
to Jewish celebrations, but were set around the pivotal fact of the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
At first, Easter was celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Nisan,
at the full moon following the spring equinox. Since this meant
celebrating Easter on a different day each year, and since the Lord rose
on the first day, Christians early on began celebrating Easter on the
first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This
was sanctioned at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Lent developed in the
fourth century as a period of spiritual preparation for the great feast
of Easter, with its reconciliation of penitents and the baptism of
catechumens.
Christmas somewhat belatedly became the second center of the Church
liturgical year. It dates to the fourth century. Dec. 25 was chosen to
offset the imperial feast of Sol Invitus, the unconquered sun.
Epiphany was developed in Egypt and was taken into the Christmas cycle
of the West, while in the second half of the fifth century, Advent
developed as a spiritual preparation for the Christmas season. In Easter
and Christmas, Christians had the two pivotal points in their year of
worship (liturgical year). In the course of time other feasts were
added, for example, Pentecost and the Ascension. The various aspects of
the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus eventually
were spread throughout the whole liturgical year. The purpose was to
allow the faithful to enter more deeply into every aspect of the mystery
of Christ and our redemption.
Even though the liturgical celebrations of the Church took a different
track, members of the Church continued to follow the secular (Julian)
calendar.
In 1583, Pope Gregory XIII decreed that Oct. 5 that year would not be
followed by Oct. 6, but Oct. 15. And so it was for much of the world’s
population. The old Julian calendar was set aside. Given the 10-day
“correction” under Gregory XIII, the Gregorian calendar is considered
accurate to within one day in 20,000 years.
Each of us has his/her own story about 2004. No doubt I will look back
and judge it a memorable year. I celebrated my 71st birthday, traveled
to Rome for my fourth ad limina, and broke my left ankle. That last one
sat me down for two months (no weight allowed on the injured leg), which
was followed by two months of physical therapy which continues even as I
write.
During the long recuperation, there was time to look at things through
the crucible of disability and pain. I concluded that it is extremely
easy for us to fixate on the mess around us. Our country is at war,
people are divided politically and culturally, the Church itself suffers
from polarization. The challenges in our daily lives are numerous.
Disappointments are frequent. One can easily see a glass half empty, if
not more so.
The Christmas season (we continue to celebrate it in the Church through
Jan. 9) calls us to look beyond the way things are to the way they can
be. Isaiah, the great Advent prophet, is held up as one who radiated
hope rooted in faith. He looked at his world, which by all standards was
a mess, and saw endless possibilities. “They shall beat their swords
into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall
not raise a sword against another, nor shall they train for war again”
(Isaiah 2:4).
You and I need to focus not on the “mess” of the moment, but on the
blessings we enjoy. They come to us from God. Indeed, one of those
blessings is our ability to move beyond the disappointments and
heartaches with the hope that new and better days await us. It is
remarkable how quickly one moves beyond the sting of physical pain.
Psychological pain is a different story, unfortunately, but it need not
be paralyzing.
Among the blessings I see as I reflect on 2004 is the fact we now have
14 men preparing for the priesthood of our Local Church. That is the
highest number in years. You may recall me saying that during the past
seven years I have been privileged to ordain three men to the
priesthood. During that same time frame, 17 priests have died. That is a
startling statistic. Yet, two of our seminarians were ordained deacons
this past summer. In June, God willing, they will become priests.
This coming year it will be my privilege to ordain the first class of
permanent deacons for the diocese. A second class is in formation.
The ELM (Ecclesial Lay Ministry certification program) continues to
expand. A total of 172 students from 46 parishes are going through the
process at the present time. I have repeatedly said that laity in
leadership roles in our parishes are expected to commit to ELM
certification. “ELM’ers” will have an important part to play in
providing quality ministry to the Catholics of Northcentral Indiana in
the years that lie ahead. The diminishing pool of priests available for
parish assignment makes that an obvious reality. Laity have been and
will continue to occupy leadership roles. They need appropriate academic
and spiritual formation, as well as the pastoral skills those positions
presume.
2004 was also a Fruitful Harvest year. Once more, the response has been
humbling. Not every Catholic household contributes, of course. Yet, when
compared to other dioceses, the response is outstanding. The diocesan
goal has been exceeded. We will meet our responsibilities over the next
two years.
Fruitful Harvest provides approximately half of the operating funds
needed to support my ministry and our responsibilities as a Local
Church. It is comparable to the weekly collection taken up in our
parishes. Just as pastors depend upon the weekly collection to operate,
diocesan responsibilities are met by a collection as well. It is called
Fruitful Harvest. Thank you to one and all who support the biennial
Fruitful Harvest campaign.
Now we face a new year. No doubt it is good we cannot see into the
future. The year ahead, like all years, will bring joy, disappointments,
struggle, death and new life. The goal is to be able to say one year
from today that our prayer life is stronger, that our relationship with
Jesus Christ is richer, and that we are able to see God more clearly in
the events of our daily lives. If that is the case, 2005 will be a good
year, a year of grace.
Let us pray that it will be so. |
