Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas

A revered Native American proverb tells us: “Never criticize someone until you’ve walked a mile in his moccasins.”

 

About fifteen years ago, I was ministering in St. Ann’s Church, a very large Catholic parish in Marietta, GA. As part of our ecumenical outreach ministry, I was asked by some parishioners to organize a visit to the Jewish Synagogue just two miles from our parish. When I called their office, the office manager told me that the Rabbi would certainly be delighted to welcome us and we set a date.

 

When I arrived with our thirty-five parishioners, we were met by this young Rabbi who gave us the grand tour which concluded in his worship area. We had a brief service during which he explained their weekly worship service and then he read from the Torah. His sharing was particularly interesting since he began by telling us that his best friend who lived next door to him, Tommy, was now a Benedictine monk at St. Meinrad’s Abbey.

Francis of Assisi (detail) by Cimabue (Benvenuto di Giuseppe, c. 1240–1302, a Florentine painter and creator of mosaics)

There are certain people whose very name seems to connect to the heart of people of many nations and beliefs. One such name is Francis of Assisi (1182–1226). His way of looking at life was quite striking; his words and actions somehow attractive yet challenging. Many of us are familiar with his “Peace Prayer” that begins “Make me a channel of your peace…” 

 

About a year before Francis died, he stayed in a small hut behind the convent of San Damiano in Assisi. Due to an ailment, he had to remain inside because his eyes could not tolerate daylight. One evening, after reflection and talking with the Lord, Francis fell asleep. When he awoke, he composed the first part of “The Canticle of the Creatures” in which he expresses that nature has meaning in itself because it is created by God.

 

Window from Chiara Center, Springfield, IL

In this month in which we have just celebrated the first day of Spring on March 20, listen to his words:

 

“Most High, all-powerful, good Lord! Yours are the praises, the glory and the honor and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong, And no human is worthy to mention your name. 

 

“Praised be you, my Lord, with all your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, Who is the day and through whom you give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor; And bears the likeness to you, Most High One. 

 

“Praised be you, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in heaven you formed them clear and precious and beautiful. 

 

“Praised be you, my Lord, through Brother Wind, and through the air, cloudy and serene, and every kind of weather, through whom you give sustenance to your creatures. 

Bp. George V. Murry, S.J., Ph.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio

The Most Reverend George V. Murry, S.J., Ph.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, released a Pastoral Letter on Poverty, entitled “Who is my neighbor?” on the occasion of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Poverty Awareness Month held each year in January.

 

In his Pastoral Letter, Bishop Murry writes: “Many of our neighbors, near and far, are crying for help. Poverty remains a reality in our region and in many parts of the world. Those in poverty are our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, trying to get our attention. The Church is especially called upon to recognize our neighbors in need, provide care, and engage the entire community to find solutions that can help them break the cycle of poverty.”

 

“The Church alone, however” according to Bishop Murry, “cannot solve the problem of poverty. To succeed at first reducing and eventually eliminating poverty everyone must be involved including the private and governmental sectors, along with religious and community agencies, and each one of us individually. We must all care for our neighbors.”

From the time of the very first sin, from the earliest days of Adam and Eve’s sin as well as the event of Cain slaying Abel, humanity has been in search of true reconciliation, true recovery from sin. Notably St. Paul’s struggle with the Christian community of Corinth brought forth a basic theology of reconciliation that has spurred Christian spiritual writers down through the centuries to reflect on God’s gift of reconciliation and how we can participate in that very challenging quest for forgiveness, unity and final peace.

 

As with St. Paul, Pope Benedict XVI has pointed out that, in its most challenging struggle to recover from atrocities, injustices, war and fratricide, the continent of Africa is for him “a continent of hope.” In his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Africae Munus, #19-21, he explored the meaning of St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20b) and offered “some guidelines for pastoral action on the great continent of Africa.”