(Homily delivered by His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, during the Closing Mass of the Second National Congress of the Clergy on January 29, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City.)
Two women were dusting the pews and kneelers in the small village church and a group of out-of-town guests were making a visit to the parish church. One of the visitors was heard to complain that the kneelers were dusty in the dimly lit church. Hearing the frank but uncalled for remark, one of the cleaning women immediately rebutted by saying, “Yes, our church may be dusty and dark, but we have a holy pastor.” That village was Ars in southern France, and the pastor was Father John Baptist Mary Vianney.
The simplicity of his life, the poverty of his rectory, there was nothing there that was beyond need or bordered luxury; the abstemious routine in his day, the unheralded prayer that sewed his daily schedule including hours and hours in the confessional spoke convincingly of his holy life. To nobody’s surprise, the pastor of Ars was recognized as a saint even before he died. We have a holy pastor! Holiness is what Pope Benedict XVI wanted the priests today to recoup, and so, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, he announced that 2009-2010 should be celebrated in the whole Catholic world as the Year for Priests. It is a call for renewal in the striving for spiritual perfection, which is the root of the effectiveness of priestly ministry. This is the compassionate way for Benedict XVI to say that the priests today must renew themselves in holiness.
The priest will, therefore, start his renewal on what is essentially priestly. The priest is a creature of the Holy Spirit by virtue of his anointing. Anointed by the Holy Spirit, he is claimed in that Spirit, to belong so completely to God. Like a calf that is branded (by a signum/sigillum) it shouts to all that it already belongs to an owner. Res clamat domino! Once branded, the calf has a declared owner.
Once anointed, the priest shouts to the entire world that he already belongs completely, and for all times, to God! Once claimed completely by God, half measures and temporary commitment will not work. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI chose to capture the truth of this commitment in the theme: FAITHFULNESS OF CHRIST. FAITHFULNESS OF THE PRIEST. For a whole year, if not for a long stretch in our lifetime, the fidelity of Jesus Christ to who and what He is will remain material for our reflection. Shifting to the fidelity of the priest the same meditation will help us pursue the holiness that the renewal aims to achieve.
The root of fidelity goes beyond the observance of law or duty. Gifts and graces come before obligations. Even children know this truth that if they are shown love, it is easier to obey. It is only because we have been gifted so much with graces and flavors that we can respond with obedience to laws and obligations. Graces must come to our realization first, before we can speak of our duties. This is also the reason why love sets in first, before we become conscious of our obligations. And if anyone were to synopsize the whole relationship, then, the only way to condense all relationship (between gifts and duties) is to say that love must prevail. And Jesus said it all, “All laws must become love.” (Matthew 22:38).
Love improves all relationship and ensures all obligations as well. Love even enables people, especially parents and married people to make sacrifices for their loved ones.
Allow me to tell this story—if this will help—of a Pinay (RP woman) in her late middle age whom I personally met when once I attended a meeting in Rome. In the course of our long conversation after a Mass in Filipino, she revealed that she was once a principal teacher in a public high school in her province. When I asked what she was doing in that great Italian City, she said that she was working as a domestic helper (atchay). Sad and homesick, she managed to smile (as most Filipinos would do) and blurted out: “Bishop, I have five children: two are in college, two in high school and one, a six grader. You understand that my salary cannot make both ends meet. I love my children and would not like any of them to miss their higher education. If I borrow money, I cannot pay back the loan. My conscience tells me I must not steal.” I was struck by her brave words: “I love my children. My conscience tells me I must not do wrong.” Love is the key to her making that sacrifice.
Sad as the story is because of absence from loved ones and the precarious conditions of life, ties and binding emotions in the family, you and I must be proud that there still exists this kind of Filipinos — products of strong Christian families and values which today are being sabotaged by unknowing politicians.
Love for the family motivates thousands of Filipino parents here and abroad to make sacrifices for their loved ones. Matured love is equated with sacrifices and pains.
In the priesthood, as in shepherding, even if the priest loves his flock or loves to serve the flock or sheep, he pledges his love to God in order that he may serve.
The greatest measure of love is for someone to give his own life for a beloved. Thus, the priest may be asked to die many times by giving up his position, surrender his ambition and make do with less even amidst plenty for the sake of many who have none. Pastoral Charity is the name of this kind of love lived by the priest who imitates Christ in his self-giving and service and enables him (the priest) to think, act and relate with people like Jesus Christ. (PDV, 23).
Like the man who masters suffering, the Priest is the man of the Eucharist, Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and the Sacrament of Communion. In the past we were reminded that the way of communion and ultimate sharing was stressed mostly as communion in the vertical dimension. This is correct and still true today. But the horizontal dimension of communion was badly neglected in the past. Sharing BREAD with others, breaking Bread to be shared will make Jesus present in our communities.
The poor in the Philippines now number more than 67% of the population; they will become poorer, we are told. There is a feeling of urgency to address the hunger of the people who live in the slums, the sick and the jobless. “This is my body” means “Jesus must be received and shared.” The bread consecrated is the body of Jesus. But it could also mean the littlest thing that we can offer and share with others. It can be time; it can be a gesture; it can be a crumb or it can be a smile.
“What is being done for the poor in our country today?” We were suddenly shaken like an earthquake with rating of 9 in the moral Richter scale in one of our meditations this week.
It was suggested by some that the Theology of the Crumbs, better known as Pondo ng Pinoy, be offered to the Local Churches in the Philippines. Rather than be accused of doing the littlest or less, let us, in the name of love of God, consistently do our littlest for the poor. Let us remember the prayer that “there is nothing little, if done for the love of God.”
The Spirit is the paraclitus! The retreat prayer said that we, bishops and pastors, are paracletes, the ones who console and defend. It was said that those who approached the Curé d’ Ars coming from near and far and from across the seas were not only helped to regain grace and forgiven. They left the confessional joyful, peaceful and consoled. Fr. John Mary Vianney even took the greater part of the penance and left the little portion to the penitent.
The soul of this saintly man who was tenderly cared for, sensitive to the point of being impressed by any thing and even simply by the suggestion, or simplest / littlest hint of good. His was the conscience of a true Christian, able to feel the weakest hint of good, able to pursue what is good and true for himself and others, his home, his church and his troubled country that had turned violent after the French Revolution.
There were still some who said that John Vianney was not a saint, then, there should be none. As a young boy he would not even lead their donkey for pasture without falling on his knees and say a prayer. He started saintly as a young lad and closed his life as St. John Mary Vianney.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, religious and the laity present with us today. Your Bishops and priests have just completed their retreat reflection and prayers in the just concluded Second NCC. Thank you for encouraging and praying for us.
Let us together ask Mary Mother of Jesus, Queen of Families and Mother of the Priests to teach us only one way, the one that leads to her Son, Jesus. Mary, teach us simplicity of life learned by Jesus of Nazareth. Teach us to make simple wishes and humble desires. Encourage us that the littlest thing we can do out of love for God is greatest when we awake in eternity with Jesus your Son.
And to all who participated in this grace-filled Second National Congress of the Clergy—the Bishops, the Clergy both religious and Diocesan—Maraming Salamat Po. I have a feeling that you will come again for the Third National Congress for Priests.
The Sisters of Consecrated Life, the Contemplatives who prayed and made sacrifices for us. To all Friends and benefactors of the priests in this Second NCC. Maraming Salamat Po.
To the host families and all you lay people who represent those who prayed for and encourage the renewal of your priests — Salamat Po.
And to our commanding general, Ambassador Henrietta T. de Villa and her most efficient but hidden army of hundreds of unseen volunteers — Lubhang Naparaming Salamat sa Inyong Lahat.
