Cathedral Family,
I just returned from a Baptismal Preparation class for our parishioners who are welcoming their first child, and desire to bring them to the Church for baptism. It was an exciting evening. Sounds strange perhaps---but true. It was a sign of the vibrancy of what God is doing in our midst. I asked each of the couples to share why they wanted to get their child baptized. I was prepared for their answers to be from a wide range of perspectives—from obligation, to not letting a parent or grandparent down, all the way to superstition----worried something bad would happen if they didn’t baptize. Yet each couple admitted they themselves had faith. Many admitted that they have wandered in their high school and college and young adult years. Yet for most of them, they are on a search for more. They want to give their children something real to hang on to in times of trial. Without necessarily having the language---they were all articulating the desire of the whole Church---- we want eternal life.
This is the hole in our heart. We can try to avoid it---but sooner or later we have to come face to face with the emptiness that the world will show us. The true security is God alone. I know that our nation continues to reel from the tragic violence that has erupted on the national scene—with more than one school shooting and the shooting of Charlie Kirk on a college campus. There is an uneasy feeling that sweeps across our land as we seek tighter controls on guns, tighter security measures and better protocols for safety in all public places. Important conversations for sure. We pray for wise policy and prudent decision making. Yet, the underlying fear will never be put to rest with better gun laws or more security guards. The real answer lies in what these seven couples at St. Francis’ Baptismal Seminar class were seeking. Namely, that the best protection for any of us---is to live with a clear conscience before God. Having security in the One who can offer us eternal security brings us the peace the world cannot give. We need to lean into that belief strongly these days, and encourage one another with assurances of faith.
This month of October is traditionally known as a Marian Month---dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Tuesday is the Feast of the Holy Rosary---the Liturgical Day that recalls the triumphant Victory of Lepanto---where thousands of people praying the rosary walked peacefully toward the oncoming Ottoman Turks—coming to overtake the land of Christians. Without gunfire or bloodshed, the oncoming ships of soldiers, one by one, turned around and departed. That great victory was attributed to the deep faith of Christian people invoking Mary, Our Mother, with confidence, and it led to a major historical turning point by keeping Europe as a land where Christ was honored and celebrated. Every modern Pope, including Pope Leo XIV, have counseled the Christian people to flee to Mary---pray to her now and at the hour of our death. Her intercession is powerful and real. The shortest distance to embracing the life of Jesus is through Mary. So, friends---wherever we are on the spectrum of Marian devotions---let’s do it again. Dust off the rosary beads and download a pamphlet on how to pray the Rosary and----just do it. Not perfectly, but with love and trust and hope and honesty. Mary hears and goes right to Jesus.
In closing, may I ask you to pray a Hail Mary for the children in our parish who will soon be baptized. Also, please pray for their parents and godparents. These children are our hope---our future! All we do to support and help them to know and love Jesus will change the world for the good. Have a blessed week! Father Christy