Opening Mass Homily

REV. MSGR. THOMAS POWERS ‘97, DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT

ne hour after sunrise on October 7, 1571, a winner-take-all battle for the Mediterranean Sea and, ultimately, Christian Europe was about to begin. More than 200 Christian ships holding 30,000 troops above deck and at least that many rowing below, faced off against an opponent with 250 galleys carrying 75,000 men. And the immediate preparation for the Battle of Lepanto began. On the Ottoman side, thousands of men screamed from the depths of their lungs, pounded their chests, blew horns, clashed gongs and cymbals, and fired muskets, a frightening demonstration of power amidst a cacophony of noise. The Turks had no doubt they could fight and win relying on their own strength, perseverance, and will-power. The Christians, however, did something quite different and quite remarkable. With rosaries in their pockets and crucifixes held aloft by priests on every boat, they knelt down in silence, surrendering themselves to the Lord. They knew that, although they would fight with all their strength, they had to rely on divine help; because they could not win on their strength, perseverance, and will-power alone. Brothers, you and I experience a similar battle within our own hearts every day. We often want to take matters into our own hands, relying on our own strength, perseverance, and will-power. We want to be perfect in the eyes of others and don’t want to be vulnerable or appear weak. And that is what the Evil One wants us to believe, and that is what the Evil One will tempt us to believe. And that is why we reject it. I told the new deacons

Othe evening before their ordination to pay attention to what the Church in her liturgy asks a man to do as a final act of preparation just before the prayer of ordination and the imposition of hands. She does not ask him to shout with self-confidence, to pound his chest or to rely on his own strength, perseverance, and will-power alone. She asks him to lie prostrate in silence, surrendering himself completely to Our Lord. It is not a passive gesture; it is an active one by which one, not unlike the Christians at Lepanto, chooses to “rely on the help of God.”

St. Thérèse summed this up when she wrote: “Sanctity does not consist in performing such and such acts; it means being ready at heart to become small and humble in the arms of God, acknowledging our own weaknesses and trusting in His fatherly goodness to the point of audacity.”

When the sun rises every day here at this North American College, this is our battle. It is a battle that never divides us, because it is a battle that we share together as brothers, helping each other to grow in trust of the Lord and building a strong foundation for this house. It is a battle that will not be decided in one day, and it is a battle we win by surrendering, not to the enemy or to passivity, but to Jesus, through Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary. For it is by his strength and grace we will prevail. n

Our Lady Of The Rosary

Take up your weapons! We must go to war! To rescue Famagusta from the Turks. I’ll fight! I’ll die! I’ll save that Cyprus shore! And battle Ali Pasha where’er he lurks. Me, too! I’ll fight to serve the Holy League. But lacking musket, sword, and galleass, Five hundred miles from that Ionian Sea, What can I do to help secure success? O Blessed Pius! Still your words ring true: In times of war and heresy and strife We raise our eyes, and weeping hope anew, Implore the Blessed Virgin: Grant us life. So march we on with weapons close at hand; The rosary gives strength to any land.