November 2015 by St. Anthony Messenger

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Messenger

Vatican II SPECIAL REPORT V AT I C A N I I T O D AY

ALSO

Homeless but Not Hopeless

10 Achievements of Vatican II

Free Yourself by Forgiving

It’s Not Over Yet! Friends in Faith

Sends Forth Its Spirit for

50 Years

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CONTENTS

ST. ANTHONY Messenger

❘ NOVEMBER 2015 ❘ VOLUME 123/NUMBER 6

ON THE COVE R

S P E C I A L R E P O R T: VAT I C A N I I T O D AY

Pope Francis calls Vatican II “a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit.” Fifty years later, however, he says the Church still hasn’t “done everything the Holy Spirit was asking us to do during the council.”

28 10 Achievements of Vatican II Vital renewal in the Church was promoted by the Second Vatican Council. More growth lies ahead as we strive to fully embrace the council’s vision for the people of God. By Berard Doerger, OFM

Composite by Jeanne Kortekamp Photos: dove © Roland Fischer; globe © NASA images by Reto Stöckli; Vatican II © CNS/Giancarlo Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo

34 It’s Not Over Yet! One of the council’s last surviving bishops talks about its message and unfinished work. By Alicia von Stamwitz

40 Friends in Faith

D E PA R T M E N T S 2 Dear Reader

From Vatican II through Pope Francis, a new openness to people of other faiths has lit a fire within the Catholic Church. By Rabbi Abie Ingber

3 From Our Readers 4 Followers of St. Francis Rose Jochmann, OSF

6 Reel Time Spotlight

8 Channel Surfing

F E AT U R E S

Chaplains

14 Homeless but Not Hopeless

19 The Spirit of Francis

Meet the women of The Tomorrow Project. They accept the challenge to transition from survive to thrive. By Gerilyn Herold

Confessionals Not Torture Chambers

20 Editorial A Servant Leader for President

22 Free Yourself by Forgiving Forgiveness is divine, but often difficult. God shows us the way. By Christine Miller

46 Fiction: The Tarnished Heart In this saint she found a kindred spirit. By Ann Turner

10 Church in the News

27 At Home on Earth Attitude of Gratitude

50 Ask a Franciscan Declaration of Nullity Changes

52 Book Corner Catholic History for Today’s Church

54 A Catholic Mom Speaks A Little Respect, Please

56 Backstory

DEAR READER

ST. ANTHONY M essenger

Living the Gospel Francis of Assisi esteemed the monastic life, but he knew that God was not calling him or the other friars to live as monks. What, then, would this life of prayer and itinerant preaching look like? It was to answer that question that Francis wrote the Rule that Pope Honorius III approved on November 29, 1223. Today, members of all three branches of the First Order of St. Francis promise to follow this Rule. Francis opens with his most important statement. “The Rule and Life of the Lesser Brothers is this: to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ by living in obedience, without anything of one’s own, and in chastity” (New City Press translation, 1999). The friars are to obey the pope and his lawfully elected successors, as well as Francis and his successors. The friars are to live simply, work with their hands, beg only if absolutely necessary, and correct one another humbly, yet firmly. “They must be careful not to be angry or disturbed at the sin of another, for anger and disturbance impede charity in themselves and others.”

Click the button on the left to hear Father Pat’s further reflections on Francis’ Rule of 1223.

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(U.S.P.S. PUBLICATION #007956 CANADA PUBLICATION #PM40036350) Volume 123, Number 6, is published monthly for $39.00 a year by the Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202-6498. Phone (513) 241-5615. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, Ohio, and additional entry offices. U.S. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: St. Anthony Messenger, P.O. Box 189, Congers, NY 109200189. CANADA RETURN ADDRESS: c/o AIM, 7289 Torbram Rd., Mississauga, ON, Canada L4T 1G8. To subscribe, write to the above address or call (866) 543-6870. Yearly subscription price: $39.00 in the United States; $69.00 in Canada and other countries. Single copy price: $3.95. For change of address, four weeks’ notice is necessary. See St AnthonyMessenger.org for information on your digital edition. Writer’s guidelines can be found at StAnthony Messenger.org. The publishers are not responsible for manuscripts or photos lost or damaged in transit. Names in fiction do not refer to living or dead persons. Member of the Catholic Press Association Published with ecclesiastical approval Copyright ©2015. All rights reserved.

2 ❘ Nov ember 2015

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

FROM OUR READERS

We Have Much to Learn Kudos to Father Pat McCloskey, OFM, for his excellent article, “The Jewish Jesus,” from the September issue of St. Anthony Messenger. He presents us with a very complex mosaic of life in the times of Jesus in such a comprehensible way. There are a few traits of the Jewish people which we, as Catholics, might emulate in our faith journey. First, the Jewish people had a healthy skepticism. From Abraham to Moses to Thomas, we see the Jewish trait of challenging divinity to back up statements with proof. Another trait one sees is that the people were risk takers. Many of the women who were attracted to

What’s on Your Mind? Letters that are published do not necessarily represent the views of the Franciscan friars or the editors. We do not publish slander or libel. Please include your name and postal address. Letters may be edited for clarity and space. Mail Letters, St. Anthony Messenger 28 W. Liberty St. Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498 Fax 513-241-0399

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Jesus were in desperate personal circumstances and showed great courage in approaching him. Even the apostle Peter admitted that “we have given up everything to follow you.” Many subsequent disciples risked death. This really was a people set apart by God. What, then, can we Catholics learn from our Jewish brethren? Perhaps we can learn that passivity and acceptance of the status quo leads to spiritual stagnation. Daily, we Catholics call upon the “Holy Spirit to enkindle in our hearts the fire of your love.” Sadly, our hierarchy has been reluctant to start any fires for fear of losing their tax-free status. And our Catholic politicians are afraid to offend anybody. Maybe we need some Catholic Maccabees to push our Church to challenge the status quo. Don Bruce Suffern, New York

Why Not Use BC and AD? “The Jewish Jesus,” by Pat McCloskey, OFM, was an excellent article. However, I take issue with his use of the BCE/CE dating terms. I believe that these new terms were simply made up a few years ago by secular historians who objected to “BC” and “AD” because of their Christian origins. What is the point of not using BC/AD? Francis D’Alonzo Springfield, Pennsylvania

End Doesn’t Justify the Means I felt so disturbed after reading the September “Church in the News” story about the Planned Parenthood videos, where physicians discussed harvesting the organs of aborted

fetuses. Some of the subsequent arguments defending the practice seemed to make sense. The procedures were legal. It was said that they followed protocol, and there is always the possibility that another baby will benefit from the research done on the procured tissue. It seems to me that we have been seduced by legalism—a mindset that gets us off the hook by strict observance of the letter of the law while ignoring the spirit of the law, thus allowing us to ignore the utter brutality by which the tissue is obtained. A living, undeniably human being is destroyed in the abortion process, and we placate our sense of justice by rationalizing that no law was broken and someone down the line might possibly benefit—a case of the end justifying the means. I’m not talking about organ donors whose organs are obtained because the donor died an untimely death. In abortion, the donor is killed outright and the tissue is taken from him or her. We have become such a culture of consumerism that even the organs of unborn children have become a commodity. Bill Dowling Woodbridge, New Jersey

A Call for Inclusion I’m writing regarding Susan HinesBrigger’s “A Catholic Mom Speaks” from the September issue. “A Mom’s Take on Same-Sex Marriage” was an outstanding offering. I found it to be a very positive and inspiring call for inclusiveness for all in our Church community. It is a beautiful message for all parents who may be hearing the same sort of discussion among their children. Larry Kavanaugh Winter Haven, Florida Nov ember 2015 ❘ 3

F O L L O W E R S O F S T. F R A N C I S

The Voice of God in Creation

hen Brother Sun shines on the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross motherhouse in Green Bay, Wisconsin, its rays bring more than warmth and natural light. The 416 solar panels soak in the sun’s energy on the grounds of the motherhouse, an initiative spearheaded by Sister Rose Jochmann, OSF. The solar power project stems from the deep sensitivity Franciscans have for the natural world. “As Franciscans, we believe we are all part of God’s family, and we must take care of what we have received so that future generations can enjoy God’s creation,” offers Sister Rose. Sister Rose grew up in Darboy, Wisconsin, a farming community about 30 miles southwest of Green Bay. Her love and appreciation for the outdoors has always abounded. “I remember in grade school enjoying and appreciating nature, including memories of picking spring flowers with a friend in my grandfather’s woods.” Being taught by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in high school inspired Sister Rose to become a Franciscan herself, following graduation, in 1961. In the field of education for nearly 20 years—first as a teacher

Rose Jochmann, OSF

and later as a principal—Sister Rose switched gears in the 1980s, pursuing a master’s degree in administration from the University of Notre Dame. This led to her career as community treasurer for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, a position she has held for 32 years. Beyond overseeing the finances of her religious community, Sister Rose has also sought to find ways to save energy and money while also protecting the environment. A sustainability policy has been in place since 2009, which seeks to “meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” The proposal to install an array of solar panels came in 2013, with Sister Rose chairing the committee assigned to research the project’s viability and effectiveness. After the project was approved, the panels were installed and started generating energy in June 2014. In one year, the solar array supplied 29 percent of the community’s electrical needs, saving the sisters $12,500. At that rate, the $286,000 panels will pay for themselves in about 22 years.

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4 ❘ Nov ember 2015

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STORIES FROM OUR READERS Praying with an Open Mind

Growing up as an adopted child, I always wondered who my birthmother was, what she looked like, and where she was in the world. After college, I decided to try to track her down. I searched for three years for my birthmother. One of my cousins, who is Catholic, gave me a St. Anthony prayer card and suggested that I pray to him for help finding her. I’m Methodist, so it felt a little foreign to me, but I thought I’d give it a try since this was so important to me. So, I prayed from my heart at least once a day for three weeks. Soon thereafter, I found my birthmother! St. Anthony does listen to your prayers. As it turns out, my birthmother is Catholic. I gave her my St. Anthony prayer card as a reminder of how I found her. —Ruth Sewell, Charlotte, North Carolina

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

Click here for more on renewable energy and the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross. Click the button on the left to hear an interview with Sister Rose.

ST. CLARE OF ASSISI

Advising the Friars St. Clare died 37 years after Francis of Assisi did. During that time, the friars went through many difficulties caused by tremendous growth in numbers, geographical expansion, debates over what their evangelical poverty required, and pressures from Church or civil leaders. Through it all, Clare offered her prayers, fasts, and good advice that the friars would cooperate as generously with God’s grace as Francis had. Her cousin Rufino was one of Francis’ first followers. She led best as Francis had: by example. –P.M.

PAINTING BY SIMONE MARTINIFROM THE YORCK PROJECT

To educate about and promote the benefits of solar energy, a self-guided tour is open to the public. As visitors walk along the grass path, they might notice benches made from recycled milk jugs or wildflowers planted to beautify the tour. “We were not just installing the panels, but we were concerned about how we could integrate them with the natural environment,” Sister Rose observes. The solar array was blessed this past June 18, which happened to be the same day the pope released “Laudato Si’,” his encyclical on the environment. “Pope Francis stresses how everything is connected, including the environment and the economy. The way we treat our environment affects our whole world, affects all nations. How we care for creation is our future,” says Sister Rose. There is a noticeably spiritual dimension to her love for creation and her drive to protect it. “Throughout my life, nature has continued to refresh me,” Sister Rose says. “God speaks to me in and through creation. In this way, I suppose I am a true follower of St. Francis of Assisi.” —Daniel Imwalle

tal Digi as Extr

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REEL TIME

W I T H S I S T E R R O S E PA C AT T E , F S P

Spotlight

SISTER ROSE’S

That Have Made a Difference Cry Freedom An Inconvenient Truth Blackfish Darfur Now Gandhi

6 ❘

November 2015

PHOTO BY KERRY HAYES

Favorite Films Critical acclaim is circling the ensemble drama Spotlight, which stars Michael Keaton and Rachel McAdams. This absorbing crime drama unfolds with The Boston Globe’s Walter “Robby” Robinson (Michael Keaton) and the deputy managing editor, Ben Bradlee Jr. (John Slattery), talking with team members Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Matt Carroll (Brian d’Arcy James), and Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) about emerging claims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy. In particular, the stories center on the infamous Father John Geoghan case of the Boston Archdiocese. Years before, the team had passed over a box of evidence sent to them by Phil Saviano (Neal Huff) of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), but now the team thinks there might be more to the Geoghan story. Suddenly, they have a list of 10 people who claim to be victims. As they begin to investigate, the list of priest abusers grows. The Globe’s new editor, Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber), advises the team to wait before publishing an article stating that Cardinal

Bernard Law (Len Cariou) knew about the abusers and covered up their sexual misconduct. Baron thinks the story will go beyond Boston and show a pattern of how the Catholic Church in the United States deals with the sexual abuse of minors. The delay distresses Rezendes because he fears that more children will be abused in the meantime. Spotlight’s narrative unspools like a crime drama and reminded me of All the President’s Men, the 1976 film that chronicled the Watergate break-in and cover-up. The reporters, most of whom are Catholic— though not necessarily practicing—struggle with their own faith as they realize how the sexual-abuse victims have been betrayed or paid off by archdiocesan representatives. The Boston Globe’s reporting gained the team a Pulitzer Prize in 2003. This film is emotional and empathetic, and does not exploit the story. It is a reminder to the Church to be the moral leader it claims to be. Not yet rated, R ■ Language and sexual references. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

COURTESY OF WARNER BROS.

Johnny Depp portrays mobster James “Whitey” Bulger in director Scott Cooper’s film Black Mass.

Black Mass

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Patriarca crime family and the Irish mob known as the Winter Hill Gang, led by James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp), were very active in Boston. The FBI was unable to catch the Italian mob in action until FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), a childhood friend of Bulger’s, suggests that the FBI look the other way in return for information from Bulger. The FBI, led by Charles McGuire (Kevin Bacon), reluctantly agrees and information starts to flow. Bulger fills the vacuum left by the Italian mob when the FBI shuts them down. He kills with impunity as his gang takes over gambling, drugs, and prostitution. But things eventually start to crumble when the FBI realizes Bulger’s criminal reach has grown. When his crimes increase, a couple of his men give evidence against him, hoping for protection or to avoid long prison sentences. Depp’s performance is completely against type, and his makeup renders him almost unrecognizable. The acting is strong, particularly by Kevin Bacon. But the extreme violence is more agony than entertainment. Not yet rated, R ■ Language, violence, drugs, sexuality.

communicate with those above ground. But there is almost no food, and communication lines are broken. Luis Urzua (Lou Diamond Phillips) is the foreman who becomes the leader, while Mario Sepúlveda (Antonio Banderas) keeps up the men’s spirits with his antics. José Henríquez (Marco Treviño), the miners’ pastor, leads the men in daily prayer. Meanwhile, the mining company has no means or even desire to rescue the men. When an engineer, André Sougarret (Gabriel Byrne), arrives, hope begins to build. As the eyes of the world are on him, the president of Chile (Bob Gunton) promises the people the government will save the men, but it is the perseverance of Laurence Golborne (Rodrigo Santoro), the minister of mining, that makes the rescue operation happen. The 33 is an inspiring film with themes of family, hope, human relationships, workers’ rights, social justice, and reconciliation. Take note of which man is the first to be rescued and who goes last. Not yet rated, PG-13 ■ Peril, brief language.

Antonio Banderas and Lou Diamond Phillips play miners in peril in The 33, based on a true story.

Catholic Cl assifications A-1 A-2 A-3 L O

The 33 It was a normal day for the miners and citizens of Copiapó, Chile, in 2010, but there had been warnings about the instability of the San José Mine for some time. The mine collapses and the 33 men underground make it to the “safety zone,” where there is supposed to be food, water, and means to Fr anciscanMedia.org

General patronage Adults and adolescents Adults Limited adult audience Morally offensive

■

The Catholic News Service Media Review Office gives these ratings. See usccb.org/movies.

■

Find reviews by Sister Rose and others at CatholicMovieReviews.org.

November 2015 ❘

CHANNEL SURFING

WITH CHRISTOPHER HEFFRON

UP CLOSE

November, PBS, check local listings We first meet Patrick J. Conroy, SJ, chaplain for the US House of Representatives, midway through Martin Doblmeier’s documentary. The 65-year-old priest says, “Nobody needs a chaplain—until they really need a chaplain.” But Conroy’s humble remark contradicts what this quietly stirring documentary is trying to say: chaplains are an important factor in our faith lives at any stage. Chaplains have been in our homes, hospitals, prisons, and battlefields for centuries, often counseling people at their lowest. And these men and women wear many hats. They are spiritual advisors, social workers, counselors, and confidants. The film introduces us to Father Paul Hurley, senior military chaplain in Afghanistan; Rabbi Arthur Rosenberg, who counsels aging Jewish entertainers in Hollywood; and Karuna Thompson, a Buddhist chaplain who works with inmates in the Oregon State Penitentiary—just to name a few. There are chaplaincy programs throughout the country in corporate America, NASCAR, Congress, and law enforcement. Doblmeier employs a simple, restrained approach to his subject, which only aids in telling the story. Chaplains is a little film with a big heart, reminding viewers that we are all on a spiritual journey. We just need a little help with navigation.

Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris

COURTESY OF JOURNEY FILMS

Tuesdays, 10 p.m., NBC Even for this writer, television can be a chore. Looking at the current fall landscape of shows, we have no shortage of story lines about domestic terrorism, zombies, ritualistic murders, and forensic pathology: not exactly smooth sailing for channel surfers looking for fun. Enter Neil Patrick Harris. The Emmy- and Tony-winning dynamo is, simply put, one of the most talented performers in any medium. And his energy is put to good use as the host of the dizzying but ultimately enjoyable Best Time Ever. A brief history of variety shows: they run the gamut of quality. For every Ed Sullivan, there was Donny & Marie. In the shadows of Sonny & Cher was the cringe-inducing Brady Bunch Hour. Saturday Night Live has raised the bar to heights so unreachable few shows could possibly compete. Best Time Ever is certainly no SNL, but it’s a worthy sidekick. The live program is a tasty stew of skits, stunts, games, and practical jokes. And like the great and powerful Oz, Harris is the man behind the curtain—only his work here is no con. He has the lightning-fast reflexes and razor-sharp wit to make the show tick. Best Time Ever may not reach season two—shows of this genre seldom do—so viewers should check in for one hour of pure, escapist fun.

Father Paul Hurley, a military chaplain, is one of the featured subjects in the new documentary Chaplains. 8 ❘

November 2015

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

PHOTO BY CHRIS HASTON/NBC

Chaplains

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CHURCH IN THE NEWS

❘ BY SUSAN HINES-BRIGGER

Pope Takes United States, Cuba by Storm headline asking, “Is the Pope Catholic?” “I am certain I have never said anything more than what is in the social doctrine of the Church,” the pope responded. “I follow the Church, and in this, I do not think I am wrong. But if they want me to recite the Creed, I can!” Once the pope arrived in DC, his first visit was to the White House on the morning of September 22. In his welcoming remarks, US President Barack Obama thanked Pope Francis for his role in restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba. “Holy Father, we are grateful for your invaluable support of our new beginning with the Cuban people, which holds out the promise of better relations between our countries, greater cooperation across our hemisphere, and a better life for the Cuban people.” The pope then spoke, introducing himself as the “son of an immigrant family.” He went on to speak on a number of issues, but paid special attention

to climate change. “To use a telling phrase of the Reverend Martin Luther King,” the pope said, “we can say that we have defaulted on a promissory note and now is the time to honor it.” Later that afternoon, Pope Francis celebrated the canonization ceremony of Franciscan friar Junipero Serra outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Serra is the first saint to be canonized on US soil. Some had objected to the canonization because of how they say Serra treated the native peoples. The pope briefly addressed the controversy in his homily, saying, “Junipero sought to defend the dignity of the native community, to protect it from those who had mistreated and abused it.” In the end, the pope called for attendees to follow Serra’s motto: “Siempre adelante! Keep moving forward!” The following day, Pope Francis made history when he became the first pope to ever address a meeting

CNS PHOTO BY DOUG MILLS, POOL

During his recent 9-day trip, Pope Francis kept a busy schedule, visiting four locations and addressing issues such as immigration, education, and climate change, reported Catholic News Service (CNS). On September 19, the pope began the first leg of his trip, arriving in Cuba. After being greeted at the airport by Cuban President Raúl Castro, the pope briefly addressed those present, saying he was placing his visit in the hands of our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, the patroness of Cuba. The following day, Pope Francis paid a visit to Cuba’s ailing former leader, Fidel Castro. The two met for 30 to 40 minutes, and the pope gave Castro copies of his apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,” and “Laudato Si’,” his encyclical on the environment. During a Mass later in the week at the Minor Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, the pope told Cubans, “Our revolution comes about through tenderness, through the joy which always becomes closeness and compassion, and leads us to get involved in and to serve the life of others.” Before departing, Pope Francis talked to families about the important role they play in building up the faith. “It is in the warmth of the home that faith fills every corner, lights up every space, builds community. At those moments, people learn to discover God’s love present and at work,” he said.

Washington, DC: A Historic Visit On the plane from Cuba to Washington, DC, a reporter asked the pope to address comments claiming that he was communist, and a Newsweek 1 0 ❘ Nov ember 2015

Pope Francis is welcomed to the Speakers Balcony at the US Capitol by members of Congress September 24. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

CNS PHOTO BY LUIS GOMEZ, DIARIO LIBRE VIA REUTERS

N E W S B R I E F S N AT I O N A L A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L Former Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, who was awaiting trial in the Vatican on charges of child sexual abuse and possession of child pornography, died on August 27 in his residence. Wesolowski, who was dismissed from the clerical state in June 2014, was to be the first person to be tried by a Vatican criminal court on sex-abuse charges. The first session of the trial had been scheduled for July 11, but was postponed when he was taken to the hospital the day before. Catholic Charities USA recently launched “#End45 — Raise a Hand to End Poverty in America,” a new national campaign. The name of the campaign reflects the 45 million people in the United States who live in poverty. The campaign is appearing online nationwide on member websites, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts, with videos of people who have been helped by Catholic Charities.

of the US Congress. In his speech, the pope once again spoke on climate change, as well as issues such as immigration and religious freedom. He cited four Americans whom he said, “shaped fundamental values which will endure forever in the spirit of the American people.” The four were Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton. Before departing for New York City, Pope Francis paid a visit to a local Catholic Charities organization. He blessed a meal for attendees, many of whom are homeless, and then offered a few remarks. “I want to be very clear. There is no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing,” he said.

New York City: A Solemn Remembrance Even though the pope was in New York City for just over one day, his Fr ancisca n Media .org

For the first time since 2003, the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, will take part in the clergy sexual abuse audit conducted by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. Noting that the audit is voluntary, Bishop James D. Conley said the decision applied only to the 2016 audit. “After that time, I will consult with our priests and local lay experts again, in order to determine whether or not we should continue,” he wrote in his column in Lincoln’s diocesan newspaper. St. Anne Parish inside Vatican City recently welcomed a family of four from Damascus, Syria, in reponse to Pope Francis’ call to every parish, religious community, monastery, and shrine in Europe to take in a family of refugees. The papal Almoner’s Office, which responds to individual requests for assistance and helps coordinate Pope Francis’ direct requests for assisting the homeless in Rome, announced the news on September 18. The refugee family—a mother, father, and two children— arrived in Italy September 6, the day the pope made his appeal, and their request for asylum has been filed with Italian authorities. For more Catholic news, visit AmericanCatholic.org.

schedule was not any lighter. The evening of his arrival, the pope took part in a prayer service with priests, brothers and women religious. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan welcomed the pope to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, saying that once the pope came through the doors he “became an official New Yorker.” The following morning, Pope Francis became the fourth pope to address the United Nations General Assembly. He told members: “Above and beyond our plans and programs, we are dealing with real men and women who live, struggle, and suffer and are often forced to live in great poverty, deprived of all rights.” The pope called for real, concrete action to stem climate change; respect for every human life and for “the natural difference between man and woman”; economic decisions that place the needs of people before profits; and greater controls on weapons sales and the elimination of nuclear weapons. He warned UN

leaders and the heads of state that too many decisions seemed to be based on the desire by a few for economic or political power, ignoring the values and rights the United Nations was formed to promote and protect. Immediately following his speech, the pope traveled to Ground Zero, where he spent some time in prayer before the memorial. He then proceeded to an interfaith prayer service inside the 9/11 Museum, where he reflected on the message sent by the presence of the various religious representatives. “In this place of sorrow and remembrance, I am filled with hope, as I have the opportunity to join with leaders representing the many religious traditions which enrich the life of this great city. I trust that our presence together will be a powerful sign of our shared desire to be a force for reconciliation, peace, and justice in this community and throughout the world.” Nov ember 2015 ❘ 1 1

CNS PHOTO BY TONY GENTILE

Pope Francis places a rose at the South Pool of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum September 25 in New York. Continuing his busy schedule, the pope then paid a visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem, which serves a high immigrant population. Students showed the pope science projects highlighting environmental themes, and even showed him a touch screen, with one girl advising the pope to double-click. On Friday, the pope celebrated Mass at Madison Square Garden for 20,000 people, some of whom waited hours to get in to the venue. During his homily, the pope challenged those in attendance to serve as a great light for others. “What is it like, this light traveling through our streets? How do we encounter God, who lives with us amid the smog of our cities? How do we encounter Jesus, alive and at work in the daily life of our multicultural cities?”

He asked that those attending the World Meeting of Families reflect on this question. The pope then went to Independence Mall, where he spoke on the issue of religious freedom. “In a world where various forms of modern tyranny seek to suppress religious freedom, or, as I said earlier, to try to reduce it to a subculture without right to a voice in the public square, or to use religion as a pretext for hatred and brutality, it is imperative that the followers of the various religious traditions join their voices in calling for peace, tolerance, and respect for the dignity and the rights of others,” he said.

That evening he attended a prayer vigil at the Festival of Families. After listening to six families give their witness, the pope spoke, telling participants, “We cannot call any society healthy when it does not leave real room for family life.” The following day, Pope Francis held a 30-minute meeting with three women and two men abused by members of the clergy, their families, or their teachers. The pope reportedly promised the survivors “that all responsible will be held accountable.” He also made a stop at CurranFromhold Correctional Facility where he spent an hour with inmates. That evening, Pope Francis celebrated the closing Mass of the World Meeting of Families, along with hundreds of thousands of people. During his homily, the pope said that families are the key for passing on the faith. He noted that every day “little gestures” of love help families display God’s love. “Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. Homely gestures. Like a blessing before we go to bed, or a hug after we return from a hard day’s work. Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home,” he told those in attendance. A

Philadelphia: World Festival of Families

1 2 ❘ Nov ember 2015

CNS PHOTO BY GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

The pope’s trip came to a conclusion in Philadelphia where he took part in the Festival of Families, the primary reason for his visit. Arriving on Saturday, September 26, the pope celebrated Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. During the Mass, the pope told the story of Pope Leo XIII asking St. Katharine Drexel, “What are you going to do?”

Pope Francis addresses the crowd at the Festival of Families during the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia September 26. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

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Homeless

14 â?&#x2DC;

November 2015

PHOTOS BY MONICA BELANDRES-ROOT

Her beaming smile says it all. Constance, a participant in The Tomorrow Project, gains crucial work skills, confidence, and hope for a brighter future.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

but Not

Hopeless Meet the women of The Tomorrow Project. They accept the challenge to transition from survive to thrive. B Y G E R I LY N H E R O L D

NSIDE A ROSE-COLORED BUILDING near downtown San Diego, seven women wearing aprons, plastic gloves, and hair coverings pour split peas and spices into pantry-ready containers. The product being packaged is Curry Confetti Soup. The happy atmosphere is punctuated with an aroma both pungent and sweet. The soft clatter of peas spilling out of plastic containers is soothing. Six of the women, who work at a shining clean table, are homeless and live in nearby transitional housing. The seventh woman, a volunteer, works alongside the others while overseeing quality. What’s really happening here is not the packaging of a gourmet soup. The end product created at The Tomorrow Project is hope. All the women at the table, with the exception of volunteer Marge Dean, are seeking full-time employment. Here the participants in The Tomorrow Project fill in the personal gaps necessary to find permanent employment, whether that’s a checkered work history or lack of basic interpersonal skills.

Piecework, where bulk items are packaged into smaller units, is one of the many tasks that the women of The Tomorrow Project perform.

Fr anciscanMedia.org

More than a Paycheck The Tomorrow Project began in November 1994, says Martha Ranson, department director of Homeless Women’s Services for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of San Diego. The project—originally called The Women’s Bean Project—was grafted from one in Denver. Ranson and Sister RayMonda DuVall, executive director of Catholic Charities in San Diego,

had noticed the women housed in their night shelter “had skills, but were not able to use them,” says Ranson. “So we started wondering if we could channel those toward some type of cottage industry.” With a $5,000 grant to purchase the first supplies, San Diego operations began. The West Coast franchise changed its name to The Tomorrow Project in 2004. “The new name resonated,” Ranson recalls. “Then and now, we aren’t just about beans. We have other products. And we also do piecework—that’s where we take items brought to us in bulk and package them into smaller units. We can also prepare newsletters for mailing.” The Tomorrow Project operates five days a week, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Currently, six women are in the program; the annual average is about 50-75 participants. Though the project operates under Catholic Charities, there are no overt religious practices. “Our witnessing is in how we treat people,” explains Ranson. The program provides a modest weekly stipend. From the start, participants gain workreadiness skills by having to apply and be interviewed by Elizabeth Quinones, the onsite productions coordinator (at the time of this writing). Once a woman is hired, the work is deliberately temporary. “It’s a reverse business model,” Quinones points out. “When a participant is efficient in the work, [she is] encouraged to move on.” The average length in the program ranges from November 2015 ❘

Elizabeth Quinones (left), former on-site productions coordinator, displays some of The Tomorrow Project’s gourmet food items, alongside Catholic Charities’ Martha Ranson, who started the program in 1994.

Current on-site productions coordinator Shayna Jennings (left), participant Kibbee Moser (center), and staff member Lodia Ruiz carefully assemble a professional chef’s recipe in a production line.

Click here for more on the Tomorrow Project. Click the button below to hear an interview with one of its founders.

a few weeks to 10 months, depending on “personal needs,” says Quinones. “It’s my pride and joy to see women get permanent work.” The participants usually find The Tomorrow Project through a case manager. Once hired, the women are always surprised to discover how extensive the program is. “It’s not just about a job or a paycheck,” clarifies Katherine, a participant whose last name is not used for privacy. Besides doing meaningful work, Katherine learned computer skills, which she found were necessary to apply for jobs—many whose applications were online. With the program’s assistance, she also developed a résumé targeted to her abilities.

Responsibility with a Dash of Flexibility All the gourmet food products assembled at The Tomorrow Project, such as Seven Spice Bean Soup, hail from renowned chefs who 16 ❘

November 2015

donate a recipe. Chef Michel Stroot, a retired executive chef, has had his work praised by food critics. Another contributor, Deborah Schneider, a certified executive chef, is a partner in two connoisseur restaurants. Chef Michel, as he is known by the women, often stops by The Tomorrow Project to bring lunch, or say hello. “It is with my heart and soul that I believe to help those less fortunate is the right thing to do,” he says. The recipes donated by gourmet chefs, eight in all, are distinctive according to each chef’s creativity. The products are vegetarian, but can have chicken broth or meat added. At the production location, a recognizable pink building, packaging the gourmet products is accomplished using different methods. First, each chef’s recipe is strictly followed. Depending on the skill level of the workers at the table, Quinones might direct the women to assemble in a production line—each person responsible for measuring and pouring one ingredient and then passing the container to the next worker. When Quinones has more proficient workers, she may choose to have each woman assemble all the ingredients into one package. The method chosen depends on many factors. “Through no fault of their own, a woman may come with disabilities. It might be low literacy, an inability to count, or dyslexia,” explains Ranson. Over the years, Ranson and Quinones have devised various systems to assist with counting and measuring. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

Fr anciscanMedia.org

PHOTOS BY MONICA BELANDRES-ROOT

Ranson, along with Quinones—who was hired eight years ago—often strategizes to keep up with the ever-changing needs of the participants. “Some women have never used a measuring cup, or might not know the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon,” she says. Sometimes a woman may have dexterity or mental-health issues. “Elizabeth [Quinones],” Ranson notes, “has to make daily adaptions based on who’s at the table.” She is troubled by the mean age of the participants, which has been creeping toward 50. “Among an older population, physical health can present many challenges.” Basic math can also be a stumbling block for some. Quinones frequently spends an afternoon teaching a simple computations class, a skill which is necessary when the women go to site sales. “The [computations] class is my favorite activity,” she admits. “We work as a group, with a work sheet, so each woman gains the knowledge needed, without feeling singled out.“ Every participant, observes Quinones, even the women who are a bit shier, are encouraged to attend sales events. She sees site sales as a way to develop an aptitude for customer service and the ability to handle money. Quinones understands that flexibility in work scheduling is important for the participants. For example, when Carolyn, a participant, needed to leave work in the middle of the day to drop off a résumé for a job, Quinones encouraged her to go. Or sometimes a woman may need to leave work to meet with her case manager. Flexibility however, is always coupled with responsibility. When Carolyn recently missed work due to illness, she knew to call in daily— as she would be expected to do with any job— to let Quinones know her status. “Elizabeth is a great boss,” Carolyn says of Quinones. “She’s encouraging, fair, kind, and honest. She has the greatest laugh! She’s wonderful to work for.” While Quinones is “boss,” she is also mentor and coach. When a participant is not doing well in the program, Quinones acknowledges, “I will be very direct with the woman. We have expectations. They are in writing. Or I might say, ‘Here, c’mon, let’s sit down and talk about this.’ I try to handle things on the spot as the need comes up.” Quinones adds, “Problems don’t happen often.” With Quinones as the only paid staff member for The Tomorrow Project, the success statistics are impressive. “Forty-five percent of

the women who come through the program get jobs,” Ranson says. “While that may not sound like a lot, remember many of these women have challenges and may not otherwise get jobs.” Quinones’ compassion is evident in her dedication. During busy seasons, like the holidays and Lent, she may work seven days a week. Monday through Friday, she is on site, managing production and assisting with job searches. Quinones oversees assembly, manages inventory, and keeps the books, while she actively looks online for jobs that would suit current participants. She then assists the women in filling out applications. On weekends, Quinones works with the women at site sales. While The Tomorrow Project’s products are carried in a few local stores, they are mainly sold after Masses and services at area churches. Products are also sold online (TomorrowProject.org).

The Volunteer Factor A large volume of The Tomorrow Project’s work is done by volunteers. There’s Marge Dean, who volunteers two to three days a week, and a few others who work with the women in packaging the products. Reflecting on her work, Dean says, “The Tomorrow Project has given me compassion, understanding, and respect for the women and their difficult life situations.” Sheila O’Malley, a volunteer who found The Tomorrow Project through the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, as did Dean, mainly serves as the marketing coordinator. She points to a binder full of contacts for parishes and local businesses, which she refers to as she spends many hours making phone calls to arrange site sales. Also a member of the marketing committee, O’Malley observes that, as sales have recently hit “a saturation point,” the committee is actively exploring new ideas and strategies.

Comments Regarding the Products Shiitake Almond Rice Medley is full of flavor with a spicy kick, and is very easy to make. The array of different grains gives an interesting texture. The shiitake mushrooms make it extra delicious. —Essie Asawa Curry Confetti Soup has an Asian and curry taste. It’s so flavorful, and, though it does take time to prepare, the directions were easy. —Sriyani DeSilva Pasta Fagioli has a nice flavor and is a great blend of lentils, basmati rice, and quinoa. It was easy and quick to prepare. —Jodi Katzman Cabo San Lucas Carne Asada Rub is great for grilling burgers. I mix it in with the meat to give it a flavorful Mexican pop. —Susan Wharton Recipes and ideas can be found at TomorrowProject.org. November 2015 ❘

Résumé specialist Susi Kuklinski (right) reviews participant Constance’s summary of skills. Many of the women are surprised to see their newfound strengths presented in such a professional light.

career objective for my résumé, which Susi helped me write.” With new self-awareness and job goals, Katherine is proud that she recently found work and will be leaving the program soon. Constance looks forward to the day when she has permanent, full-time employment. Kuklinski is honored to be part of The Tomorrow Project. “I get excited when they see a beautiful résumé that has positive things to say, when originally they didn’t think there was anything to put.” Gianni adds, “These women light up my life. It’s wonderful when a participant lands an awesome job.”

PHOTOS BY MONICA BELANDRES-ROOT

Challenges for Tomorrow

Life coach Haleh Gianni (left) and Susi Kuklinski work closely together to guide the women of The Tomorrow Project toward their career goals. Their dedication pays off “when a participant lands an awesome job,” says Gianni.

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On the participants’ side, the favorite time is Thursday mornings, when two volunteers— Susi Kuklinski and Haleh Gianni— work oneon-one with them. Kuklinski, who has a background in human-resource management, is a résumé specialist, while Gianni is a certified life advisor (or “life coach”). The two work together to identify the weaknesses and strengths of each woman. Gianni administers a computer-based assessment that provides a printed report. Kuklinski then transfers strengths to a résumé “that aligns with the type of job the woman hopes to get.” Carolyn says she appreciated the assessment given by Gianni. “It helped me understand myself in a new way, and gave me a good

Because the women often come with traumatic personal histories, most have a deep desire to leave their past behind. They usually decline to be photographed, which presents a challenge for publicizing purposes. The need for privacy also presents a challenge when seeking grants that often require long-term success statistics. Ranson relates, “No matter how hard we try, the women don’t stay in touch.” One graduate of the program, Marion, has been successfully employed for many years and still stays in contact. Marion stresses that she received the skills she needed to become employable from The Tomorrow Project. “Everyone at The Tomorrow Project genuinely cares about each person in the program.” Despite its successes, challenges remain for the program. When asked if they have the funding they need, Ranson says no, and a large grant “went away” three to four years ago. Ranson’s deepest wish is a permanent yearly grant of $25,000. She would also like to hire another fulltime person for marketing, because the customer base is changing. Then there’s the problem of the weather. “San Diego has a very short selling season for soups.” On the possible horizon are new sales venues, more emphasis on their spice rubs (especially for grilling), and acquiring more piecework. Ranson would also love to land a large national market chain, where a few of The Tomorrow Project’s best-selling products could always be found. In the meantime, The Tomorrow Project will continue its work nourishing both bodies and souls. A Gerilyn Herold is a freelance writer, lifelong Catholic, and faculty member in the nursing program at San Diego State University for the past 14 years. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

THE SPIRIT OF FRANCIS

❘ BY JOANNE SCHATZLEIN, OSF

CNS PHOTO/ L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO VIA REUTERS

Confessionals Not Torture Chambers

Fr ancisca n Media .org

A priest hears confession from Pope Francis during a penitential liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 28, 2014.

tal Digi as t Ex r

Click here for more on the Year of Mercy.

Sister Joanne Schatzlein, OSF, directs the office of corporate ministries for the Sisters of St. Francis (St. Francis, Wisconsin). She has led pilgrimages to Rome and Assisi for many years.

Seeking Mercy Confession and Holy Communion had become so infrequent that the Fourth Lateran Council decreed in 1215 that Catholics must confess all mortal sins and receive Holy Communion during the Easter season. Francis of Assisi encouraged the friars and members of the Secular Franciscan Order to confess regularly, one of the conditions to gain the Portiuncula indulgence. —P.M.

Nov ember 2015 ❘ 1 9

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIE LONNEMAN

hen I read Pope Francis’ “The Joy of the Gospel,” I knew that he, a self-proclaimed “sinner,” deeply understood us other sinners, reminding us that our loving and merciful God forgives us with unrequited love. What a gift! Pope Francis says confession should be an “encounter with the Lord’s mercy, which spurs us on to do our best” (44). And in God’s house “there is a place for everyone” (47). The pope continues that teaching in his text formally opening the Holy Year of Mercy, which will run from December 8 of this year until November 20, 2016. When I entered our congregation in 1968, several penitential practices had been discontinued. For breaking rules such as talking during “Great Silence” (Night Prayer to Morning Prayer) or tardiness, someone knelt before the dining room crucifix during meals, “confessed” publicly at the monthly “Chapter of Faults,” and went to confession! Only kindness and humor provided salvific balm.

This experience pales amidst my mother’s stories about women confessing matters related to repeated or difficult pregnancies, which unbendable rules described as mortal sin. Pope Francis’ concern about these “torture chambers” is not far-fetched. Catholic fear and guilt remain palpable today. An article entitled “Sin makes guilt and guilt makes fear, and guilt and fear make more sin” in the May 22, 2015 National Catholic Reporter reflects on this experience of so many. Author Michael Leach describes the shame that burdens us more than any confessional message could, but God is merciful and forgiving. Francis and Clare knew God’s mercy and compassion. Their Rules included exceptions if someone was in need. That generosity came from their own experience of a loving, forgiving, and compassionate God. They understood that we are our own harsh judges, and create our own “torture chambers.” But God’s mercy and love can tear down those walls. During the Holy Year of Mercy that begins next month, may we experience this truth. A

EDITORIAL

A Servant Leader for President Before we decide whom to elect in 2016, we should ask a new but crucial question. No, I don’t have a specific candidate or political party to recommend when you vote for president next November. But, among other questions about presidential candidates, shouldn’t we ask, “What evidence have you given of being a servant leader?” When Jesus wanted to teach his apostles about such leadership, he washed their feet (Jn 13:1-20). Predictably, Peter initially refused Jesus’ offer and then wanted his hands and head washed. Peter had a difficult time becoming a servant leader, but he finally “got it.” Our next president doesn’t need to be a Christian, but he or she must be able to admit that one’s personal agenda and the nation’s common good might not align perfectly. The presidency is much more than a platform for the winner’s ego.

Many Questions to Ask Every presidential campaign has hot-button issues. In 2016, these may include: • wage growth, • substance abuse, • health-care reform, and • terrorism (international and domestic). Although servant leadership is only one area where we should be asking tough questions, anyone who totally rejects such a leadership style is probably ill-suited to address key issues facing the next president. tal Digi as The same is true for governors, senators, Extr mayors, and other elected officials. In fact, we need servant Click here for more on leaders in family life, busiservant leaders and the ness, education, sports, relicommon good. gion, and entertainment— to mention only a few parts of life. A servant leader in business does not engage in insider trading; a servant leader in religion takes prompt and decisive action if a subordinate has grossly abused his or her position of trust. 2 0 ❘ Nov ember 2015

The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were written by men who had a strong sense that the common good matters more than their own interests. They had their blind spots (accepting slavery, for one), but they appear less ego-driven than many of today’s aspiring leaders.

A Sterling Example An hour after he was elected, Pope Francis invited all those in St. Peter’s Square to bless him as he began his service as bishop of Rome. Three days later, he introduced himself to 6,000 international journalists as a sinner. He is, of course, many other things, but that type of honesty characterizes all servant leaders. Chris Lowney explains some of this in his 2013 book Pope Francis, Why He Leads the Way He Leads: Lessons from the First Jesuit Pope (Loyola Press). In a sense, the subtitles of chapters 2 through 8 tell most of the whole story: your call to lead, be who you are, authentic power is service, immerse yourself in the world’s joys and sufferings, withdraw to find perspective, live in the present and reverence tradition, and the challenge of leading through change. In the final chapter, after —Pope Francis to Congress noting that outsiders might consider being elected pope “the pinnacle of the Catholic clerical profession: a destination, the end point of a lifelong quest,” Lowney continues: “But Pope Francis, who rails against careerism as leprosy, sees it merely as another step on a journey, a shared journey, no less between leader and led, or more accurately, between leader and companions.” It is a journey together. Voters in 2016 should not seek a clone of Pope Francis, but we should try to select a president of equal integrity, with a strong sense of conscience. —P.M.

The tireless and demanding pursuit of the common good is the chief aim of all politics.

St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

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FreeYourself by Forgiving Forgiveness is divine, but often difficult. God shows us the way. BY CHRISTINE MILLER

to forgive reflects the quality and depth of our connection to a loving God.

Healing the Pain of Anger Everett L. Worthington Jr., PhD, a psychology professor and author who has dedicated his career to the study of forgiveness, writes, “Forgiveness isn’t just practiced by saints or martyrs, nor does it benefit only its recipients. Instead, studies are finding connections between forgiveness and physical, mental, and spiritual health, and evidence that it plays a key role in the health of families, communities, and nations.” In fact, according to Mayo Clinic experts, forgiveness results in healthier relationships,

November 2015 ❘

PHOTO © MEDIAPHOTOS/ ISTOCKPHOTO

N STILLNESS, when the silence seems mystical and we are by ourselves in a comforting place, we can sometimes hear the whispers of higher things. One of these is forgiveness. But make no mistake: although its voice is soft, forgiveness brings us power and strength beyond comprehension. There are many who think forgiveness is a sign of weakness. But nothing is further from the truth! This quality comes from a highly evolved soul—one that knows we can pardon others’ hurtful behavior while removing ourselves from additional suffering. Forgiveness is basic to the heart of Christianity. In a very real sense, our willingness

Click the button below to hear an interview about the subject of forgiveness.

greater spiritual and psychological well-being, and less anxiety, stress, and hostility. It can also lead to lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, improved heart health, and higher self-esteem. Forgiveness is within every person’s reach, but it is impossible to experience forgiveness without some willingness on our part to embrace it. In other words, to forgive is a choice, and some of us need to go through the pain of not forgiving before we’re ready for its healing effect. Why is it painful not to forgive? Because without forgiveness, hatred keeps us bound to the things we loathe. We see the sad effects everywhere: conflicts over territory in the Middle East, hate crimes committed against racial minorities, feuds within our own families. We give up our power to whatever we hate. Hate also breeds retaliation, causing injury, destruction, sorrow, and more hatred. Anger only leads to more of the same, and entire lifetimes can pass beneath this dark cloud of negativity. Unlike the gentle tones of forgiveness, the voices of hatred, vengeance, and bitterness are loud and adamant, noisily grabbing our attention with promises of immediate gratification and causing us to say and do things we feel guilty about later on. Who of us hasn’t given in to reacting to others when they do or say something upsetting?

Without even thinking about it, sometimes we shout out harsh retorts or sarcastic comments when we’re provoked. Unfortunately, acting out our anger sometimes yields shortterm rewards, such as a false sense of power and superiority. Bullying, too, can also make us feel mighty and in control. Certainly, we can think of people in our lives who misguidedly become so focused on directing and manipulating others that their rigidity and self-centeredness overshadow the importance of treating others with humanity. In its extreme form, intense anger demonstrated by tantrums, yelling, and physical aggression can be a physiological stimulant that accelerates our heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension. These sensations can actually be a “high” to some, who unconsciously look for a fix again and again. Antagonism can take up so much of our time and emotional energy that it becomes a distraction from dealing with other less compelling feelings and problems. Things we might unconsciously wish to avoid are those nonglamorous aspects of being human, such as fear of close relationships, anxiety in social situations, lack of motivation, and feelings of failure.

Working to Forgive Forgiveness is rooted in healthy self-love. To find it, we must turn our attention inward

The process of forgiving is like opening a window inside a stuffy room. Just cracking it open PHOTO © DIANE DIEDERICH/ ISTOCKPHOTO

a little lets in cool, fresh air.

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instead of outward. Besides being willing to forgive, we sometimes have to work on changing our attitudes. Depending on how gravely we feel someone has injured us, this process can take time. The good news is that if we persist, we will always succeed in forgiving. Even if we can’t forgive someone right away, we’ll feel better by taking small steps. The process of forgiving is like opening a window inside a stuffy room. Just cracking it open a little lets in cool, fresh air. Popular syndicated columnist and author Sidney J. Harris wrote: “It’s surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you’re not comfortable within yourself, you can’t be comfortable with others.” Harris was acknowledging that forgiving others is difficult or impossible until we have learned to forgive ourselves, because our attitudes toward others and the world are inseparably bound to our feelings of self-worth. What is it in ourselves that needs forgiving? The answer will be different for each one of us. It may be time for honesty. What are the things about yourself that have been harmful to others? Come clean about these things. Write and talk about them, take responsibility for them, and make amends if needed. A simple example might be reacting with outrage toward someone who hit your new car. However, if you have hit someone accidentally in the past, it may be easier to understand and forgive that person. Or perhaps you’ve been overly critical of subordinates you manage on the job, but now you find yourself resentful toward a boss who is complaining about your work. It is much more likely that you’ll regard your boss with compassion if you’ve taken responsibility for hurting others with this same behavior. Through daily experiences like these, we can develop the healing quality of empathy, which paves the way for kindness and forgiveness. Keep in mind that facing some of our less admirable characteristics is a direct hit to our egos, and developing humility is far from an overnight pursuit. This is a process, so it is important to be gentle with yourself along the way. In many cases, it is ourselves to

whom we owe the greatest amends. Another benefit of examining and taking responsibility for our own characteristics— positive or negative—is that we become better able to take care of our needs rather than expect or wait for someone else to do this for us. When we have unreasonable expectaClick here for more on tions of others, we are usually the physical, emotional, disappointed at some point, and spiritual benefits of setting the stage for anger and forgiveness. resentment. Maybe your kids forgot to acknowledge your birthday, or your best friend is preoccupied and doesn’t call. You could spend the day stewing about being slighted, or you could spend that time doing something positive for yourself! In certain cases, anger can be deep and longlasting. To finally reach the place where we’re ready to forgive can take a long time, but feeling years of bitterness melt away is nothing less than a life-transforming event. The toughest part is to develop more love and acceptance of yourself. When you do, the ability to forgive others comes naturally. And though we will still get caught up in resent-

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ments, there are tools we can practice to move past them more quickly. One thing you might try the next time you get mired in anger is to pray. Practicing this whenever negativity overwhelms us, we’ll find

Ways to Find Forgiveness

Give yourself time. We all need a period of time following a conflict to allow our emotions to cool down. Time gives us the gift of perspective and the opportunity to choose a better response—or perhaps no response—to any situation. Feel your feelings. We should acknowledge and honor each of our emotions—even the most uncomfortable ones such as disappointment, anger, hatred, and desire to retaliate. Ask for help. If we have difficulty letting go of negative feelings, it’s always good to reach out to other people whom we trust to share those feelings. Above all, ask for help from God, the ultimate source of forgiveness. Take responsibility. Look for your role in any conflict. Make appropriate amends for any wrongdoing on your part.

PHOTO © JACKF/ ISTOCKPHOTO

Do a good deed. Nothing helps our outlook more than doing something kind for someone else, particularly for someone who has wronged us. Try doing something good for them—perhaps without even telling them about it—or simply hold them in your prayers.

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Shift the focus. It is good practice to find a few positive attributes of the person who has wronged us. Making lists of all the things in our lives for which we are grateful is never a waste of time.

November 2015

that these feelings loosen up and disappear after a while.

Spiritual Help Is Limitless Eighteenth-century poet Alexander Pope said, “To err is human; to forgive divine.” In these few words, Pope expressed that the act of forgiving requires more than just our mortal ability. As human beings, we make mistakes and hurt each other. That’s where the anger and hate come from in the first place. Without something more powerful than our own limited mental and emotional capacities, we frequently aren’t able to forget or let go of that which has caused us pain. This is why we must reach out for spiritual help. Once we do, we are ultimately granted the strength to forgive. Our faith endows us with an awareness of God as our source. We put that faith into action when we ask God for the ability to forgive. Many profess to believe in God without truly understanding the two truths most critical for spiritual growth: God has infinite power over the world and every single one of its troubles, and God is a loving force that cares about us deeply as individuals. We have confidence that God will help us to attain stronger love and forgiveness, which are repeated as major themes in Scripture: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, . . . as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection” (Col 3:12-14). The capacity for love and forgiveness is something most of us are born with. Soon, however, life, people, and painful circumstances begin chipping away at us, teaching us to fear and to build protective shells around our core. If we didn’t have to create these insulating layers between ourselves and the world, we would all be free to trust, love, and forgive each other. Perhaps the true challenge and goal of our lives is to find our way back through all that accumulated defensiveness and hatred to reconnect with our whole, authentic, and forgiving selves. Seen in this way, the return journey is worth every step we make in that direction. A Christine Miller is a professional writer with a special interest in topics such as personal growth and spirituality. She lives in Oceanside, California. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

AT HOME ON EARTH

❘ BY KYLE KRAMER

Attitude of Gratitude

disconnection, destruction, and misery for all—as with the Nazi regime, or with ISIS. When you’re grateful, you care rather than control. You’re more inclined to listen, have patience, step lightly, be generous— qualities that would make for much more peace with other Steps toward people and our planet. How do we become more Gratitude grateful? I think we’re hardIf you keep a journal, write wired for gratitude, but I find down three new things that I also have to work at it, every day—good or bad— to practice it daily. Mealtimes for which you would like to are a natural opportunity— be grateful. not just the rote “Bless us, O Lord,” but taking a moment Google and watch Brother to reflect deeply on everyDavid Steindl-Rast’s TED thing it took to put that meal talk, “Want to Be Happy? on your plate. Be Grateful.” Gratitude is a virtuous cycle: the more you start givVisit Gratefulness.org for ing thanks, the more you three simple steps to gratifind things for which to give tude. thanks. In our family’s evening prayers, our young kids even thank God that our long-haired cat, Sunny, has “stayed fluffy.” The deepest discipline of gratitude, of course, is finding a way to offer thanks even for things that feel like curses rather than blessings. I’ve been trying to do this every day, and sometimes I’d rather have my teeth drilled. Though I’m a complete novice in this arena, I actually think it may be the core of faith. More and more, I see no other way to truly embrace life on our troubled planet. A

Kyle Kramer is the executive director of the Passionist Earth and Spirit Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

There is much in our lives for which to be thankful: we just need to stop sometimes and look around. Fr ancisca n Media .org

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Click here to explore links on this topic. Click the button on the right to hear an interview with Kyle.

Nov ember 2015 ❘ 2 7

PHOTO FROM INGIMAGE

t’s easy to be cynical about Thanksgiving, when so many of us Americans get snarled in holiday traffic and find ways to tolerate our relatives. I have a soft spot for the holiday, though, not only because I like a good meal—and, for that matter, my family—but also because lately I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude. Benedictine Brother David Steindl-Rast has convinced me that being grateful is the prerequisite to being happy—not the other way around. Pope Francis has also weighed in. In his encyclical “Laudato Si’,” he writes that gratitude is a key part of the “ecological conversion” we must undergo if we’re to find a way to care for God’s creation and each other. Gratitude, then, may well be the foundation for happiness, religion (the Greek word eucharistia means “thanksgiving”!), and environmental stewardship. Why? I think the answer may be that when we’re grateful, we accept the world and our life as a gift, rather than taking things for granted or trying to make sure that everything perfectly meets our expectations. Such a desire for absolute control actually leads to

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Vatican II Vital renewal in the Church was promoted by the Second Vatican Council. More growth lies ahead as we strive fully to embrace the council’s vision for the people of God. BY BERARD DOERGER, OFM

CNS PHOTO/CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO

Fr anciscanMedia.org

OPE JOHN XXIII announced the calling of the Second Vatican Council to a group of cardinals on Sunday, January 25, 1959. As he was returning to the Vatican after this announcement, the crowds gathered along the Roman streets greeted him with applause. Someone cried out: “Long live the ecumenical council!” It has lived long, some would say, but Vatican II is actually still in its infancy. Many profound changes have occurred in the Catholic Church as a result of the council and its teachings. We must continue to grow in acquaintance, appreciation, and admiration of the Second Vatican Council and its teachings in order to fully embrace its vision for our Church. Vatican II began on October 11, 1962, and officially ended on December 8, 1965. Though the council occurred decades ago, it lives on in the way the Church is living, loving, and worshiping in a life renewed by the foundations laid out in its 16 documents. These documents cover almost all areas of the Catholic faith—our relationship with God, with fellow Catholics, with other Christians and nonChristians, and with all of creation.

It was a gathering of more than 2,000 bishops over the course of three momentous years. The Church is still resonating.

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(Right) A reawakening to the power of the liturgy, through a greater emphasis on and understanding of sacred Scripture, was just one of the goals of the council. (Below) Promoting a more active and equal participation of the laity was another principal topic.

The teachings in these documents are grounded in sacred Scripture, and they present us with an updated vision of the Church and its role in restoring all things in Christ. Pope Benedict XVI has said of the documents of Vatican II, “[They] have not lost their timelessness; their teachings have shown themselves to be especially pertinent to the new needs of the Church and the present globalized society.” St. John Paul II referred to them as “a compass with which to orient ourselves in the vast ocean of the third millennium.” And, of course, Pope Francis is pushing forward the council’s work.

Council like No Other Vatican II, the Church’s 21st ecumenical council, will surely be remembered by historians as one of the most important and influential in the history of the Church. The council was an amazing event if we consider the magnitude of its preparation, the number and diversity of its official members (the “Fathers of the council”), not to mention the other expert theologians and observer delegates from all over the world. Particularly amazing is the volume of its teachings! The Second Vatican Council easily surpasses every one of the previous ecumenical councils of the Church.

What the Council Achieved

This meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Bartholomew is a fruit of the labors of Vatican II participants. Greater ecumenical efforts were encouraged by the council. They foster unity among all Christians. 30 ❘

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(PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM) BILL WITTMAN; CNS: GREGORY A. SHEMITZ, VICTOR ALEMAN/VIDA NUEVA, PAUL HARING

In his 1967 apostolic letter “Sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem,” Pope Paul VI restored the permanent diaconate, renewing an important role for deacons in the Roman Catholic Church.

How do we assess the impact of the council? I’d like to propose 10 remarkable achievements. These I consider the most important and lasting fruits of Vatican II. 1. Renewing the liturgy. The council’s call for renewal included the Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, sacraments, and the liturgical year. This liturgical renewal emphasized the Mass as the prayer and sacrifice of priest and people united in Christ, the call to active and intelligent participation by the whole body of Christ, and openness to incorporating worthwhile customs and traditions of every culture and people. 2. Placing greater emphasis on sacred Scripture. The council called for a much fuller menu of readings from both the Old and New Testaments in the Sunday and weekday Lectionaries of the Church. Since the council urged more study and reading of Scripture, an impressive number of aids to the study of the Bible, as well as an increase in Bible-study groups, has appeared on the scene. 3. Viewing laypeople as equal members of the Church. All the Church—pope, bishops, priests, religious, and laity—are equal members through Baptism. All share in the priestly,

Documents of the Council In the four periods of the council from 1962 to 1965, the council Fathers produced 16 documents that are the teachings of the council. These touch on almost all areas and aspects of the Catholic Church and its life and mission in the world. In volume, they surpass the acta, or teachings, of any previous council of the Church.

the Church’s relationship with the world and all human activity, which are viewed as essentially sacred and good, though able to be abused and used for evil ends.

Nine Decrees ■ Decree

on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church on the Ministry and Life of Priests ■ Decree on the Up-to-Date Renewal of Religious Life ■ Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People ■ Decree on the Training of Priests ■ Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity ■ Decree on Ecumenism ■ Decree on the Catholic Eastern Churches ■ Decree on the Mass Media ■ Decree

Four Constitutions The teachings of these documents, theologically speaking, are the most important. ■ “Dogmatic Constitution on the Church” is considered by most theologians as the most important or foundational document of the council. Calling Christ the “light of nations,” the council desires to shed the radiance of Christ, who brightens the face of the Church, upon all. ■ “Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation” deals with God’s revelation through sacred Scripture and sacred tradition, which together “make up a single sacred deposit of the word of God, which is entrusted to the Church” (10). ■ “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” was the first document to be discussed in the council and the first promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1963. This document sought to undertake “the reform and promotion of the liturgy” (1). ■ “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World” was the last document to be completed by the council and the lengthiest of all 16 documents. It deals with

Three Declarations ■ Declaration

on Christian Education on the Relation of the Church to NonChristian Religions ■ Declaration on Religious Liberty These last two are rather important. The former indicates that “[God’s] providence, evident goodness, and saving designs extend to all humankind” and that “the Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions” (1-2). Pope Paul VI described the “Declaration on Religious Liberty” as “one of the major texts of the council.” ■ Declaration

CNS PHOTO/GIANCARLO GIULIANI, CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO

prophetic, and kingly roles of Christ. All are called to holiness no matter what vocation or occupation they embrace in life. 4. Reinstating the baptismal catechumenate. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is “a process of formation” and “school of the faith” (General Directory for Catechesis 91) for unbaptized adults seeking Church membership. The entire Christian community helps prepare catechumens to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. It is the inspiration and model for all catechesis (GDC 90). 5. Restoring the ministry of permanent deacons. Calling to restore the ministry of deacon, a ministry of service with roots in the early Church, the council named the deacon’s tasks: Fr anciscanMedia.org

baptize, reserve and distribute the Eucharist, assist at and bless marriages, take Viaticum to the dying, proclaim Scripture, instruct, preside at prayer, administer sacramentals, and officiate at funerals and burials. 6. Rethinking the concept of authority. Viewed in the spirit of the Gospel, authority is not authoritarianism and domination but a service of love in imitation of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for all. 7. Encouraging collegiality throughout the Church. Shared ministry and authority are recognized between the pope and bishops, the bishop and priests of a diocese, the pastor and parishioners of a parish, and the superiors and

(Above) Despite his passion for the importance of the council, unfortunately, St. John XXIII would not live to see its completion. Here he leads the opening session of the council on October 11, 1962. The session was attended by 2,450 cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops from around the world.

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Pope John XXIII and Vatican II

To the surprise of many, just three months into his papacy, St. John XXIII called for the Second Vatican Council as a means of bringing the Church up to date with the modern world.

When Pope John XXIII was elected on October 28, 1958, at the age of 76, it was expected that he would be a short-term or stopgap pope. Many were surprised when, less than three months after his election, he called for a new ecumenical council. He was calling for something that would dramatically change the Catholic world with which we were familiar. When asked why the council was needed, Pope John reportedly opened a window and said, “I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in.” He wanted to let in an abundance of “fresh air.” The theme of the council was aggiornamento, which literally meant to bring the Church up to date. When the pope opened the council, he expressed his optimistic spirit and outlook regarding what it could accomplish, saying, “Mother Church rejoices that the council has finally begun!” He spoke of the benefits and blessings he foresaw flowing from it. He understood, as well, that his optimistic view would not be shared by everyone in the Church. He predicted that “prophets of doom” would appear,

but he begged “to disagree” with them. Pope John went on to say, “Nowadays the Spouse of Christ [the Church] prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than of severity. She considers that she meets the needs of the present day by demonstrating the validity of her teaching rather than by condemnation.” The pope expounded on the theme of the Church as a loving Mother, rather than as a condemning Father, saying, “The Catholic Church, raising the torch of religious truth by means of this ecumenical council, desires to show herself the loving mother of all—kind, patient, full of mercy and goodness toward the brothers and sisters who are separated from her.” Finally, the pope’s speech dealt with ecumenism and the need to bring all separated Christians and the whole human family into the unity of one faith and one fold. St. John XXIII died on June 3, 1963, between the first two sessions of the council. His successor, Pope Paul VI, was elected on June 21, 1963, and immediately called for the council’s continuation. CNS PHOTO/ PAUL HARING

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members of religious orders and congregations. 8. Acknowledging God’s presence beyond the Church. Vatican II acknowledged the work of the Spirit in the communities of our separated Christian brothers and sisters and in other world religions. Ecumenical efforts foster unity among all Christians and greater communication and Click here for more dialogue with and respect for on Vatican II. other religions. 9. Upholding the right to religious liberty. The council recognized the right of every individual to join the religion of one’s choice and opposed the use of force, physical or otherwise, imposing one’s religious beliefs and practices upon others. 10. Accepting the world. We see the world and its inhabitants as essentially good. We never lose hope in the restoration of all things, a restoration that has begun with the coming November 2015

of Christ and will reach its fulfillment and perfection when Christ comes again in power and glory at the end of time. Much growth in the Church can be tied to the work of Vatican II, and more growth lies ahead as we strive to fully embrace its vision for the people of God. May we continue the renewal set out by Vatican II with the enthusiasm and commitment of the person who greeted the announcement of the council, saying: “Long live the ecumenical council!” A This article originally appeared in the newsletter Catholic Update (Liguori Publications). Franciscan Father Berard Doerger is assistant pastor at the parish in Peña Blanca, New Mexico, and the Pueblos of Santo Domingo, Cochiti, and San Felipe. He gives retreats, parish missions, and workshops. He taught in the Diocese of Gallup’s deacon formation and lay ministry programs. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

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SPECIAL REPORT

It’s Not Over Yet! One of the council’s last surviving bishops talks about its message and unfinished work.

N 1962, REMI J. DE ROO was pastor of Holy Cross Parish in the Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Then, early one morning while he was presiding at a weekday Mass, Pope John XXIII announced that he had selected 38-yearold De Roo to be the bishop of Victoria. Six days later, De Roo was on his way to Rome to attend the first session of the Second Vatican Council. Pope John

All these years later, Bishop Remi De Roo (right) still considers himself a “pilgrim of the Second Vatican Council.” (Opposite page) Shortly after being appointed bishop of Victoria, Canada, in 1962, Bishop De Roo was summoned to Rome to take part in Vatican II.

XXIII called De Roo his “Benjamin,” because he was the youngest of the North American Council Fathers. Today, De Roo is one of the last surviving bishops to have attended all four sessions of the council, an experience that “radically altered” his outlook. For more than 50 years, he has lectured throughout the world, sharing his enthusiasm and insights on the vision of the council. “I feel that I owe it to the people to keep telling the story of Vatican II,” he said in an exclusive interview with St. Anthony Messenger, “because its teachings impact everybody.” De Roo adds that although it was good in 2012 to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the council, the December 8, 1965, closing date is more important because that’s when the teachings of the council became effective. During the interview, which took place in St. Louis, Missouri, De Roo reflected on the key messages of the council, Pope Francis’ leadership, and his hope for the future of the Church. Q. I understand you met Pope Francis last spring. A. Yes, I traveled to the Vatican for the

PHOTO BY KEVIN DOYLE

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FOREGROUND PHOTO: COURTESY CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF VICTORIA ARCHIVES; BACKGROUND PHOTO: CNS PHOTO/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO

B Y A L I C I A V O N S TA M W I T Z

after 50 years of lecturing on Vatican II, I’m still not persuaded that most Catholics have really heard the message. Even fewer have embraced the original vision and are doing something about it, with the possible exception of the religious orders of women. And these women have paid a price for their faithfulness in terms of criticism— generally from people who are uninformed about the council’s vision.

While attending the canonization ceremony of Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II, De Roo, who retired in 1999, had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis, who kissed De Roo’s ring that all those who participated in Vatican II were given.

(Right) Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has continually reached out to the marginalized, such as this elderly woman during his visit to Paraguay. Such actions, says De Roo, reinforce the Gospel and council message “that every single member of the Church is equal in dignity.”

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canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII—who, of course, called the Second Vatican Council. When I travel these days I use a wheelchair as a precaution because occasionally I have problems with my balance. A young priest wheeled me right next to the popemobile, so as the pope was approaching I called out to him in Italian, “Sono padre del concilio vaticano!” I am a Vatican Council father! Well, Pope Francis’ face lit up. He came over and said words to the effect of, “What a wonderful experience you must have had!” Then he took my hands and held on to both of them for the longest while, as he continued talking. I don’t remember half of what he said because I was totally engrossed by his presence. But to my amazement, he then bowed down and kissed the Vatican council ring on my right hand. There aren’t many times in Catholic Church history that the pope has kissed a bishop’s ring.

Q. Can you remind us of that vision? A. One of the main rediscoveries of Vatican II is the reclaiming of the ancient teaching that takes us right back to the beginning of the Church: the baptismal priesthood of the laity, which is the foundation of all the other gifts and charisms we receive in the Church. We need to reverse the model that has put one supposedly elite group at the top of the pyramid and all the rest in descending roles, with ordinary people of faith down at the bottom. That pyramid is the exact opposite of the Gospel. The Gospel says, and the council emphasized, that every single member of the Church is equal in dignity and in the capacity to serve. It’s critical

Q. This was a few months after the publication of “The Joy of the Gospel.” What did you think of the pope’s first apostolic exhortation? A. It is possibly the best updated summary of the meaning of Vatican II. In a sentence, it’s an invitation to begin a new chapter of evangelization, and the invitation is for all of us. That’s a point that Pope Francis has stressed many times. I hope that we are going to wake up to that message because St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

that every one of us, without exception, picks up the message of the council and of Pope Francis and achieves the joy of knowing the Gospel, living by the Gospel, and sharing the Gospel with others. We sometimes forget that ultimately our faith is a way of life. We’re not in the world to capture converts or persuade people to believe exactly what we believe. Yes, there are truths that are important; but don’t forget that the early Christians were known as “followers of the way.” It was the way they lived, much more than what they believed, that was critically important. Even the divinity of Jesus Christ was argued over by the Church for a long time at the intellectual level. But on the emotional and physical level, people put their bodies on the line and really loved one another; and so the Gospel was credibly preached by their actions. Q. How does Pope Francis communicate this—that faith is a way of life? A. By reaching out to people on the margins, and by keeping his mind and his heart open. I love that time he said, “Who am I to judge?” Because if there’s

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

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one weakness in the Church today, it’s precisely that so many people are judging one another. I think one of the reasons why this pope is so popular is he’s showing everybody that he loves them all. He reaches out to the untouchables, and he’s showing in his daily life what the Gospel’s all about. So when he writes something or says something profound, we know it’s coming from lived experience, not just theory. We’re not short of theory in our Church. We have many scholars and lay theologians, but they are not responsible for the Church. We are all responsible, because we are the Church.

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Q. It sounds like Pope Francis has given you hope for the Church. A. Yes, but there is a danger in that we’ll get into a new and refined form of paternalism in this era of Pope Francis because we’re proud we’ve got such a great pope. We think the pope is the Church, and that he can do it all. He’s not and he can’t. So I hope we’ll take the pope’s words seriously and live them by accepting our own responsibility to move the Church forward. We can’t just applaud from the sidelines. Q. Not everyone applauds Pope Francis, though. How do we address those who believe he’s taking the Church in the wrong direction? A. Any good executive of any major corporation knows very well that you’ve got to work with your people and you have to have their support if you want your dreams and ideals to be realized. The problem is that sometimes people don’t know their own history. You often find that people who take narrow-minded stances are uninformed, or they are reacting out of a negative emotion, like fear. What to do? Continue loving them, and don’t get into arguments. Psychologists will tell you that you never get unity through the head; unity comes through the heart. Brains are made to sort and file, divide and make distinctions; so arguments get you nowhere. In fact, they may harden others, and you may lose your good relationships with them.

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Instead, take time to bring yourself up to date on where the Church is, so that you have solid answers to people’s questions. Invite others to explain to you why they think the way they do, and try to explore with them the deeper, substantial teaching of the Church, and the work of the Spirit. Lovingly, firmly, doggedly, keep asking questions.

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Click here for more on Bishop De Roo and the Second Vatican Council.

Q. Even if you disagree on important Church teachings? A. Yes. Remember that following Christ is much more than just accepting certain teachings. We focus so much on the truth, but where has it led us? Down through the centuries we’ve had all these battles over doctrine. People have been killed because they were seen as not believing what one school of theology believed and tried to impose on the other. The truth is important but, as I said before, Jesus is also the way and the life. Living the Gospel means being open to receive from Jesus the grace, the vitality, and the energy that we need. So we need to keep all three in balance and recognize that people today need witnesses as much or more than teachers, as Pope Paul VI said. Q. Can you speak to any failure or disappointment of the council itself? A. The council failed to set up an enabling agency to put its teachings into practice. My hope would have

Bishop De Roo, seen here greeting Pope Paul VI, says he wishes the pontiff would have commissioned the leaders of the council to implement its teachings.

been that Pope Paul VI would have commissioned the recognized leaders of the council to implement its teachings: people like Cardinals Leo Suenens, Jean Daniélou, and John Dearden; and theologians like Karl Rahner, Yves Congar, and Gregory Baum. This is by no means a complete list of the most influential leaders, but these are some of the men that I knew best, the men that I worked with during the council. Q. Is it too late to set up such an agency now? A. Well, that is now the challenge for Pope Francis. His appointment of a group of cardinals to help him govern is a very good sign. He’s undertaken a tremendous task in the reform of the Curia, which definitely needs it. The Curia has to be an instrument that facilitates the work of the bishops’ conferences, not a group of pseudo-judges that sits there interfering and judging, or doing things that the bishops should be doing. For instance, if someone writes a book with which the Vatican or whoever has a problem, it’s the bishops of that area who should be dealing with the person in terms of orthodoxy— not the bishop of Rome or a member of the Curia. Rome should have nothing to do with local foibles and problems. The pope should intervene only if the local bishops are unable to reach an understanding. Then it makes sense for them to ask their brother bishop in Rome to help them clarify a question in order to strengthen the local Church and restore unity. Q. You were investigated by the Curia many years ago. Can you tell us about that?

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A. In 1986, in Washington, DC, I made a declaration at a conference that I have repeated many times since. I said the question of the ministries of women is of such importance that it St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

requires the communal spiritual discernment of the whole people of God, not just the hierarchy. And I’m not limiting ministry to the priesthood or to ordination: that’s only one aspect. I mean ministries in the broader sense of the word—the variety of roles women can assume to help transform the patriarchal Church into a community of equal disciples. After the conference, Cardinal Ratzinger called me to Rome to explain my position; but the president of the Canadian Catholic Conference supported me and suggested the investigation be terminated. Now, I see that Pope Francis has repeatedly said we need “a very serious study” of the roles of women, and I’m encouraged by that. Q. What do you hope will be the takeaway from this interview for our readers? A. I would like to see more people take an objective, serene second look at the substantive and deep teachings of the council. I especially trust that we will all reclaim our baptismal priesthood. I invite all believers to explore and ponder the council’s teachings about revelation, the fullness of which is found in the person of Jesus Christ— both the messenger and the message. I hope they will recognize that other Christian Churches can also serve as instruments of grace: that all believers have seeds of the Divine planted in their hearts. Finally, I hope Christians everywhere will reclaim the notion of sacramentality as applying to all of creation— something Pope Francis has taken up in his new encyclical, “Laudato Si’.” Modern science warns us that our planet is fragile and in grave danger because of our carelessness, our arrogance, and our aggressive exploitation. May we all heed the Church’s call to a deeper spiritual, cultural, and ecological conversion! A Alicia von Stamwitz is an award-winning freelance author and longtime editor with the religious press. Her essays and articles have appeared in this magazine, as well as The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, The Sun, America, and The United Church Observer. Fr anciscanMedia.org

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Author Rabbi Abie Ingber’s warm smile and colorful necktie are his welcome as he helps us to name and claim our divisive past and build a better future.

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Friends in Faith From Vatican II through Pope Francis, a new openness to people of other faiths has lit a fire within the Catholic Church. BY RABBI ABIE INGBER

CNS PHOTO/CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO

HEN ST. JOHN XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council to begin the deliberations that would lead to the document called “Nostra Aetate,” I was hardly a theologian. As a matter of fact, despite its proximate beginning to my bar mitzvah, I was hardly a man. It was June 1963, just a few months after my bar mitzvah. I was getting ready to head off to summer camp and saw my father watching the television news. There were tears in his eyes. “We lost a great man today,” he said when I asked him why he was crying. My father was a young survivor of the Holocaust of Eastern Europe; the man he was crying for was St. John XXIII. As a papal nuncio, St. John XXIII had actively engaged in efforts to save Jews. But there was more. My father was worried that the work begun by the Church would not see its culmination. The “caretaker pope” (ascending to the Throne of St. Peter at age 76) had dared to be an activist pope, and now he was gone. But somehow Pope Paul VI finished the holy work begun by his predecessor. “Nostra Aetate,” the “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” was proclaimed by Pope Paul VI on October 28, 1965—50 years ago. It took many, many years for me to understand what my eyes had seen in the emotions of my father. “In Our Time” (“Nostra Aetate” in Latin) is the landmark document that initiated historic changes in the Catholic Church’s relationship to other world religions. The 600-word section Fr anciscanMedia.org

on Judaism builds profoundly on the teaching of St. John XXIII, who said, “We are all made in God’s image and thus we are all Godly alike.”

Beginnings of Dialogue Between 1962 and 1965, in four historic meetings of 2,860 bishops, the Second Vatican Council expanded the parameters of interfaith dialogue in ways that few could have anticipated, and even fewer who were passionate to see it through. The certitude of theological factions gave way first to cautious encounters, then curious interest, and, finally, open dialogue. Pope John XXIII used the word aggiornamento (“bringing up to date”) to describe his intentions for the Council. He wanted the Council to exercise a pastoral approach in addressing the many issues and challenges of the modern world, rather than an attitude of condemnation. Although “Nostra Aetate,” albeit in a smaller way, addresses Catholic relations to all world religions, it is those final 600 words about Judaism I’d like to focus on. They, after all, were the original intent of the document— the windows that also were opened to Catholic appreciation for other traditions came late in the process. That process of coming to the concluding 600 words was perhaps even more informative than the document itself. Three years of internal dialogue and debate became a defining moment in the life of the Church. One of the critical thinkers was Cardinal Augustin Bea, a German-born Jesuit and bib-

“We are all made in God’s image and thus we are all Godly alike.” —Pope John XXIII

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Click the button above to hear an interview about the need for better dialogue among faiths.

(Above right) St. John Paul II had a gift for his boyhood friend Jerzy Kluger, whose Jewish prayer book was saved by the future pope when Krakow’s Jews were deported by Nazis. Kluger reunited with then-Archbishop Wojtyla in Rome at the time of Vatican II.

lical scholar at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1960, Cardinal Bea was appointed president of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity. Cardinal Bea buttressed his passionate and politically sophisticated pleas with the research work of Sister Rose Ann Thering, a Racine (Wisconsin) Dominican sister. As Sister Rose recalled later, “They were 15 lines in Latin, but they changed everything.” It was two millennia of Christian teachings and an almost intractable and inescapable anti-Semitism that brought the Church to this new moment, in the aftermath of World War II. For nearly 2,000 years, one word from any leader of the Church could unleash pogroms and attacks against Jews. Likewise, for 2,000 years Jews mistrusted those who spoke of the teachings of Jesus. But during World War II, the murder of six million Jews, and five million others, brought the world to the edge of its moral death. It was in this climate, the war in recent memory, that St. John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council. It was that Council which brought his Church to a new relationship with the Jewish people and with the world.

Wojtyla’s words garnered some attention in the Italian press. A young Jewish engineer living in Rome chanced to come across that article and the name of the priest behind the newspaper story. That engineer, Jerzy Kluger, was a Holocaust survivor from Wadowice, Poland, the hometown of Archbishop Wojtyla—and his closest personal Jewish friend. The young men had not encountered each other in nearly three decades. Jerzy placed a call to the Polish Institute in Rome where the archbishop was staying. Archbishop Wojtyla was not in, so Jerzy left a message. Barely an hour later, his phone rang. It

A Wojtyla Reunion Cardinal Bea was not alone in pushing the Church toward this historic document and understanding. In fact, some people suggest that it was the passionate appeal of Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, Poland, that helped to secure the final positive vote for “Nostra Aetate.”

(Right) Kluger gets a look at plans for the interfaith exhibit “A Blessing to One Another” with his new friend, author Rabbi Ingber, to whom he eventually gave his childhood prayer book (above).

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PHOTOS BY GREGORY RUST/ XAVIER UNIVERSITY

was his old friend Karol, who immediately invited Jerzy to visit him at his residence. After a 26-year separation, the two friends had a tearful reunion. The rekindled friendship would continue for the rest of their lives. They continued to meet every time the archbishop returned to Rome for meetings, until Karol Wojtyla moved permanently to Rome, this time as Pope John Paul II. Jerzy Kluger played a significant role in critical parts of St. John Paul II’s papacy. I was privileged to be Jerzy’s friend. World War II had separated Karol and Jerzy—one exiled to a Siberian labor camp, the other to an underground existence in Krakow. They had not seen or heard of one another since 1938. But the Second Vatican Council brought the two childhood friends back together. Together with my colleagues, Dr. James Buchanan and Dr. William Madges, I was privileged to tell the story of these two friends and how their relationship changed the world. After an American tour of 18 venues, the exhibit, “A Blessing to One Another,” toured the United States and has now, this past summer, been featured at the Vatican’s Braccio Nuovo in Rome.

St. John Paul II, the unlikely Polish pope, brought his personal history, his testament of love and understanding, and his celebration of all humanity to the Chair of St. Peter. He put foundations beneath the teachings of “Nostra Aetate”; he confronted the evils of antiSemitism and built bridges with the Jewish world unlike any other pope in history.

A Flowering of Hope The promulgation of “Nostra Aetate” was arguably slow. The absence of direct reference

St. John Paul II discusses and blesses the “A Blessing to One Another” exhibit with organizers (l to r) Rabbi Ingber, Dr. James P. Buchanan, and Dr. William A. Madges. Over a million people have seen the exhibit since its 2005 debut.

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CNS PHOTOS BY ARTURO MARI, L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO

(Above) History is made in 1986 as St. John Paul II becomes the first pope to visit Rome’s main synagogue (or any other), to the open arms of Rabbi Elio Toaff. (Right) Rabbi Michael Melchior watches as the pope places a prayer in Judaism’s most sacred site, the Western Wall, during the millennium celebration in 2000.

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to the Holocaust and the State of Israel gave Jewish organizations pause. The Jewish world waited to see if this epochal document would begin to impact the local parish priests and the Catholics in their pews. Indeed, it took many years to filter down, but the results have been extraordinary. “Nostra Aetate” initiated similar conversations and documents in other Christian traditions. In the year 2000 more than 200 Jewish leaders issued a response called “Dabru Emet” (“Speak the Click here for more Truth”), giving expression to on “Nostra Aetate” the Jewish desire for reconciliand Vatican II. ation and dialogue. The Muslim community followed with a landmark document called “A Common Word” in 2007. Again it was Pope John Paul II, in his visits to the Great Synagogue in Rome and to Auschwitz, in his recognition of the State of Israel, and in his Holy Land pilgrimage November 2015

in 2000, who cemented the relationship in the high places. But it is in the day-to-day relationships, especially in our North American world, that the seismic changes of 1965 have found their greatest expression. The work of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the American Jewish Committee has been especially critical in this regard. Gone is the enmity in discourse; Jewish-Catholic dialogue is normative, the result of decades of mutual understanding, growth, and respect. Shared concerns for faith-based values, social justice, and climate change make collaboration not only normative, but necessary. It was but a generation ago, after all, that, when a civic leader convened faith groups, priests and rabbis did not even know each other. These civic introductions have given way to reaching out to the other on issues of shared concern, pulpit visits, and, above all, a sense among congregants that knowing one’s neighbor is the best antidote to rising hatred and intolerance in the world. Jewish students attend Catholic universities and are welcomed and embraced. It is no accident that I was invited by Father Michael Graham, SJ, to build a Center for Interfaith Community Engagement at Xavier University in Cincinnati. I have been privileged to serve at two great universities and in many rabbinic capacities, but nothing touches me more than my young Catholic students greeting me with “Rabbi Abie.” Were my father alive, he would again have tears in his eyes from the respect his son is being offered by young Catholics. In the past 50 years, the world has changed for the better.

Rabbi Skorka and Pope Francis “Nostra Aetate,” the watershed moment in interreligious understanding, was linked to sainthood in the canonization of both John XXIII and John Paul II in 2014. Yet it was in the everyday life of relationships between Jews and Catholics that the 50 years have seen their greatest expression. “Nostra Aetate” remains our charge today. It is up to us to continue this holy work. Some will be seated on the papal throne, indeed as Pope Francis so magnificently has come to lead us; others will sit on simple chairs. But everyone who has taken the words of “Nostra Aetate” to heart, who has lived their life to “maintain fellowship among the nations,” will have earned a place in the blessing of “Nostra Aetate.” St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o r g

During his historic 2014 visit to Jerusalem, Pope Francis embraces friends Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Muslim leader Omar Abboud at the Western Wall. The three were traveling the Middle East together. CNS PHOTO/ PAUL HARING

Pope Francis is the first pope with no direct connection to the events of World War II; he was ordained after “Nostra Aetate.” In Buenos Aires, his personal relationship with Rabbi Abraham Skorka, though, gives credence to his embrace of that document of 1965: his papacy has boldly strengthened it. Rabbi Skorka, with whom the pope wrote a book (On Heaven and Earth), told me in 2013 that Pope Francis sees dialogue as the antidote to war, and that the Holy Father believes that the next step in Catholic-Jewish dialogue must be theological. Jews must define what Christianity means to them and vice versa. True healing will come only as Jews and Christians work together to improve the world. Fifty years is a long time. In our biblical text it was long enough to journey to a promised land and to sojourn there for a decade. The generation of the Exodus from Egypt was able to chart their course following the cloud above the tabernacle in the Sinai desert. We have not had such a cloud to lead us, yet we have taken very bold and direct steps following the path of those 600 words. “In our time when, day by day humanity is being drawn closer together . . . .” The declaration indeed liberated both Catholics and

Jews to move from darkness to light and to encounter the Godly in each other. But there is more to be done. In our time, this day, we must do all that we can to draw humanity closer to one another. We must complete the work of “Nostra Aetate,” to come together in peace, to build a world of peace. Today. A Rabbi Abie Ingber is executive director of the Center for Interfaith Community Engagement at Xavier University, Cincinnati.

POETRY

Fall Plowing

November’s Rumors

Wind

attracted inland by Kansas farmers upending clods of wormed dirt

The winter clouds are heavy and indistinct; their gray turns into twilight. Soon they will drop the whispering of snow and erase the land.

I see you sweeping the floor of earth tossing the colored pillows of bush and tree shaking the rugs of kettle and moraine snowing honey locust leaves and sobering oaks letting go nuggets of squirrel gold storing up for the down-deeper months I see you, Wind, perfectly revealed and perfectly hidden.

seagulls follow the plows like swarms of black gnats that hover over ready pears

—John Philip Johnson

they partake in rolling smorgasbord of writhing tidbits

—Sheryl L. Nelms

—Sandra M. Tully

After Communion My father gently bows his head into the chapel of his hands

—Jim Littwin

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The

Tarnished Heart In this saint she found a kindred spirit. FICTION BY ANN TURNER

ILLUSTRATION BY JEN NORTON

he had heard God’s voice off and on throughout her life, although she wouldn’t have described it as a “voice.” There was no sound, just a sudden alertness and words felt inside, as if someone had pressed them into her heart. Julia called them “knowings,” and suspected she had more in common with Julian of Norwich than her name, as she told her husband that night. “I wouldn’t go for the whole anchoress thing, Henry,” she said. “What’s that?” He looked up from the computer he was tinkering with. Henry was a thin man with ginger hair and a tentative smile. “Anchoress, Henry. I wouldn’t like that living alone in a stone hut and never coming out!” She shivered, lifting the cat into her lap for comfort. “Anchoress,” Henry murmured. “What’s that?” Henry’s words were short and clipped. Computer repair was a delicate business, requiring intense concentration, and preferably no talking. “People who gave up their lives to be like hermits in tiny cells and pray—like Julian of Norwich.” “Mmmph,” said Henry. Words about a 14th-century holy woman did not penetrate. “She gave advice to people through the stone window of her cell. They came from all over, Henry!” Trying to have a conversation with her husband when he was working was a fruitless exercise. She stroked Mistletoe, who was almost obese, but had a warm, cozy body with orange fur. Julia thought she’d read there was a cat

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with Julian in her tiny room that was attached to the cathedral. “Good thing she had an animal, Henry, to keep her warm once it was dark.” Julia imagined a narrow medieval bed with scratchy wool blankets and the wind moaning outside. It would be colder than sleeping next to Henry, with his perpetually icy feet. “Mmm,” he replied. “I’d like to give advice to people,” Julia murmured. “I think I’d be good at it.” After all, she taught fifth grade, and was constantly advising her students. She pushed her feet against the bare floorboards, moving the rocking chair closer to the fireplace. There was a sudden draft of wind, and the flames blew sideways for a moment.

ulia loved the old bricks in the fireplace, and all of the history in their 1800s house, even though it was plagued with mice, leaking clapboards, and a roof that was in the process of giving up its structural integrity. Luckily, her memories of growing up in this house were still solid: Mom and Dad dancing on the green living room rug and laughing; putting up the Christmas tree and draping so much tinsel it was more silver than green; sharing a room with her sister, who drew a line down the center to divide her half from Julia’s; and sitting at the top of the stairs, yearning for a Stewardess Barbie doll the Christmas when she was 11. Instead, she got a Ginny doll, inferior and far more babyish. At 11 years old, Julia was crowding puberty and thought she deserved a doll with breasts, Nov ember 2015 ❘ 4 7

even if they were plastic. She was certain then, and still believed, that if only Mom had given her the Barbie doll, life would have been perfect: perfect as Barbie’s unnaturally arched feet, her shapely figure, and her little carryon for the many trips to exotic places she would visit—places Julia would never go. Another blast of wind shook the house, and smoke coughed out of the fireplace. Henry took notice, jumped up, grabbed the poker, and thrust the oak logs farther toward the back. For a moment, he looked almost noble, like a knight without his armor, Julia thought. She gazed at him with mild affection: not a great romantic, not a bringer of flowers on birthdays, or a man who bought a silver valentine heart separated in two pieces which became one when closed. She and Henry were more like two halves of a tarnished silver heart that occasionally came together and made a whole. Was that enough?

ulia wondered if Julian of Norwich had ever married and had children. But who would leave a husband and children to be walled up in a stone room? Was the anchoress ever lonely? Sometimes being with a person who didn’t talk much was lonelier than being single. Perhaps Julian talked to her cat as it lay on her bed at night, and the cat—talkative in its way— would meow his small requests: Please let there be a mouse nearby. Please, God, let the cold wind from the sea go elsewhere. Dear God, let visitors

ANSWERS TO PETE AND REPEAT 1. There is a cherry tomato in the salad. 2. Sis’ sweater now has a V neck. 3. The salt and pepper shakers are reversed. 4. The sky is not as dark. 5. There is an arm on Sis’ chair. 6. Pete has a furrowed brow. 7. The plate in front of Sis has a gold rim. 8. The mashed potatoes are farther to the right.

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bring tidbits for me. “Wasn’t it the late Middle Ages then?” Julia spoke to the cat, thinking she might have better luck. Mistletoe’s eyes were large and green, and seemed to hold a wisdom which he did not actually possess. Julia took out her cell phone and typed in “Middle Ages,” which gave her more information than she really wanted. Julian lived in the 14th century, a time of ferment, a split in the papacy, inventions, and more. Julia put her head back against the wooden slats of the rocker, the one where she had imagined nursing her own children—the babies who never came. Perhaps they were waiting for her somewhere, the children with names she had chosen: Rose, Daniel, and Henry, after his father. But it was too late for that now. Did Julian of Norwich become an anchoress because life had disappointed her? Julia typed in “Julian of Norwich,” and read that she had almost died at the age of 30, and during her illness had visions of Jesus—a savior like a mother, full of mercy and forgiveness. Later she’d written her visions down in a book called Revelations of Divine Love. “I bet she had a doll with her when she entered the stone hut,” Julia whispered to the cat. “A wooden doll with little stiff arms out at the side, and some cloth wrapped around it like a dress.” Somehow, a rigid wooden doll did not sound like a very comforting companion. Julia chuckled to herself, letting the rocking chair become still. She wished she could go back in time and go up to the window to ask advice from the wise mystic. What would I ask her? Julian, I think I may have settled for less in my marriage. It’s not very exciting. And there are no children. What should I do? Julia imagined the holy woman sliding back a shutter—surely, they had some way of keeping the cold out— and listening to her complaint. The anchoress, in her scratchy medieval robe with a wimple over her head, would look compassionately at Julia, thinking for a moment. Then she

would answer, “Love is everywhere, child. Perhaps you are missing it. Look for it, and love God.” Vaguely disappointed by this imagined answer, Julia made her chair rock faster, feeling the welcome heat from the fire. She wondered if the anchoress had a metal brazier with coals in it, or burning wood to keep her warm. Surely the Norwich Cathedral would take care of their holy woman, making sure she did not fall ill, had enough to eat, and wasn’t too cold. After all, she was famous, and people came from all over to talk to her—the first Dear Abby. “I wonder what she ate, Henry. Probably no meat, maybe vegetables, bread, and beer.” “Meat?” Henry’s attention was caught. “Are we having meat for supper, honey? I need to bulk out in this cold.” He shivered dramatically. Bulking out was impossible for her husband; he was all bones, angles, and fractured edges, like a Picasso painting.

ulia went back in imagination to the stone room and people coming to the anchoress for advice. In her mind’s eye she saw a woman in a heavy blue cloak walking quickly up to the window. She put her face close to the opening and murmured, “My husband is unfaithful and I know not what to do.” “Know not what to do”—Julian would take those words into her marvelous, beloved brain and sort them through. She might pet the cat curled nearby, asking for inspiration, which suddenly came: He is a feckless man, wreaking havoc in the family. She would best be rid of him. Tell her to enter a nunnery. Julian would then answer, “Thou shalt enter a nunnery, madam, and be free of this man’s vices. You will be better off among women, worshiping our Lord.” The questioner would hand a coin to Julian, pulling the cloak tighter about her throat as if to hoard the wise words, and stride off down the street, full of purpose and convinced that she was worth more than being the quiet wife of a man who sometimes beat her St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

and was constantly, publicly unfaithful. Thank goodness that was not anything Julia had to worry about with Henry! She could stand on the rock that was his faithfulness. She pictured the next woman to walk up to the anchoress’ window, head down. “Pray tell me, Julian, how can I get with child? I have tried for five years, and we have no issue. My husband wishes to put me aside.” Tears fell down the woman’s plain cheeks with the slanting eyebrows above. Julia’s eyes filled in sympathy. She could have been that long-ago petitioner. The mystic would take a deep breath, thinking. She reached for the mother love of Christ, asking for guidance, and words suddenly came: “It is not always the wife at fault in these cases, but sometimes the husband. Remember, you are still beloved by Our Lord.” The questioner wandered away, shoulders hunched in defeat, as if she had not heard the last words of comfort. Julia sucked in a breath. Perhaps it wasn’t her fault there were no children in their marriage; perhaps it was Henry’s fault. But neither of them had the courage to investigate and be tested.

points; he did not complain. Ten minutes later she called into the living room, “Henry, it’s ready!” There was a moment of silence, then the sound of soft footsteps. Henry hugged her from behind, enfolding her in his wiry arms. “I know, let’s put the food on plates and eat in front of the fire,” he said. “Would you like that? I can pour us some of that red wine I just bought. I finally fixed the computer.” He grinned at her, and suddenly Julia saw the man she had married— the diffident, kind man who had worn an ill-fitting gray suit while she wore a drifty white dress bought for $35.95 at a thrift store so many years ago. The store had even thrown in a veil. “Yes, Henry, that would be lovely,” she called after his retreating back. As she served the meal onto warmed plates, Julia was surprised by a sudden onrush of tears, wetting her turtleneck and falling on the edge of her striped apron: tears for herself with the gone babies; tears for all the unfinished con-

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Ann Turner is a freelance writer from Williamsburg, Massachusetts. The author of 50 children’s books, she says that in the fall of 2013 she suddenly found herself writing adult short stories, something she had never done before. She says the shift can only be attributed to the action of the Holy Spirit.

Secular Institute of the Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ…living consecrated life in the Secular World!

ncomfortable with her thoughts, Julia pushed back the chair and headed for the kitchen, propelled by hunger and a vague sense that food was what she and Henry needed. Perhaps that might help the two halves of the tarnished silver heart to come closer. She opened the freezer, found two hamburger patties that had only a tiny bit of freezer burn, and popped them in the microwave, hitting “Defrost” and four minutes. If she were truly creative and daring, she could pound some whole black peppercorns into the meat, sizzle the patties in butter, and flame a little bit of Henry’s scotch on top. It might be too gourmet for the tater tots and frozen peas, but then, Henry never noticed much about the food he ate, as long as it was hearty and edible. That was another one of his strong

versations; and tears for her wedding dress which lay folded in tissue paper in the attic, waiting for a daughter who never came. A sob escaped her. “What’s this?” Henry came back into the kitchen and held her close to his chest. “Hush, hush,” he said as he patted her back. Julia pressed her cheek into Henry’s warm sweater, listening to his heart thumping beneath. It reminded her of Jesus’ heart and the “motherhood of grace” Julian had seen. “Love is everywhere,” the anchoress had said. Blowing her nose and wiping her eyes, Julia remembered the saint’s famous words, whispering them into the wall of Henry’s chest: “All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” A

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❘ BY FATHER PAT McCLOSKEY, OFM

Declaration of Nullity Changes According to news reports in early September, Pope Francis changed several procedures to be followed by diocesan tribunals in responding to a petition for a declaration of nullity of a previous marriage. What exactly was changed? Does the Church still teach that a sacramental marriage cannot be dissolved? On September 8, the Holy See released the texts of two documents outlining changes to the Code of Canon Law (for the Roman Catholic Church) and the Code of Canon Law of the Eastern Churches, to take effect on December 8, 2015. Pope Francis said that he was not “promoting the nullity of marriage, but the quickness of the processes, as well as a correct simplicity” of the procedures so that Catholic couples are not “oppressed by the shadow of

doubt” for prolonged periods. The pope explained that these changes were motivated by “concern for the salvation of souls,” and particularly “charity and mercy.” First, a word about terminology. Catholic tribunals do not give annulments; their “declarations of nullity” affirm that a valid, sacramental marriage never existed between the “petitioner” and the “respondent.” These declarations are decreed after the examination of sworn testimony given by interview or in writing. The respondent (spouse who did not initiate the petition) has a right to submit testimony, but if he or she declines to do so, the process can continue. A declaration of nullity does not affect the legitimacy of children born to that marriage because there was a valid civil marriage.

Blessing God?

CNS PHOTO/NANCY PHELAN WIECHEC

In the “Glory to God in the highest,” we say, “We praise you. We bless you.” What do we mean by that? How is it possible for a human to bless God? We use the term “bless” here in a borrowed sense. God is the source of every grace and blessing (Jas 1:17). We can bless God only after we have been blessed by God. Our “blessing” is the grateful return of a gift already received. In his Dictionary of the Bible, Father John L. McKenzie, SJ, wrote: “Blessing is conceived as a communication of life from Yahweh. . . . Yahweh Himself is the only one who can bless; [people] bless by wishing and praying that Yahweh will bless.”

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The two new documents from Pope Francis list specific changes for each Code of Canon Law. The key changes are these: 1) Affirmative decisions by local tribunals will no longer be referred to a second tribunal to confirm that proper procedures have been followed and that the invalidity of the marriage has been proven; 2) Petitions in the most evident cases of nullity may be heard by a single judge (a cleric) appointed by the local bishop; 3) The local bishop must be more closely involved in the tribunal’s work. 4) A single judge’s finding must be confirmed by the local bishop; 5) Any appeal will be sent to the metropolitan see (archdiocese to which a local diocese is linked), and archdiocesan appeals go to the oldest suffragan diocese; 6) Episcopal conferences must assist dioceses in handling these processes without charge to the petitioner; 7) If an affirmative decree is issued, an appeal to the Roman Rota is possible but will be more rare. Circumstances for using #2 above include: lack of faith needed for full consent to a Catholic marriage; unacknowledged surgery to prevent procreation; continuing in an extramarital relationship at the time of the wedding or immediately afterward; one partner hiding infertility, a serious contagious disease, children from a previous marriage, or a history of incarceration; and using physical violence to extort consent. On August 27, 2014, Pope Francis appointed a Special Commission for the Reform of Matrimonial Processes in Canon Law. Four additional canonists reviewed their recommendations. The Catholic Church still teaches that a valid sacramental marriage cannot be dissolved. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

Has God Forgiven Me? Over 40 years ago, I had an abortion because that pregnancy was inconvenient for me. For years I never thought that I had killed my baby. That changed when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, had two children in middle school, and had been away from the Catholic Church for many years. I needed God, was accepted back with welcoming arms, but did not confess this sin. I did during a parish mission, but do not feel forgiven. I can’t forgive myself. When I confessed this a second time, the priest told me not to confess it again. Will God ever forgive me? I attend daily Mass and thank God on my way to Mass each day. Are my health issues punishment for having an abortion? Can I go to heaven? Yes, God forgave you the first time that you confessed having an abortion. As long as you do not forgive yourself, you may find it extremely difficult to feel that God has forgiven you. You cannot change your past, but you decide which parts of it you want to reinforce (the good parts) and which actions you wish to dilute—in the sense of making them less and less typical of your life. We become what we choose on a regular basis. A person who tells one lie does not become a veteran liar; someone who usually meets challenging situations by telling a lie, however, is on his or her way to becoming a veteran liar. As you now realize, a human life was lost when you had an abortion. You cannot completely erase that event from your life, but you can by your decisions today make that tragic decision less and less typical of your life. Project Rachel is a ministry to women and men whose lives have been disrupted by abortion. If you go to StAnthonyMessenger.org, you will find an article about it in our July 2002 issue. Project Rachel can be contacted at 888-456-4673 or at Fr ancisca n Media .org

HopeafterAbortion.com. They have many resources, including special retreats for women who have had abortions. This project also reaches out to men who now regret having pressured a wife, girlfriend, or some other woman into having an abortion. A 10-week-old fetus has started to develop fingerprints. Although a human life is definitely lost to abortion, no sin is greater than God’s ability to forgive that sin. With God’s help, you can forgive yourself.

Click the button above to hear Father Pat’s insights on Catholic topics.

Tribunal procedures: My response to “Is She in Good Standing?” (August 2015) incorrectly stated that the “respondent” (the spouse who did not initiate the request for a declaration of nullity) cannot see the written testimony from the petitioner and witnesses. In fact, the respondent has a right to see such testimony—but at the tribunal office and under strict supervision. Thanks to the tribunal staff member who called this fact to my attention! A

Father Pat welcomes your questions! Send them to: Ask a Franciscan, 28 W. Liberty Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498, or Ask@FranciscanMedia.org. All questions sent by mail need to include a selfaddressed stamped envelope. This column’s answers can be searched back to April 1996 at StAnthonyMessenger.org.

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Nov ember 2015 ❘ 5 1

BOOK CORNER

❘ BY CAROL ANN MORROW

Catholic History for Today’s Church How Our Past Illuminates Our Present

CATHOLIC

Best-Sellers on

Amazon.com Confessions St. Augustine Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home Pope Francis Catechism of the Catholic Church US Catholic Church Rediscover Jesus Matthew Kelly Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming Henri J.M. Nouwen

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By John W. O’Malley, SJ Rowman and Littlefield 248 pages • $24.95 Hardcover/E-book Reviewed by JAMES A. PERCOCO, the teacher-inresidence for both the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership and the Civil War Trust. He is a member of the National Teachers Hall of Fame. In Catholic History for Today’s Church, Jesuit John W. O’Malley undertakes a daunting task at which he succeeds admirably. Rooted in a series of essays, some previously published, O’Malley sheds light on the current state of the Catholic Church by looking to its past. His writing is lucid, reflective, sincere, and effective as he leads readers to understand that only by looking back at our Catholic history and traditions can we make sense of our faith today. The book is broken into three distinct sections: “The Papacy and the Popes,” “Two Councils: Trent and Vatican II,” and “The Church at Large.” Each section is followed by a witty and personal postscript called “My Life of Learning,” where O’Malley challenges readers to consider their assumptions about the human and institutional Church. At its core, this book is about an institution that has played a large role in not only Western history, but also global evolution. The author doesn’t shy away from addressing difficult topics, ranging from celibacy to the papacy, placing them all within a histor-

ical context. As he states in the introduction, “History is more than an interesting pastime; it is serious business. It is especially serious business when its subject is the Church.” Of particular interest is his comparison of the Council of Trent with that of the Second Vatican Council. He dispels lingering myths about each, and reframes them within their proper historical context. About Trent, O’Malley argues, “We tend to forget that the council was meant to be and hoped to be reconciliation with the reformers.” The reformers to whom he alludes include Martin Luther and other leaders of the Protestant Reformation. The Council of Trent was a Eurocentric affair, while the Second Vatican Council, also aimed at reform, was more global. On Vatican II, he writes of the “Decree on Ecumenism,” “The document was addressed to the whole of humanity,” and thereby sought to enlist all persons of goodwill in the Church’s mission of peace and harmony. Vatican II tried to make categorical repudiation of the modern world a thing of the past. Both councils were about reform and change in the internal working of the Church aimed at bishops and the Roman Curia. Readers looking for an apologetic tone for either council won’t find it. This is not a book about assigning blame to anything or anyone. It is a well-researched and wellwritten account about the place of the Church in the world as history has unfolded and how God’s earthly human institution has braced, reformed, and renewed itself under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As O’Malley states, “The most profound difference between the two councils is this: they spoke in two different forms of discourse. Trent was more about codifying canon, passing laws, and rendering verdicts, while Vatican II’s voice, best articulated by St. John XXIII, was to demonstrate ‘the loving mother of all, benign, patient, full of mercy and goodness.’” Readers who are serious about their love of the Church will find this book to be of immense interest and insight. St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

BOOK BRIEFS

Finding Grace in Aging Mortal Blessings A Sacramental Farewell By Angela Alaimo O’Donnell Ave Maria Press 160 pages • $15.95 Paperback/E-book

When the Saints Came Marching In Exploring the Frontiers of Grace in America By Kathy Coffey Liturgical Press 160 pages • $14.95 Paperback/E-book Reviewed by ANGIE MIMMS, MFA, a writer who has worked as a journalist, columnist, and parish communications director. As I neared the end of Kathy Coffey’s stories of courageous, persistent souls forging their way through American history, a phrase kept coming to mind: communion of saints, that spiritual union of the Church’s living and dead. The author takes us to “unexplored realms of holiness,” and introduces us to people who brave the challenges of an expanded notion of frontier, one that includes civil rights, science, education, and health care. Coffey, an award-winning writer and poet, balances research with imagery. She bolsters insightful prose with Scripture passages and references to faith traditions. Through her subjects, she provides a mix of genders, races, and life circumstances. She acknowledges the flaws along with the virtues and graces that propelled Junipero Serra, Elizabeth Ann Seton, and 18 others. Coffey’s book will engage readers interested in American history, faith, and inspirational figures. Most of the 15 short, accessible chapters end with questions for reflection, endnotes, and reading suggestions. What I appreciate most, though, is the book’s spirit of connection—between writer and reader—to North America, and to the communion of saints, which inspires us to be better people as we continue to encounter ever-new frontiers of grace. Fr ancisca n Media .org

In this touching goodbye to her mother, Angela Alaimo O’Donnell reflects on the last 48 days of her mother’s life, following a devastating hip fracture. Painting her nails for her becomes a kind of Anointing of the Sick, bathing her takes on the significance of Baptism, and other daily activities unexpectedly connect with the sacraments.

The Way of Grace Finding God on the Path of Surrender By Glandion Carney with Marjean Brooks InterVarsity Press 160 pages • $15 Paperback/E-book Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, the Rev. Glandion Carney faces the challenge of how to live the rest of his life with grace and courage. In each chapter, Rev. Carney guides us through a spiritual practice aimed at enriching our lives, even as illness or frailty makes this goal seem daunting.

Loving Later Life An Ethics of Aging By Frits de Lange Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 169 pages • $19 Paperback/Kindle Society celebrates youth, while aging is considered a process to be feared. Frits de Lange suggests that a healthy self-love by those who are aging, combined with a change in attitude toward the elderly, can shift the flawed popular perception of the later years of life. —D.I. Books featured in Book Corner and Book Briefs can be ordered from

St. Mary’s Bookstore & Church Supply 1909 West End Avenue • Nashville, TN 37203 • 800-233-3604 www.stmarysbookstore.com • stmarysbookstore@gmail.com Nov ember 2015 ❘ 5 3

A CATHOLIC MOM SPEAKS

❘ BY SUSAN HINES-BRIGGER

A Little Respect, Please

nyone who has teenagers knows that at times they have a tendency to challenge their parents on all sorts of things. And, at times, the manner in which they do it borders on disrespect. As a mom of two teenagers, I can attest to this. When it happens, my husband, Mark, and I most certainly call them out on it. It’s our job as parents. But sometimes—a lot of times—it seems as if we’re swimming against the current. And it’s not just the kids I’m talking about. A lot of adults these days, through their own actions, are failing to provide the example we want our kids to follow. As a society, we demand and display respect for things such as the American flag. (Can you imagine the

5 4 ❘ Nov ember 2015

outcry if someone burned the flag?) So why are we not living up to that standard when it comes to each other? Respect is a principle that we should be demonstrating in our lives every day. Differences of opinion are now being expressed not through dialogue, but rather through harsh comments and personal attacks. Don’t like something the president did? Spew hatred toward him personally, instead of working to address your concerns about the issue. Have a problem with another person? Rally the troops on your side instead of discussing the problem with that individual. Disagree with a teaching of the Church? Turn your back on it. Unfortunately, I could go on and on with more examples.

Real-Life Lesson Recently, I found myself in a situation that was a perfect example of the way that disrespect for one another can be not only hurtful, but also counterproductive. This particular situation involved an argument among my son’s group of friends. As we all tried to get to the bottom of what really happened, I encountered two totally different experiences. A phone call from one of the moms consisted of her continually raising her voice and pointing fingers regarding the situation—both at me and at the other moms involved. Another one of the moms and I, however, had a much more civil and rational conversation about what was going on. Which one do you St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION GUIDELINE—ERIC LAW R = take RESPONSIBILITY for what you say and feel without blaming others. E = use EMPATHETIC listening. S = be SENSITIVE to differences in communication styles.

E = EXAMINE your own assumptions and perceptions. C = keep CONFIDENTIALITY. T = TRUST ambiguity, because we are not here to debate who is right or wrong.

think led to a much more productive outcome? Yes, the calmer, more respectful conversation—no yelling, no name-calling, no judging. By respecting each other, we were able to quickly resolve the situation.

An Impending Storm? In a 2013 message to the world’s Muslims, Pope Francis weighed in on the importance of respectful dialogue when it comes to religious issues. “We all know that mutual respect is fundamental in any human relationship, especially among people who profess religious belief. In this way, sincere and lasting friendship can grow,” he said. In the next year, with the upcoming presidential election, it will be good to remember that sentiment. The potential for contentious debates and discussions will certainly

be on the rise. After all, these types of events lend themselves to situations where we find ourselves on opposite ends of issues. The challenge, though, is to find ways to be respectful toward each other while discussing these issues and effectively conveying our point of view. It’s not always easy. It’s instinct to want to strike back when we’re being challenged. But that usually ends up getting us nowhere. As situations that challenge us arise, let’s reflect on this passage from 1 Peter 3:15: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear.” For people who believe we are all made in God’s image, let’s treat each other that way. And remember, our kids are watching. A

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARY KURNICK MAASS

P = PONDER what you hear and feel before you speak.

Click the button on the left to listen to Susan’s “Marriage Moments.”

Do you have comments or suggestions for topics you’d like to see addressed in this column? Send them to me at “A Catholic Mom Speaks,” 28 W. Liberty St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498, or e-mail them to CatholicMom@FranciscanMedia.org.

PETE AND REPEAT These scenes may seem alike to you, But there are changes in the two. So look and see if you can name ILLUSTRATION BY TOM GREENE

Eight ways in which they’re not the same. (Answers on page 48)

Fr ancisca n Media .org

Nov ember 2015 ❘ 5 5

BACKSTORY

It’s about Friendship

asn’t the papal visit amazing? You’ll have a chance to revisit it in our December issue, which we’re working on even as you read the issue in your hands. Our crew, you might recall,

around assignments, was scrambling to produce the official commemorative edition about the visit, partnering with our bishops and the Vatican. That book was a project like no other for us. It just came out, and it’s beautiful.

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER HEFFRON

No rest yet, though! Fifty years ago this month, Vatican II was coming to a close. Our younger readers might take for granted how dramatically the Church changed back then: a complete renewal of the liturgy, with altars facing the congregation, celebrants learning how better to preach (an unfinished project, says the pope), a refocusing of the Church’s mission onto the troubles of the world. One of the far-reaching achievements of the council was a rethinking of our relationship to other religions, including Judaism, long mistreated in the name of the Gospel. Rabbi Abie Ingber, at Xavier University’s Center for Community Interfaith PHOTO BY GREGORY RUST/XAVIER UNIVERSITY

Engagement, has been watching and participating near the center of this worldwide renewal. His parents narrowly survived the Holocaust, unlike much

Rabbi Ingber is a passionate man, using his God-given talents to bring people together across different faiths.

of his extended family who were murdered. It takes a giant of a soul to devote himself to reconciliation—our friend Abie has made that his life’s work. I am proud to help bring his experience and insights to you, whether it be his friendship with St. John Paul II’s boyhood friend, his relationship with Pope Francis’ rabbifriend from Buenos Aires, or his marvelous, mind-stretching engagement with young Catholics and others at Xavier University. Rabbi Ingber, like other newsmakers in the world of Catholic news and understanding, has become my friend over the years. That’s one of the things that makes my job irresistible. I hope all of us editors, art director, writers, photographers, and illustrators help pass along that passion for our faith, in the spirit of St. Francis, in these pages. Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Editor in Chief @jfeister

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St A n t h o n y M e s s e n g e r . o rg

REFLECTION

God is glorified, not by our groans, but by our

thanksgivings.

—Edwin Percy Whipple

ST. ANTHONY M 28 W. Liberty Street Cincinnati, OH 45202-6498

essenger

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