“…he has scattered the proud in their conceit.”
From Today’s Gospel, Luke 1:51
Today is our 42nd wedding anniversary. We have “traveled to the hill country” to celebrate the birthday of one of our granddaughters. I started off the morning by unexpectedly attending my second Ordination anniversary Mass of the week for a rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, but this one was not at St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral – Amarillo, TX ,…
… There was lightning, thunder and light rain as I parked my car on the dark street just a few blocks from the state capital dome for the regularly scheduled 6:30am Mass. I followed a man carrying an umbrella through a small side door and made my way around to the nave of the large gothic revival cathedral where I entered, not to the excited chattering of a crowd, but to the silence of a sparse group spread about and praying…
… after a few minutes the rector, a priest of the same age as Fr. Tony, entered the sanctuary, not with a long line of fellow priests in front of him, but on his own…
…Mass proceeded as usual to the intentions where the rector, in a barely audible voice prayed, not in thanksgiving for his past 20 years of humble service, but that he could continue with the humility Mary showed in bringing Christ as she visited her cousin Elizabeth as he moved on from this day, his priestly Ordination anniversary…
…Mass proceeded once again to the announcements where the rector encouraged everyone to visit Bishop’s Hall, not for meatloaf, but to view the exhibit that honors Italian teen Carlo Acutis who is set to be declared a saint…
…then there was the dismissal and the rector processed out, not through the main entrance with a line of fellow priests in front of him to a gathering area where a large, noisy crowd scattered about to show how proud they were of him;…
…but through a side door of the sanctuary to a quiet, empty vestibule while the faithful went in peace, not with recipes for meatloaf and green beans, but to love and serve the world…
53. One criterion for verifying whether real attention is given to the dignity of every individual in society is the help given to the most disadvantaged. Regrettably, our time is not known for such care; rather, a “throwaway culture” is increasingly imposing itself.[97] To counter this trend, the condition of those experiencing physical or mental limitations warrants special attention and concern. Such conditions of acute vulnerability[98]—which feature prominently in the Gospels—prompt universal questions about what it means to be a human person, especially starting from the condition of impairment or disability. The question of human imperfection also carries clear socio-cultural implications since some cultures tend to marginalize or even oppress individuals with disabilities, treating them as “rejects.” However, the truth is that each human being, regardless of their vulnerabilities, receives his or her dignity from the sole fact of being willed and loved by God. Thus, every effort should be made to encourage the inclusion and active participation of those who are affected by frailty or disability in the life of society and of the Church.[99]
PARAGRAPH 53 of Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity
…and so, since one criterion for verifying whether real attention is given to the dignity of every individual in society is the help given to the most disadvantaged….
… isn’t it important that I take some time to reflect on which of the two rectors whose ordinations I celebrated this week seems to be placing the attention on humble service…
Once we lose our humility, and become enthralled with the possibility of limitless mastery over everything, we inevitably end up harming society and the environment.
From Paragraph 224 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
… because if I don’t contemplate such things will I not lose the ability to recognize humility and therefore become enthralled with clericalism and be scattered about along with the proud seeking limitless mastery over everything and inevitably end up harming the Church, society and our common home ❓