During the post-Christmas break I read a book about the Piarists, a society of priests and brothers who taught poor children in 16th and 17th century Europe. More than one of their members was very close to Galileo, even when the Inquisition put him under house arrest. Galileo found himself in such unhappy circumstances because the Inquisition found him guilty of teaching that the world revolves around the sun [rather than the sun revolves around the world, which Scripture seems to take for granted.]
A few centuries later Pope John Paul II apologized to Galileo on behalf of the Church for such rough treatment. It was the belief of the Church then that Scriptures’ account of the universe, i.e. planet Earth at the center of the cosmos, was to be accepted by the faithful as infallible. We now know that the Bible is not to be regarded as a science text; the institutional Church had forgotten the wisdom of St. Augustine, that the Bible is given us to help us along the way to salvation…and not to be taken literally when it comes to science, geography, etc.
On the solemnity of the Epiphany, it is good to appreciate the struggles and hard work of pioneers, people willing to think ‘outside the box’ and to search for truth, even if it means discomfort and misunderstanding. Several months I wrote about the dynamic and twice married and divorced, Mother Antonia of the Tijuana prison system in Mexico. She got involved in this demanding ministry with the encouragement of an L.A. priest who looked past the two marriages and divorces and realized how valuable her desire to serve the outcast was. She was a restless seeker like the wise ones of the Gospel, desiring to see Jesus wherever He might be.
How many times we Catholics [and other people of faith] thought we had the truth nailed down…only to find our approach lacking in the face of facts. St. Thomas Aquinas was suspected in his day because he was willing to use a ‘pagan’ philosopher, Aristotle, in his theology. There were more than a few bishops in the Second Vatican Council who thought Jesuit John Courtney Murray was over the line because he believed in the separation of church and state in ‘Catholic countries’ like Spain. The late Pope was criticized by some of his Cardinals [quietly, of course] because of his invitation to world religious leaders to gather with him in Assisi in prayer for peace.
In the coming year the Church will be facing neuralgic issues involving sexuality, priesthood, marriage, and other aspects of life, morality and holiness. She will be called to walk through the narrow gate of fidelity to Christ and to the needs of people. This walk, if the history of the Church is any indication, will be fraught with conflict, courage, misunderstanding and new understanding. The two priceless gifts of faith and intelligence will be required, the hidden and personal gifts of the Magi. If they had never budged, staying home with everything quiet and unthreatening, these seekers would never have encountered the Child who made the whole journey worthwhile.
* * * * *
On behalf of the parish and our
staff, I want to wish Sr. Joan Derry every good gift and blessing
on her 50th anniversary! A friend of mine, when I told him of her upcoming anniversary,
asked ‘Her 25th???’ I
hastened to assure him that no, Sister had spent fifty years serving the Church
in California as a Sister of the Holy Family.
Her friend and former bishop, Bishop John Cummins will be here this
weekend to celebrate with Sister, her siblings, family, friends, and fellow
Sisters of the Holy Family. Congratulations
& thanks, dear Sister!
