Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Happy Tax Day! Though most of you probably submitted them online, I remember the days when you had to make the trip to the post office. In Downtown Pittsburgh, they always kept the main post office open until midnight and had a Dixie Land band playing in the streets as people came forward to fulfill their civic duty. As we once again pay our taxes, or look forward to a refund, I am reminded of our duties and responsibilities as citizens.
The Universal Church just celebrated the feast of St. Stanislaus, the patron saint of Poland and one of my “hero bishops.” The history books tell us that Poland was rather unstable in the days of Bishop Stanislaus. The king at the time, Boleslaus, was a violent tyrant and lived scandalously. Not surprisingly, there was a conflict between the saintly bishop of Krakow and the not-so-saintly king, poised above the city in Wawel Castle. When Bishop Stanislaus called out the monarch for his corruption and injustices and excommunicated him, the king responded by accusing him of treason, a crime which carried the death penalty. None of the king’s men, however, dared to kill the saintly prelate. That didn’t stop the king. While the bishop was saying Mass, the king killed him with his own hands. The Poles were outraged at their bishop’s death at the king’s hand and sent him into exile.
While Minnesota in 2024 is quite different than 11th century Poland, it’s not surprising that there are still times when our faith puts us into situations that require us to speak out against injustice and to be willing to sacrifice so that we can transform the world to serve the common good. In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis reminds us that “an authentic faith…always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.” We can only do that if we, like St. Stanislaus, are willing to stand up for the rights of the vulnerable and work to overcome injustice.
The Church teaches that the responsibility for transforming society pertains to all the baptized, and not only to bishops or clergy. We are blessed in our state by the great work that is done by the Minnesota Catholic Conference in helping to educate us all on public issues and to help us as laity and clergy to make our voices heard. Our most vulnerable brothers and sisters are counting on us to defend their rights.
I’m grateful that the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith has just issued a very timely document on the infinite dignity of each human life (Dignitas Infinita). In this election year, and in the midst of the important debates taking place these days at our State Capitol, the document gives us some important guideposts for guiding our civic engagement and for focusing our efforts against injustice. St. Stanislaus, pray for us.
I’m grateful that the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith has just issued a very timely document on the infinite dignity of each human life (Dignitas Infinita). In this election year, and in the midst of the important debates taking place these days at our State Capitol, the document gives us some important guideposts for guiding our civic engagement and for focusing our efforts against injustice. St. Stanislaus, pray for us.
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"St. John Paul II is clear that the 'Be not afraid!' of the new evangelization is for all the baptized: 'The commitment of the laity to the work of evangelization is changing ecclesial life… Above all, there is a new awareness that missionary activity is a matter for all Christians, for all dioceses and parishes, Church institutions and associations.' The Holy Father was drawing on the teaching firmly established at the Second Vatican Council in the Decree on the Laity and by his predecessor, St. Paul VI."
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
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April 15, 2024