Beloved Family,
Fifty years ago, in July of 1976—the nation’s bicentennial— I was about to turn 13. My Aunt Anne and Uncle Charley lived in what is known as Center City Philadelphia, a fairly significant geographical point on the roadmap of United States history. While my immediate family made fairly frequent jaunts to national parks such as Washington’s Crossing and Valley Forge, it was with my aunt Anne that I trekked to many museums and other sites of Olde City in that year. I regret to say that I have not retained nearly as much of the historical data in my mind as I wish; still, it was a privilege to grow up in that vicinity along the Liberty Trail.
Related to our Faith, Philadelphia was also host to the 41st International Eucharistic Congress in 1976. Saint (Mother) Theresa of Calcutta was there; we occupied the same space at an assembly; however, from where I was sitting, she appeared as a miniature version of her already-diminutive self. All the same, her presence filled the venue, if you catch my meaning. The hymn, “Gift of Finest Wheat,” was commissioned for that occasion. It carries quite a “time stamp,’ when I hear it.
I also witnessed two papal visits to Philadelphia. In 1979, Pope Saint John Paul II celebrated Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Two aunts, Mom and I were there; it served as my initiation into waiting in a confined space with people of varying chapters of faith for an extended length of time. This, no doubt, prepared me for three future World Youth Day experiences. I would not trade them for anything!
Then, much more recently, in 2015, Pope Francis attended the World Meeting of Families, also hosted in Philadelphia. That experience was shared with my sister, Trisha and my niece, Kaitlyn. I remember “running into” Fr. Michael Denk, another Cleveland priest, as we waited in a veritable sea of humanity. Both occasions provided for spiritual renewal and fortification.
This July 4, I will once again be in the state of Pennsylvania, visiting with family, although I do not anticipate that we will venture into the downtown environs—my affinity to huge crowds has waned a bit in recent years. Wherever each of us members of the community of Saint Mary is going to be physically on that day, may I propose that we take the opportunity to recollect with profound gratitude, the freedoms we currently enjoy, as well as their cost to past generations and their potential increased cost as we move forward. I say that not to sound morose; I simply do not believe that we can, or ought to, take anything for granted in these times.
The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not until December. However, as she is the Patroness of the Americas, it seems very fitting to seek her intercession on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Independence Day. This prayer is inscribed in the chapel dedicated to Mary under this title, in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception:
Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of Holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my prayer offered with deepfelt confidence to beg this favor…. O Mary, conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to you under the glorious Aztec title of “Guadalupe” the virgin who crushed the serpent. Queen of Martyrs, whose Immaculate heart was pierced by seven wounds of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns thrown across my pathway. Queen of Apostles aid me to win souls for the Sacred Heart of my Savior. I plead this through the merits of your merciful Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
