Great Impact and Long Lasting Significance
Adapted from a column by Archbishop Justin Rigali which appeared in the Feb. 5, 1999, edition of the St. Louis Review.
Still it continues! The sense of excitement and spirit of enthusiasm abound! Almost everyone with whom I speak -- both here and around the nation -- has something very positive to say about the great impact of the Pastoral Visit of Pope John Paul II to the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
The observations they make are often personal ones about the encouragement -- as well as the challenge -- of the Holy Father's message. They speak too of how their own faith has been confirmed and strengthened by the inspiring example of the Pope, and by the powerful witness of the many thousands of people of all ages representing the rich diversity of the metropolitan community who saw the Holy Father along the motorcade routes or were in his presence at the airport at arrival or departure, the Kiel Center, the America's Center or the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
People continue to speak of the pastoral love of the Pope which was so conspicuous throughout his time among us. They note the warmth in his eyes at each personal encounter in all the places where these occurred. They remark about the special exhilaration of his interaction with the youth at the Kiel Center, and the very moving sight of his embrace of the children when he presented his personal message to representatives of Cardinal Glennon Hospital.
So many have spoken of a deepened faith in our Lord Jesus Christ on account of the Pope's visit. So many have spoken of a renewed pride in being members of the Catholic Church! And so many have spoken of a heightened sense of solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as with all people of good will who have experienced the blessings which have been the fruit of the Pope's time in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Such observations bring to mind the words which I recently wrote saying that, for all who open their hearts to the truth of the Holy Father's words, their lives would never again be the same!
Who was not impressed by the deep spirituality of the Holy Father? He is so obviously a man of intense prayer. Who was not moved by his great heart and his unfailing spirit of determination which are characteristic of his generosity, enabling him to give of himself so completely? We were all inspired by the power of his example!
It is not too soon to say that the Pastoral Visit of Pope John Paul II to the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been a spiritual event of lasting significance for more people than can ever be counted, and -- because of the extensive coverage of the media -- in more places than will ever be known.
For that reason, then, I wish to offer a further reflection
on the visit of the Holy Father, and the many ways he sought
during his seemingly-all-too-brief time here "to ensure that
the power of salvation may be shared by all."
An Experience to be Prolonged
In light of what I have noted above, it goes without saying
that the Pastoral Visit of the Pope must be recognized as an
experience to be prolonged. It is my hope that individuals
will seek to do that through prayer and reflection on all
that they heard and experienced during the Pope's visit.
I likewise encourage our Priests, Deacons, Religious
and the lay faithful in our parishes to identify
effective initiatives which will enable all parishioners to
appreciate ever more deeply the great impact and lasting
significance of this visit.
How can this be done?
Let me suggest that an increasing familiarity with the texts
of the Holy Father's arrival speech at Lambert-St. Louis International
Airport, his homilies at the Youth Event, the Eucharistic Sacrifice
and at Evening Prayer, and the other related messages which
he delivered here will be an especially helpful way to prolong
this spiritual experience.
The Holy Father's words -- spoken in our very midst -- can
be a wonderful resource for reflection and prayer in group settings.
Much about each of them lends itself to careful study. I am
confident that ongoing consideration of these discourses will
-- with the help of the Holy Spirit -- inevitably yield yet
deeper insights regarding the truth of the Gospel, the mystery
of the Church, and our identity in Jesus Christ. These insights
will, in turn, become a catalyst for more intense apostolic
activity on the part of individuals, families, parishes, communities
of religious, and other Catholic groups such as those involved
in our high school campus ministry programs and the Newman Centers
serving the colleges and universities.
Could it not be effective in coming months to include on a
regular basis in parish bulletins -- or through other printed
resources -- excerpts from these discourses of the Holy Father?
In this way -- and over time -- all will have the opportunity
to assimilate gradually the Pope's message; to better understand
the dynamic reality of our belonging to the universal Church;
the pressing responsibility all have to contribute to the vitality
of the local Church; and our call to be a leaven in the world
for good, bringing Jesus Christ to all whom we meet.
Exceptionally Relevant Words
Already I have had the welcome opportunity to take up the Holy
Father's discourses for precisely this kind of prayerful reflection.
Here then, I wish to draw attention to some of the Pope's words
which I have found to be exceptionally relevant.
- At the Airport
- At the Youth Event
- The Papal Mass
- At Evening Prayer
In the Holy Father's speech at the Airport Arrival Ceremony
where President Clinton welcomed him to the United States,
the Pope purposefully proposed a striking parallel. He cited
first the historic Dred Scott case heard here, and in which
the U.S. Supreme Court "subsequently declared an entire class
of human beings -- people of African descent -- outside the
boundaries of the national community and the Constitution's
protection." Then Pope John Paul asserted: "America faces
a similar time of trial today. Today the conflict is between
a culture that affirms, cherishes and celebrates the gift
of life, and a culture that seeks to declare entire groups
of human beings -- the unborn, the terminally ill, the handicapped,
and others considered 'unuseful' -- to be outside the boundaries
of legal protection." The Pope's hoped-for resolution is that
"America will resist the culture of death and choose to stand
steadfastly on the side of life." One crucial element of that
latter choice is that "the nation continues to honor and revere
the family as the basic unit of society.
Then in the evening of that first day -- during the You
Are The Light Of The World youth event at the Kiel Center
-- the Holy Father assured his "young friends": "each one
of you belongs to Christ, and Christ belongs to you." The
Pope spoke to them about freedom, which "is not the ability
to do anything we want, whenever we want. Rather, freedom
is the ability to live responsibly the truth of our relationship
with God and with one another." And he stressed the crucial
need for prayer in the lives of all. "Prayer enables us to
meet God at the most profound level of our being," he said.
"It connects us directly to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit
in a constant exchange of love."
On Wednesday morning, during the magnificent celebration
of the Eucharistic Sacrifice in which more than 100,000 people
participated, the Holy Father noted that: "St. Louis has been
the Gateway to the West, but it also has been the gateway
of great Christian witness and evangelical service." He cited
diverse vocations and categories of the People of God, noting
the numerous religious congregations which "have labored for
the Gospel," the work of the lay apostolate, "the charitable
activities of every kind (which) have been a vibrant part
of Catholic life," the outstanding "Catholic health care services"
and the Catholic schools (which) have proven to be of priceless
value to generations of children." From "this immense heritage
of holiness and service," the Pope challenged, "you must draw
inspiration and strength for the new evangelization so urgently
needed at the approach of the Third Christian Millennium."
Returning to the importance of the family, the Holy
Father asserted that the new evangelization "must include
a special emphasis on the family and the renewal of Christian
marriage." More precisely, the new evangelization "must being
a fuller appreciation of the family as the primary and most
vital foundation of society, the first school of virtue and
solidarity." This was underscored as the Pope proposed the
provocative words: "As the family goes, so goes the nation."
Developing further the program for the new evangelization,
Pope John Paul said that it "calls for followers of Christ
who are unconditionally pro-life." And he renewed the appeal
he had made most recently at Christmas "for a consensus to
end the death penalty which is both cruel and unnecessary."
The Pope also cited the need "to put an end to every form
of racism, a plague which your bishops have called one of
the most persistent and destructive evils of the nation."
The Holy Father offered the assurance that: "In parishes and
communities across this land holiness and Christian service
will flourish if 'you come to know and believe in the love
God has for you'" (cf. 1 Jn 4:16)
At the conclusion of the celebration of the Sacrifice of
the Mass the Holy Father offered particular greetings and
thanks. At that time he had a very special word for priests
"who carry forward with love the daily pastoral care of God's
people."
In his homily during the celebration of Evening Prayer, Pope
John Paul affirmed that "from salvation history we learn that
power is responsibility: it is service, not privilege. Its
exercise is morally justifiable when it is used for the good
of all, when it is sensitive to the needs of the poor and
defenseless." The Holy Father proposed that "God has given
us a moral law to guide us and protect us from falling back
into the slavery of sin and falsehood." He added that: "The
Ten Commandments are the charter of true freedom, for individuals
as well as for society as a whole." The Pope concluded with
the exhortation: "And so America: If you want peace, work
for justice. If you want justice, defend life. If you want
life, embrace the truth -- the truth revealed by God."
Before leaving the sanctuary of the Cathedral Basilica at
the conclusion of Evening Prayer, the Holy Father spoke final
words of appreciation and gratitude. He acknowledged the welcome
"extended to me by my fellow Christians and by the members
of other religious communities," and spoke of his visit to
the people of St. Louis as a "moving experience." The Pope
said he "would have wished to meet personally each one of
the young people at the Kiel Center, and all the many other
people at the Trans World Dome, and here in the Cathedral
Basilica, as well as along the routes and at the Airport."
Pope John Paul added that: "In particular I wish to say thanks
to the local Church of St. Louis. I am indebted to all the
many dedicated people -- organizers, committee members and
volunteers -- who have labored long and hard behind the scenes."
Echoing the Pope's Sentiments
I wish to echo the Pope's sentiments as I once again express
my deep gratitude to all for the efforts each made in planning
and coordinating the multiple facets and countless details which
had to be addressed in preparation for the Holy Father's Pastoral
Visit to St. Louis, and then while he was among us.
Nothing that anyone did in this initiative was insignificant!
The efforts of each person made a difference for good.
From the outset, when I was first able to announce that the
Pope would visit St. Louis, it has been truly inspiring to witness
the extraordinary generosity and willing spirit of cooperation
so spontaneously demonstrated by people throughout the metropolitan
community. My prayer is that God will reward each of you as
only He can!
The Challenge
In days to come, and in the weeks, months and years ahead,
the challenge for all of us will be to incorporate the significant
aspects and multiple challenges of the Pastoral Visit into our
daily lives. May God who has begun this good work in
us, bring it to completion!