Papal Visit

Great Impact and Long Lasting Significance

rigali.jpgAdapted 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.


  1. At the Airport
  2. 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.


  3. At the Youth Event
  4. 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."


  5. The Papal Mass
  6. 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."


  7. At Evening Prayer
  8. 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!

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