We find ourselves in a very difficult moment.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We find ourselves in a very difficult moment. We are once again (and I can’t believe I have to use that phrase “once again”) coming face to face with the sin of racism and social injustice. It is an affront to human dignity and an offense to the inherent goodness of each person as they are made in the image and likeness of God. While many of the protests are peaceful, some individuals are choosing to respond with even more violence. It leaves us, rightfully so, unsettled, afraid, broken-hearted and angry.
We find ourselves in a very difficult moment. We are once again (and I can’t believe I have to use that phrase “once again”) coming face to face with the sin of racism and social injustice. It is an affront to human dignity and an offense to the inherent goodness of each person as they are made in the image and likeness of God. While many of the protests are peaceful, some individuals are choosing to respond with even more violence. It leaves us, rightfully so, unsettled, afraid, broken-hearted and angry.
Like many of you, I have been in a swirl of emotions, and I am left questioning “What can I do?” to denounce this evil scourge that persists in our society. It can feel very overwhelming, and those feelings are exasperated because we are not able to be physically present with each other for support and encouragement.
I’d like to offer a few resources (they can be accessed here) that I have found helpful in processing my own feelings of the past several days. I offer them to you in the hope that they might be helpful, especially in those moments when it all seems so overwhelming. I readily admit that these are mostly self-focused, but as Blessed Chaminade reminds us, “The essential is the interior.” Real change can begin with softening our own hearts and working toward our own conversion. Then, emboldened with the Holy Spirit, we can go out into the world.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” May the peace of the Risen Lord be with all of us. Let us join together to pray for peace in our world, in our nation, in our community and in our hearts.
Back
I’d like to offer a few resources (they can be accessed here) that I have found helpful in processing my own feelings of the past several days. I offer them to you in the hope that they might be helpful, especially in those moments when it all seems so overwhelming. I readily admit that these are mostly self-focused, but as Blessed Chaminade reminds us, “The essential is the interior.” Real change can begin with softening our own hearts and working toward our own conversion. Then, emboldened with the Holy Spirit, we can go out into the world.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.” May the peace of the Risen Lord be with all of us. Let us join together to pray for peace in our world, in our nation, in our community and in our hearts.
Resources
- Read and reflect on a statement from Pope Francis given on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, during his General Audience. The English text is near the end. http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2020/documents/papa...
- Pray with a re-play of the Holy Hour for Conversion and Peace led by Archbishop Schnurr from the Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains https://youtu.be/z9Fvlu8heL At around 24:20, there is a beautiful examination of conscience led by Deacon Royce Winters
- Read and reflect on this article that discusses Minneapolis in the context of Pentecost. https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2020/05/as-we-remember-jerusalem-on-pente...
- Watch and reflect on this statement from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops https://youtu.be/hfQvYelF_9k
- Songs that may be helpful to listen to. Perhaps you can express the feelings you have while listening to them by drawing a simple picture. I did this and found it very helpful.
- Litany of Peace by Barbara Bridge: https://youtu.be/5OfY0tf5Gcw
- Christ, Be Our Light by Bernadette Farrell: https://youtu.be/LD2y_ftlsFk
- Many and One by Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart, Dwight Liles: https://youtu.be/IPcY1Coe_K8
- Mary’s Canticle by Leon Roberts: https://youtu.be/-gbAjie5yvc
- The artwork of Tylonn J. Sawyer can be quite compelling and evocative, particularly his “Pietà”. http://www.tylonn-j-sawyer.com/american-gods
- Read the statement from the Leadership Team of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Ohio Province at: https://www.sndohio.org/sisters-notre-dame/news/1682389/statement-from-t...
- Pray and respond to this “prayer” taken from Pope Francis’ 2019 Easter homily. The full text of the homily (found in the document) is also really good. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J6p7TO0fvMJOX3guNymCnm2WCGMFjsUZjIOE...
- I recently gave a homily that reflected on Mary’s “standing” in the face of injustice and difficulty (Jn 19: 25-27). You can watch it at this link https://youtu.be/WSFAffufAcg
- Find resources on racism from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/racism/index.cfm
- In particular, their recent pastoral letter “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love” is quite good
