The Catholic Mirror May/June 2013 : Page 4
4 oetry and the papacy Pope Francis brings to life the words of a poet and a priest Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell, Bishop of Springfield T he mind often surprises us. When I saw Pope Francis emerge on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, a verse from Robert Browning crossed my mind. I don’t know why; perhaps it was the anticipation that the new pope would be a younger man as all the pundits had predicted; perhaps it was the obvious joy that he radiated which captured the hearts of the crowds at once; perhaps it was his sense of peace and serenity. Whatever it was, I was reminded of the opening words of “Rabbi Ben Ezra”: “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life for which the first was made: Our times are in His hand Who saith ‘A whole I planned Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid.’” Seventy six years of life, of experience, of the human condition, Pope Francis brings to his new ministry, and he seems fully prepared: “The best is yet to be, The last of life for which the first was made.” In the jumble of thoughts that followed upon recalling that verse from Browning, another English figure crossed my mind: the great English convert, Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman. This time, however, the thought was of a prayer Newman composed, a prayer that reminds each one of us that God calls us particularly, specially, in a unique way for a unique task. I think it speaks not simply to the new role Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio has been called to undertake, but to the call God gives each one of us whether we realize it or not. “God knows me and calls me by my name. God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission — I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; In perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me among strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me – still He knows what He is about. Let me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to see – I ask not to know – I ask simply to be used.” No question about it: God has called Pope Francis “to do Him some definite service,” and I believe “The best is yet to be.” Patrick M. O’Brien PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Elizabeth Martin Solsburg EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lynne Hsu GRAPHIC DESIGNER InnerWorkings PRINT MANAGEMENT fatihcatholic.com The The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield T Most Reverend imothy A. McDonnell PUBLISHER Mark Dupont MANAGING EDITOR Rebecca Drake EDITOR Stacy Dibbern DATABASE COORDINATOR Tom Gennara Fred LeBlanc (cover photo) CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dr. Cathleen McGreal Terence Hegarty Michelle Sessions DiFranco Susie Skowronek Peggy Weber CONTRIBUTING WRITERS May/June 2013 • Volume 3: Issue 7 FAITH Catholic Father Joseph Krupp Carolee McGrath Sharon Roulier Paul Jarzembowski Elizabeth Johnson Stephen Kiltonic Rebecca Drake Julie Beaulieu Teri Breguet William Pacocha The Catholic Mirror(USPS 556980) is a membership publication of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, 65 Elliot St., Springfield, MA 01105. Published eight times per year. Subscription rates are $20 per year. Individual issues are $3. Send all subscription information and address changes to: The Catholic Mirror, Catholic Diocese of Springfield, 65 Elliot St., Springfield, MA 01105; (413) 452-0670 or e-mail m.dupont@diospringfield.org. Periodicals postage paid at Springfield, MA or additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Catholic Mirror, Catholic Communications Corporation, Catholic Diocese of Springfield, 65 Elliot St., Springfield, MA 01105. ©The Catholic Mirror, Catholic Communications Corporation, Diocese of Springfield. ©2013 FAITH Catholic. St. John I, pope and martyr May 18 | Pentecost Sunday May 19 | St. Bernardine of Siena, priest May 20 | St. Christopher Magallanes, priest and companions, martyrs, May 21 | St. Rita of C reflections in the mirror
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