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ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN
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June 27, 2010 The Good News... ...Recognizing the Legacy of the Benedictine Monks Homily (Monument Blessing) My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: In 1891, the Holy See appointed the first bishop to the Oklahoma and Indian territories. When Bishop Meerschaert arrived here, he discovered an already vibrant Catholic community. The Church was established and was growing rapidly as the previous Vicar Apostolic, Father Isidore Robot and his Benedictine Monks had been zealously laboring here for almost two decades. Bishop Meerschaert, like all Oklahoma bishops who followed him and indeed all Catholic people in our state, received a great gift and legacy from the Benedictine Fathers of Sacred Heart, which continues now as Saint Gregory’s Abbey here in Shawnee. The very beautiful monument we have just blessed and dedicated is a tribute and a visible sign of gratitude to you, the Benedictine Monks of Saint Gregory’s. As Abbot Lawrence stated in his invitation: “This monument given by the parishioners of Saint Benedict Church in Shawnee is a tribute to the pastoral ministry of the monks of Saint Gregory’s Abbey. The monument dramatically commemorates the pioneering missionary work of the Monks of Sacred Heart and Saint Gregory’s Abbey through the 46 parishes they established in Indian Territory, Oklahoma, and California and their ongoing commitment to various forms of pastoral ministry in parishes, hospitals, military bases and weekend supply ministry throughout the state of Oklahoma. Founded upon such a genuine missionary spirit, the Church in Oklahoma, which now comprises two dioceses, has the same missionary objective as at its inception. The Church is always the Body of Christ and the instrument of God. Pope John Paul II, throughout his long pontificate, challenged the Church to continue its missionary activity and develop its outreach yet further. He led us into the Jubilee Year 2000 and gave us great guidance to begin and continue this new millennium with total dedication and zeal for our Catholic faith. Today on this occasion of recognizing the legacy of the Benedictine Monks and their pastoral ministry here in Oklahoma, we are also celebrating the Liturgical Feast of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thus do we rightly reflect on the Person of Christ, the Word of God, made Man by the power of the Holy Spirit. The heart is the symbol of love. The heart of Christ is therefore the Sacred Heart and the fullness of love. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is overflowing with love for each one of us and for the Church which He established. The early missionaries of Oklahoma, monks, priests, sisters and other Catholic leaders were energized by the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Moved by the Grace of God, they desired holiness and therefore felt called to conversion. They were united with Christ and strengthened by the Word of God and the sacraments. They proclaimed the Good News of Jesus and accepted daily sufferings and sacrifices. Thus did they strengthen the faith of their fellow Catholics and welcomed many new members to the Church. They anticipated the teaching which the Vatican Council would elaborate in its Dogmatic Consti-tution on the Church (Lumen Gentium). The Council would ad-dress the question of membership in the Church and the call of all people to belong to the People of God: “All are called to be part of this Catholic unity of the new people of God … And there belong to it or are related to it in various ways, the Catholic faithful as well as all who believe in Christ and indeed the whole of mankind which, by the Grace of God, is called to salvation.” Therefore, today’s celebration of the legacy of the Benedictines must not be just a recollection of historical facts. Rather, flowing from that rich history should be a challenge and an incentive for us who today are the Church. As monks and priests and sisters and lay persons, we too must be missionaries. As missionary-minded and committed to our Catholic faith, we come together to give praise and glory to God. Flowing from our worship, our primary objective should be the strengthening of this faith and of our witnessing to others. Thus we will inspire all our brothers and sisters with a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for conversion and personal renewal in a context of ever more intense prayer and concern for our neighbors, especially those who have the most need. In our Christian life, Jesus leads us on a great spiritual pilgrimage to the house of the Father. The unconditional love of God for each of us can be discovered anew every day. This pilgrimage takes place in the heart of each person, extends to the believing community and then reaches to the whole of humanity. May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us all and keep us in His loving presence now and forever. |