St. Mary's Church, Roslyn: Pastor's Page

Dear Friends:

On Monday, September 14, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. This has a special meaning for us here at St. Mary’s, because a number of great men from our parish have taken upon themselves the project of constructing a new cross to sit atop our beautiful church, as the old one was deteriorating after years of service. Many people have told me that the sight of the cross, gleaming across the viaduct, signaled to weary commuters battling wind, and snow, and rain, that their sojourn was at an end. They were home. I love that image. So too, the new cross will be an exact replica of the first, and will be decorated in gold leaf, shining even more brightly than before, like a lighthouse giving direction to those who are lost on their journey. The old cross, however, is not at an end; it will be installed in our hall, so as to connect the two compounds that comprise St. Mary’s. Good things are worth waiting for, and so I hope you will be patient for this magnificent gift to arrive.

I’m sure you will agree that these are times that cry out for guidance, for light, for direction, for divine wisdom and grace. For very understandable reasons, people find themselves on edge, confused, and often at odds with their neighbors. Sad to say, this has taken a spiritual “toll,” inasmuch as conflicting voices express contradictory messages about what is good and evil, just and unjust, merciful or hostile. Like Peter walking on the water, hesitating in faith, and becoming frightened at the crashing waves, we call out, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus extends his hand, asking us only to believe.

Where do we find the wisdom to set the course of our earthly journey, and navigate the vicissitudes of life? The Cross, of course. A theologian friend of mine reminded me of a very important notion in Catholic spirituality, namely the lex crucis, or “law of the cross.” In short, it holds that the power of Christ’s saving death is such that it does not merely “cover over” evil, or work around it, or certain avoid it. No. The grace of God turns evil “upside down,” as it were, converting it into good. The worst humanity has to offer—death on a cross—becomes the vehicle that draws the human family even closer to God and to each other as well. You and I as Catholics are to show in our example, our love, our priorities, and our generosity, that Christ has worked such a transformation/conversion in us. As Jesus says, “When I am lifted up (on the cross) I shall draw all people to myself.” This, I argue, is where we find our consolation and strength.

Faithfully,
Fr. Valentine

Dear Friends:

As I have mentioned previously, one of my favorite prayers in the Mass is one that the congregation never hears. When the priest prepares the sacramental bread and wine before the consecration, he whispers: “By the mingling of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” To share in the divinity of Christ. What does that mean? The mystical notion that Christians are “divinized” is particularly influential within Roman Catholic spirituality. It does not mean that we stop being human and become gods and goddesses. Rather, because the Son of God “emptied” (i.e. humbled) himself by becoming one of us, he transformed the human condition so that we might reflect in ourselves the very life of God. Consider an analogy: when a blacksmith casts a piece of metal into the furnace, it does not, strictly speaking, become fire; rather, it approaches the temperature of its source of heat. So too Catholics, who meet Christ in the Scriptures, the Eucharist, and the Church, become like the Son, our source of holiness.

On Tuesday, September 8, the Church celebrates the Nativity of Mary, the Mother of God; for our parish, the day is a minor patronal feast. One reason Catholics are devoted to the Blessed Mother is that she embodies the profound union with Christ to which all of us are called: the body no longer subject to pain or death; the soul perfectly conformed to the will of God. Reflecting on the meaning of this feast, St. Andrew of Crete writes: “Today this created world is raised to the dignity of a holy place for him who made all things. The creature is newly prepared to be a divine dwelling place for the Creator.” In short, grace makes us “bearers” of Christ to the world.

In strange times like ours, it is difficult to say exactly what concrete form “bearing Christ” will take. People often find themselves prevented from engaging in such routine activities as meeting friends and family, or going to school, and work, and even church: what then? Indeed, the Nativity of Mary follows Labor Day, when we celebrate the value and dignity of work. Yet for Catholics, truth takes precedence over action, however noble. Instead of concentrating what is not possible at the moment, namely, a “normal” schedule of activities, let us recognize the dignity Christ bestows upon us: to be a living reflection of God’s wisdom and love in our world.

Faithfully,

Fr. Valentine