Dear St. Rita Families,

            Habemus Papam! (In case you hadn’t heard) I know that you have been praying vigorously for the outcome of the conclave in Rome, and it is fascinating to see the world essentially stop and focus on this one thing that is so foundational in the life of the Church and which the world often rejects as irrelevant. But the world knows, whether it likes to admit it or not, that the See of Peter plays a vital role in modern life. Further, the fact that Pope Leo XIV is an American (Robert Cardinal Prevost, originally from Chicago), while shocking to everyone I have spoken to, highlights just how important the papal office is. With the continued influence of the United States as a global power and with the very proactive approach of President Trump, having a very international American on the papal throne can be seen as a way for the Church to engage effectively the current political scene. 

            Of course, I can’t pretend to know the mind of the Cardinal electors, and I am certainly not suggesting that American politics was the primary motivation behind this election. I only want to highlight the role that the Successor of St. Peter still plays across the globe. From the beginning, the Pope has had marvelous influence on those around him. The Roman emperor Decius is said to have remarked after the martyrdom of Pope St. Fabian in 250 AD, “I would far rather receive news of a rival to the throne than of another bishop of Rome.” The sad politicking and jockeying for the position that continues to this day, the vigorous commentary and debate over the reign of Pope Francis, the effect that some of his policies have had on many in our Diocese and parish, all likewise show the importance of this role.

            Now, all eyes are on Pope Leo XIV to see how he will exercise this God-established mission and role. In his first address to the Church and the world as Pope, he spoke of the need to be a missionary Church. This missionary impulse is at the heart of the Church, because God desires that “all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). This impulse is not only behind the Feast of Pentecost, for which we are preparing now during the Easter Season. This impulse is behind creation itself. The Exsultet, sung at the beginning of the Easter Vigil Mass, includes these words: “Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed.” In other words, God didn’t create us just to lavish good things upon us in this life. In fact, sometimes it appears that certain people hardly taste any of God’s good gifts in this world. God created us to live with Him forever in Heaven! 

            Can you imagine if the whole world believed that and lived for it? What kinds of strife would be overlooked? What kinds of jealousies would be put aside? What kinds of sufferings might we endure for love of our neighbor? On the flip side, St. James has this to say: “Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (4:1-3). In other words, peace in this world can only come about through conversion to the Gospel of Christ! Read that again.

            If we are to be missionaries, we must discern where God is calling us. Pope Leo was called to be a missionary to Peru. Most of us are called to be missionaries in our own backyards. But all of us are called to be missionaries, and we are given the grace for it in particular by our Confirmation. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the Grace of Pentecost poured out upon each of us, individually. As the Apostles were sent forth by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so we are sent forth after being Confirmed by God as His son or daughter. With that knowledge, confidence, and identity, we boldly proclaim what we have received, knowing deeply that my life is in the hands of God, my Father.

            We are to be other Christs. It was Christ who first came forth from the Father’s side (Jn 1:18) in order to bring us the Gospel. Even though we murdered Him, He still won our hearts, and sends us forth just as He was sent by the Father (Jn 20:21). Christ did not come to bring us earthly goods, though when He does give those goods, it is a sign of His love for us. Likewise, the missionary impulse is not primarily to bring earthly goods to others. Service projects and trips are not the essence of being a missionary, though they do play an important role in showing our love for the other. If these earthly goods, however, eclipse the importance of spreading the Gospel, we risk forming others to seek the earthly goods and not Heavenly goods. That would be a twisting and caricature of the Gospel. Christ was sent by the Father to bring us salvation, because “Life does not consist in riches” (Lk 12:15). We, too, then must seek to bring salvation to others, because it is the greatest gift we can give!

            Pray for Pope Leo! Pray for the Church! Pray for the world! Christ is risen from the dead, never to die again. In Him alone do we find salvation.

In Christ,

Fr. Christensen