Last Saturday, the core of who we are as a universal Catholic Church was on full display during Pope Francis beautiful funeral. Throngs of people of every generation, from many countries and numerous backgrounds gathered together to honor Francis in one spirit of love and gratitude. It was an incredible visual witness of wanting to be together even though few people knew each other, of a sense of belonging to one another despite our diversity, and of desiring to be part of the prayerful way we as a Church community celebrate the passing of a loved one. That kind of experience has the power to reignite the fundamental values of faith we as a community share: love, unity, forgiveness, humility and service.
In our first reading from Acts, we heard about the very first community of Christ’s followers. “The community of believers was of one heart and mind.” In and with Christ, their hearts and minds were bound together and intertwined as a community of faith. They were becoming Church, a God-given support system with a single focus: to devote themselves to the message and mandates of Jesus.
It wasn’t easy to follow Christ in the first century. Times were tough and persecutions a reality. When trials came, they found strength in one another. They lived out their sacred mission by praying, preaching, serving and partaking at the Lord’s Table. Together they make every effort to be led by God’s Spirit and to think and act like Christ.
Then the church community began to grow with followers and witnesses through the centuries. Today we celebrate one of those saints of the 13th c., St. Catherine of Siena, a Dominican of whom our Order is proud. Catherine was born in Italy, the youngest of 24 children. She was known for her writings and mystical experiences. One of her greatest accomplishments, however, was convincing Pope Urban VI that he must return to Rome from France where he was living after a Schism in the church. She died at age 33. In 1939, she and St. Francis were declared co-patrons of Italy by Pope Pius XII. She is only one of four women declared a Doctor of the Church, which happened in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. Among her most famous quotes is: “Be who you are meant to be and you will set the world on fire.”
As we think about our lives in Christian community today, perhaps we can ask ourselves: How can we be stronger witnesses of caring for one another, sharing our time, talent and treasure with the least among us, and being Easter people of hope in the Lord?
Once again, Pope Francis can give us some insight:
“Dear brothers and sisters, the Church loves you! Be an active presence in the community, as living cells, as living stones.”
