On May 3rd I had the opportunity to attend the celebration of the anniversary of the death of John Joseph Cardinal O’Connor. It began with......................
PASTOR’S NOTES
On May 3rd I had the opportunity to attend the celebration of the anniversary of the death of John Joseph Cardinal O’Connor. It began with a convocation in which the speakers recalled his life and contributions to the church and society. They gave very diverse presentations based on their varied backgrounds and ways they encountered the deceased shepherd. A rabbi related the dramatic impact a visit to Dachau had on New York’s future spiritual leader. A leader in the pro-life movement told of the strong leadership provided by the Cardinal and how he gave it an on-going spiritual dimension. His special friend, Mayor Edward I. Koch, brought tears to many eyes as he recalled their many contacts. He said that he concurred with his co-author that “Catholicism is not a salad bar from which one chooses. It is a faith.” Listening to that story made me think of their relationship. Cardinal O’Connor, when he received the red hat in Rome in 1985, was honored with a dinner in Rome. It was an evening of great frivolity. Speeches were light. The newest members of the College of Cardinals arose. He thanked all of us for making the trek to the Eternal City. He stated that in his opinion New York was the greatest city in the world for “it is the only place where two best friends can sue the heck out of each other in court”. Mayor Koch still visits the crypt where his friend is buried and he stated that night: “I shall see him again.” He was followed by Mother Agnes Donovan, the Mother General of the Sisters of Life. She spoke both of the encouragement he provided to the members of the Order he founded and the thousands of women and their unborn children assisted through their efforts. Three archbishops spoke of their memories of the Philadelphia born prelate. Archbishop O’Brien, a newly appointed leader of Baltimore, spoke of O’Connor’s naval career in which he led chaplains of all religious traditions. Archbishop Dolan told of the late shepherd’s advice to young priests: “Three words. Be kind to the people; Be kind to the people; Be kind to the people.” He lived these words. Each day I live as a priest I am aware of his powerful presence and his influence on my pastoral ministry. I will never forget a meeting with him in which we were sharing some thoughts on a most serious issue. As we concluded I asked for his blessing which he freely gave. I was then shocked when he knelt before me and sought mine. His openness and humility made me treasure his life and memory to this day. Oh, that I could be the father and priest he was.
The final talk before the memorial mass was given by His Eminence Edward Michael Cardinal Egan. He framed his remarks in the context of an address he presented to the 2001 Synod on the role of Bishops in the Church. The first task of one called to be a diocesan leader is to “repeat revelation.” He amplified his comment when in Rome he stated: “The responsibilities of the bishop as a doctor veritat is in the Church, however, reach far beyond his own individual efforts. If he is to be the kind of witness to the Gospel that the Lord expects, each successor of the Apostles must also associate himself with as many fellow preachers, evangelizers, instructors and catechists as he can possibly assemble. Moreover, he must work with them diligently, patiently and lovingly to be sure that their teaching is the teaching of the Church, fully in accord with the Magisterium and firmly grounded in Sacred Scripture, Tradition and the declarations of the Popes and Ecumenical Councils down through the ages.” The speaker himself was charged by Cardinal O’Connor to prepare catechetical guidelines for elementary and middle school students. Additionally he prepared requirements for the certification of religious education teachers in our schools and parishes. The late shepherd not only canonically received the Catechism of the Catholic Church in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, he preached its contents for a full year from its pulpit. (The Archbishop preaching each week had not been the custom prior to this time.) Finally, it should be recalled that frequently this former shepherd would conduct retreats for his priests. Second, Cardinal Egan stated that the bishop “must lead his community in prayer.” In 2001 he called him the “first minister of grace.” He added: “nowhere, to be sure, does the bishop exercise this office as powerfully as in the celebration of the Eucharist, the ‘basis and center’ of every community of faith, to borrow the celebrated expression of the Vatican Council…Small wonder…that our manner in praying the Mass with our people is…a sermon about love for the Eucharist and belief in the Real Presence as any we might deliver from the pulpits of our cathedrals. The same holds true as regards our administering of the Sacrament of Confirmation, our hearing of Confessions, our witnessing of Marriages and especially our conferring of Sacred Orders. We seek to make the faithful fervent. We need to be fervent ourselves. Stewards of grace that we are, we can never allow our leading of the People of God in prayer to be anything less than authentic, devout and inspiring.” All present in the cathedral remembered fondly Cardinal O’Connor bounding up to the sanctuary; the joy in being able to celebrate Mass obvious to all. He often encouraged his priests in their sacred duties. His attention to those who served the Mass, lectured, and sang showed them the importance of their prayer for spiritual growth. Third, Cardinal Egan called the bishop “an advocate for social justice and compassion.” He recalled that the issues he raised in 2001 such as peace seeking, globalization, poverty, support of family life, and most of all, abortion, the greatest crime against human dignity were always courageously addressed by Cardinal O’Connor. He spoke eloquently from the pulpit but most of all he addressed the burdens of his priests and people with direct action. He aided those afflicted by the newly diagnosed disease of AIDS. He visited homeless shelters. When any of his priests were in crisis he did not delegate this Episcopal obligation, as he saw it, but fulfilled it himself.
After the Mass, the bishops visited the crypt and blessed his remains. Cardinal Egan turned to me and insisted I do the same. I did not hesitate to sprinkle holy water on the one who blessed my life and priesthood.
Pray for him and all your bishops and priests.
Vivat Jesus,
Fr. Brian