The other day I came across this comment on Catholic social media: “We often think saintliness is the product of the right circumstances. If only we had more time, we would pray. If only there were no annoying people, we could love others. If only nothing bad ever happened, we might be thankful and patient. But holiness isn’t a matter of perfect circumstances. They don’t exist. Holiness is what we do with imperfect circumstances.”

The problem of evil, inside and outside of the Church, is nothing new. The problem is that we become complacent in the struggle. Like a war that drags on and on, there are times when there are lulls in the fighting and the danger of being caught off guard becomes very real. We may be tempted at times to look for the lulls, to desire a misunderstood notion of peace, namely a lack of hostility or struggle, but for the Christian, this can never be the case.

In Matthew’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus states: from the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force (Matthew 11:12). Evil is at work in the world and it seeks to do two things. First, it seeks to prevent souls from coming to Christ and entering into his kingdom, or, second, it seeks to separate those souls from Christ who have already chosen him and life in the kingdom. Each of us individually is called to respond to the problem of evil. We need to answer the call to holiness. We need to answer the call to become saints.

Now that sounds like a tall order, but it isn’t. Let’s take a moment and look at the big “S” saints, those who have been formally canonized by the Church. Why were they canonized? It was not because they were miracle workers (God works the miracles) or because of the pious legends associated with them, but rather because of the quality of their lives. For those who did not suffer martyrdom, before the Church ever looks at purported miracles, it first looks into the life of a candidate for what is termed heroic virtue. This type of virtue is not to be confused with perfection. Heroic virtue is the result of an imperfect soul living this life in cooperation with the grace of God. It is living defiantly for Christ in the face of evil and the temptation to be absorbed by self-interest.

The Saints have not been declared so by any unique merit of their own, but because they allowed the grace of God to be living and effective in them, by living ordinary lives in extraordinary ways, many times in adversity. The same graces that were offered to them are offered to each of us. Like the saints, we have to want the grace of God, to cooperate with it, and, at times to seek that grace out. If we are simply waiting for the perfection of times and circumstances, then we are going to have to wait until the Lord’s return when he will make all things new. We cannot wish dark times away. We are called to act, to be light that scatters the darkness. The world needs our witness. The world needs us to be striving to become saints.

In the great novel The Fellowship of the Ring, part of The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien, an unlikely character named Frodo is given a tremendous and unenviable task of having to destroy a ring associated with a great and evil power. To destroy the ring will take great effort and sacrifice on his part. He laments this task to his friend and guide named Gandalf.

Frodo states: “I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf replies: “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Frodo, besides the will of evil.”

God’s grace is present in the world and he wants that grace to be manifested and working in our lives each day. When we want that too, then evil is pushed back, darkness recedes, and the Kingdom is advanced. Times are not perfect, life is challenging, but the Kingdom is worth fighting for. Answer the call to become a saint, not waiting until heaven, but striving for it here and now.

Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

Many of you may have witnessed quite a setup on Wednesday evenings after you come out of daily Mass. We have the linens out, pitchers of cool refreshments, a team busily working to set out quite a spread of food, and usually me struggling to get technology perfect. If you were to stay for the Alpha session you would witness even more hospitality. This program has introduced many to the loving and welcoming embrace of Jesus Christ through open discussion and dialogue. We have had Catholics, non-Catholics, searchers and seekers of all different walks of life. Particularly, we have served guests that others, like in the Second Reading this week, may have shut out. This is radical hospitality, and there is a case to be made for why Cathedral should be the epicenter of radical hospitality.

At many parishes, Alpha consists primarily of a crowd of parishioners. What has been surprising at Cathedral is that while we do serve many parishioners, some of the most engaged participants have been those whom we have never met before. I won’t say names, but at least two tables I have led have provided me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and to witness exactly what the Second Reading is calling us to do this week. James 2: 1-5 is short and to the point. How are we to consider ourselves intentional disciples if we only surround ourselves with what is comfortable or known? How many times did Jesus perform miracles to outsiders, lay hands on the “unclean,” or provide ministry to the outcasts? The answer: All. The. Time. This is radical hospitality, not the typical donuts after Mass or the fancy entryway and kiosk. While both are nice, neither are radical.

Cathedral is just the place to be radical. We share Communion each week with about 50% guests in our pews. We serve the community at large as they ring the doorbell at the church offices looking for help. We answer calls of searchers and seekers who don’t know how they got here, but who know something is calling them to Jesus. We are a hotspot for radical hospitality. Where do we begin? Well, start today in the pews. Notice anyone unfamiliar around you? Reach out a hand and say “Hello,” or send over a friendly smile. Ultimately, radical hospitality starts with each of us—so why not start now?

Katie Price is the Coordinator for Stewardship at the Cathedral. She can be contacted by calling the Parish Offices or emailing her directly at [email protected].

When Father House introduced me to the parish, he mentioned that one of my responsibilities is to help the parish implement the goals of the recent synod. This is a responsibility I gratefully embrace. Despite my great love for the Missions and the privilege it was to serve as diocesan mission director for over 15 years, helping to build a community of fervent and intentional disciples is the ministry I have been longing to do for the past several years. And honestly, the Cathedral parish is the place I most want to do this. I am excited about the unique mix of parishioners and visitors that makes up this community. Because we have so many visitors with us, especially at daily and weekend Masses, we have a special opportunity for evangelization and hospitality. The Cathedral has always been known for excellent Liturgy, and we are going to make sure it continues to be all that it can be to provide people with a transcendent experience of God in the midst of a welcoming community.

This week we will begin a series of formation opportunities for all liturgical ministers. This is not happening because ministers are not doing a great job already. Rather, the parish has a responsibility to continue to form all members, especially those who participate in liturgical ministries. This is also an opportunity for new people to volunteer and deepen their own discipleship by serving the parish in a new way. Finally, the parish will be adopting a software system to schedule liturgical ministers. The software will allow ministers to select the dates and times they are available to create a balanced and conflict-free schedule across multiple ministries. The formation sessions will include information on the new software system which all ministers will need to be able to access. All current ushers, greeters, lectors and ministers of holy communion who would like to continue to volunteer are encouraged to attend. Additional ministers, men and women of all ages, are needed and welcome! All formation/training sessions will be held in the school hall at 10:00am and in the atrium at 7:00pm on their scheduled dates.

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As a worshiping community we are all called to actively participate in our liturgies through song, prayer, silence, and ritual movements. Service in one of the Liturgical (Mass) ministries listed below is an excellent way to serve God and His people. Please prayerfully consider joining one of these ministries.

Ministers of Hospitality
Ministers of Hospitality provide a welcoming atmosphere and service to the needs of all who enter the Cathedral. They serve at weekend and special occasion Masses. Men and women, singles, couples, and families are needed! A minister of hospitality needs a warm smile and pleasant disposition, and the ability to work as a team player.

Greeters
Greeters are posted at the doors of the Church to provide a first welcome to all who enter. Ushers also welcome parishioners and visitors to the Cathedral. They provide assistance in seating, collect and take up the gifts, direct the communion procession, hand out bulletins, and generally attend to the needs and questions of the congregation. Formation session Monday, Sept. 24, 10:00am and 7:00pm.

Lectors
Lectors proclaim the Word of the Lord to the assembly at Mass and other liturgies. If you have a love for God’s word and the willingness to learn to proclaim it effectively, please consider volunteering for this ministry. Lectors must be confirmed Catholics, 16 years or older. Formation session Thursday, Sept. 13, 10:00am and 7:00pm.

Extraordinary Ministers
Extraordinary Minister s of Holy Communion assist with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ during Mass. No experience is necessary. Participation is open to fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), practicing Catholics. Formation session Monday, Sept. 17, 10:00am and 7:00pm.

Spiritual and practical formation is provided for all Liturgical ministers, including how to manage their schedule using a new parish software system. Formation sessions will be repeated in October. We hope you will join us!

Vicki Compton is the new Coordinator of Faith Formation and Mission at the Cathedral. She can be contacted for more information by calling the Parish Offices or reaching out via email at [email protected].

We are excited to announce a series of faith formation programs at the Cathedral this fall! Please bring a friend and join us for any or all of these formative programs. All are welcome and we will do our best to provide light hospitality. If you have any questions, please contact KatiePrice at [email protected].

Book Study
Facilitated by parishioner Mary Francis and open to all, the book study group will choose a book on saints, spirituality, prayer, Church teaching, or something else to read and discuss. Bring your book suggestions and a snack to share if you like.
Cathedral School Hall, Wednesdays beginning September 19, 6:30-8:00pm

Bible Study
With men and women of Cathedral parish on the first and third Tuesday of the month beginning on September 18. Facilitated by parishioner Larry Travis.
Cathedral parish library, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays beginning September 18, 6:15-7:45pm

Catholicism Series
Bishop Robert Barron journeys around the world and deep into faith to teach us what Catholics believe and why. This video and discussion program uses the spiritual and artistic treasures of the Faith to illuminate the key teachings of the Church. Facilitated by Vicki Compton.
School Hall, Tuesday mornings September 18-November 20, 10:00-11:30am

The Mystery of God: Who God Is and Why He Matters
Join Father House for a DVD presentation by Bishop Robert Barron followed by discussion. This series will explore the mystery of the Triune God as understood in the Church’s Tradition and taught by such individuals as St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Pope Benedict XVI.
Cathedral Atrium, Tuesdays September 25th and October 2nd & 9th, 7:00pm

Festival Choir Concert
Choirs from throughout the diocese will come together for a musical celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Cathedral.
Cathedral, Saturday, October 13, 7:00pm

Priest, Prophet, and King
The three-fold ministry in which all of the baptized share comes from Jesus himself as Priest, Prophet, and King. Father House will present this DVD series by Bishop Robert Barron that explores who Jesus Christ is as God-made-man and Savior of the world.
Cathedral Atrium, Tuesdays October 23rd, 30th, & November 6th, 7:00pm

The Last Things
As the Church year comes to an end and the faithful are reminded to turn their attention to the Second Coming of Christ, Father Stock will explore the concept of the Four Last Things as taught by the Church: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.
Cathedral Atrium, Mondays November 19th & 26th, 7:00pm

I love watching replays of great sports highlights. Sometimes you see something so extraordinary that you tell others they have to see it to believe it. The one-handed catch, the in-the-park home run, and the photo finish are all examples of these types of moments. They are amazing feats that boggle the mind.

I wonder how many people in biblical times saw Jesus perform miracles and told others they wouldn’t have believed it unless they saw it with their own eyes. Of course, we believe the stories of his miracles, and we didn’t see them in person. We do believe them, don’t we?

There is no television program that features replays of the actual miracles Jesus performed 2,000 years ago. However, there are miracles every day for the world to see. Many of those come about by allowing God to work through us. People are waiting to be healed and fed, and mountains are waiting to be moved. There might not be a replay for these miracles either. However, people will be amazed by the power of God. Jesus said we could do these things if we had faith. Blessed are those who believe but who have not seen. Furthermore, blessed are those who perform great works with God so that others may see.

–Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

When my wife and I put our house on the market, by the grace of God we had three showings in less than a week. It occurred to me that when people I have never met come into my home, I often wonder what goes through their mind as they enter and take the inevitable tour. It’s probably quite obvious that we are a family with many children as there is a bunk bed and a single bed surrounded by toy boxes full of weaponry and basketballs in one room and a crib accompanied by a play kitchen and pink, frilly dolls in another. However, another aspect that simply can’t escape the inquisitor is that this home is also one where religion is a deeply rooted aspect of the family dynamic. Specifically, a Catholic dynamic.

I remember one day when I was finishing a quick run, and as I was about thirty meters away from my home, I noticed a nice man in a suit carrying a book and a few materials. It was obvious to me that he was either a Mormon or a Jehovah’s Witness, and my delight in the possibility of a discussion made my adrenaline kick back in after a two-mile jog. However, just before he was going to knock on the door I saw him peer over to a plaque that my family has on the front of the house. This plaque has the images of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart along with the words, “May the Blessed Mother and Christ our Lord protect this house from harm.” After gazing over to the picture in detail he neglected to knock and started walking to his car. As I jogged into the driveway, he noticed me and we had a decently short conversation about the importance of faith, but the man wasn’t that interested in talking. I don’t know whether it was the picture that scared him off or he simply felt the need to leave, but one thing is for sure: that man knew where I stood before we even had a discussion.

As the individuals receiving a walk-through of my home took a look around, they might have noticed much of the same type of art, statues, and the holy water font by the front door. And if they took a quick gander into any of my four bookshelves stacked full, the same impression might have been produced. I wonder how much of an effect this might have had. Are these people Christian? If so, where do they worship? Are they secularists? If so, I wonder what their synopsis of my home decoration was. Did they think that some quack lives here, some religious fanatic with crucifixes in every room who must be out of his mind? Or did they respect the fact that this home is inhabited by a family with priorities? Either way, I hope that they came away knowing that in these walls for the past four years has lived a family who has dedicated their lives to something higher than themselves, and that in this home Jesus Christ is Lord.

Blessed John Henry Newman, an evangelistic game-changer, taught extensively on the concept of “Real Assent” versus “Notional Assent.” Real Assent is based on an experience of the senses which draws man to recognize a higher good. For example, a beautiful church or seeing the good sisters helping the poor in Calcutta would cause an instinctive rise of an emotional response to the beauty of the situation and a desire to strive for its Source. Notional Assent is much more of an educational standpoint, convincing a person of truth through the reasonable and recognizable facets of humanity’s relationship with the divine. And as Newman stated in his Grammar of Assent: “Real apprehension (assent), then, may be pronounced stronger than notional, because things, which are its objects, are confessedly more impressive and affective than notions, which are the objects of notional. Experiences and their images strike and occupy the mind, as abstractions and their combinations do not.”

It is in this boundary, that of Real Assent, in which I think families ought to see their homes. When a person visits your home, whether or not he shares the same faith, could they recognize that you are indeed a Catholic Christian? And in your dealings with them do you treat them in such a manner that those pictures, statues, and regalia ring true? The domestic church is undeniably a place where God dwells.

Now, I am not saying that we ought to fill our homes with a ridiculous amount of overpowering images which would cause the average person to squeak in fear. Rather, what I am hinting at is that in today’s culture the average American person doesn’t really get to experience the beauty of the Catholic faith’s tradition in the arts and the senses, unless they are willing to step into the doors of a church or visit the beauty that is Europe or the borders of the old Byzantine Empire. In the public square they won’t see any of it. In many of our separated brethren’s churches they will not see it. Perhaps their only opportunity up to this point in their lives to see such works is in the home of their “Catholic friend.” We shouldn’t disappoint. Take pride in your Catholic heritage and be willing to put it on full display.

 Jared Zimmerer is a Catholic author, speaker, blogger, husband and father of 6 and the Director of the Word on Fire Institute. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary.

I have been hesitant to dive into the conversation surrounding the latest scandals, but working to promote good stewardship and discipleship leads me to many Catholics who question why. The questions I have received include: “How can I support a church with this type of scandal?”: “Why are we asked to practice good stewardship when others clearly have not?”: and the most common, “What happens now?” Personally, I too am upset, confused, disappointed and fooled. I had the opportunity to meet and sit with one of the accused at a Catholic Awards conference, and yes, this man was being honored. Looking back at that experience, I am left feeling fooled for having thought this was a man of God, a Shepherd, a model for Christian discipleship.

I think we have all asked the question recently, “What now?” It becomes too easy in these situations to jump to conclusions or make rash judgements without due diligence. Many, including the Pope, have advocated for a time of repentance and prayer. The most important tool we have in our “stewardship toolkit,” as I often call it, is the power of prayer. Drawing closer to our relationship with Jesus through prayer provides comfort and clarity. Whether you are in a time of hardship or profound joy, fully committing to the act of prayer and opening your heart to how God is calling you is one of the greatest gifts we can receive. In conversations with some of my colleagues and friends, we discussed how our prayer is needed now more than ever. We, the faithful and committed, are needed to help heal, strengthen, and respond to these challenges through our collective prayer.

Prayer during this time isn’t a radical suggestion. Or is it? Maybe it is exactly the solution needed, but the one we least understand in a time like this. Many of us might be searching for something more concrete, severe, or “just.” However, those thoughts indicate to me that we don’t fully comprehend the power prayer holds in our lives.

The type of prayer that I am referring to isn’t normal or routine. It is beyond reciting a common prayer before meals or a quick prayer before bed. The prayer we need requires our full commitment and presence—mind, body and heart. This type of prayer places yourself in the position of receiving and witnessing powerful, meaningful, and lasting relationship with God. Not to mention, staying focused on Christ, who is the only one we can rely on to heal, renew, and bring good out of the worst situations. I believe if we lead with prayer, we will get through this turbulent time and find ourselves in a place of comfort, healing, mercy and peace.

 Katie Price is the Coordinator for Stewardship at the Cathedral. She can be contacted by calling the Parish Offices or emailing her directly at [email protected].

As football season comes to its long-anticipated start, it seems the nation has been cast into a frenzy of excitement. I can’t recall the number of times I’ve heard, “It’s finally football season again!” and “Thank God for Sundays!” in some form or another. And yes, I agree. I love football (especially college football), and I’m glad it’s back.

A few years ago college football meant everything to me. I remember late nights in my dorm room, my tired eyes lit up by the pale flicker of my computer, where I unremittingly combed various blogs and sites breaking down the upcoming season: everything from the star rankings of recent recruits to the particular strengths and weaknesses of our secondary. I obsessed over it. And since my school fielded a relatively mediocre team when I was in college, it was beyond painful to watch. Before every year I envisioned my team raising the BCS trophy like a king his scepter, garnering the nation’s admiration and respect. And there I would be, amidst a sea of other Bruin faithful celebrating the win in ecstasy—it would validate our existence as a school, and in some way, my identity as a man. Say what you will about my character, my football team is a winner.

I recall one Saturday morning in December tailgating before a rivalry game at USC. Every year this game cast an all encompassing sense of anticipation and exhilaration. Bursting with eagerness, I couldn’t sleep the night before (it was reminiscent of my eight year old self before a day at Disneyland). We set up camp at 7am for a 12:30pm game on campus, enjoying all of the festive fair that accompanies a tailgate: grilled carne asada, charred hot dogs, a variety of chips and lukewarm Bud Lights. The campus was electric, and as the game neared a growing sense of emotion seemed to endlessly crescendo. Clad in “Powderkeg blue,” about thirty minutes before the game, we set forth through enemy woods to the stadium. Chanting, taunting, clapping and heckling accompanied our arrogant strut through campus—all pretty standard. I recall near the end of our arduous journey getting into a man’s face—a fan who admittedly had three inches and sixty pounds on me—and yelling with full might. In my fit of sports-induced hysteria I became unreasonable, illogical and stupid. I was ready to fight this man. Why? Because he didn’t like the same football team I did. And so as my friends pulled me back from the incipient confrontation, I continued to hurl taunts toward a faceless crowd in red.

 Looking back on it now, it’s obvious that I idolized the sport. It provided me with certain things that I wanted: a sense of belonging, an end goal to root for, something to occupy my idle time, an enjoyable escape.

I still think sports can provide these things, and they’re a great gift to be enjoyed by all means. I’m still a huge college football fan, as evidenced by my continued tendency to yell at the T.V. and pace nervously in front of it on 3rd and long. But at least in my case, I worshiped it. I allowed the game to influence me to an unhealthy degree. My moods and feelings were fettered to the outcome of a game. If we won, especially a game we weren’t expected to, there was a great sense of joy and thrill. If we lost, a dark cloud of agitation and deep disappointment plagued me.

Our stadiums have become our shrines. It’s hardly surprising that football games fall on Sunday (in addition to Saturdays, Thursdays and Mondays), subtly reflecting what our country worships today. According to the NFL, the average NFL game received 17.6 million viewers, and 205 million Americans watched at least one game last year. Our Sabbath day has morphed into a twelve-hour stint of binge watching, especially with the recent popularity of fantasy football.

 If we’re busy giving all of our time and selves to this sport, then how can be fulfill the role God calls us to fulfill?

We’re called to live fruitful lives, and to invest our gifts and time into building his kingdom. On Sundays, are we setting aside time to reach out to our loved ones, be present with our families, spend time with friends in a spirit of rest, serve those in need, or, especially, take time for quiet reflection and communion with God?

In Saint John Paul II’s apostolic letter, On Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy, he raises these very same questions:

 Why not make the Lord’s Day a more intense time of sharing, encouraging all the inventiveness of which Christian charity is capable? Inviting to a meal people who are alone, visiting the sick, providing food for needy families, spending a few hours in voluntary work and acts of solidarity: these would certainly be ways of bringing into people’s lives the love of Christ received at the Eucharistic table.

Even though this day should offer us rest from the toils of our workweek, it doesn’t mean we rest from bringing Christ’s love to our communities and homes. In addition to allowing us time to serve and love others, it gives us time for reflection—the opportunity to reassess our lives and order them properly in light of the Gospel. Saint John Paul II speaks about this as well:

 Through Sunday rest, daily concerns and tasks can find their proper perspective: the material things about which we worry give way to spiritual values; in a moment of encounter and less pressured exchange, we see the true face of the people with whom we live. Even the beauties of nature—too often marred by the desire to exploit, which turns against man himself —can be rediscovered and enjoyed to the full. As the day on which man is at peace with God, with himself and with others, Sunday becomes a moment when people can look anew upon the wonders of nature, allowing themselves to be caught up in that marvelous and mysterious harmony which, in the words of Saint Ambrose, weds the many elements of the cosmos in a “bond of communion and peace” by “an inviolable law of concord and love..

And this time for reflection—this quiet re-molding of the soul to align better with our Father’s will—is not merely a checkbox to be checked; rather, it allows us to forge a conscience that is capable of answering the demands of love in our lives—to become the unrepeatable and inimitable light we’re all called to be in the world:

 “The whole function of the life of prayer is, then, to enlighten and strengthen our conscience so that it not only knows and perceives the outward, written precepts of the moral and divine laws, but above all lives God’s law in concrete reality by perfect and continual union with His will.”
 – Thomas Merton, No Man Is An Island

Being a Trappist monk, Merton knew well the indispensable character of reflection in forming our lives toward God’s will. There is also no doubt that when so many of us are burdened by the necessary obligations of our working and family lives during the week, that Sunday should serve as a cool fount of respite—a day to place our packs to the grown and drink from the waters of God’s flowing grace and nourishment. Yet, again, even Merton wouldn’t say that the enjoyment of something like football is a bad thing. It’s not insomuch as it allows proper rest and enjoyment without hindering the other vital aspects of the Sabbath needed for our continued spiritual journey: the mass and the Eucharist, time for reflection, visiting with family and friends, serving others in need of love and compassion. Instead, we come to find that by limiting our consumption of a certain good— even our nation’s new favorite past time—we are able to drink of its enjoyment more fully:

 “Pleasure, which is good, has more to do with virtue than it has with sin. The virtue that is sufficiently resolute to pay the price of self-denial will eventually taste greater pleasure in the things it has renounced that could ever be enjoyed by the sinner who clings to those same things as desperately as if they were his God.”

So the good news for football and sports fans, like me, is that it can still serve to nourish us in wonderful ways. However, it must not be heralded as the source and summit of our week. At that point we’ve begun to worship as opposed to enjoy it. It then becomes an unsatisfying attempt to fill a void—something to render our lives meaningful, or in some cases, keep us distracted from our otherwise unhappy and listless way of living. The result, inevitably, will be a greater sense of ennui and boredom. Our source for meaning and identity must be God—a life offered to him and others in love. If that conviction rests at the heart of who we are, then we’ll be able to order the role of sports—and all entertainment and pleasure—properly in our lives.

So yes, thank God for Sundays. And also for football.

 Chris Hazell is the founder of The Call Collective. He holds bachelors’ degrees in English and Economics from UCLA and currently works as a Lead Content Strategist for Point Loma Nazarene University.

This Sunday is the fifth and last Sunday of our journey through the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel known as the Bread of Life Discourse. Beginning with feeding of the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, Jesus seeks to move the crowd to understand that in him is something far greater than the wonder of the loaves and fishes. He is the Bread that has come down from heaven and he repeatedly tells the crowd in this chapter that whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will live forever. As one can imagine, this teaching by the Lord Jesus causes quite a stir among his audience.

At the end, there are some who hear this teaching and immediately dismiss Jesus for what he says. There are others who hear him and are filled with sorrow because this teaching is more than they can bear and they leave him, heartbroken and disillusioned. Then there are the Apostles who remain. Jesus asks them “do you also want to leave?” Peter responds, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Over the past few weeks, many in the Church have had their faith wounded, shaken, or even broken. Many of you are angry, hurt, confused, and disillusioned. You are not alone. When I was ordained a priest in May of 2002, the Church in the United States was reeling from the major child sex abuse scandal that had been broken open four months earlier by the Boston Globe. The revelations started first in the Archdiocese of Boston and then spread like wild fire throughout the American Church. Those in authority promised that this would never happen again. We all hoped that was the case.

Most grievously, we have come to find out that some did not keep that promise. While many dioceses moved forward to bring past sins into the light of day, others continued to hide theirs, and here we are now in the horror of this present moment. Each day when I check the news I worry that there is going to be some new revelation; if there is going to be another “wild fire” effect. As a priest of this diocese, I trust in the work and the oversight done here by Bishop Paprocki, and Archbishop Lucas before him, and I trust that effective work has also been done in a majority of other dioceses.

Many have rightly asked how could this happen again? Why were these past sins and omissions not disclosed fifteen years ago? It is because the focus of some shifted from where it was supposed to be. For all of us, no matter who or what we are in the Church, our focus is supposed to be on Christ and on the good of our sisters and brothers, but, for some, the focus shifted. It shifted to a protection of power or privilege or to a false notion of the Church as institution that had to be protected. The Church is nothing, literally nothing, without the people of God who are its living stones; the well-being of the people of God is where the focus of those in authority should have been. Some ignored that responsibility and here we are again and because we are a people of communion in the Church, when one is hurt, all are hurt.

For the sins that have been revealed in Pennsylvania, I offer you no other explanation and I certainly do not offer you any excuse. I offer you my heartfelt apology

for the sins of some in the clergy against the most vulnerable of the Lord’s flock and against your good faith and the good faith of so many others.

Let us again recall the words of St. Peter: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” We are Catholic because of Christ; not because of popes or cardinals or bishops or priests. We are Catholic because of the life given to us by Christ through the Church in her sacraments. Let us pray for one another that we may together keep our focus on the Lord Jesus. If together, with the Lord’s grace, we are able to do this then we can truly be what Jesus is calling us to be as his Church: his spotless bride, built of living stones, a sign of his goodness and love in the world for all people.

May the light of Christ dispel the darkness of these days and lead us onward to his Kingdom. God bless you and yours

 Father Christopher House is the Rector of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, namely Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.

When I was going through school, the devil was presented to us as a myth, a literary device, a symbolic manner of signaling the presence of evil in the world. I will admit to internalizing this view and largely losing my sense of the d e v i l a s a r e a l spiritual person. What shook my agnosticism in regard to the evil one was the clerical sex abuse scandal of the nineties and the early aughts. I say this because that awful crisis just seemed too thought-through, too well-coordinated, to be simply the result of chance or wicked human choice. The devil is characterized as “the enemy of the human race” and particularly the enemy of the Church. I challenge anyone to come up with a more devastatingly effective strategy for attacking the mystical body of Christ than the abuse of children and young people by priests. This sin had countless direct victims of course, but it also crippled the Church financially, undercut vocations, caused people to lose confidence in Christianity, dramatically compromised attempts at evangelization, etc., etc. It was a diabolical masterpiece.

Sometime in the early aughts, I was attending a conference and found myself wandering more or less alone in the area where groups and organizations had their booths. I came over to one of the tables and the woman there said, “You’re Fr. Barron, aren’t you?” I replied affirmatively, and she continued, “You’re doing good work for the Church, but this means that the devil wants to stop you. And you know, he’s a lot smarter than you are and a lot more powerful.” I think I just mumbled something to her at that moment, but she was right, and I knew it. All of this has come back to me in the wake of the Archbishop McCarrick catastrophe. St. Paul warned us that we battle, not against flesh and blood, but against “powers and principalities.” Consequently, the principal work of the Church at this devastating moment ought to be prayer, the conscious and insistent invoking of Christ and the saints.

Now I can hear people saying, “So Bishop Barron is blaming it all on the devil.” Not at all. The devil works through temptation, suggestion, and insinuation—and he accomplishes nothing without our cooperation. If you want to see the principle illustrated, Google Luca Signorelli’s image of the Antichrist in the Orvieto Cathedral. You’ll see what I mean. Archbishop McCarrick did wicked things and so did those, it appears, who enabled him. And we have to come to terms with these sins.

Before I broach the subject of how to do this, permit me to say a few words about unhelpful strategies being bandied about. A first one is indiscriminate scapegoating. The great philosopher René Girard taught us that when communities enter into crisis, people typically commence desperately to cast about for someone or some group to blame. In the catharsis of this indiscriminate accusation, they find a kind of release, an ersatz peace. “All the bishops should resign!” “The priesthood is a cesspool of immorality!” “The seminaries are all corrupt!”

As I say, these assertions might be emotionally satisfying at some level, but they are deeply unjust and conduce toward greater and not less dysfunction. The second negative strategy is the riding of ideological hobby horses. So lots of commentators— left, center, and right—have chimed in to say that the real cause of the McCarrick disaster is, take your pick, the ignoring of Humanae vitae, priestly celibacy, rampant homosexuality in the Church, the mistreatment of homosexuals, the sexual revolution, etc. Mind you, I’m not saying for a moment that these aren’t important considerations and that some of the suggestions might not have real merit. But I am saying that launching into a consideration of these matters that we have been debating for decades and that will certainly not admit of an easy adjudication amounts right now to a distraction.

So what should be done? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has no juridical or canonical authority to discipline bishops. And even if it tried to launch an investigation, it has, at the moment, very little credibility. Only the Pope has juridical and disciplinary powers in regard to bishops. Hence, I would suggest (as a lowly back-bencher auxiliary) that the bishops of the United States—all of us—petition the Holy Father to form a team, made up mostly of faithful lay Catholics skilled in forensic investigation, and to empower them to have access to all of the relevant documentation and financial records. Their task should be to determine how Archbishop McCarrick managed, despite his widespread reputation for iniquity, to rise through the ranks of the hierarchy and to continue, in his retirement years, to function as a roving ambassador for the Church and to have a disproportionate influence on the appointment of bishops. They should ask the ecclesial version of Sen. Howard Baker’s famous questions: “What did the responsible parties know and when did they know it?” Only after these matters are settled will we know what the next steps ought to be.

In the meantime, and above all, we should ask the heavenly powers to fight with us and for us. I might suggest especially calling upon the one who crushes the head of the serpent.

 Bishop Robert Barron is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is also the host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking, award-winning documentary about the Catholic Faith, which aired on PBS.