A Cammino with the Saints

St. Francis de Laval and St. Mary of the Incarnation were French missionaries who journeyed to Canada to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.  St. Francis was the first bishop of the region and St. Mary founded a school to provide education and formation in the faith for poorer families in the area. These missionaries were canonized by Pope Francis last April, and on Sunday October 12th Pope Francis celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for these two saints, accompanied by a large group of Canadian pilgrims.  In his homily Pope Francis commented on how these missionaries had a heart for "the smallest and most remote."  He went on to describe missionaries as people with hearts open to allow God to work in through their lives, setting the world ablaze with the love of God.  Great examples for us today as we seek to respond to God's call for us to be missionaries, abandoning ourselves for the service of God and others.

Another great example of being a selfless missionary, at least in my life, is Pope Francis.  At that Mass of Thanksgiving I had the awesome opportunity to meet, speak with, and serve as a deacon for one of my biggest heroes.  Before Mass begins all the Vatican liturgy team gathers all of the servers together (after the second/third walk-through), get us vested for Mass, and then bring us into the Pieta' Chapel where we prayed the Rosary.  Lying on the altar is another set of vestments, a miter, and a crosier.  Towards the end of the fifth mystery we heard the words, "He is here" and were quickly lined up.  All eyes turned as the big wooden door opened and out walked Pope Francis with a huge smile on his face.  He then started making his way down the line, greeting each person.  And during that time, I couldn't help but think of Baltimore.  I thought of my family and friends, my brother seminarians and priests.  I thought of all of the awesome people who have formed me and taken part in my life from all of the different schools and parish communities that I have been with.  And I prayed, "God, whatever joys or graces I experience from this encounter today, I ask that it be shared with all of them..." and I started recalling so many people who I wanted to share in the moment with.

Eventually Pope Francis made it down the line and after almost two years now, I met a man who has become one of my best spiritual friends.  A man who has inspired and challenged me.  A man that I have prayed for and with.  A man who has, just by his example, rejuvenated my own vocation and given all of us a great deal of hope.  He reached out, grabbed my hand, and we shared a firm handshake.  I said, "Holy Father, we are praying for you.  Thank you, because you have brought us much hope."  He smiled and said, "Thanks."  Our Holy Father has a bright and warm smile and has such a way of communicating a peace-filled joy.  He is quick to engage too; one of my buddies said something along the lines of, "Pope Francis, you're friends with Jesus.  I'm friends with Jesus.  That makes us friends.  Will you give me a hug?"  Pope Francis immediately reached out and hugged the guy.  It was so cool.

During the Procession and throughout the Mass my job was to stay on the Pope's left... I was pretty relieved when I found out that I wouldn't really have to remember or say anything.  It was amazing, though, to be next to him and see the people who had come there from all over the world from his perspective.  It was incredibly moving to see the expressions on their faces at Francis passed by them.  Expressions of relief, of joy, of excitement and of fervent prayer.

There were several moments throughout the Mass that were particularly moving.  One of the biggest, I'd say, was the Penitential Act.  As we were singing the Kyrie, something we say or sing every time we celebrate the Mass, I was totally overcome with emotion and started to cry.  It was as if in that moment my whole life came together.  As if everything that I have done, everything that I have been through, the great times and the not so great times, were there and were being brought to Jesus to be healed, reconciled, embraced, loved, and blessed.  It was an amazing experience of reconciliation and celebrating God's great mercy.  And it hit me that this man, standing to my right singing under his breath, has talked so much about mercy and about poverty that I guess I know my own poverties a little more acutely and can taste the loving mercy of God a little more readily, receiving it as a free gift.

One other moment in the Mass that particularly struck me was during the Eucharistic Prayer when one of the concelebrating bishops read the line, "Together with Francis our Pope..."  I looked up at Pope Francis and watched as he closed his eyes and gently bowed his head-- as if he were consciously receiving those prayers from everyone gathered there, from everyone across the world that makes those prayers every time they celebrate the Eucharist.  It reminded me of that great moment after being elected to be the next Pope, when at St. Peter's Square he bowed his head to people all over the world, asking for their prayers.

Sometimes, serving at big liturgical celebrations can be hectic, a little distracting, and nerve-wracking.  But this time, even though there tons of cameras, lights, and crowds- the experience was one of peace.  It was actually surprisingly easy to enter into the eternal moment, into what was really going on, into giving thanks to God for so many blessings, most of all for God's enduring love for us and presence with us.

Pope Francis is a man that reminds me of Jesus.  I would be willing to bet that those "smallest and most remote" who knew them would have said the same of their encounters with Saints Francis de Laval and Mary of the Incarnation.  I'm so grateful for all of the people in my life who have reminded me of Jesus and reminded me of our communal call to announce the Good News by acting justly, loving tenderly, and walking humbly with our God.  Also incredibly excited and eager for the opportunity to serve back home in Baltimore and join our faith community as we recall and discover anew who God is, who we are, and celebrate all the more.