And our good bishop's words in the sermon... they had the power to pierce our hardened hearts, because they came from a true and humble heart in love with the Eucharistic Lord. He spoke of the washing of the feet and how he has commissioned a new sculpture of this humblest of Jesus' actions to be above his bishop's chair in our soon to be re-opened newly restored cathedral, to remind him of what his role is as a bishop: to serve.
He proceeded then to retell the story of the great fire at Saint Raphael's in Madison, WI, when he was still there and not our bishop yet. We all felt we were living it, and he took us to the horrors of seeing his dear cathedral in flames, and his concern or the Tabernacle on the Body of Christ in the fire. He spoke to the firefighters, he said, who did not give him permission to enter the building, but allowed him to come to the door to show them the general location of the tabernacle. One firefighter, a Catholic, he said, led a team into the burning building, and after a few minutes, our bishop, who had wept in sadness for the horrific spectacle in front of him, wept again, this time for joy, as the firefighters proceeded out from the smoke and flames, reverently, carrying the ciborium containing Our Lord.
His voice broke, he choked in his own emotional remembrance, and our tears emerged, the entire body of the faithful rapt in his words and re-living his love for the Eucharist in the unforgettable event. The Tantum Ergo and his solemn leading of the Eucharistic Procession at the end of Mass only served to enhance this love in our hearts.
Thank You, Jesus, today of all days, for our good Bishop, for the Eucharist, for our Salvation.
2 comments:
Thank you for sharing, Ana. That was a beautiful post; the story about the fire gave me goosebumps.
I know... I just had to share it!
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