Cardinal Edwin F. O'Brien - Thoughts on Our Church

The following columns were written by Cardinal Edwin F. O’Brien and appeared in the Catholic Review.

On the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new liturgical year, the Church offers us a vision of life in Christ that frees us to embrace the future – not merely the near future, but the absolute future, that future we were created for and that we long for.

Indeed, the beginning of a new year of grace sheds light on the most essential role of your pastor and of every pastor, namely, to lead the people he serves to share every more deeply in all that the Lord taught and did to bring about our salvation: the mysteries of his Incarnation, his life and teaching, and above all, his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

During this new liturgical year, let us resolve that as individuals and as a Church community that we will share more deeply in Christ’s love for us, that we will grow in the likeness of Christ, and that we will be the Lord’s witnesses and missionaries in the world.

Durante este nuevo año litúrgico, decidamos que, como individuos y como comunidad eclesial, compartiremos más profundamente el amor de Cristo

This Thanksgiving Season, we can show our thankfulness by recognizing the face of Jesus in those who are in need. We can show our gratitude by reaching out to those in need and helping them in very real and concrete ways.

En esta temporada de Acción de Gracias, podemos mostrar nuestro agradecimiento reconociendo el rostro de Jesús en los necesitados a nuestro alrededor, y dejándonos inspirar por nuestra gratitud para actuar al respecto.

Let us recall why we are doing this – we are doing it for the same reason that Mother Lange started this school: she was an educator who gave young women of color a chance to claim their dignity, to develop their talents, and to spend their lives glorifying God by their works. Times have changed but her vision endures.

We can learn from St. Clement Mary Hofbauer that spirit of prayer, that undivided love for the Lord, that zeal for the Gospel that made him such a joyful and effective evangelizer – one who proclaimed by word and deed his allegiance to Christ, the only One who is Savior of the Word, Lord of History, King of the Universe.

Today, in Confirmation, you receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit to help you choose to live in Jesus’ Kingdom every day of your lives.

These priests shepherded many in the name and person of Christ. Now it is our turn to commend them to the Good Shepherd, asking that the Lord walk with them through the valley of death and lead them to the good pastures of the heavenly Kingdom.

Cardinal Edwin F. O’Brien – Thoughts on Our Church