Homily from V. Rev. John McCarthy, S.P.
Diocesan Chrism Mass – 5th April 2023
Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ
It is a privilege to be asked by Bishop Crean to preach tonight at the Chrism Mass.
In the words of St Peter at the Transfiguration
“ It is good for us to be here”
To savour and reflect on what we are calling to mind and celebrating.
Bishop Crean has asked me to preach in my capacity as newly appointed Vocations Director of the diocese of Cloyne.
At the outset I wish to take this opportunity to remind you of the Year of Prayer for Vocations to Diocesan Priesthood beginning formally on Good Shepherd Sunday on April 30th
This will be Preceded by an official conference and launch on the previous Tuesday -April 25th – in Maynooth – to herald a year long prayer campaign for vocations.
You will be hearing more in the weeks and months ahead through parishes and social media.
The theme of the Year for Prayer is to encourage men to “Take a risk for Christ”
In celebration of this year we are responding in a particular way to the invitation and command of the Lord Jesus himself when he said “Pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into his Harvest”
As Bishop William remarked at the beginning of Mass, we are graced with the presence of so many jubilarians celebrating 25,50, 60 and even 70 years of labouring in the harvest
But pick any of these numbers and add 5,6 or 7 years to that number – and that is the number of years ago that these men heard and first responded to that call. That is an even more impressive number ! 32!/57!/77 years ago …
When they too took that “risk for Christ.”
What happened in the life of each priest at the time of that first summons is uniquely personal.
In the words of Pope St John Paul II on a pastoral visit to the United States in 1987 in an address to seminarians and novices :-
“A vocation in the Church, from the human point of view, begins with a discovery, with finding the pearl of great price. You discover Jesus: his person, his message, his call.”
I mention this because these words at the time stirred something within me.
I remember being in Chicago at the time on a J-1 Visa program painting houses for the summer, and as I sat in a friends House listening and watching the Pope live on TV I felt that these words might actually also apply to me !
It was only in preparation for tonight in looking up on the Vatican website for the link to that address that I saw that it was delivered in San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio, Texas, the oldest cathedral in the US – where much later I would have the privilege of celebrating Mass and preaching during in early 2020!
All of us priests can add those 5-7 years to our years of ministry!
We each have our own story of discovery and discernment.
My story – and subsequent journey- is just one of many that could be related by any of the priests present here tonight.
That address of Pope St John Paul in San Antonio Texas is worth reading and reflecting on and I wish to quote some extracts.
[My own comments are in square brackets ]
‘“Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Ex. 3, 5).
These words of God marked the beginning of a new of life for Moses. The place where he was standing was holy ground, for he was standing in the awesome presence of Almighty God.
And on that holy ground, he heard a voice calling him to a special mission of service to the People of God.
From that moment forward, Moses’ life would be radically altered. He would henceforth place his life at the service of God
No longer would his life be his own.
Moses came to a new understanding of himself and entered into a deeper commitment to God and his people.
A vocation in the Church, from the human point of view, begins with a discovery, with finding the pearl of great price. You discover Jesus: his person, his message, his call..
After the initial discovery, a dialogue in prayer ensues, a dialogue between Jesus and the one called, a dialogue which goes beyond words and expresses itself in love.
What begins as a discovery of Jesus moves to a greater understanding and commitment through a prayerful process of questions and discernment.
In this process, our motives are purified…
It is only when we have reflected candidly and honestly in the silence of our hearts that we begin to be convinced that the Lord is truly calling us.
Yet, even then, the process of discernment is not over.
Like all those who have gone before you, you will have trials.
[Every person here can identify with that statement]
Your fidelity will be ensured only when you invoke the strength of the Lord, only when you rely on Christ’s grace.
[ How often we priests have called on God’s strength to find words to say particularly at a time of a tragic death and funeral. ]
But if Christ is the centre of your lives, the one for whom you live and die, then your generous service to your brothers and sisters will know no limits.
The celebration of the Eucharist is the way that we best serve our brothers and sisters in the world because it is the source and center of the dynamism of their Christian lives.
How crucial it is then, for our own happiness and for the sake of a fruitful ministry, that we cultivate a deep love for the Eucharist….
The task of preaching the Gospel is of supreme importance in the priesthood…
“the task of priests is not to teach their own wisdom but God’s word, and to summon all people
[ beginning with himself ]
urgently to conversion and to holiness” (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 4).
The priest needs to know the real living conditions of the people he serves, and he must live among them as a true brother in Christ. He can never be separated from the community.
[We think here of Pope Francis’ oft quoted line – the shepherd must smell of the sheep”]
Each one of you is called to embrace freely a celibate life for the sake of Jesus and his Kingdom, in order to become a “man for others”.
…your celibacy will mean an enhancement of your life, a greater closeness to God’s people, an eagerness to give yourself without reserve.
By embracing celibacy in the context of the priesthood, you are committing yourself to a deeper and more universal love.
[Dear friends, this recalls the commitment made at ordination, renewed tonight when we resolved
“as a sign of my interior dedication to Christ,
to remain celibate for the sake of the kingdom
and in lifelong service to God
and mankind”]
Humanly speaking this sacrifice is difficult because of our human weaknesses; without prayer it is impossible.
It will also require discipline and effort and persevering love on your part.
The Council stressed the essential difference between the ordained priesthood of all the baptized,
The ministry of the ordained priest is essential to the life and development of the Church; it is an essential service to the rest of the Church.
It is clear that those who are preparing for this specific ministry will have special needs and requirements that differ from those of the rest of the community.
All the members of the Church are summoned to share in her mission by reason of their Baptism and Confirmation
[This is so relevant to this occasion as we see the blessing of the oils that will be used in the Diocese which serve also as a reminder to us of our call at Baptism and Confirmation.]
Of course, the call to holiness is a universal call. All members of the Church, without exception, are summoned by God to grow in personal sanctity and to share in the mission of the Church.
A heightened awareness of this truth has been one of the fruits of the Second Vatican Council.
And it has helped foster a clearer awareness of the role of the laity in building up the Kingdom, as well as a closer collaboration of the laity with the clergy and religious.
The duty of fostering such vocations rests on the whole Christian community, and certainly families have traditionally made the greatest contribution.
We must always remember too the impact on vocations that can be made by zealous priests and religious, by their example of generous service, by the witness of their charity, their goodness and their joy.
Above all, the key to vocations is persevering prayer, as Jesus himself commanded: “The harvest is good but labourers are scarce. Beg the harvest master to send out labourers to gather his harvest” (Matth. 9, 37-38).”
[End of Pope’s address- September 13, 1987]
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Conclusion
Dear friends, as we approach this Year of Prayer for Vocations we are all summoned to prayer
We are not “re-inventing the wheel” , rather it is as if we are adding a spoke to the wheel of prayer. Whether is the Eucharist, Adoration, the rosary , pilgrimages or any form of prayer please add the intention of vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood in this coming year.
Let our personal motto for this year of Prayer for Vocations follow the advice of Edith Eger- an Auschwitz survivor still living and now in her 90s – the author of two great books The Choice and the Gift
Her concluding words on her philosophy of life she has survived, and survives, is applicable to many situations and to the Year for Vocations.
– “I have Life to live, love to give , and work to do “
Let us do it, together!
