Reflections from the National Shrine



The following homily was given Oct. 13, 2001, by Bishop Paul S. Loverde of the diocese of Arlington, Virginia, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the 2001 Diocesan Pilgrimage.



Ever since the terrorist attacks on September 11th, a line of a poem I studied years ago in the seminary has echoed and re-echoed in my mind and heart: “The things that mattered most have mattered least.” On September 11th the men and women who perished in the terrorist attacks on our nation most assuredly had many cares and worries, such as getting ahead, making more money, car payments, tuition for their children, etc.

All these things seemed very important and in a certain sense, they were, but when those airplanes slammed into their targets, what really mattered all of a sudden came into sharp focus: God and family. We have all heard the accounts of people in the World Trade Center Towers or the ill-fated airplanes calling their loved ones to say: I love you! And, we can assume that many who were killed or injured prayed fervently to God for His assistance. Yes, on September 11th our priorities were realigned, and in an instant, we all began to focus on what really matters: our relationship with God and with one another.

We have come today as a diocesan family to “Mary’s House,” to this Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Here, we are praying that God will give us a new heart and place a new spirit within us. Here, we are praying that God will take away our stony hearts and give us a natural heart as we recommit ourselves to being His people, for He is our God. Here, we are praying that through the intercession of Mary, the prophecy of Ezekiel is being fulfilled in us and among us.

In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are reborn through water and the Holy Spirit. Rooted in Christ, we become a people marked by unity: “one Lord, one faith, on baptism” (Eph. 4:5). This unity is nurtured by the Word of God. His Word is found in the Sacred Scriptures, given fuller meaning through the Tradition of the Church and authentically interpreted by the Teaching Office of the Church – by the Pope and the bishops in communion with him. This unity is strengthened by the sacraments, especially Reconciliation (or, as we popularly call it “Confession”) and the Eucharist. How blessed we are today to have had the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation earlier and now to be celebrating the Eucharist, both Sacrament and Sacrifice.

Today is so significant in our diocesan history and life. We are here at “Mary’s House” on pilgrimage for the first time as one diocesan church. What a blessing! As a diocesan church, we celebrate our unity which is formed out of our diversity. This diocesan church has such a rich ethnic and cultural diversity! How blessed we are to come from a variety of backgrounds: Latin American, Asian, African, Caribbean and European. Each person is formed and shaped by their individual ethnic and cultural origins. Our patterns of speech, ways of approaching life, concepts of God, our attitude towards others, the things we prize and shun, virtually every aspect of our lives, are flavored by these ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This diversity is a treasure for the Church which from the beginning has been composed of this mosaic of cultures and peoples.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: “From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God’s gifts and the diversity of those who receive them. Within this unity of the People of God, a multiplicity of peoples and cultures is gathered together….The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church’s unity” (no. 814). Through Baptism, we have all been united as the one People of God. Saint Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians reminds us: “You are strangers and aliens no longer. No, you are fellow citizens…of the household of God….in [Jesus] you are being built into [a] temple, to become the dwelling place for God in the spirit.”

Unity is important for us, and for our world. Our gospel reading emphasizes how essential unity is for us as disciples of Jesus. In this passage, Jesus explains to His disciples – and to us – that unity is not simply an ideal, but that it is truly God’s will for us and for the world. Jesus prays to the Father: “…that they may all by one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you….” Jesus prays for unity not only among those who already follow Him, but also among those who will come to believe in Him.

Then, Jesus goes on to tell us the powerful effect which this unity will have: “…that the world may believe that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” Unity in the Church is a sign to the world that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that God loves the world! Unity is powerful! We do not have the luxury, especially during these times where evil has shown its ugly face, to be halfhearted about unity. We must work for unity in our hearts through daily conversion, prayer and regular reception of the sacraments. We must work for unity in our families, because the family is the basic cell of society. We must work for unity in our communities and also the world. Only when we are rooted and united in the truth of Jesus Christ, will we be able to live in peace.

Today, we have come to “Mary’s House” as one diocesan church with a rich diversity of cultures, gifts and talents. We have come, united in prayer to thank God for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon us and to ask Him to continue to bless and protect us. Our mission is to deepen our relationship with God and to bring the truth and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ to all we meet. We must be a light in darkness shining out for all to see, confirming that unity is strong when it is built on a rich diversity rooted in Christ Jesus.

As “the one people of the New Covenant,” we ask that the Lord will “pour out upon us the Spirit of gentleness and peace, that we may work together in harmony and so hasten the coming of [God’s] kingdom,” (Prayer after communion) especially in these days of conflict and uncertainty. Yes, strengthened by our prayer here at “Mary’s House,” we return to our diocese to “set out into the deep, united in faith and mission.”


(This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.)

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Bp. Paul S. Loverde is the bishop of the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia.

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