14 AUGUST 25, 2013 FAITH OUR SUNDAY VISITOR OPENING THE WORD | CARL OLSON TRAVEL Life-giving communion Divine work of unifying humanity has always been difficult; we must do our part by doing God’s will

divine work of unifying fallen humanity has always been a dif- ficult one. As God has pursued a merciful mission of unity and reunion, mankind has pursued a course of disunion and rebel- lion. Like children intent upon hrist is the Light of na- holding fast to toys and games, tions.” That statement we seek security in the passing “Cis the opening sentence of Lu- pleasures and distractions of men Gentium (“Light of the this world. There are even more Nations”), the Second Vatican subtle distractions, as indicated Council’s Dogmatic Constitu- by the question found in today’s tion on the Church. The coun- Gospel: “Lord, will only a few cil, the document explains, people be saved?” Pilgrims process during a pilgrimage honoring Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Mac- desired to proclaim the Gos- And it seems to be a fair rina in Uniontown, Pa. Courtesy of Mount St. Macrina pel to “all men, a light brightly question. Who hasn’t won- visible on the countenance of dered, “Who will make it? Will the Church” (No. he? What about 1). The Church, AUG. 25, 2013 her?” But Jesus it continued, “is would have none Physical connections 21ST SUNDAY IN in Christ like a of it, for the ques- ORDINARY TIME sacrament or as a tion distracts from sign and instru- IS 66:18-21 the responsibility ment both of a PS 117:1,2 we each have when to the divine very closely knit HEB 12:5-7, 11-13 it comes to our sal- union with God LK 13:22-30 vation. Yes, we are Shrines and grottoes throughout the United States and of the unity saved by grace, but afford pilgrims a spiritual experience of the whole hu- we must actively man race...” These themes of and constantly cooperate with By Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller communion with God and the gift of grace. “Strive to enter The liturgical year of the the union of mankind by the through the narrow gate,” Jesus Byzantine Catholic Church grace of God are emphasized said, “for many, I tell you, will begins Sept. 1 and, in Union- throughout the document. attempt to enter but will not be town, Pa., the Sisters of St. In a closely related manner, strong enough” (Lk 13: 24). Re- Basil the Great celebrate with the Catechism of the Catho- maining in communion with a Labor Day weekend pilgrim- lic Church points out that the God requires effort, fidelity and age honoring Our Lady of Per- early Christians said, “The sacrifice. Being born into the petual Help. world was created for the sake family of God does not exempt The event at Mount St. Ma- of the Church” (No. 760). That us from striving to be a true son crina has been held since 1934, refers to the fact that God cre- and daughter of God. when they celebrated the bless- ated the world out of his love As Lumen Gentium warns, ing of their new monastery. and goodness so mankind can “He is not saved, however, who, The theme was set in 1935 after share in his divine life. Since though part of the body of the Pope Pius XI gave the sisters an Thousands of pilgrims visit El Santuario de Chimayo in New communion with God’s divine Church, does not persevere in icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Mexico on Good Friday. Photo by Father Julio Gonzalez, S.F. life is realized in the Church, charity. He remains indeed in Help and requested that they this means “the Church is the the bosom of the Church, but, spread devotion to the Mother prayers, anointing, children’s Chimayo has been called the goal of all things ...” (ibid). This as it were, only in a ‘bodily’ of God under that title. programs and opportunities “Lourdes of North America” work of unity is alluded to in manner and not ‘in his heart’” It’s now the oldest and larg- to visit shrines, chapels and and one of the most important today’s reading from Isaiah. “I (No. 14). Those sobering words est Byzantine Catholic pil- places for prayer. pilgrimage sites in the world. come to gather nations of every compliment the Epistle’s warn- grimage in the United States Pilgrimages such as this Here in the high desert of language; they shall come and ing that God sometimes has to and attracts up to 8,000 people one are rooted in Christian northern New Mexico, 40,000 see my glory.” Israel was cho- discipline the wayward child. from all over. The monastery tradition from the Middle Christians come on Easter sen to be a light for the nations, The journey to authentic unity and shrines also attract visi- Ages, when the faithful took weekend alone, some walking the firstborn son who would and life-giving communion is tors year-round. long and dangerous journeys long distances, carrying cross- draw all peoples to the one, true difficult; arriving at the final “They come because they’re to holy places. Contemporary es and waiting for hours to get God. Those Gentiles, Isaiah ex- destination of beatitude is not able to connect with this holy Catholics have many more op- into the church. plained, were “brothers and sis- a given. place and with one another,” portunities, and in the United On the last Sunday in Au- ters from all the nations”; they “All the Church’s children said Sister of St. Basil the Great States there are shrines and gust, Vietnamese communi- also desired to bring an offer- should remember that their Barbara Jean Mihalchick, grottoes in nearly every state. ties from around the country ing to the Lord and his “holy exalted status is to be attribut- monastery vocational director. In addition to Mount St. Ma- come for their own celebra- mountain.” After all, Psalm ed not to their own merits but The pilgrimage opens with crina, the following three sites tion. Three years ago one com- 117 states, “Praise the Lord, all to the special grace of Christ” Matins Aug. 31 and closes are worth checking out. munity donated a statue of you nations! Extol him, all you (ibid). with a candlelight procession Our Lady of La Vang. peoples!” Sept. 1. Both days have full El Santuario de Chimayo “It’s been an historical pil- Alas, those exhortations went Carl E. Olson is the editor of schedules of liturgies, recon- With nearly 500,000 an- grimage site for nearly 200 largely ignored. The fact is, the Catholic World Report. ciliation, processions, vespers, nual visitors, El Santuario de years,” said Joanne DuPont OUR SUNDAY VISITOR FAITH AUGUST 25, 2013 15

HOLY PLACES PASTORAL ANSWERS | MSGR. CHARLES POPE Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine: 500 W. Main St., Uniontown, Closing parish doors Pa.; (412) 438-7149; Laypeople — not bishops — ultimately determine sistersofstbasil.org the fate of parishes; it’s up to them to keep the Faith El Santuario de Chi- mayo: 15 Santuario Dr., cal. Decisions have to be made. Chimayo, N.M.; (505) Pastorally, one would hope 351-9961; elsantuario- that long before things go utter- dechimayo.us/Pilgrim ly critical, that bishops, work- St. Bonaventure Cha- ing together with communities Brother Richard Merling anoints a woman at a blessing of the pel: 1820 Mt Elliott St., that are going into crisis, can speak honestly and work for sick in St. Bonaventure Chapel. Courtesy of the Solanus Casey Center Detroit, Mich.; (313) 579- 2100; solanuscasey.org uestion: Our bishop is solutions. But this is not simply closing our parish. My the responsibility of the bishop, Grotto of the Redemp- Qgrandparents were among it is the responsibility of all of tion: 300 N. Broadway those who built and paid for the people of God to have such Ave., West Bend, Iowa; this parish. By what right does honest discussions. Thus, we are (515) 887-2371; the bishop close what is ours? left with a difficult but teachable westbendgrotto.com. —Name withheld moment about what happens Philadelphia, Pa. when the Faith handed down to us is largely set aside by the vast cally ill, prayed to God and the nswer: Canonically, there majority of Catholics. Blessed Mother, and promised likely are some solutions It’s time to evangelize and to build a shrine in her honor thatA permit the lay faithful to make disciples, as Christ com- if he recovered. take possession of a building mands. The promise became the slated for closure, undertake block-long Grotto of the Re- its maintenance and keep them Washing of hands demption near Sts. Peter and open as chapels, etc., under the uestion: Our new priest Grotto of the Redemption. Courtesy of the Grotto of the Redemption Paul Church in West Bend, supervision of the local church. does not wash his hands at Iowa, where Father Dobber- Frankly though, most con- Qoffertory in daily Mass. He says Sandoval, manager of the site. he didn’t do well in seminary stein was pastor for 57 years. gregations that have reached a without a server it is hard and “People of all faiths and of studies, was not permitted to Beginning in 1912, the priest critical state where closure is the rite no longer has practical no faith come, and many say hear confessions nor preach built nine scenes from the life deemed necessary are not, in use. Is this right? that they find a kind of peace doctrinal sermons. of Christ in an extraordinary fact, able to undertake such so- —Bill Eitenauer and sacredness in this simple, Instead, Father Casey geological setting. lutions. Plains, N.Y. humble chapel that they don’t served in humble monastery “He started collecting While there are legitimate find elsewhere. People want positions and, in 1924, was rocks around 1900, and when canonical issues, and as the nswer: The priest celebrant some connection with the di- sent to St. Bonaventure to be people heard about his vision, lay faithful you have canonical should wash his hands, vine, and this is a physical, the porter and doorkeeper. In they sent things from all over rights at the closing of the par- evenA if there is no server. The tangible way of entering into that lowly role he touched so the world,” said Mary Straub ishes, I am not a canon lawyer priest’s explanation that there that.” many lives with prayers, char- Lavell, executive director of and would like to answer your is no practical necessity for According to tradition, in ity, comfort and many report- the shrine. “When you walk question pastorally. him to wash his hands does not 1810 a friar discovered a bur- ed healings. When he died, into one grotto and look up at And from a pastoral point hold. It is true that the hand ied crucifix, known as Nuestro more than 20,000 people filed the ceiling, 30 feet of it is done of view, it seems evident that washing in ancient times had Señor de Esquipulas, on the past his casket. His incorrupt in beautiful crystal. You can’t bishops do not close parishes, more practical purposes due site, and there followed mi- body was later disinterred and imagine it unless you see it.” people close parishes. The fact to the reception of many and raculous occurrences. It’s said transferred to the monastery, The outdoor grotto was remains that many parishes varied gifts during the offerto- that to this day, people re- and he was placed on the path built with Italian marble, pet- filled to overflowing back in ry procession. Handling these ceive spiritual, physical and to sainthood in 1960. rified wood, minerals like the 1950s now sit increasingly things often soiled the priest’s psychological healings, and “The draw here is Father quartz and calcite, and pre- empty. hands. many leave behind messages, Solanus,” said Capuchin Fa- cious and semi-precious stones This is a teachable moment, But liturgical rites don’t have pictures, small gifts and cast- ther Jim Hast, assistant direc- like rubies, sapphires and and we must accept some very a merely practical point. The off crutches. They also take tor of the center. “Some people pearls. painful facts. When only 25 washing of the priest’s hands away small amounts of Holy come for the blessing every “It’s amazing from a geolog- percent of Catholics go to Mass has an important spiritual di- Dirt from the “el pocito” (little week, and others come for a ical point of view,” Lavelle said. nationwide, and when Catho- mension as well, indicating his well) that many believe have pilgrimage and stay for the But the main draw for 40,000 lics stop having many children desire to be free of sin before curative powers. El Santuario blessing.” visitors a year, she added, is “a or effectively handing on the offering the Holy Sacrifice, and de Chimayo is one of several The center and chapel are spiritual experience.” Faith to their children, this is handling the body and blood of sites in the Holy Pilgrimages open daily, except on major In one grotto, Mary holds what happens. Christ. Omitting this rite is not of Northern New Mexico. holidays. Prearranged pil- Baby Jesus out to the world. The Church simply cannot permitted. grimages include a tour of In another, Christ suffers in maintain parishes and other Solanus Casey Center the center, a movie on the life the Garden of Gethsemane. institutions such as schools Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor About 300 people attend of Father Solanus, and an op- Still another honors the Holy and hospitals, when Catholics of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in the blessing of the sick every portunity for confession and Trinity. In June, 2,600 visitors are largely absent. Pastorally Washington, D.C., and writes for Wednesday at St. Bonaven- Mass. A blessing service also of all ages came from 32 states speaking, people — not bishops the Archdiocese of Washington, ture Chapel of the Solanus is held on the fourth Sunday of and 13 countries. The out- alone — close parishes. Many D.C., blog at blog.adw.org. Send Casey Center at St. Bonaven- the month. door grotto is open daily year- parishes, schools, seminaries questions to Pastoral Answers, ture Monastery in Detroit. round, is pet friendly and has a and convents now sit largely Our Sunday Visitor, 200 Noll The service is held next to the Grotto of Redemption campsite. empty. And as they become Plaza, Huntington, IN 46750 or crypt of Venerable Solanus When Paul Matthias Dob- empty, bills are unpaid, mainte- to [email protected]. Letters Casey (1870-1957), a Capuchin berstein (1872-1954) was a Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller nance is deferred, and the situ- must be signed, but anonymity Franciscan friar who, because seminarian, he became criti- writes from Pennsylvania. ation eventually becomes criti- may be requested.