September 9 2024 - St. Peter Claver - If you can't feed 100 people, then just feed 1

 In the age of the explorers and conquistadors, many young men left Europe for the Americas in order to seek out a fortune. Peter Claver, a young Jesuit priest, rather, left his native Spain, to build up treasure in heaven, in Cartegena, a port city in modern day Columbia. The Collect prayer refers to Peter Claver as “a slave of slaves” for he ministered to the African slaves who were brought there to work in the fields and the mines. 

When the slave ships entered the port, Peter Claver would board the ships to care for the sick and malnourished. And when the slaves were herded to the slave-market, Peter, would bring them medicine, food, bread, and other items that would help them survive in this new land.  

With the help of interpreters, he gave the slaves basic instructions in the faith; he assured them of their human dignity and the salvation that awaited them in God's kingdom.  During the 40 years of his ministry in Columbia, it is estimated that Claver baptized more 300,000 slaves.  

Peter Claver remarked more than once how it took everything in him at times to go down into the disgusting conditions of the slave-ships filled with filth and stench.  He reminds us that true loving service isn’t always pretty, neat and clean—we might even experience revulsion at the conditions in which the destitute live.  But loving service means being faithful to the duties of mercy despite our personal feelings.  

On this Memorial we read from Matthew 25, the Lord’s teaching on the final judgment, a reminder that service of those in need is never a waste of time. In each slave, to whom he ministered, Peter Claver ministered to Christ himself. And for this, he is counted among the blessed. In the words of Mother Theresa: "At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me.

We might not be called to enter into the filth of slave-ships, but we are certainly called to enter into the lives of others to help someone other than ourselves today. Again, in the words of Mother Theresa, “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."

May we use the time we have been given today, to serve Christ in those who suffer, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be diligent in bringing the truth and goodness of the Gospel into every sphere of society.

For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression; and for the protection and respect of all human life.

For those whose lives are marked by suffering, illness, or grief, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, and for N., for whom this mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, through the intercession of St. Peter Claver and all the saints, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

September 9 2022 - St. Peter Claver - For I was a slave and you cared for me

 St. Peter Claver, whom we honor today, lived in a time when men, women, and children in Africa were being captured and sold into slavery.  The poor Africans were put on slave ships where they suffered from starvation, dehydration, and truly disgusting conditions.  Although the practice of slave-trading was condemned by the Popes of the time, it continued to flourish. Africans died by the thousand as they made their way from Africa to the Americas.  

St. Peter Claver, a priest born in Spain, understood the wickedness of the slave trade.  He came to South America where he would minister to the slaves brought there. As they came into harbor, he gave them food and water and medicine, and told them about God who loves them, and about Jesus who suffered like they did, and so many asked the priest for baptism. St. Peter Claver baptized hundreds of thousands of African slaves into the Catholic faith.

Peter Claver recognized the human dignity of the slaves when the rest of the world treated them like property and cattle to be sold, traded, and slaughtered if they did not perform. The recognized their humanity because he had learned to see with the eyes of God and love with the heart of Christ. 

Peter Claver remarked more than once how it took everything in him at times to go down into the disgusting conditions of the slave-ships filled with filth and stench.  He reminds us that true loving service isn’t necessarily about liking what we do—we might even experience revulsion at the conditions in which the poor live; but loving service means being faithful to the duties of mercy despite our personal feelings.  

Peter himself, came to be despised by the slave-traders and those making a profit from the slave-trade. No doubt, his care for the slaves pricked their consciences. But remember, the Lord did say, you will be hated because of me. St. Peter was hated because he sought to be faithful to Jesus in caring for Him in the enslaved. When I was a slave you cared for me. One of the consequences we must accept is that seeking radical holiness will lead us to be hated by the world. But, when the wicked hate you, you’re doing something right.

In 1650 Peter Claver fell victim to an epidemic and was abandoned to die in his sickness.

St. Peter Claver saw with the eyes of Christ, and loved with his heart, pouring out his love in such humble, humble service—he came to be known as a slave of slaves. May each of us respond to the call to holiness with that same radical generosity for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be diligent in bringing the truth of the Gospel into every sphere of society, and for all those who harden their hearts toward God, for those who have left the Church, for all those in serious sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression; and for the protection and respect of all human life.

For those whose lives are marked by suffering, illness, or grief, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.

For the repose of the soul of Queen Elizabeth II who died yesterday, for her family and subjects who grieve her loss, for graces upon the rule of her successor King Charles, that his reign may be Godly, and for the repose of the souls of the dead, for all of the souls of purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

September 9 2020 - St. Peter Claver - Meet people where they are with the truth of the Gospel

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives his most famous sermon—on top of a mountain. For Matthew depicts Jesus like Moses who atop Mt. Sinai received the Law of the Old Covenant from God. Matthew tells us that Jesus gave this sermon to those who already had come to believe in him, a group of Jewish disciples. This sermon would detail how Christians were to conduct themselves as members of the Church—the New Israel. So Matthew depicts Jesus as the New Moses delivering the New Law to the New Israel.

In Luke, as we heard today, Jesus gives his first major sermon, not from the top of a mountain. In fact, St. Luke tells us that Jesus came down from the mountain, after a night of prayer, already having named his 12 apostles, and begins to teach a large crowd on a stretch of level ground, what is called, his Sermon on the Plain. Here Luke emphasizes that the Lord’s teachings are meant for all—not just those on top of the mountain, but all peoples, of all times, of all places are called to learn from Him and believe in Him.

He comes down the mountain into the lives of ordinary people. What a beautiful detail. For the Lord gives us here an example to follow. Our preaching is not meant just for inside the Church at Mass. That’s important of course. Good preaching at Mass from the ordained needs to shape and form and guide the people of God. But the Word of God, the Gospel, needs to be carried out into the world, down the mountain, on the same level as the ordinary folk.

Bishop Perez used to always say, we need to meet people where they are with the truth of the Gospel to invite them into the life of Christ. We meet people where they are, like Jesus, coming down from the mountain onto the plain. We need to share with them the truth of the Gospel. That doesn’t mean watering down or changing the Gospel, but it does mean using concepts they’ll understand, with attentiveness to the concrete details of their life, their struggles, challenges, worries, and hopes. And we need to invite them into the life of Christ. Yes we meet them where they are, but we are tasked with inviting them into something new—to conversion of mind, and heart, belief in Christ, and participation in the life of the Church.

And that’s not something, of course, that only the ordained or tasked with. The ordained are tasked with preaching at Mass. But the entire Church needs to be that presence of Christ out in the world, sharing the Gospel with unbelieving friends, neighbors, and strangers.

Today’s saint, Peter Claver, was a young Jesuit, who left his native spain, to live among the slaves of the new world. He cared for them, brought them medicine, food, bread, and other items that would help them survive in this new land, and of course, the Good news of the Gospel. He became a slave among the slaves. Sharing the Gospel in the world always means humbling ourselves, coming down and meeting people where they are, with the truth of the Gospel.

May we be faithful to this task today and all days, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be diligent in bringing the truth of the Gospel into every sphere of society, and for all those who harden their hearts toward God, for those who have left the Church, for all those in serious sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For our young people on their first day of school today, that they may be blessed with openness to the goodness and truth of the Gospel, for harmony in their classrooms despite this year's many challenges, and for peace in their families.

For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression, for the protection and respect of human life.

For those whose lives are marked by suffering, illness, or grief, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.

For the repose of the souls of the dead, for all of the souls of purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

September 9 2019 - St. Peter Claver - A slave of slaves

In the age of the explorers and conquistadors, many young men were leaving Europe for the Americas in order to seek out a fortune. Peter Claver, a young Jesuit priest, rather, left his native Spain, to build up treasure in heaven, in Cartegena, a port city in modern day Columbia. The Collect prayer refers to Peter Claver as “a slave of slaves” for he ministered to the African slaves who were brought there to work in the fields and the mines.

When the slave ships entered the port, Peter Claver would board the ships to care for the sick and malnourished. And when the slaves were herded to the slave-market, Peter, would bring them medicine, food, bread, and other items that would help them survive in this new land.

With the help of interpreters, he gave the slaves basic instructions in the faith; he assured them of their human dignity and the salvation that awaited them in God's kingdom.  During the 40 years of his ministry in Columbia, it is estimated that Claver baptized more 300,000 slaves.

Additionally, Peter Claver preached Christ’s Gospel message to the sailors, and tradesman, the imprisoned, and those condemned to death, and to the rich. On many occasions, he was ill-received by the plantation owners and their wives, who looked upon his ministry among their slaves as a waste of their time.

On this Memorial we hear from Matthew 25, the Lord’s teaching on the final judgment, a reminder that service of those in need is never a waste of time. In each slave, to whom he ministered, Peter Claver ministered to Christ himself. And for this, he is counted among the blessed. In the words of Mother Theresa: "At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me.

We might not be called to baptized 300,000 slaves. But we are certainly called to help someone other than ourselves today. Again, in the words of Mother Theresa, “If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."

May we use the time we have been given today, to serve Christ in the poor, in the midst of their daily suffering, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may be diligent in the works of charity, and generous with our time, talent, and treasure in serving those in need.
For an end to slavery, human trafficking, and all forms of inhumane oppression, for the protection and respect of human life.
For those whose lives are marked by suffering, that they may find hope in the promises of Christ.
For the repose of the souls of the dead, and for N. for whom this mass is offered.
Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your pilgrimage Church, grant us what we truly need to remain faithful to your Son in all things. Through Christ Our Lord.

Homily: Sept 27 2016 - St. Vincent de Paul - Freed from slavery for service

St. Vincent was the son of a poor, but pious farmer in southwestern France in 1581. Even though it meant a great sacrifice for his family, his father, knowing of the boy’s intellectual gifts and believing him to have a vocation to the priesthood, payed for his studies and encouraged his vocation. Vincent was ordained at the incredibly young age of 20. He was a genius and mastered his philosophical and theological training. Though, his motives for ordination were not entirely pure. It is said that he had ambitions to secure a wealthy benefice, so he could help his family out of poverty.

So, as a charming young priest, Vincent made many wealthy friends, he became chaplain to a queen moved through the comfortable and luxurious aristocratic spheres of society. But while he was on his way down to Marseilles to pick up some old widow’s inheritance, he was captured by Turkish pirates and brought to Africa as a slave for two years.

That was the beginning of his conversion. He could have, like Job in the first reading “opened his mouth and cursed” the day of his birth. But his heart began to open, his faith began to awaken. He saw the miserable condition of the slaves.

Some time later, he was accused of stealing 400 crowns by an acquaintance. 400 crowns was an enormous amount of money back then. And Vincent could have used his genius intellectual gifts to prove his innocence. But he simply said, “God knows the truth. I didn’t steal it. If God can free me from captivity, God can free me from this.” Six months went by, and the acquaintance had denounced Vincent as a crook. But after six months, the real thief came forward, and everyone was edified by Vincent’s trust in God’s providence.

The final turning point in his priesthood was when he was hearing the deathbed confession of a poor peasant. His heart seemed to burst for the crying spiritual needs of the poor.  A wealthy friend helped Vincent draw together a group of missionaries who came to be known as the Congregation of the Mission, known later as the Vincentians.

Over time, Vincent established many confraternities of charity for the spiritual and physical relief of the poor and sick.  Out of these groups grew the Vincentian nuns or Daughters of Charity who have served in our own diocese for many years. 

Pope Leo XIII named him patron of all charitable societies.  This includes of course, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul founded in 1833, almost 200 years after his death, which was founded by his admirer and devotee, Frederic Ozanam.

Vincent’s spirituality can be summarized in his saying: “It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor…I belong to God and to the poor.”    His heart truly belonged to God and the poor—and after 350 years, the relic of his heart is still found to be incorrupt.

May we learn to love others like St. Vincent, and recognized that our souls were purchased out of slavery of sin by the blood of Christ, so that our lives may be given wholeheartedly to the service of the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.