18th Week of OT 2020 - Friday - Purification, Restoration and St. Cajetan

 Two of the reoccurring themes of Scripture that sort of go hand in hand are purification and restoration—the purification of what has become corrupted by sin in order that it may be restored and begin to grow again. We are familiar with the story of the biblical flood—how the world had become so corrupted by sin, that God sends a purifying flood. Sometimes purification is difficult—like scrubbing out an infected wound is painful. But, following purification, God restores order by building humanity up again after the flood.

Immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve, God hints at the promise of a redeemer—one who will bring purification and restoration to the human race.

Nahum the prophet speaks about restoration in our first reading. Because of her sins, the southern kingdom of Judah had become vulnerable to attack and invasion. Babylon had sacked Jerusalem and carried off her citizens into exile. 

But Nahum the prophet speaks a word of promise, that after the purification, Judah and the holy city of Jerusalem, and her holy feasts will be restored. “The Lord will restore the vine of Jacob” he says. Again purification precedes restoration.

We see this divine logic in the Gospel as well. Jesus over and over heals the sick and then restores them to their families. He dies on the cross to purify humanity of its sinfulness in order that it may be restored to what God had intended it to be.

Today we honor a saint of restoration. St. Cajetan was a priest…well, he was a lawyer who then became a priest who was tasked to work in Rome—in the Roman Curia in the early 1500s.

He came to realize that the Church needed reform. He said the Church was “sick in her head and in her members.” The Church seemed to have lost her zeal, her commitment to authentic worship, her commitment to the evangelical counsels. Protestantism, which arose shortly in this time, was a sort of reaction to the Church’s sickness. But unlike his contemporary, Martin Luther, Cajetan believed that the Church could be reformed from the inside—through a return to what is truly good and holy. So Cajetan founded a religious order, the Theatines, who took the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and working to reignite apostolic zeal amongst the clergy.

It is no secret that there are parts of the Church that are sick right now—parts of the world where faith has been decimated, watered down, corrupted by worldly values. So, we do well to invoke Saints like Cajetan, to help purify the Church from corruption—the corruption of authentic doctrine and religious practice and liturgical worship, to help us experience the restoration the Holy Spirit wishes to work in our own day.

But no doubt, purification and restoration begins in the individual human soul. Each one of us, lay, cleric, religious, priest, cardinal and Pope, has a duty to seek purification as difficult as that is from all that is prideful or selfish, that what is corrupt in us may be purified, that what is broken may be restored, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Pope Francis and all bishops and clergy may lead the Church by example in witnessing to the truth of the Gospel with courage and living the Gospel with charity and perseverance. 

That politicians and government officials may protect religious freedom, promote virtue, and look to the law of Christ to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race, especially for the protection of the unborn.

That our young people on summer vacation may remain close to Jesus through prayer, attendance at Holy Mass with their families, repentance through Sacramental Confession, and faithfulness to all the teachings of Christ. We pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord