November 10 2020 - Pope St. Leo the Great - Confronting the New Barbarism

Pope Benedict XVI called Pope Leo the Great, whom we honor today, “truly one of the greatest Pontiffs to have honored the Roman See.” He was the first Bishop of Rome to have been called Leo, a name used subsequently by another 12 Supreme Pontiffs. He is also the first Pope to be given the title “great” and is known for his great administration of the Church during chaotic times and for his writing, which confronted and corrected the many heresies arising in his day.

Constant barbarian invasions and the gradual weakening of the Roman Empire’s authority made the time in which Pope Leo reigned quite difficult.

There is a famous encounter between Leo and the barbarian warlord Atilla the Hun. In 452, Attila and his Huns were vanquishing city after city. Attila had already devastated the northeastern regions of Italy and reports circulated that Attila was setting his sights on the rest of Italy.  The 52 year old Pope, rode on horseback to meet the barbarian leader and pleaded with Attila to spare Italy. The leader of the Huns was so impressed by the Pope, that he agreed to leave Italy. 

Unfortunately, a few years later, another barbarian horde, the Vandals, attacked and sacked Rome. Again, the Pope, defenseless went forth to meet the invader to implore him to desist. The Vandal leader promised to spare the great Basilicas of St Peter, St Paul and St John, whose dedication we celebrated yesterday, in which the terrified population of Rome sought refuge and were spared.  

Today, it seems, the barbarians are again at the gate, in fact they’ve entered it—disregard for law and order, right religion, and moral precepts threaten the very fundamentals of society.  You cannot have civilization without civility and civics, and therefore civilization is threatened by a new barbarism that seeks to tear down and plunder—through political and even physically violent means. 

What are Catholics to do? We do well to hold fast to that which is good. Hold fast to our right doctrines, persevere in prayer, engage in sacrificial service, and maybe we’ll even convert a barbarian or two by the constant and faithful witness we give to Christ. Pope Benedict writes, "Dear Friends, may no adversity paralyze you. Be afraid neither of the world, nor of the future, nor of your weakness. The Lord has allowed you to live in this moment of history so that, by your faith, his name will continue to resound throughout the world."

Pope Leo reminds us to fear no adversity, not even a hoard of barbarians and the crumbling of society, but to be people of sound doctrine, people of civility, and people who see even the human dignity of barbarians. Let us be good to one another, and work always for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For the purification of Holy Church, and for all Bishops and clergy, that they may always lead us in fidelity to the saving Gospel of Christ.

That the Christian faithful may continue to nurture and discover their spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.

For those who have left the Church, for those who have grown lukewarm, for those in mortal sin, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For the healing of all those afflicted with physical, mental, emotional illness, for those in hospitals, nursing homes, hospice care, those struggling with addictions, for those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.