Friday, June 25, 2021
Friday of the Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time
Dear Friend,
The Diocese of Lansing was established on Saturday, May 22, 1937, courtesy of a proclamation by Pope Pius XI. As part of the episcopal checklist that accompanied the founding of the new diocese, Bishop Joseph Albers commissioned America’s preeminent heraldic artist, Pierre De Chaignon La Rose, to create our diocesan coat of arms. As with any heraldry, La Rose’s design is an interplay between symbols and signification.
Hence, our crest’s color scheme of blue and white honor the heraldic colors of the Immaculate Conception, to whom both our diocese and our cathedral are dedicated. The lances crossed diagonally allude to the name of our see city, Lansing. The cross, meanwhile, signifies the Catholic Faith. The ends of that cross, though, are shaped like anchor flukes as Lansing is situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Red Cedar and the Grand. This type of cross was also used by the old family of Ingham after whom Ingham County is named. You get the idea. Symbols and signification.
The Most Reverend Joseph H. Albers, First Bishop of Lansing (1891 – 1965)
The one thing that La Rose’s design didn’t contain, however, was a diocesan motto. These are actually rare across the dioceses of the United States but not uncommon in the rest of the Universal Church. Thus, last year, when our diocesan coat of arms was being redrawn to make it more useable on digital platforms, it was decided we would also adopt a new diocesan motto.
After several months of prayer and pondering, I chose the following: Iuxta Crucem Iesu or, in English, By the Cross of Jesus. It is taken from Saint John’s eyewitness account of Our Lord’s Passion upon that first Good Friday: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.” (John 19:25). Why is that passage of such significance to our present day? Let me explain.
After several months of prayer and pondering, I chose the following: Iuxta Crucem Iesu or, in English, By the Cross of Jesus. It is taken from Saint John’s eyewitness account of Our Lord’s Passion upon that first Good Friday: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen.” (John 19:25). Why is that passage of such significance to our present day? Let me explain.
The Arms of the Diocese of Lansing
Back at the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus was faced with the very practical matter of a lack of wine. His mom told the stewards to do whatever he told them (John 2:5). She knew then and all throughout his ministry that the key to the spiritual life is to do what Jesus tells us. He is the Word of God and his word is thus salvation and life.
Now at the end of his life, Jesus continues to call Mary, “woman” not “mom.” Her role is much broader than that of his mother. She is the new Eve, the new woman, an image of the Church which Jesus will establish with his death and resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And from the cross, Jesus tells John that Mary is now his mother and Mary that John is now her son. “Do whatever he tells you.”
Jesus knows what he is saying. He is doing the Father’s will. In fact, he is the living and dying manifestation of that will. So, he knows best. Mary, even though there was pain in the separation implied by these words from the cross, knew they were the right words. She must have told John then, or perhaps she had repeated this countless times before, that John should do what Jesus said. And thus we are told, “And from that hour the disciple took her into his home” (John 19:27).
Pieta by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905)
Jesus’ aunt, Mary’s sister, whom Jerome claims was Mary, the wife of Clopas, was also present to support her sister. So, at the foot of the cross we have the old family and the new family. Mary is part of both. There was no doubt a stab of sorrow at moving from the one, but a stab of joy in moving to the other.
Sisters and brothers, we all have family but it is not the most important family. Rather, the real family is the one we enter which was created by Jesus. He makes us brothers and sisters and gives us God as our Father and Mary as our mother. Every family has its sorrows. But in addition, in Christ, we have the joy of being made new in the Holy Spirit. In that, let us rejoice.
Assuring you of my prayers, I am sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Earl
Assuring you of my prayers, I am sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Earl
Bishop of Lansing
P.S. Tomorrow will see FaithFeast 2021 take place at the Saint Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. It should prove to be a great family festival of faith and music. All are very welcome. I will be offering the Vigil Mass of Sunday at 4.30pm. Click on the image below to find out more.
P.S. Tomorrow will see FaithFeast 2021 take place at the Saint Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. It should prove to be a great family festival of faith and music. All are very welcome. I will be offering the Vigil Mass of Sunday at 4.30pm. Click on the image below to find out more.
Watch: For many people across the United States, and beyond, the month of June denotes what's come to be known as "Pride Month". What, though, is Pride Month? What does it hope to achieve? And what is a Catholic perspective on all that?
Those are just some of the questions asked in this Diocese of Lansing Podcast to Father Philip Bochanski, Executive Director of Courage. Courage is a Catholic apostolate which aims "to assist men and women with same-sex attractions in living chaste lives in fellowship, truth and love". Asking the questions in this podcast is David Kerr, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Lansing.
Those are just some of the questions asked in this Diocese of Lansing Podcast to Father Philip Bochanski, Executive Director of Courage. Courage is a Catholic apostolate which aims "to assist men and women with same-sex attractions in living chaste lives in fellowship, truth and love". Asking the questions in this podcast is David Kerr, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Lansing.
Watch: Of your charity, please pray for Diocese of Lansing seminarian Christian Stiles who is currently studying for the sacred priesthood at Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 20-year-old Christian hails from the parish of Saint Mary in Williamston. Here he recounts how his path to seminary has been influenced by his family, his parish and a providential encounter after Sunday Mass while on vacation in Tennessee.
Read & Watch: This week's Realign Resources for Mission Update comes from by Sheri Wolfert, above. Sheri is a wife, mother, parishioner & teacher at St Mary Parish in Westphalia. She is also a popular Catholic writer and speaker. This week she focuses on the Realign Resources for Mission principle:
"A parish in the Diocese of Lansing is invested and recognizable in the local community as salt, light, and leaven" (Realign Resources for Mission Principle 4.4).
You can read all Sheri has to say on the matter here. Meanwhile, you can also watch this week's RRM video update from Steve Nowaczewski, below, who is a parishioner Saint Joseph parish in Ypsilanti and a member of the Realign Resources for Mission Committee:
Watch: This week saw Bishop Boyea's Year of the Bible reached Chapter 26 of the Book of Genesis.
In this chapter, the narrative of Genesis turns to Isaac and we see repeats of earlier situations that Abraham experienced: a drought, a meeting with King Abimelech of Gerar, the need for protection by calling his wife his sister, and issues over water rights.
What does this chapter mean and what relevance is it to us? To answer both those questions, here's a great explainer video by Hannah Turchi, Director of Religious Education at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Flushing.
In this chapter, the narrative of Genesis turns to Isaac and we see repeats of earlier situations that Abraham experienced: a drought, a meeting with King Abimelech of Gerar, the need for protection by calling his wife his sister, and issues over water rights.
What does this chapter mean and what relevance is it to us? To answer both those questions, here's a great explainer video by Hannah Turchi, Director of Religious Education at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Flushing.
Read: The latest edition of FAITH Magazine, the official publication of the Diocese of Lansing, sees Father Joe Krupp bowled the following question:
"Dear Father Joe, I have friends who don't seem to be interested in returning to church since the quarantine ended. How do I convince them to come back?"
What does Father Joe have to say in response? Click here to find out.
