Reflections on a Papal Inauguration

A lesson from Rome for our homes

Perhaps it’s a middle age thing, but the Papal Inauguration has made us both pensive. As parents of five and Catholic marriage educators for more than twenty years, there is much on which to reflect in the events of the past few weeks.

Here to Stay

Reflecting on the Inauguration, Byron found himself putting his work aside that evening while in an inter-state hotel room to send our adult children an email with his reflections on this moment in history, recognising it as a teachable moment for a generation that is regularly told that faithful Catholics are pedophiles, homophobes, corrupt and irrelevant.  His reflection went to the consequence of this flawed and wounded Church of ours that none-the-less remains the last meaningful institution in the world that will not be sidelined by national self-interest or secularist agendas.  While not perfect, this moment is a pertinent reminder that the Catholic Church is still a good and great institution by any measure; a fact too easily lost amongst the constant criticism it attracts from those (such as secularist legislators and media) who must see its demise for their agendas to prevail.

This event of global significance reminds us that, while we Catholics are not liked by the world, we are certainly still relevant to it. The Church’s very existence is a threat to the self-serving secularist agenda as it stands for truth, unreserved love, servant leadership and the dignity of each and every person from conception till natural death. What other institution embraces this life-affirming agenda so constantly?

A sea of Red

In parallel to Byron some thousand kilometres way, Francine found herself reflecting on the explanation of an English commentator of the Cardinal’s red clothing. The red signifies blood, not Christ’s blood, but their blood; a potent sign that they are ready to suffer in service of the faith and the promotion of peace. This is not just symbolic; it is a reality both in history and today.  For many Cardinals the literal spilling of blood is a real possibility. Consider Cardinal Thuan of Vietnam who spent thirteen years in a Communist ‘re-education’ camp.

For those in developed countries, the blood of martyrdom takes a different form: that of public vilification. One need only look at the daily headlines for evidence of the public attacks on our Cardinals and Bishops. Being a leader in our Church necessitates a ‘death to self’ as the public proclamation of the gospel and defence of life will almost certainly mean that their character will be derided by a global media that trades in innuendo, humiliation and scandal. It’s a modern form of martyrdom.

So for all those who looked with envy and power-lust upon the Cardinals as they filed into the Conclave, remember that a prerequisite for the job is being prepared to die for the Church.  In our humble opinion these holy men more than qualify.

Where is the red in our own wardrobe?

But for us ordinary lay people, raising families and living in the secular world, is red also our colour? Are we too called to ‘spill our blood’ in the service of Christ and his church? And if so, how?

While we may not be destined to influence the world stage as our Cardinals are and do, we most certainly are called to live courageously and humbly as Pope Francis so magnificently models; to make Christ’s presence real in our homes and communities.

It is therefore important to remember that the primary evangelising work of the Church is done by the ordinary Catholics as we go about our daily lives. The home is the domestic Church, and we evangelise through the family, not despite it. People encounter Christ mainly through the ‘Body of Christ’ and not just what we say and write.

For all we demand of our celibate leadership, we must remember they are relatively few. We lay Catholics however, are vast in number. Like it or not, we make the Church relevant, or irrelevant, to the world by our very actions and attitudes. It is by the simple witness of our daily lives that we bring Christ’s presence to those who would not otherwise hear his message of love.

No more is this true than in marriage and family life, which is the state in which most Catholics spend their adult lives.  It is essentially a self-sacrificial way of life.  Living the Gospel calls for radical love, a love that gives and doesn’t ‘count the cost’. This is the vision of married love that we are called to live, and is totally incongruous with secular values which measure everything against the norm of “what’s in it for me?”

This papal inauguration leaves us both ‘looking for the red’ in our own wardrobes. Are we prepared to ‘die to self’ to be a living, Christ-like witness in our own marriage, in our home and in our workplace? Beige is not the colour of our Cardinals, nor should it be ours.