The Church is alive and well and truly “universal”. I had the privilege of being part of two moments recently that perfectly illustrated this.
‘Exactly the same’
On Friday, March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, many many many Catholics around the world participated in the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As Bishop Hying so eloquently assumed in his homily that day, “There’s never been a precise historical moment in the entire unfolding of Salvation History when more people have been praying at exactly the same time for exactly the same thing.”
Praying together at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Monona, among the packed (God’s) house of people, one couldn’t help but feel the awe and togetherness of that moment.
It was a grand “we’re all in this together” moment for the Church.
Time will tell (I hope soon) what the effects of this massive prayer effort were.
Two days later, I was part of a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse. This pilgrimage was organized by the Hispanic Ministry office here in the diocese.
Most of the days’ events of Mass, prayer, and a DVD on the bus about Our Lady were either bilingual or mostly in Spanish.
My Spanish from classes taken in middle school and high school is as rusty as an old Pontiac, but I was still able to enjoy the day.
Even though many of the words and customs are different, we were still all praying the same prayers to the same God.
It was another awe-inspiring time.
Even though I was out of my comfort and familiarity zone, I was still in the Catholic zone.
Exactly the same
In this time of worldwide division and conflict, even within nations, I wish we could stop and realize, we’re all the same and all trying to accomplish the same goals: Joy, Happiness, Life, Heaven.
I want to think we have more in common than otherwise.
I might have had many differences from the people sitting behind me on the bus, but when they pray “Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros, pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte,” and I pray “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death,” it’s exactly the same thing.
Whether it was in Fatima, Lourdes, Tepeyac, or Champion, it’s the same Blessed Mother who appeared in all of these places.
Let’s take it a step deeper beyond cultural differences.
What about the differences we have between ourselves and those that speak the same language?
You go to your Mass and I go to mine, but we’re praying the same thing.
Let’s show everyone how the Catholic Church is a shining beacon-like example of unity and universality.
There are more things bringing us together lately, yet we’re letting the differences dominate our lives.
I’m glad I got to be a part of these recent unifying moments.
I’d like to think they’re a small peak into what Heaven will be like — all sorts of people from all sorts of times with all sorts of lives all worshipping the same God and enjoying the beatific vision.
Challenge yourself sometime soon. Find a part of the Universal Church you haven’t been a part of before and become a part of it.
Thank you for reading.
I’m praying for you.