Pastors Notes from August 14, 2022
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August 15, 2022I was never a Dodger fan or for that matter, interested in the National League. My Orioles preoccupied any interest in baseball from the greatest manager (Earl Weaver) to the last team with four twenty game winners (Palmer, Queller, McNally, Dobson) to the recent years of dismal play. But the Dodgers had Vin Scully who stayed with the team in the emotional move from Brooklyn through the many years of their history in Los Angeles. His voice distinct, and broadcasting skills superb. Regardless of the game, the location—calling a winning game or losing—he delivered a consistent and authentic dignity. As an iconic sportscaster, it was his faith that sustained him through the many years in both, his vocation as husband and father, illnesses and deaths; and his time and blessings shared with numerous causes and charities as a Christian gentleman. A devout Catholic with a sincere faith formed in his parental upbringing, strengthened through his Jesuit education, and nourished with his active participation in the Eucharist. Retiring from the booth in 2016 Vin shared the following at his final Dodgers broadcast: “I had a child’s dream, and the grace of God not only gave me the fulfillment of my dream, he gave it for sixty-seven years.” And with Christian charity he signed off with a prayer:
May God give you for every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
Though baseball and the Dodgers appeared to be the focus of his attention, in truth his passion for life centered on his quiet Catholic faith sustained through participation in the Eucharist.
Thus, the gifts flourished: marriage, parenthood, compassion and charity, respect and understanding, humility, gentleness and kindness, honesty, faith & forgiveness, and in his words, the modesty of being “a very normal guy. . . .I just want to be remembered as a good man, an honest man, and one who lived up to his own beliefs.” Whatever our ambitions and abilities, achievements, and shortcomings, may the Eucharist sustain such a humble, Christian perspective to be a ‘good person, honest, living up to our beliefs’—simply and yet profoundly. A statement of faith in today’s hectic culture.
With the changes in Mass times and the loss of two weekend Masses within our Boone County Catholic Church, we will hopefully and graciously incur the concern to seat comfortably the individuals and families who feel welcome at our churches. And too, as more individuals and families return to active participation in the Eucharist following the COVID restrictions, we may see our pews comfortably full. Acknowledging such, may we help the ushers by graciously moving into the center of the pews to allow parishioners and visitors to feel welcome. We do become comfortable in our ‘usual place’ in church; and may we, if need arises, graciously move over in our pew to allow others to likewise to feel welcome, and comfortable. We are blessed to receive the Eucharist in community, and the presence of Christian hospitality within our churches here in Boone County. From time to time may our ‘usual place’ be afforded to another family, graciously making room for others to share in our Catholic faith.
Originally called Feast of the Dormition (“falling asleep—i.e., death) the holy day of the
Assumption of Mary led Christians to believe in the glorious raising of the Mother of Jesus, body and soul, to heaven. On Monday, the 14th, our Church gives pause to recognize the Assumption (“taken up”) of Mary into the grace of heaven. In his apostolic constitution, Munificentissimus Deus of 1950 Pope Pius XII defined this Holy Day: “We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by God that the immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever virgin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.” Some question if
Mary experienced a physical death prior to her Assumption into heaven. From the Franciscan Spirit publication, the following provides a valuable insight: “The majority of theologians and saints throughout the centuries have affirmed that Mary did experience death— not as a penalty for sin but in conformity to her son, who willingly experienced death on our behalf. In support of this latter view, John Paul II said, “The Mother is not superior to the Son who underwent death, giving it a new meaning and changing it into a means of salvation.” Tomorrow’s Holy Day provides us with guidance through Mary’s human, profound faith: “From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son, the Son of God.” (Pope John Paul II). Mass times on this holy day are 8:00am, Boone; 5:30pm, Madrid.
God Bless, Fr. Tim
And finally: “It’s time for Dodger baseball...Hi everybody and a very pleasant good evening to you, wherever you may be.” (Vin Scully, signed off August 2nd; Eternal rest grant unto him O’Lord.)