These are notes that I took from Fr Alvaro's homily last Sunday which marked his nine years as General Superior for the Legion of Christ. These are merely notes which I took during the Homily so I have not quoted Fr. Alvaro but just tried to get clear ideas across in the form in which he said them.
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| Bishop Brian Farrell LC, Cardinal de Paolis, Fr. Alvaro - Inaugural Mass of the General Chapter (Copyright Legion of Christ\John Choi) |
Since last Sunday John Allen Jr., the 18 year expert Vaticanista for National Catholic Reporter (and just in a few days, The Boston Globe), reported that our new General Director has already been elected and that we are just awaiting the Pope's green light. The General Chapter website (and since when did General Chapter's have Twitter feeds any way?) hasn't said anything and it seems that with final exams this semester everyone is one edge and we'd believe just about anything. Whatever the case is...Let's see what the Holy Spirit cooks up.
Homily Notes:
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| Fr. Alvaro giving the Homily (Copyright Legion of Christ) |
"Joy to be in Community"
He approached the ambo with no notes and looking into the eyes of the Fathers and Brothers present in the congregation he began an emotionally charged homily. In the past year he has gained weight and lost hair. He has lost the youthful look without. His eyes, however, still retain the Good Shepherd gentleness within and I don't think that it's going to go away.
- The most important event of our lives is the Eucharist.
- I've had a great desire to be here at home" (Fr. Alvaro was rector the Legion's Center for Higher Studies for over two decades before being elected Superior General).
- Thank you for your fidelity and your many messages.
- I would like to apologize for the failures [in the past] that have made you suffer.
- It's a Joy to be alongside Brothers, true Heroes.
He spoke about the great desire to be in community and the nostalgia he feels about being a part of this community in specific. He has mentioned in other times how much it had cost him to leave it to become Superior General leaving this Center of Formation. He also mentioned that we have been able to see the "Renewal" or "witness the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives". He also mentioned that in some ways all of us were part of the General Chapter that was going on near by.
- St. John the Baptist's call for conversion is a personal call to conversion in which we are called to bring a Theological dimension into each of the happenings of life
- In the breviary St. Augustine comments that John the Baptist's calling was "to disappear". "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)
- Often, when our peace is robbed by pride and hatred, we rob the peace of others too.
- John the Baptist disappeared for the Lord to appear.
- In the end, what's it all for?
- To become Saints [that's what it's all for]!
- All of us have enough opportunities to become Saints.
- God detaches us from all things...even our hair"(he said this alluding to his own hair loss due to his brain cancer. Laughter in the congregation).
- Detachment is a gift...Detachment from our own projects and passions. He wants to strip us down so that we can be renewed clothed again and become the New Man [in Christ] (cf. 2 Cor 5:17).
We had been awaiting some news on the General Chapter and were on the edge of our pews to get some news.
- The General Chapter is going to go well. God will work. I'm sure that the Legion will go forward well.
- Today we want to renew our vocation. To return to the First Love and to the first time you heard that calling.
- The "Yes" [to the vocation] must be sustained through freedom to do God's will. Yes, Lord, I desire it. Sometimes we don't feel great about ourselves.
- The "Yes" is a marvelous gift that must be renewed. The Church, the Movement, the Legion is His. Our human assurances may fall apart. What remains [in the end] is God.
- Jesus was not a winner [on the Cross].
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| Fr. Alvaro greeting Br. Vazquez (Copyright Legion of Christ\Joao Paulo Alves) |
So nothing in particular about the General Chapter came out but then he did speak about himself even unjustly deriding himself "Egocentric" (egoista).
- God called me to be a Saint. God's calling me to be what I should be an it's a Joy.
- Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself". What would all this mean if we didn't love? Charity overcomes all things.
- It's not about us. We have to love much. Our vocation is very much present in Our Blessed Mother.
- Think at times if what you do would please or sadden Her.
- What are we doing if we aren't renewing our calling with the perspective of Heaven? This perspective takes away our problems. If we Glory then we glory in the Cross (cf. Gal 6:14).
He concluded by explaining that he had been praying for the newly ordained priests of last December and that he continued offering his prayers for those who are to be ordained. He explained that he had seen a photo of the Pope looking at a panoramic group photo of Legionaries and Regnum Christi Members.
Personally, I don't know who or when we will find out a General Director has been elected (and approved). God knows. I just know that whoever it is my desire is the same. I pledge allegiance to the Cross of Christ from which grace and mercy are poured out. Daily, as a community we have been praying for the Chapter Fathers who have the great responsibility to bring the Legion forward. God knows why, what, who and how things should him. One lesson I did learn from money was, "In God we Trust" and that expresses my attitude about it all.
Whatever happens my only desire is this: that the Legion always be authentically and wholly of Christ.
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| Professions Mass (Copyright Legion of Christ\John Choi) |
