This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad. Psalm 118:24.
Your Highness, your baptism resurrected you into the Body of Christ, into the Tree of Life, (1) into His Church. In Him you remained hidden until your confirmation when you branched out and became visible as a unique manifestation of His presence in this world.
In honor of your coming of age, at your confirmation, you were invited to now wear the priceless crown jewels of:
17.2 The gift of Wisdom. (2)
Jesus tells the apostles (and through them He tells us), "I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict." (3) Your Highness, to help you reign and make the Kingdom of God visible on this earth, your King gives you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents can resist or contradict. Can you imagine what power this is? When you reign on His behalf, no one will be able to resist you or contradict you. Here is but one example.
Once, a parish priest serving a small country parish asked me to give the homily on a particular Sunday. I remember his instructions well: "Explain to the congregation what 'indissoluble' means," he said.
The gospel that Sunday included the text from Saint Matthew, "they are no longer two, therefore but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide." (4)
Reading Matthew 19:3-9 over and over, I kept asking myself, "How can I explain 'indissoluble', not through an intellectual delivery but as a simple revelation of the Truth?" I read and meditated, read again and meditated again and again and again. Finally, I asked our dear Lord for His help.
That Sunday, I placed a table in front of the altar, on it were three wineglasses (two small and one large). The large wineglass could contain the contents of the two smaller wineglasses. One small wineglass was filled with water and the other small wineglass was filled with wine.
I then explained to the congregation that each small wineglass symbolized the state of celibacy. The liquid in each small glass symbolized the person living in that state. The larger wineglass (it could contain the two smaller ones) symbolized the state of matrimony. When persons marry, they leave their life as a celibate to begin a new life in marriage. Because of marriage, they become greater than what they were as celibates. As I explained this, I slowly emptied the smaller glasses simultaneously into the larger wineglass. This symbolized each person leaving self over the years to become (in marriage) one with the Other. Once both small glasses were emptied into the larger wine glass, I asked if there was a doctor or a nurse or a lab technician in the congregation. A gentleman came forward. After introductions, I asked him, "Would you take this large wineglass and pour into this small glass the water that came from it and pour into the other small glass the wine that came from it?" The volunteer (who was listening very attentively) stepped back and with a puzzled expression said, "That's impossible!" The congregation echoed in laughter at the absurdity of my question.
"That, my dear brothers and sisters, is what 'indissolubility' means. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide." (5)
The reality of the truth of the statement was now self-evident. No one could deny what he or she saw with their own eyes. The statement was final. The gospel for that mass was that day, revealed to those parishioners as indeed the Word of God must always be. The pastor was pleased with the way the lesson was taught. I thanked our dear Lord for helping me bring His message to His children, for His assistance to help His children grow healthy and strong in the Body of Christ.
In sharing with you the gift of His Wisdom, God shares His very Being with You. "To love God is to grow in wisdom; and to love one's neighbour is to grow in the manifestation of wisdom." (6) "Ah, what is man that you should spare a thought for him, the son of man that you should care for him? Yet you have made him little less than a god." (7) Your Highness, with the crown jewel of Wisdom in Jesus' name, govern over your heavenly Father's affairs.
17.3 The gift of Understanding.
Understanding enables your faith to penetrate deep into God, deep into His eternal Truth, to "see the Truth" and not just to know It. "Yes Father, I see and I understand." With the crown jewel of Understanding, God lovingly confirms your participation in His very Being, sharing everything He has with you. Your Highness, with His gift of Understanding, in Jesus' name, govern over your heavenly Father's affairs.
17.4 The gift of Counsel.
It now behooves you, as you participate in God's Love and Truth, to be seen by mankind as a sign of the Spirit presence, restoring creation for God's greater glory. With this crown jewel you will counsel, animated with Love for the Truth. Filled with Wisdom and Understanding, you will counsel instinctively and surely on matters that cannot be resolved by reason alone. It is with His gift of Counsel, animated by God's Love for the Truth, that I share with you through this book- on God's presence in our lives, today, now, at this very moment. Your highness, with His gift of Counsel, in Jesus' name govern over your heavenly Father's affairs.
Enlightened by the gifts described above, the crown jewel of Fortitude enables you to reveal in the darkness of this world- Jesus, the Light and the Truth. The gift of Fortitude enables you to make the Truth known, no matter how great the opposition, in order that creation may be restored for God's greater glory. Writing this book (sharing with you the Holy Spirit's Love for the Truth) has taken four full years and a number of months part-time. Thanks be to God for His gift of Fortitude, for I truly believe this task to be His wish for His children.
17.6 Example of the gift of fortitude.
After my faith crisis in 1972, I met Father Nourry, my parish priest and told him what happened. After a very long discussion, he suggested I apply to our archbishop for ordination as a permanent deacon. When I heard these words, I felt like a homing pigeon that was suddenly given a destination. I knew then that this ordination was going to happen. Door one opened.
[After my meeting with Father Nourry, s.m.m., I crossed from the rectory into the Church to offer a prayer of thanksgiving. Eyes closed, alone, I was kneeling in one of the front pews when, suddenly I heard the sound of a powerful wind that seemed to be coming from above the tabernacle. Its sound was so strong, so determined, so unstoppable and so violent it seemed inexhaustible; I was frightened out of my wits. The sound resembled (though this is far from being a good description) what one would hear when rotating a long thick switch in the air at very high speed. On the one hand, I feared the church was going to be blown apart; on the other hand, there was a living power in the wind. The sound was alive and filled with self-determination. I was terrified. I ran out of the Church without daring to look up to see what was there. Once outside, in very sharp contrast everything was peaceful, quiet and sunny. Shaken, bewildered and confused I slowly began my walk home. I often regretted not having gone back to Father Nourry at that moment to tell him what happened. I am sure he would have responded to the event better than I did. If it was the Holy Spirit (and I believe that It was), may He please forgive me for having run away in fear.]
When I eventually met the archbishop, he listened to me very patiently, and then referred me to the dean of theology at St. Paul's University. At that time, there was no university program for the permanent diaconate in the archdiocese and if there were to be any permanent deacons, it looked like I would be the first. Door two opened.
The dean of theology listened to me very attentively and then told me that I would hear from him shortly. Two or three months went by and no news. I returned to see the dean again and renewed my desire to begin. "My hands are in eternity," I told him, "and I do not know what to do with them." Again he told me there was no course of studies at the university for the formation of permanent deacons. He said that if there was to be a course of studies for the permanent diaconate, the university senate would have to give its approval first. He would meet with the university senate and would be in touch with me shortly. I left and again waited for his reply.
Meanwhile, a person very high in the church hierarchy told me in no uncertain terms that the diocese did not need permanent deacons. Fortunately, a visiting bishop (who just happened to be in the room) overheard this and told me not to get discouraged and to continue to pursue the matter.
About two weeks after the fall trimester began, I received a letter from the dean of theology telling me that the senate had approved a study program. He enclosed a course of studies and gave me instructions on how to go on from here. Door three opened.
My first course was already two weeks under way. It was in French and taught by a professor with a heavy European accent. The technical verbiage was completely out of my grasp. The reason I mention these details is that I do not know French that well. Two students seated next to me were French speaking nuns who were also experienced teachers. I could not help overhearing one sister telling the other that she was unable to understand our teacher, leave alone what he was teaching. Here I am, a grade 10 graduate, sitting next to them and other university students and members of the clergy. Everyone was French and an academic except me. I felt like I was on another planet. What was I doing here? This was ridiculous. I felt like an impostor. Who was I trying to impress? I did not belong in this milieu. I decided to leave at class break and go back home where I belonged. I closed my books and waited.
Finally, it was time for class break. I picked up my things and went to the door. When I tried to open the door, however, it would not move. I'll never forget that moment. I then saw that if I was going to leave, it would only be because of my decision to leave and not because it was God's will. Startled and awakened anew to the reason I was here in the first place, I said to Him, "Very well Father, I will do my best, but I cannot do this without your help." To make the most out of this situation, for the next three months I translated this course from French into English. This I did brick by brick (word by word), whatever way I could. Because of this, I completed the course better than I would otherwise have done. I passed. Door four opened. On it went for the next three years through all the other courses (most of which were in English) and all doors opened, one after another.
Then one day, I received a telephone call from the archbishop's office asking me when I could meet him. When we did meet, he said, "Raymond, I received a letter from the dean of theology at St. Paul's University. He tells me you have satisfactorily completed the required course of studies. When can we ordain you as the first permanent deacon in this archdiocese?" We agreed on a date and other details.
When I left his office and was back on the street, I could have jumped over the diocesan center, such was my joy. The many walls and barriers in my path either fell or made way for me to pass. How can one not have fortitude when the Lord God is at his side? In my heart God said I was going to be a member of his clergy and so it was. He opened my path like He parted the Red Sea. He brought me from a land that was not my home to one that was. He fed and nourished me. He washed, dressed, exercised and armed me to proclaim forever more His wondrous works. I was ordained on October 3, 1975.
He did all this, by revealing to me the gift of my baptism and all the treasures that came with it. With all my heart, I wish to share this revelation with you through this book, that you may rejoice as well in knowing who you really are as God's child.
God is asking your longing heart to be with Him in service to others. He is asking you to bring His Love to them, no matter in what corner of the vineyard this may be. Go with conviction. He will give you the fortitude you need to do this. His embraces along the way will comfort you and assure you. Your Highness, with His gift of fortitude, in your King's name, govern over your heavenly Father's affairs.
17.7 The gift of Knowledge.
Knowledge is the gift of knowing in Christ Jesus. To the extent you accept, embrace and participate in God's gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel and Fortitude, you will know what there is to know when you are to know it, in Christ Jesus. Throughout this book I have tried to share with you many events where this gift was made manifest in my life since my conversion. Your Highness, with His gift of Knowledge, in Jesus' name, govern over your heavenly Father's affairs.
17.8 The gift of Piety.
The crown jewel of Piety is the capacity to treasure life and everything that sustains it, because it is your heavenly Father's property, sacred property. " . . . all the earth is mine." (8) Because of the gifts described to you earlier, you should now see everything with the eyes of a child of God and make all your decisions accordingly. You are His son, you are His daughter- His business is your business and your business is His business. (9) Your Highness, with His gift of Piety, in Jesus' name, govern over your heavenly Father's affairs.
17.9 The gift of Fear of the Lord.
I am continuously awed by all the Love that surrounds me- real, personal, caring, concerned love focused on my happiness and well being. God is literally loving us to death, that we may one day be together Face to face- forever. Such Love is given by persons who obviously are outlets for God's Love, for God alone is Love. (10) This often frightens me. I am filled with awe, with wonderment and confusion at all this love for me, quite simply because I did not think I was so special to be loved that much. We cannot be loved like this without responding. We cannot take so much love for granted. Many personal sacrifices are being made to care for and watch over me. To be loved by another in God's name requires a response- a life in grateful humility, and prayers filled with thanksgiving, praise and benediction. Loving Others in His name, is a natural response, a natural comportment, for One who is loved so much by God.
There is no limit to the amount of Love God wants to shower on us. God help me, if I abuse, waste, reject or disregard any portion of It. Your Highness, as a child of God with this gift of filial Fear of the Lord, in Jesus' name, govern over your heavenly Father's affairs. I am sure that sharing these experiences with you, reveal how these wonderful gifts come into use in our daily lives. They are indispensable in living our vocation as God's child in Christ Jesus, as His Monarch in our little realm of the Kingdom of God.
17.10 The bottom-line.
Your Highness, the crown jewels you received at your baptism, are worn from the time of your confirmation, a time when you will need them most, a time when you begin the wonderful adventure of living the life that lies ahead of you. In return, your holy vocation is to produce much fruit. In Christ Jesus, you are to bring honor and glory to your heavenly Father, from whom you came and in whose image He made you.
Pray, read and learn all you can about these precious treasures. Walk in our dear Lord's footsteps. Ask your Mother Mary to teach you how to wear your jeweled crown (your baptism and confirmation) with pride and with authority. Ask Her to help you learn from Her Son. You will become all that you really are and your happiness will be complete. Remember Jesus tells us, "It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit and then you will be my disciples." (11)
Our baptism has made us richer than any other treasure. Everything our Father has is ours as well.
Footnotes.