Urging courage and conviction amid what he described as “days that call for the unconquerable faith of Abraham,” Archbishop William E. Lori told Baltimore’s Jesuit community Oct. 20 that their mission must be to remain “pilgrims of hope” in an age of indifference.
Archbishop Lori visited the St. Ignatius House at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore to celebrate Mass and address the Jesuits during their local community’s monthly liturgy, meeting and dinner.
Archbishop Lori thanked the Jesuits “for the ministries you advance and sustain in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, whether it is here at Loyola University, or Loyola Blakefield, or St. Ignatius Parish, or the Father Watters’ network of schools and much more.”
The evening left a strong impression, according to Jesuit Father Gregory Chisolm, superior of Jesuits active in Baltimore.
“It was great to have him in our presence,” Father Chisolm said. “He was very well-prepared, insightful and laudatory of our work. We appreciate him being with us.”
Father Chisolm described the archbishop’s remarks as both poignant and “welcomed,” offering gratitude for the Jesuits’ ministries and a challenge to continue echoing the spirit of the late Pope Francis as “messengers of hope.”
In his homily, Archbishop Lori noted the shared roots of the archdiocese and the Society of Jesus in America, saying the archdiocese is “standing on the shoulders of these Jesuit pioneers” such as Jesuit Father Andrew White and Archbishops John Carroll and Leonard Neale. He urged the Jesuits to continue their spirit of “faith and hope.”
“When St. Paul describes the indomitable faith of Abraham – who believed when there was little reason to believe, and hoped when all appeared hopeless – he could be describing those who went before us in faith here in Maryland, a colony that was founded to protect and advance religious freedom, but instead morphed into a place where the Catholic faith could be practiced only sub rosa,” Archbishop Lori said.
He added that faith is more important than ever, given the current political climate in the United States.
“We are living in days that call for the unconquerable faith of Abraham, and likewise, the faith of Ignatius and the Jesuit missionaries and martyrs, not to mention my predecessors who helped lay the foundations of the church in these United States,” Archbishop Lori said.
“In challenging days such as these, we can sometimes imagine all is lost. Dioceses and provinces are facing crippling lawsuits. In many quarters, the appetite for the faith has greatly diminished. We are confronted more with indifference than hostility. Of the two, I’d prefer hostility. At least you get to sing for your supper!” he said, drawing laughter from the community.
Archbishop Lori told those gathered that he found hope during a recent trip to Rome, which he described as overflowing with pilgrims.
“I can attest that amazing things are happening to innumerable souls thanks to the vision and leadership of the late Pope Francis,” he said. “Even as we fondly remember him in our prayers, let us ask him to pray for us from his place in eternity, that you and I might be pilgrims of hope during our life’s journey, and more than that, prophets of hope in an ecclesial and secular culture that has grown comfortable, self-righteous and self-referential.’”
To read Archbishop Lori’s full homily, visit archbalt.org/archbishop-loris-homily-jesuit-community-of-loyola-monday-of-29th-week/
Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@catholicreview.org
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