Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Biographical Information about St. Francis Xavier Cabrini
Readings for Monday

Reading 1 Ti 1:1-9

Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Gospel Lk 17:1-6

Reflection:

We begin this week hearing the introduction of Paul’s letter to Titus on Crete. The main purpose of, what are called the Pastoral Letters of first and second Timothy and Titus, is the establishment of norms for selecting leaders and defense of doctrine. Of Titus himself we know little:

The Pauline assistant who is addressed, Titus, was a Gentile Christian, but we are nowhere informed of his place of birth or residence. He went from Antioch with Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem (Gal 2:1; cf Acts 15:2). According to 2 Corinthians (2 Cor 2:13; 7:6, 13-14), he was with Paul on his third missionary journey; his name, however, does not appear in Acts. Besides being the bearer of Paul's severe letter to the Corinthians (2 Cor 7:6-8), he had the responsibility of taking up the collection in Corinth for the Christian community of Jerusalem (2 Cor 8:6, 16-19, 23). In the present letter (Titus 1:5), he is mentioned as the administrator of the Christian community in Crete, charged with the task of organizing it through the appointment of presbyters and bishops (Titus 1:5-9; here the two terms refer to the same personages).[1]

These letters demonstrate that the view of the Church about clergy was not always what it is today. But then, if we think about it, a great deal of Church doctrine has changed since the earliest days of the Church. Some people will read these letters and say; “See, the celibate clergy is not what was intended.” To which I would respond, “You are right, in the first century after Christ, when these letters were written by St. Paul, the idea of celibate bishops and presbyters was not doctrinal. But, neither was the concept of the Holy Spirit and the Trinitarian God. Much of what we now accept as a fact of faith was not part of the original body of understanding. The Church is organic; it is constantly reinventing itself as greater discernment helps us to better understand God’s will and intent.

Let’s look at the life of the incredible woman whose feast day we celebrate today, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, as an example of how, what appears to be God’s will is recognized and realized. She was born a farm girl in Italy and while she was educated at a convent school, she was initially not allowed to pursue her vocation because of her health. It could have stopped there. But she continued to listen to God and took her vows in 1877 (at age 27 which in that era was approaching middle aged). Her spirituality and industry earned her the respect of Pope Leo XIII who sent her to the US where she continued to set up schools and hospitals. Her missionary activities sent her to South America where she contracted malaria which ultimately caused her death.

Who would have read her birth notice, one of the 13 in her family, and said; “Ah, that one will be a Saint in the Church and the first one to be canonized as a citizen of the United States of America.” Which of us can say that our journey has found its ultimate path? Which of us might accomplish great things? That too is in God’s hands and our hearts.

- Pax

[1] From the Introduction to Titus, New American Bible Copyright © 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC.