Anniversary of the death of Pope John XXIII

Wednesday, June 3 marks the anniversary of the death of Blessed Pope John XXIII (1881-1963). In the third month of his pontificate, he surprised many people by announcing his intention to convene the Twenty-First Ecumenical Council of the Church, now know as Vatican Council II. Through God's grace, he lived to convene the Council on October 11, 1962. His opening address is available on many websites and includes a passage that I always find insightful and inspiring:

In the daily exercise of our pastoral office, we sometimes have to listen, much to our regret, to voices of persons who, though burning with zeal, are not endowed with too much sense of discretion or measure. In these modern times they can see nothing but prevarication and ruin. They say that our era, in comparison with past eras, is getting worse, and they behave as though they had learned nothing from history, which is, none the less, the teacher of life. They behave as though at the time of former Councils everything was a full triumph for the Christian idea and life and for proper religious liberty.

We feel we must disagree with those prophets of gloom, who are always forecasting disaster, as though the end of the world were at hand.

In the present order of things, Divine Providence is leading us to a new order of human relations which, by men's own efforts and even beyond their very expectations, are directed toward the fulfilment of God's superior and inscrutable designs. And everything, even human differences, leads to the greater good of the Church.

I am often struck by the wisdom of this phrase. It is easy to forget, but while the challenges of our day may be unique, they are no more severe than many other epochs. As we face these challenges, God gives us the grace to glorify him and build up the Church.

Today would be a good day to review a biography of Blessed John XXIII (click here for one on the Vatican's website). I have always been most inspired by this holy man because of his tremendous trust in the working of the Holy Spirit and his true sense of love for God's people.

It also serves as a reminder to regularly consider the rich documents of that Council, which are available on the Holy See's website. For those involved in liturgy, the first 14 paragraphs of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy would provide ample material for summer prayer and reflection.

Finally, remember to thank God today for his servant Pope John XXIII. May we listen to the Spirit as intently as Good Pope John.