Remembering Thoughtful Bishops

It's time for Confirmation in the local Oak Park Roman Catholic Parishes, which is an opportunity for episcopal presence.  A bishop comes to bestow the sacrament of Confirmation on the young people, connecting his role to the apostles who lay hands on the faithful to call down upon them the Holy Spirit.

I think particularly of two bishops who have come for Confirmations at Ascension who have since passed from this life to the next.

Bishop Manz demonstrated a strong pastoral heart, not just for the people in Vicariate IV of the Archdiocese of Chicago, but elsewhere in seeking to serve the needs of laborers.  And among his vestments, he wore a special medal of Our Lady of Guadalupe, reflecting his heritage.  At Confirmation Masses, he took time to show his care for the young people when they came before him for the individual anointing.

Bishop Birmingham didn't serve long as an auxiliary bishop before his passing.  He came to Ascension for Confirmation twice.  The first time, in February 2022, I recall that in his homily, he remarked that he made a visit to Ascension and was impressed by the ambo, wondering if anyone used it.  He was thrilled to ascend it at the Confirmation Mass.

The second time at Ascension, he gave such a thoughtful homily, using the metaphor of a kite.  The string may seem to hold us back, but really, it's what allows us to soar.  I pray that Bishop Birmingham is soaring high as his reward for faithfully serving God's people.

Not too far in the distant past is the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.  The one aspect about him that stands out to me is his gifted, scholarly mind.  His knowledge of God truly led him to be in a closer relationship with God.

A while back on The Cale Clarke Show on Relevant Radio, Cale shared portions of the homily he gave on his final birthday as Pope, back in 2012.  He noted that he was born on Holy Saturday in 1927 and baptized that very same day.  In his homily on April 16, 1927, he reflected on how life is a great gift, yet it finds even greater purpose when we enter into the divine life that we receive from God through baptism.

Perhaps that idea gives power to the words he spoke in his homily at his installation Mass.  "Each of is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary."  Indeed, we all have a purpose because God created us for it, and has loved us into creation so that we can all contribute our part to the world.

We give thanks to God for what these three Church leaders gave to us.