Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 24, 2025 Column Father De Celles

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Memorial Day. This Monday America celebrates Memorial Day, a day of
honoring those in our military who have given their lives not merely for our nation,
but for the life, liberty and happiness of each and every individual American. At
the Last Supper Christ told His apostles, “No greater love has a man than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.” That saying pertains directly to His
Crucifixion, it is reflected in the death of every military man or woman who has
laid down their lives for us. We owe them an incredible debt—one we must try to
repay by living lives worthy of the sacrifice they’ve made for us—lives built on the
idea of freedom to become the best we can be, not freedom to do as we please.
And we can pray for them, that they might receive the heavenly reward.
Sacrament of Confirmation. Last week, Bishop Paul Loverde came to
administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to our 8 th graders and few others.
Congratulations to them all! Reception of this sacrament is the beginning of a
new stage in the Christian life, as these young people receive the strengthening
of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, along with His seven-fold gifts, to participate
more fully in the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the
world. Please keep them in your prayers.
First Holy Communion. Congratulations to all the little children who received
First Holy Communion at Masses during the last 3 weeks. What a beautiful thing
to see them so devoutly receive Our Lord Jesus for the first time in the Eucharist,
and to witness their evident joy afterwards. It reminds us of all of Jesus’ call to
“become like little children,’ especially in our complete faith and tender love for
Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Please keep them in your prayers going
forward.
Priest Transfers. Last week Bishop Burbidge announced a whole bunch of new
priest assignments and transfers. Thanks be to God, St. Raymond’s was not
affected—Fr. Bergida, Fr. Horkan and I will remain for another year! I am blessed
to serve with these 2 excellent priests as I begin my 16 th year as your pastor.
(Remember, Fr. Horkan lives here, but has a full-time job at the Diocesan
Chancery and Tribunal, so can help us only as his schedule permits).
Welcome Home Collegians! It’s been wonderful to see all our college “kids”
coming home for the summer, especially the new college
graduates—congratulations! I hope you will all be active in the parish this
summer, especially through receiving the sacrament of Penance and coming to
Holy Mass. It’s great to have you home.
Important Reminder: Sign of Peace. One lesson we learned from the Covid
pandemic was that the exchanging of the Sign of Peace by the people in the
pews with their neighbor is not always either practical or preferable. In fact, we

found that many people feel pressured to participate in an act that makes them
feel uncomfortable or even afraid. For that reason, it is the policy at St.
Raymond’s that after the priest says, “the peace of the Lord be with you always,”
and the people respond, “and with your spirit,” the priest will not invite the
people to exchange the sign of peace (handshakes, hugs etc.) with each
other, and the Mass immediately moves on to the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).
Please remember that you should not go ahead and do it without him and the
rest of the congregation. Even with the best intention on your part it becomes a
sign of disunity, not peace.
Leonine Popes. Last week I wrote about the two most famous popes named
“Leo,” Leo I and Leo XIII. This week let’s look at 3 other important popes of that
name.
Pope Leo III was elected in 795, and was the pope who crowned
Charlemagne as the first Holy Roman emperor. Charlamagne had a huge
impact on the conversion of many pagan areas of Europe, as he insisted on unity
throughout the Empire. Many of his vassal kings and nobles sought his favor by
converting, and when the king or duke etc. converted, so did most of their
subjects. This in turn led to a more peaceful and stronger Empire, a thriving
Church, and an impetus toward missionary work.
Pope Leo IX was another important figure in history. He came to the
papacy in 1049, at a time with the relationship between the east and west, i.e.,
the Bishop of Rome and Patriarch of Constantinople was increasing stressed.
Over the centuries Liturgical, cultural and theological differences had increased,
and the question of the authority of the Pope over the Patriarch became more
and more contentious. By the time Leo IX can to the chair of Peter the wester
(Latin) and western (Greek) rites of the Church were deeply divided, so much so
that the Patriarch forbade the use of the Latin liturgy in the east. To resolve this
and other questions Leo sent
Things came to a head after Constantinople closed all its Latin churches.
In response, Pope Leo IX sent his secretary Hubert, Cardinal-Bishop of Silva
Candida of Silva Candida, to Constantinople. But instead of resolving the issues
he delivered a bull of excommunication to Patriarch Michael Cerularius on
July 16, 1054, which began the Great Schism between the West and East the
continues today (Catholic Church v. Eastern Orthodox Church).
And then there is Pope Leo X, who pontificate lasted from 1513 to 21. He
was born Giovanni de’ Medici, the son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, a.k.a., “Lorenzo
the Magnificent,” the “Pope’s banker” and the ruler of Florence. Although publicly
pious, Leo was a very worldly pope, often accused of living an immoral personal
life and continuing the corruption of his predecessors during the so-called
“Renaissance Papacy.” He is famous for supposedly saying, “Let us enjoy the
papacy since God has given it to us.”

It was during his reign that Martin Luther, the German theologian and
Augustinian friar (the same order as Cardinal Prevost), became well known for
his accusations of corruption and error in the Church, especially through
publication of his Ninety-five Theses. In 921 Pope Leo X excommunicated
Luther and his followers, marking the formal beginning of the Protestant Revolt
(“the Reformation”).
Interesting. The main theme of these first days of our Pope Leo XIV
pontificate has been “unity.” It’s interesting that including Leo I and XIII, the name
“Leo” is strongly associated with “unity”—either by its increase (Leo I, III and XIII)
or decrease (Leo IX and X).
Pastor’s Giving Appeal. Thanks to all of you who have responded so
generously to the PGA. It is always encouraging to me that all I have to do is
remind you, and you come through for us. God bless you!
And thanks also to all who helped us reach 101% of our goal for the
Bishop’s Lenten Appeal.
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles