Feast of Blessed Brother André
January 6
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| The following homily was delivered by
Rev. Ken Molinaro, CSC, January 6, 2006, at the
7 a.m. liturgy in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Notre
Dame, Indiana. |
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In today’s Office of Readings, we hear the passage from Isaiah:
“Here is my servant who I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit…”
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| We hear that same message echoed in
today’s gospel: |
- It was the anointing of the Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus
for mission.
- It was the power of the Holy Spirit that guided the apostles
in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.
- And it was that same Spirit that so filled the life of our
Brother André in bringing God’s healing love to those who
came into his presence.
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| Today our Church and Congregation
celebrate the life of Brother André Bessette, CSC…“a man of
prayer and a friend of the poor, a truly astonishing man…” |
- At Brother André’s beatification, Pope John Paul II
noted: “A daily crowd of the sick, the afflicted, the poor
of all kinds – those who were wounded by life – came to him.
They found in his presence…a welcome ear, comfort, faith in
God, confidence in the intercession of Saint Joseph…”
- The Spirit of the Lord was in him…enabling him to open a way
to healing the wholeness for the thousands who came into his
presence.
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| When you think of the life of Brother
André, isn’t it amazing how God uses the ordinary, simple gifts
of this poor humble servant – porter and custodian – blessing
him, transforming his gifts into something beautiful for God! |
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“Here is my servant…my chosen one with whom I am pleased…” |
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| It’s a lesson for each of us. For we
– in witness of Brother André – are reminded that our lives are
not measured by the positions we hold, the degrees we possess or
the power we wield, but by the quality of love emanating from within…a love that
speaks of the presence of the Spirit. |
To live humbly, mindful of the presence of God as the source
of our being, radiant with love for others.
That’s the holiness to which we have been called.
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| Like Brother André and all the great
saints, God takes the ordinary gifts we have been given, blesses
them, whispering within our hearts: “you are my beloved, my
chosen one.” |
And like the Eucharist we share, our lives are blessed, broken
and shared with others.
That’s the power of God’s love!
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And so today we pray:
Blessed Brother André …pray for us. Intercede
on our behalf. Heal us from all that keeps us from hearing the
voice of the Spirit speaking within!
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