Pope Francis died on Easter Monday as the sun was rising over Rome. In Quebec City, it was still dark when I heard the news. I was left speechless, saddened but at the same time grateful for the life of this good shepherd who guided the Church for over 12 years! As I prayed the Easter psalms, my heart was filled with memories… and still is today!
In a few days, we’ll be celebrating Valentine’s Day. I know that many of my friends – especially in Latin America – resist the idea, saying that it’s a North American celebration with a commercial flavour: chocolates, flowers, romantic outings, etc. But in recent days, I’ve found myself listening to love songs and romantic ballads; I’ve even been inspired to write some poetry. Because in an increasingly chaotic world, there’s no doubt that we need more love and tenderness…
I’m singing Raymond Lévesque’s song this afternoon: “When men will live of love, there will be no more wretchedness; and the beautiful days will begin, but we’ll be dead, my brother. When men will live of love, there will be peace on earth; the soldiers will be troubadours and we, we will be dead my brother.” Tears well up in my eyes as I hum…
There are some women who leave a lasting impression on our lives. In addition to my mother, who gave me life and faith, I think of Miss Bernice Parent, Miss Alice Pinsonneault, Sister St-Gilbert. These are elementary school teachers who have marked my intelligence as much as my soul. But life moves on, and other women cross our path… and open up furrows that leave permanent marks within us.
“And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are certainly not the last among the chief towns of Judah, for from you a leader will come forth, who will be the shepherd of my people Israel” (Mt 2:6). These words, which we will hear in our churches, will no doubt cause a twinge of sadness this year. For as I write these lines, workers are at work removing the decorations from the Nativity Square in Bethlehem. Nor will there be the big Christmas tree that we see in the world’s great squares.
From the windows at Newark Airport, I see a large United 787 Dreamliner. It’s not the one that will take me to Guadalajara – where I’m headed for an international seminar of the St. Andrew’s School of Evangelization – but I admit that on this Earth Day, I feel a certain unease.
“During the upcoming 2022-2027 term, the Pius X Secular Institute is committed to being sensitive to the global phenomenon of migration and will promote among its members gestures and actions that raise awareness of this social and human phenomenon in order to foster empathy and solidarity with migrants, displaced persons and refugees.” These are the words found at the beginning of a declaration that the members of the 2022 General Assembly unanimously approved less than a year ago.
International Women’s Day is coming to an end. All over the world, people have been highlighting the valuable contribution of women in society and the struggles still to be fought for the full recognition of their dignity. And rightly so… because it is not because it is 2023 that it is a foregone conclusion.