Msgr. Franco, his insight and guidance

From the Pastor's Desk

February 13, 2000

My dear friends:

As you enter the main Church from the vestibule, I am sure you have noticed the golden book with the names of the Benefactors and below it is a yellow box with the word “QUESTIONS.” That box is very important if we wish to deepen our knowledge of religion and express our concerns over matters touching our every day life.

I am, therefore, very happy to respond briefly to the following question which has been placed in the box recently.

The question reads as follows:
“My son read the article about Nick Springer in last Sunday’s paper and felt so bad for this young man that lost his hands and part of his legs. He mentioned to me that he doesn’t understand how come God lets this happen? I didn’t know how to give him an answer. All I could think of is a saying that my Irish Mom used to tell us all the time. “God fits the back for burden.” It’s like it happens to people that can deal with the problem and then it turns out that they are an inspiration to others who aren’t able to deal with adversities??”

In a nut shell, the question could be posed in the following general terms: “WHY SUFFERING?!”

Even last Sunday the gospel reading and the first reading offered us the opportunity to meditate on suffering. Peter’s mother-in-law’s sickness is the symbol of the human condition. Buddha (563? – 483? BC) the “Enlightened One”, taught that everything in life is suffering: birth is suffering, existence is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering. The early Jewish tradition believed that suffering was punishment for a sin committed. Job, however, is “the innocent one” and yet he is burdened with almost unbearable adversities: in a short time he loses all his possessions, his seven sons and three daughters and the esteem of his own wife and close friends.

In the world of today, it is hard to explain – for instance, why so many children are massacred simply because they are caught somewhere in the midst of meaningless wars. Why so many illnesses, why old age, why death, We get the impression at times that every human being – even the most fortunate one – is born…to suffer!

It is indeed inexplicable…if we want to find a rational answer to the question. We know however, that – according to the teaching of our faith – God created man in his own image and therefore in condition of happiness (no sickness, no old age, no death) then, down along the line, something happened, something, which we call original sin, and - as a consequence of that sin, we experience sickness, old age, death.

God, therefore, did not create a sea of human suffering, but rather – and this is actually the explanation of our faith – HE IMMERSED HIMSELF PERSONALLY IN THE SUFFERING OF HUMANITY. Take a look at the CRUCIFIX and you will understand suffering. He – the Son of God – did not have to do it…yet HE DID IT OUT OF LOVE!

My friend, if Jesus had not suffered, any explanation would not have been credible or plausible!

We are grateful to the Lord because we have our faith. The first healing, therefore, should be the healing of our heart. If sin abides in us, it will be difficult to understand suffering. Hence, the importance of the sacrament of reconciliation where we receive the strength necessary to hear our infirmities. There we experience Jesus ready to help us with his personal touch, as he did with Peter’s mother-in-law: Jesus “grasped her hand and helped her up”!

We have been healed by Jesus so many times, we have been cured by him with a personal touch: let us, therefore, get up from our lethargy, and, following the example of Peter’s mother-in-law be ready to help wherever our services are needed.
God love you!

Monsignor Franco

P. S. Do not forget to use the ‘QUESTION BOX” for your personal or general questions.

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January 30, 2000

Friends:

Christmas 1999 is gone and the new millennium has burst in with no apparent traumas. We had ventured to say last December that January 1, 2000 would have been another day just like December 31, 1999 and so many other days!... except for a handful (so to speak) of young and not so young people who were privileged to witness in the Eternal City of Rome events that will remain with them as long as they live and...beyond. I am talking about our Children's Choir and those who accompanied it.

The Audience with the Holy Father the day after they arrived and the way they serenaded the Pope from their prominent position up front in the Nervi Hall; their presence at so many different and memorable happenings during those days; the Mass celebrated in a chapel next to the tomb of Saint Peter's Basilica; the "Te Deum" sung by our Children's Choir at the solemn concelebrated Mass at the end of the year - century - millennium in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles; their fun filled celebration, way into the new year-century-millennium during the night; the Mass sung on January 2nd in Saint Peter's Basilica with thousands of "PUERI CONTORES" who had come from every corner of the world for the "Jubilee of the Young" and the encounter with the Holy Father immediately afterwards in Saint Peter's Square; the concert given by the Saint Augustine' Children's Choir in the Cathedral of Rieti; the visits to Assisi and Pompeii; etc.

Of course, at times it was taxing! For instance, walking back and forth from the hotel with so many events to attend was a good occasion to ...stay fit and not be bothered by possible detrimental effects carried by a delicious Italian cuisine!

But every hardship would vanish when we would think that we were privileged to be part of history. I am sure in years to come, children and grandchildren of the Saint Augustine's contingent will hear about those historical dates and reminisce about the many stories related to them

From the pages of this Bulletin let me congratulate Mrs. Emily Grober and all the people involved in the preparation of this tremendous undertaking who have carried out such an enormous task with unparalleled enthusiasm.

God Love you All!

Monsignor Franco

Insights for Living

by Monsignor Franco