By Fr. David Steffy, L.C., Chargé of the Holy See
November 4th, 2024 - Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
Dear Friends of the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center,
Greetings from Jerusalem, united in our prayers and intentions for peace.
I am writing to you on the morning of the Feast of All Saints. I love this day and the opportunity to celebrate the heroic examples of men and women, many of whom have influenced how I experience and live my life. As a young boy, when I was not playing sports, I would spend my time reading. The first novel I read, probably an abridged version, was Oliver Twist, which I read from cover to cover without interruption. I had a fever one day, so my time in bed could not have been more delightful.
From then on, I was hooked. Our Catholic school library had a whole section on books about the saints. I read all of them within the year. The stories of St. Francis, St. Xavier, St. Martin de Porres, St. Isaac Jogues, and the rest inspired me and encouraged me to live in a way that would inspire and encourage others. It was that simple. I admired how each one had their own character and forged their unique paths to God.
One of my favorite early stories is that of St. Anthony of Padua, who was shunned by the people of Rimini because they wanted nothing to do with his homilies on conversion and the love of the Lord. While walking by the shore, after almost being run out of town, he began sharing his reflections and prayers with the fish. He cried out, “You, fish of the river and sea, listen to the Word of God because the heretics do not wish to hear it.” You can guess what happened when all the fish of the river began to surge towards the shore as if wanting to listen to what he had to say. It might have been just another fish story, but to me, it was an example of God’s love for all creatures and a reminder that being holy means stepping into the deep of faith and witnessing to God’s power to transform. As you can imagine, after that, he became a fisher of men.
I learned from the saints that true love of the Lord is manifested through humble service, especially toward those most in need. They shunned power and sought hidden ways to serve, like Mother Teresa who, when in New York City, would rise early in the morning to help minister to terminally ill patients at a hospice her community staffed in Greenwich Village.
We are all uniquely made in the Father’s image out of love, and therefore, our lives have deep meaning. You and I are not called to be another St. Anthony or St. Mother Teresa. We might not be called to wake up early to tend to the sick and dying or have the ability to “preach to the fish.” But we are called to love as God intended us to, according to the talents He has gifted us with, and to let the presence and strength of God, who dwells within us, transform the world through us, one small act of love at a time.
I can affirm that many of the women and men living in the Holy Land are doing just that. They may never be officially canonized, and their stories may never be published in books or newspapers. All the same, their silent witness of virtue and self-giving love is making a difference in the lives of so many. They are witnesses to hope.
So, as I pray for you seated here in the chapel of Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, my wish is that the message of hope transmitted through the lives of holy women and men encourages you greatly on this Feast of All Saints.
We continue to pray for peace and an end to all conflicts both here in the Holy Land and throughout the world.
Sincerely in the Risen Lord,
Fr. David Steffy, LC
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