May 13 Mon
Should I still love the Church?
Many downturns affect the life of the Church, and the Roman Pontiff, charged by Jesus Christ with the task and responsibility of guiding and protecting the Church, feels this concern and vigilance in a unique and profound way. As St. Paul wrote, "There is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches" (2 Cor 11:28). This reminds all Christians of the responsibility we have to support and love the Church, even in the face of its weaknesses, even at great personal cost.
Our love for the Church should grow stronger when we see the imperfections of her members. We must embrace the adjective "Roman" that identifies us as children of the one true Church, and strive to bring others into this Roman identity. However, part of this endeavor is preparing our souls to remain faithful and unwavering, even when we witness the shortcomings of those within the Church.
The Church is inherently holy, and the Holy Spirit constantly manifests this holiness through the life of the Church. Jesus Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her, so that she may be sanctified and presented to him "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing" (Eph 5:27). However, it is important to remember that the Church, while divine, is also human. It is made up of flawed individuals, all of whom have weaknesses and faults.
Throughout history, Christian souls have experienced the reality that no member of the Church is exempt from personal weaknesses. They may make mistakes and behave in ways that are not in line with the teachings of the Church. St. Josemaría wrote that knowing about these weaknesses can prevent us from being scandalized by news of such failings. It can also help us grow in love for the Church, the Spouse of Christ, and move us to cover the faults we observe in others with the cloak of charity and discretion.
While we desire for all people to become saints, our service to the Church is not contingent upon the personal holiness of its members. Our service and love are directed towards the immaculate Bride of Christ. As St. Josemaría said, we should never doubt or suspect the Church. Nor should we tolerate others doing so without protesting. We should not seek out the vulnerabilities of the Church caused by the actions of individuals in order to criticize her. Instead, we should love and speak about the Church with warmth and affection, just as we would for our own mother.
In the Magnificat, the Blessed Virgin echoed the marvelous deeds that God had done for the benefit of mankind. Let us implore her to obtain for us from our Lord the grace to genuinely love the Church of God and the Roman Pontiff, and to actively contribute to the dissemination of the Christian message.
Torreciudad: The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the 2nd Sorrowful Mystery: Mortification. Purity.
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