The Best Defense

His is still one of the most popular names for boys, even in this era of innovation in naming children.  But otherwise, Saint Michael has fallen on some hard times lately.

Everybody knows Saint Michael the Archangel.  He wields the flaming sword, and drives Lucifer and his rebel angels out of heaven and away from the presence of God because of their refusal to serve.   He appears at various junctures to bring the help of the Host of God to the assistance of those who do serve him.  For this prominent and recurring role in salvation history, he is known not only to Christians, but also to Jews and even Muslims.  He is the patron saint of law enforcement and paratroopers, among others, for obvious reasons.  

I bring him to your attention because this weekend, Sunday takes place on his feast day.  For that, it is “suppressed,” or not celebrated, this year; but I do not want it to pass unobserved.  Since the liturgical revisions of 1970, he shares his day with Saints Gabriel and Raphael, the other two Archangels, who have distinctive missions and characters of their own.  This day customarily initiated the fall academic semester at the ancient universities of Europe, which is why in England it was (and may still be) known as “Michaelmas Term.”  You can see why it would be prominent in people’s minds then – but not so much any more.

Saint Michael has a great prayer, too, which also has fallen into desuetude.  It was recited together by the priest and congregation after all Low (said) Masses until the liturgical reforms after the Second Vatican Council, one of the few elements of Sunday worship that was in English, rather than Latin.  I commend it to you all now.  The only folks who have no need of it are the ones who do not confront evil.  Who of us can claim that privilege?  Learn it and, as the saying goes, use it early and often: 

Prayer to Saint Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!

Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,

and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,

by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan

and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world

seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen

Offer this prayer for yourselves in your desire for salvation, that you be defended against anything or anyone, any sin or any sabotage, that would separate you from the service of the saving God.  Offer this prayer also for all those who daily choose to serve, often in one uniform or another, who protect you from evil in this world: evil in nature, and evil in the hearts of men; evil abroad, and evil at home.  Offer this prayer for our brothers and sisters in the Christian faith, who confront evil daily in their lives because of their loyalty to Christ.

This is the charge of this great Archangel, who has demonstrated his willingness to fulfill it throughout the ages in response to the needs of those who call upon him, all who are willing and eager to recognize and respond to Him who alone made us and saves us, not as Lucifer did in his rebellion and rejection, but as God’s own Son did: Not my will, Father, but your will be done.  I will serve.  This is the profession we are able to make that unites us to this great Archangel, and moreover, to Christ Himself. 

“Hard times” are precisely where he is most at home.  Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! 

Monsignor Smith

Organ-ic

For the average person who comes up the driveway, our campus looks so solid and massive.  This is one big, well-built church!

What they wouldn’t know and wouldn’t notice is the hundreds of not-so-stationary elements that make this church as solid as it is.  No one of them is big, but all of them together are impressive and effective.

One of the inevitable and important elements of our existence as a parish church is the annual Cardinal’s Appeal.  We participate as individual members of the local church, but also as a parish community supporting our Archdiocese.  Normally by late April I let you know how we have done on our pledging and participation, but this year I have been reluctant to say.

That’s because there was a problem; several, in fact.  The initial report of our pledges came back crazy low, 59% of goal.  But it didn’t come to me until crazy late, late June, instead of early April.  The report was late and uncertain because the Cardinal’s Appeal people had inaugurated a new database system this year.  They couldn’t tell me why our numbers were low; they weren’t even confident that the reports were accurate.

Right about that time we started getting calls from folks asking about their checks and their pledges that had not been processed.  I knew something was wrong, and began to investigate.  You may remember I made announcements at Mass.    A few weeks later, we found it.

All of our pledges from the in-pew were neatly sorted and sealed in bags for delivery to the Archdiocese – and sitting in our counting room downstairs.  The volunteer had done all the prep work and assumed the staffers would deliver them to the bank; the staffers had figured the volunteer had delivered them.  And so they sat. 

When I found them, I called the Cardinal’s Appeal office with some embarrassment.  He was excited, because it meant there were Appeal pledges and donations he had not received.  I was excited, because it meant our parish was not dodging the Appeal.  He called everyone whose pledge or check and not been processed, explained what had happened, and asked permission to deposit the checks or reschedule withdrawals for the full amount.  100% of the folks said yes!

So now, we are at over 95% our goal pledged for the Appeal.  I am grateful, and the Appeal office is impressed with, everyone’s generosity and understanding.  Thank you all very much.

You will have noticed last weekend that the organ is back.  Chesapeake Organ Service brought us the console late last week, and because of the generous response of parishioners David Fricke and James Horstkamp, necessary electrical work was done.  Further fine tuning was applied this week. 

You may not be able to hear the difference from before, but I think I can.  Mainly you hear the difference of having a real instrument working properly, with craftsmanship and beauty, played by a master like Richard Fitzgerald.  Many parishes do not have a real organ; through the commitment of our forebears, we do. 

After Mass today, come up the side aisle to see the new console.  Richard will be happy to give you a “tour” of it, and point out the improvements and features. 

Musicians and technicians, Appeal volunteers and rectory staffers; all are components of a marvelous instrument that is our parish.  Bigger than our buildings, diverse and harmonic rather than massive or monolithic: our parish is one big, well-built Communion. 

Monsignor Smith

Lessons

This is the week of Back to School Nights.  We have two here, and on the evening in between, Blair High School across the street has theirs.  Our parking lot will show it!  It’s a chance for parents, teachers, and school leaders to get to know one another, go over the programs, and set the goals for a year for those important people in our lives, the kids.

Every year about this time, I have written here about our school, its families, and its cost.  I would point out the cost of tuition, the strain it places on many of our families, and the efforts to which our parish goes to reduce the strain and help the families.  I would suggest that even at this late date, a contribution toward our tuition fund could help some parents give their children a Catholic education. 

One of the reasons I did this was that one parishioner would remind me.  Every August, John Huffman would linger after the five o’clock Mass, come to me with a bulletin, and hint that he was wondering whether there would be any request for tuition assistance.  No request, he implied, indicated that there was no need.  If there was a need, he had something he was ready to offer.

This past winter, John succumbed to a cancer he fought for some months.  His brother Michael, who ushered that Saturday Mass and had lived with John since their parents died, moved off to Pennsylvania where he has other family.  Then last month, at about the time John would come to me with his not-so-subtle hint, we received a letter.

I learned that John had left a bequest to the parish in his will – two, in fact.  One, the smaller of the two, was just a bit more than he gave each year in tuition assistance. He also left a significantly larger sum, designated for capital projects of the parish.

John, soft-spoken and inconspicuous, was a lifelong parishioner of Saint Bernadette.  Though he did not designate it as such, I will apply the smaller sum this year to continue what he did each year for the families whom we help with tuition assistance.  This is the last year he will “remind” me to make known to all of you this particular need we have right here in our midst.

Tuition for one child, at the Subsidized Rate we offer to parishioners, this year was $6850.  It may be hard for you to believe that this substantial sum is actually a significant reduction of the rate from the previous year.  It was my hope, along with our principal, Mrs. Cheri Wood, and our Finance Council, that this reduced “sticker price” would reduce the sticker shock and make it easier for more families to participate in our school, especially new families who have no direct experience of what a great experience and education our school provides. 

Alas, our enrollment is lower this year, after the departure of an enormous eighth-grade class, and the entry of a small kindergarten class.  A smaller student body makes it hard not to raise per-child costs.  Higher costs deter new families. 

Please consider taking up the mantle that John Huffman and several other parishioners have been quietly bearing for these recent years.  Offer something to help us help families bring their kids to the riches of a solid Catholic education. 

One of the things the kids learn in our school is how we help one another.   In this lesson, there is never a bad time for a Back to School Night.

Monsignor Smith

Front Page

If you are reading this on Saturday, it’s still August.  Otherwise, it is September now and, Labor Day festivities to the contrary notwithstanding, time to get serious.   Sigh; August is always the stickiest page of my calendar.  But here’s some news you can use:

First of all, the boys are back in town!  Father McCabe and Father McDonell returned in time to begin the fall semester at Catholic University, both of them rested and ready, though neither seems terribly tanned.  Yes, that IS Fr. McDonell – he just got his hair cut.  And grew a beard.  No, he is NOT a fugitive from law enforcement trying to disguise his identity.  Like most of us, you’ll know him when he opens his mouth.  We know our sheep, and our sheep know our voice.

Secondly, we have been assigned seminarian from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, who will join us about eighteen weekends between now and April.  Deacon Corey Krengiel is from the Diocese of Peoria (in Illinois) and will be preaching, teaching, and baptizing here among us as he grows in grace, and moves toward Ordination to the Holy Priesthood.  I went up to the Mount to meet him this week, and am confident you will enjoy having him with us.  One thing that particularly delighted me was to learn that one of the biggest influences in his vocation is a priest of Peoria named Fr. Antonio Dittmer, who is a seminary classmate and old friend of mine.  Have no fear, the next generation is here!  How exciting. 

You will hear more about Deacon Krengiel, in his own words, in this space sometime in the coming weeks.  Look for him at Mass next weekend!

Speaking of looking for people at Mass, I look forward to seeing folks next weekend when everyone returns from summer travels.  But in the meantime, you may notice something odd this weekend:  you won’t see me at Mass.  For the first time since mid-March – of 2012! – I will not be here during the weekend. 

It is rather a busman’s holiday, of course, since I will be saying Sunday Mass in a big parish much like this one, and celebrating a couple’s Golden Jubilee of marriage on Saturday.  But the parish is the one where grew up, and since the couple is my mom and dad, I think it won’t be too onerous.

Not returned from vacation yet is our organ console.  Much of the rewiring of the pipes has been done for weeks, but the console rebuilding has taken rather longer than planned.  The good news is that it will be rather more beautiful and versatile than was first planned.  Trust me; you’ll know when it is back.

But we will hardly be returning to the status quo ante.  Richard Fitzgerald, our music director of four years, has accepted an appointment as associate music director of the Basilica of the National Shrine.  It is a more prestigious job at a more prestigious place, and will give him more work to do, now that he has achieved his doctorate.  He and Msgr. Rossi, rector of the Basilica, are being very gracious in giving us time to make the transition, and helpful in finding the right person to take over our liturgical music program here.  They know it is one of the best, if not the best, parish music program in the metropolitan area, and we look to build on all that goodness, of which Richard has been such a vital part.

He will be with us for another month.  By then, fall will be in full swing and so will all the other good things that happen here.  For now, savor another burger and enjoy those sandals for a few more days.  Then all together, let’s turn the page.

Monsignor Smith

Detailing

Look at your car.

Now, I do not know where you have been this summer, but I have a feeling I could probably learn a good bit by looking at your car.  Sand in the foot wells is a sure sign of a trip to the beach.  Lots of sand means lots of beach time….or a lot of people who really enjoy the beach!  But what else in in there, and what does it say about how you spent your summer?

Are there cups from fast-food places, water bottles, extra napkins, and wadded-up empty bags that held treats? Are there candies under the seats and down in the tracks they slide on?  Are there ribbons, barrettes, and brushes, or other grooming aids, because you did a lot of your primping in the car?  Are there brochures from parks or attractions, maps and guides?  How about shoes, shirts, or hats?  Are those batteries rolling around down there?  How many games and puzzles are in there?  These are all signs of a long family road trip.  Is that an old french-fry I smell?

Is there evidence of many trips to the pool, or maybe to the pick-your-own fruit place?  What’s still there from the end of your team’s baseball season, or the last Irish dance event?  Is that a program from a concert, or maybe a Nats game?  Is that the flag they handed out at the Fourth-of-July fireworks show you went to?  What about the parking stub from when you left your car at the airport?  Did you ever finish that paperback that’s in there?

Sunscreen and spare sunglasses, bug repellent and hand lotion, tissues new and used.  The car holds so many of the supplies we need for our adventures.  Father Nick keeps golf clubs in his, I have my hiking poles.  The car tells a lot about how we spend our time.  Look at your car, and you’ll see a veritable Smithsonian exhibit about your summer.

If that’s what your car has accumulated, imagine what your soul looks like.  Dirt, debris, and grit from a carefree time when everybody just wants to relax and have fun, and duties are postponed or ignored.  Evidence of excess or neglect can build up in your life just as much as in your car.

That’s why I recommend a trip to the detailer.  It was always my job in my family to clean up the cars, including a good scouring after summer vacation, inside and out.  Some years I swear I could have filled a dumpster – especially after that big 6,000-mile trip out west in ’78.  I did the same thing with my parents’ cars as recently as three years ago!  I always thought it was fun and rewarding, but I don’t know a kid who does that anymore.   Now they have professionals who can help you.

Similarly, bring that soul in to a professional for a good detailing session.  This time of transition from flip-flops to lace-ups and sunscreen to computer screen is a perfect time to get everything in order.  You may not think you have enough to warrant a trip now, but even if you couldn’t fill a dumpster, you’re not going to remember in Advent what you committed or omitted in July.  Don’t tell yourself you have too many errands to run; write grace and mercy right at the top of your list of school supplies. 

Look at that car.  Bring everyone in the family out to the driveway to look at it and be reminded how great their summer was.  Then, pile everybody into it, and come up here, or go to the Franciscan Monastery, or the Basilica for one last excursion: to the confessional!  Get those souls as pristine as they were on the day of your baptism!  It’s even better than that new-car smell. 

Then once you’re home, for Pete’s sake, do something about that car.

Monsignor Smith