Mass of Reception
Archdiocese of
Feast of Saints
Peter and Paul
Cathedral of
by The Most
Reverend John C. Nienstedt
Longing
for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing
for truth, we turn to you.
Make
us your own, your holy people,
light
for the world to see.
Christ,
be our light!
Shine
in our hearts.
Shine
through the darkness.
Christ,
be our light!
Shine
in your Church gathered today.
What an
extraordinary grace to be received into this historic Archdiocese on the Feast
of Saints Peter and Paul! Here the
Church celebrates two very different men, but both possessing a passionate love
for Jesus who was, without any question or doubt, their Light and their Truth! As today’s Preface reminds us, “Peter is our
leader in faith and Paul, its fearless preacher . . . Each in his chosen way
gathered into unity the one family of Christ.”
Allow me to greet
with fraternal affection Archbishop Harry Flynn, who from his own Mass of
Reception on
At the same time, I
wish to thank the cardinals, bishops and priests who honor us with their
presence today. I am grateful for the
presence of Monsignor Martin Krebs who represents the Holy Father, Pope
Benedict XVI. Monsignor, please assure
our Holy Father of our love, obedience and loyalty. Bishop Joseph Imesch ordained me to the
priesthood in 1974, for which I will be eternally grateful. Cardinal Adam Maida ordained me to the
Episcopate in 1996 and then mentored me as a new bishop. From 1979-1984, Cardinal Justin Rigali taught
me the power of the written and spoken word as well as the courage to proclaim
the truth in love. And all my
compulsive, workaholic traits I learned from Bishop Dale Melczek between 1975
and 1979. Bishop Melczek, this
Archdiocese may not thank you, but I thank you for making me what I am. Finally, it is my great delight to welcome
our hometown son, Bishop Peter Christensen, who just yesterday was named the
Bishop of Superior in
Today’s Scriptures
remind us that the vocation of both St. Peter and
“I have competed
well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. . . . The
Lord stood by me and gave me strength.”
As Peter had
experienced the miraculous escape from prison in today’s First Reading, so too
Paul had his own “Exodus” moments in which God had delivered him from darkness
and death in order that he could preach Jesus, who was indeed his very Life as
well as the Savior of the whole world.
Thus, “Each in his chosen way gathered into unity the one family
of Christ.”
It must be also
pointed out, however, that while these two saints bore different titles and
served the Gospel in different ways, they nevertheless were members of the same
apostolic college. As their successors,
today’s bishops, by consecration, likewise become members of an episcopal
college around the successor of Peter, who in the words of St. Irenaeus,
presides in charity over that college. (Lumen Gentium, 13) Papal primacy, therefore, becomes a necessity
for “the exercise of episcopal collegiality since it is a living touchstone of
the fraternity between members of the college, which builds up the Church in
the charity of Christ.” (Maertens and Frisque, Guide, vol. IX, 51) The Bishop of Rome acts as head of the
episcopal college, and without the head, the episcopal college does not
exist. It was precisely for the purpose
of renewing episcopal collegiality as a guarantee of the Church’s catholicity
as well as her missionary dynamic that Pope John XXIII convoked the Second
Vatican Council . . . in order that Pope and bishops, together yet each in his
own way, could continue “to gather into unity the one family of Christ.”
You might be
interested to know that this Archdiocese has quite a history of
coadjutors. The first, Bishop John
Ireland, waited nine and a half years before Bishop Thomas Grace retired. (PAUSE . . .) Archbishop William Brady
was coadjutor for only four months. Archbishop
Leo Byrne was coadjutor for seven years and died suddenly without ever succeeding
Archbishop Leo Binz. I know that our
present Archbishop is keenly aware of this history because, as I was leaving
the wonderful Centennial Celebration of this Cathedral some weeks ago, he said
to me, “Bishop Nienstedt, drive safely . . . it would take them far, far too
much time to find a replacement for you.”
(PAUSE . . .) The affirmation I felt in that moment was
simply overwhelming.
Much ink has been
spilled in the press over speculation about how this new coadjutor will differ
from the present archbishop. But
frankly, I believe such speculation is misplaced. Leadership in Christ’s Church should not be
about our differences in personality or administrative style, but rather about
our commitment to the message and mission of the Lord Jesus. Are we both in union with Christ and his
Church? Are we both wholeheartedly
intent on preaching His Word? Are we both
passionately committed to serving his mission?
It seems to me that these should be the questions every knowledgeable,
faith-filled Catholic ought to be asking.
In 1994, Archbishop
John Roach said that any differences between him and his successor would be “in
style rather than substance.” I believe
the same will be said about Archbishop Harry Flynn and myself, that “each in
his chosen way gathered into unity the one family of Christ.”
My dear brothers
and sisters in Christ, you are aware that the first word of Jesus in
This communio
is shared in the first place between the bishop and his priests, with whom the
bishop shares the threefold munera of preaching the Word, celebrating
the Sacraments and shepherding the faithful according to the mind of Christ and
the teachings of Christ’s Body, the Church.
In Pastores Dabo Vobis, the late, beloved Pope John Paul II said
that the bishop must be father, brother and friend to his priests. This will be a number one priority for me as
Archbishop, and in turn I trust it will likewise be a priority for every member
of the presbyterate. This is far more
than a question of personalities or personal preferences. It is, indeed, a question of faith, a mutual
believing in the providential love of the Lord who calls and leads us. At the same time, deacons join in our communio
as special ministers of Word, worship and charity, giving support to us in
grace-filled fraternal bonds.
Bishops, priests and deacons are also challenged
to live their communio more effectively by the witness of the consecrated
men and women here who have vowed to live a communal religious life in poverty,
chastity and obedience. That witness of
our religious men and women is of enormous benefit for the whole Church
community, but in a very special way for us in diocesan ministry.
Within this same
context, emphasis must be given to lay ministry within today’s Church, both as
the Council called for in having laity serve as a leaven within society as well
as the participation of lay ecclesial ministers who share by competence of their
training in the very mission of the Church.
This latter category is perhaps one of the most theologically undefined
yet exciting areas being explored in today’s ecclesial context, and I am,
indeed, committed to fostering and clarifying its progress.
The Church cannot
afford, however, to stand still until every ecclesial question is resolved
before planning for the future.
Therefore, the ongoing work of encouraging, calling and guiding young
(and not so young) men to the priesthood, young men and women to religious life,
and young people to lay ministry must remain a number one priority for every
member of the People of God. I am so
encouraged by the presence of some 224 seminarians in our two fine seminaries
here in
Equal emphasis must
be given in our local Church to building up married couples and their family
life into communions of life, love and truth.
Strong, faith-filled families make for a strong, faith-filled
Church. Dear spouses and parents, your
success in witnessing to married love is essential for the life and vitality of
our Church. But, I do believe that we
must redouble our efforts to offer both young people getting married and adults
who are married the authentic and full experience of the truths contained
in our Catholic faith. To this end, I
promise my support for our Catholic schools, our religious education programs,
our home school programs, our youth and young adult ministry as well as our adult
faith formation. Five years ago I began
a prayer group for high school students seeking a deeper relationship with
Christ through the Scriptures. A few of
them are here today, and I ask them to stand to be acknowledged. Truly, they are my pride and joy!
Last, but not
least, the Church as a communio finds at the heart of her union the
involvement of single Catholics. Here,
in particular, I think of those individuals who have devoted their lives to a
particular service such as my own sister, Mary Beth, who has provided such
selfless care and assistance to our parents in their senior years. I think, too, of the homebound, the aged, the
infirmed who provide such a powerful support through their prayer in the
offering of their suffering and pain for the promotion of the Church.
It was the late,
beloved Pope John Paul II who reminded us that, “Communion gives rise to
mission and mission is accomplished in communion.” Therefore, the Church must always be more
than a social club of like-minded believers reinforcing one another. Rather the purpose of our union is that “the world
might know” that Jesus was sent from the Father. This is the true nature of love – not to turn
in on itself but to give love away, even in self-immolation.
Responding to the
urgent call of Pope John Paul II at the beginning of the new Millennium, the communio
we share must be steeped in the New Evangelization. This calls for a clarion vision of renewed mind
and heart by a personal, even intimate, friendship with the Lord
Jesus as head of His Body, the Church.
My good friend, Bishop Jon Anderson, of the Southwestern Minnesota Synod
of the ELCA, who joins me here today, understands evangelization as having
every believer praying daily at home and coming to church on Sunday. It’s that simple, yet that profound. Knowing the Lord Jesus in a truly personal
way leads us, even compels us, to introduce Him to others. There is a passion that is gained from such
friendship, nurtured in prayer and penance, study and Eucharistic adoration,
which sets us on fire to reach out to others, to spend ourselves for
others. The New Evangelization,
therefore, seeks an interior conversion in order to convict our consciences of
the necessity to transform the world through the works of justice and
peace.
As Pope Benedict XVI has said so beautifully
in his encyclical, Deus Caritas Est:
“I cannot possess
Christ just for myself; I can belong to Him only in union with all those who
have become, or who will become, His own.
Communion draws me out of myself towards Him, and thus also towards
unity with all Christians. . . . Love of
God and love of neighbor are now truly united:
God incarnate draws us all to Himself.” (no. 14)
Here again we see
the logic of Pope John Paul II’s insightful teaching that . . . “Communion
gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion.” These two provide the back and forth rhythm
of the disciple’s life. One without the
other lacks true Catholic identity. The
Gospel of Truth demands both the vertical and the horizontal if it is to be
faithful to the Master.
Therefore, like
those Archbishops who have come before me, I pledge myself to be a stalwart
advocate of life . . . for the unborn and the orphaned, for the sick and the dying,
for the divorced and separated as well as those who are widowed, for the poor
and the homeless, for the abused and the handicapped, for the immigrant and the
farmhand, for the farmer and factory worker, for those who defend our country
as well as those who are victims of war, for those who are imprisoned,
especially for those on death row. My
mission, our mission, Christ’s mission is to promote a culture of life and to
build a society of justice and peace. In
that regard, I hope to continue the legacy of Archbishop Flynn in being a strong
advocate for the poor, the unborn, the stranger in our midst. I promise to do so in union with our brothers
and sisters of various Christian denominations as well as those of
non-Christian faiths. Given the
increasingly secular and individualistic character of our society, collective
ecumenical and inter-religious efforts are absolutely required if we are going
to make a difference. Here, I wish to
recognize the presence of my long-time friend, Rabbi Dannel Schwartz and his
wife, Susie, who have come all the way from
One of the few
quotes of mine that has not been highlighted these past few weeks is an article
I wrote for the Star Tribune, printed on
“Let us make it our
aim to work collectively, persistently, courageously for peace . . .” (Romans
(SPANISH . . .)
A mis hermanos y hermanas que hablen español de esta querida
Arquidiócesis, les ofrezco mi saludo personal. Su presencia me hace contento
porque son una parte importante de la comunión de la fe, y reflejan la diversidad de historia y la
universalidad de cultura de nuestra Iglesia Católica.
Que la intercesión de la Virgen María
nos ayude mantener la llama de fe, armonía y amor de modo que nuestras vidas y
fidelidad a nuestra vocación bautismal den testimonio a la luz y esperanza de
Jesucristo a nuestros prójimos.
(HMONG . . .)
Also, I greet the
members of the Hmong community . . . Wha - Tie - Dew - Jaw - Nay – Nyoh.
Of course, it would
be arrogant to believe we can achieve Christ’s mission without the guidance and
influence of the Holy Spirit, who draws all things into one in Christ. It is that Holy Spirit who animates,
strengthens and motivates our individual lives of faith, our unified sharing in
communion and the ultimate effectiveness of our mission. To that end, it is the Holy Spirit acting
through us, who in his own way, gathers “into unity the one family of Christ.”
Again, with
“Make every effort
to preserve the unity which has the spirit as its origin and peace as its
binding force. There is but one Body and
one Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all of you by your call.” (Ephesians
4:3-5)
My dear brothers
and sisters in faith, when Jesus called Peter after the miraculous catch of
fish, he hesitated before saying: “Leave
me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” Later,
Peter along with his closest friends left everything to follow Jesus. And that “everything” included his own human
fear and a deep sense of his own unworthiness.
On the other hand,
Longing
for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing
for hope, many despair.
Your word
alone, has power to save us,
make
us your living voice.
Please join me . . .
Christ,
be our light!
Shine
in our hearts.
Shine
through the darkness.
Christ,
be our light!
Shine in your
Church gathered today.
wmu