Preparing for the birth of Christ

Dec. 06, 2007

My sisters and brothers in Christ,

CONSISTORY FOR DANIEL CARDINAL DINARDO

Being present in Rome for this extraordinary event was a special blessing for me. It was my honor to represent all the priests and people of the Diocese of Sioux City and to lead a group of pilgrims from our diocese.

All of us in attendance were impressed with the beautiful ceremonies and the special Mass with our Holy Father, Benedict XVI. I could sense the joy and enthusiasm in our Holy Father's voice and presence. He has added 23 new members to the College of Cardinals and once again, the Church is enriched with advisors who will assist the Pope from all parts of our world and various backgrounds. Cardinal DiNardo joins the other American Cardinals and brings with him his unique experience as a priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, as a bishop from the Diocese of Sioux City and as an archbishop from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.

Cardinal DiNardo was humble and joyful in his acceptance of this special honor given to him by Pope Benedict. I am sure that his gifts and talents will be put to good use in the ministry he gives to the Church in his new role. He is anxious to return to Sioux City in the near future to celebrate Mass with us and give us a chance to personally congratulate him. I will keep you informed of the details.

SEASON OF ADVENT

The Church has begun the joyful and peaceful season of Advent. These weeks before Christmas are gifts to us to prepare for the greatest gift the world has ever received: The gift of God-becoming-man, the birth of Jesus. As we are surrounded by the glitter and glitz of the secular "holiday season" (people are upset when we use the word "Christmas"), we all need to make extra efforts to make this a holy season, a time when we can grow in hope and love. If you get a chance, I encourage you to read our Holy Father's second encyclical, Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope). It is available on the internet at both the Vatican and United States Bishop's Conference sites. As the Pope reminds us, Advent is a season of hope. He teaches that "true and certain hope is founded on faith in God-love, the merciful Father." Benedict XVI goes on to say that Advent is a "propitious time for rediscovery of hope, a hope that is not vague and illusory but sure and trustworthy because it is anchored in Christ, God-made-man and rock of our salvation. " My Advent prayer for all of you is that we may grow in hope, be signs of hope to one another and to the world and live holy lives, waiting in joyful hope for the salvation promised us by our Lord. POLITICAL DECISIONS

One of my surprises about living in Iowa, especially during a presidential campaign, is how much media attention is given to our state and our voters. It certainly makes politics exciting. Yet, politics is serious business. Life and death issues are at stake. Moral values and respect for all God's children should be at the core of the political positions held by various candidates. How are they to be evaluated in light of the teachings of the Church? Where can we look for advice and guidance in helping us make the right decisions in line with our Catholic beliefs? Both the Bishop's Conference of the United States and the Iowa Catholic Conference have produced documents to help us in the political decisions we are asked to make. At the bishops' November meeting, the document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States," was approved. This is a much longer and more detailed document than the "Faithful Citizenship" documents of recent election years. Over the next several weeks, I will explain the major ideas of this richer document. This week, I want to offer a brief summary of it, and encourage all the faithful to take advantage of this new resource.

Much more than a political guide, it summarizes a Catholic view of politics in general. "Politics" means everything that we do as a community, here and now, to pursue the common good (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1897, and following), which is "the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily" (CCC, #1906). As Catholics baptized into the Triune mystery of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, we know that human fulfillment must include both the historical and the spiritual. We seek our fulfillment here and now, in all that is good and holy in our families, friends and community, jobs, recreation, and especially in faith. And we seek our eternal fulfillment in Heaven, precisely by means of all that is historically good and holy, and especially in faith. We call this the "economy of salvation:" we know that grace, by which we are saved and made humanly whole, comes into the world through the Church, in the paschal mystery of the Cross and Resurrection of the Lord.

The purpose of politics, then, in seeking the common good, is not at odds with the purpose of the Church in seeking the salvation of souls. But the means of politics and of the Church are quite different from each other. The economy of salvation works through the Sacraments of the Church, lived out in vocation and charism, such that we "love the Lord our God with our whole heart, and mind, and soul," absolutely. Politics, however, works through the social structures of compromising how what is good for me as an individual can balance with what is good for you as an individual. Faith can make absolute claims on our obedience, because we know that our salvation includes by definition the historical common good. Politics can make only relative claims on our obedience, because we know that the historical common good, in itself, does not amount to salvation.

As Catholics, then, we see all politics as a means to an end. The end of politics is a society that is more just rather than less just, for all (not just some) people. But "justice" is ultimately complete only in Jesus Christ. Here and now, in the world, justice can only be relative; some sin is inevitable in our finite and fallen humanity. And so the true end of politics, a society without sin, can only be achieved by the gracious power of Jesus Christ, present here and now through His Church.

Our participation in all politics, therefore, must be precisely as Catholics, that is, as people who cling only to our Lord Jesus Christ, in love and hope and joy. As Catholics, we can use the means of politics to help achieve some justice in this world. But if our Catholic faith does not guide us in our political participation, then we are placing our hope and faith in the world instead of in Christ.

May this holy and hope-filled season of Advent bring you and your families many blessings. Let us continue to pray for each other. (I think the Broncos are almost to the point of fading from the picture, but I will still support them and I continue to meet many people in our Diocese who are with me!) Have a blessed week,

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City