Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda
While it doesn’t appear on the liturgical calendar here in the Archdiocese, today is the feast of St. Vitus, a young Sicilian who was martyred in Southern Italy for his steadfast faith. Devotion to him grew as one of the “Fourteen Holy Helpers,” a group of saints who were particularly good intercessors for those with diseases. Vitus, in particular, is the patron saint for those with epilepsy. He’s also the patron saint of dancers. At a recent confirmation, a young man took the name Vitus so I asked him if he was a dancer. He looked at my quizzically and said “No, St. Vitus is the patron saint of those who oversleep!” I wish I had known that when I was in college.
In my first priestly assignment, way back in 1989, I was assigned to an Italian parish in Lawrence County, north of Pittsburgh. The largest Italian parish in the county was named for St. Vitus. As you might imagine, there was little competition between our neighboring parishes, in both athletics and culinary achievement. While I think that our “pepperoni puffs” and “pizza greens” would win hands down, we had a hard time competing with the St. Vitus sports teams. At the time, I was pretty sure that St. Vitus was the patron saint of very mature six-graders with mustaches.
It’s always been part of our Catholic tradition to seek the intercession of the saints. Our understanding of the communion that we as members of Christ’s one body share with other believers leads all of us to pray to God for others. Think of all the times in the Epistles of St. Paul that he asks for prayers. We know from the Book of Revelation, moreover, that those in heaven—the saints—continue to offer prayers (see Rev. 8:3-4). That doesn’t take away from Jesus’ central role or water down our relationship with him—we merely ask our heavenly friends to bring our prayers to Jesus.
St. Louis de Montfort captured that beautifully in speaking of the intercessory role of the Blessed Mother. He encourages us to pray “to Jesus through Mary” (ad Iesum per Mariam). Of all the saints, Mary’s position is the most exalted—she’s the mother who never fails to be close to us, just as she is always close to Jesus.
For 140 years, our Archdiocese has been encouraged in its Marian devotion by the ministry and example of the priests of the Society of Mary (the Marists), who have so generously led what the architect, Emmanuel Masqueray, called the “Little French Church” in downtown St. Paul: the parish of St. Louis King of France. For most of our history, we have benefited from the example of Marists who were trained to “think as Mary, judge as Mary, feel and act as Mary in all things.” They brought that into every area of their ministry and were particularly appreciated for their ministry in the confessional.
I recently was privileged to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Louis as the Marists now prepare to leave that beloved parish at the end of this month. Ours was the last parish that they served in the United States! Words cannot express our indebtedness to them for their selfless service over 14 decades. May the Lord bless them in abundance for their generosity.
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