Allocutio 8-26-15

Last night during Legion of Mary we covered a rather dry chapter from the handbook related to governance. Rather than focus solely on this chapter for the allocutio, I instead talked about a disturbing event that occurred yesterday morning, and the sorrow it stirs, along with my own gratitude for the community I have found in the Legion.

The reading tonight is very straightforward on Legion governance, and I would actually like to talk to you all about something a little different that has been weighing on my mind today.

Earlier today there was a double murder that was broadcast live on air. A man being referred to as a “disgruntled ex-employee,” who was in reality a deranged person with a history of bizarre behavior, opened fire on two former colleagues – an anchorwoman, who was 24, and her cameraman, who was 27, as they broadcast the news. In his suicide note, he claimed past racial discrimination by both. It is clear from reports coming out of his previous work places that he had a habit of harassing others, serious anger issues and claims of racial discrimination upon termination from multiple jobs. He was seriously disturbed.

Let’s face it, shootings happen all the time. They happen with relative frequency in public places. But never before, as far as I know, has a death occurred right there, live, in front of an audience. Not only was it captured by the now deceased camera man, it was filmed by the killer himself. After the killings, he took to his Twitter account to upload and share the video and justify his actions. This is a level of hubris and psychosis that I can’t even begin to understand.

So, where does this leave us? I was wondering as this story unfolded, what could have been done to prevent this man from doing what he did? Would a therapist have made a difference, or prescription drugs, or some time in prison? Some stories note that he was gay and claimed to be bullied for that, so perhaps he could have used some counseling on that issue alone, and maybe that would have made a difference. Regardless, he has taken his life, and we will never know.

The only thing I can think of here that would have made a difference is God. What would have this man’s life been like if he had a genuine, loving relationship with God – filled with the knowledge that he had value in God’s eyes, if not in the eyes of his peers? We cannot speculate with any accuracy or clarity, and it’s a bit of a useless game to even wonder, particularly as mental health is involved. I can’t help but feel that as our culture becomes more secular and more violent, the need for a relationship with God becomes that much more important. It becomes critical, for all of us, as the walls of isolation grow taller.

I am biased, and perhaps my inner church lady is coming out, but one of my first thoughts as I watched this unfold was, “I wish he had had a Legion!” I wish he had the family and love we have; the support and community that the Legion of Mary provides to all its members. I am so remarkably different than I was before I joined, and many of my rough and scarred edges have been smoothed. They continue to be. Or even if he were on the receiving end of Legion work, in a hospital, prison or in his home, what difference would one kind word have made? Maybe none. Perhaps it seems naïve to even entertain the thought. But I have faith in God, and little else, to change these kinds desperate of situations. As Catholics, we believe that no soul is beyond hope.

Were any of us to experience this tragedy, how would we cope? Both victims were in committed relationships with other employees at the news station. The camera man, Adam, was engaged to be married. His fiancée is now left behind with nothing but memories and questions. What kind of father would he have been? Where would they travel to? Where would they have lived? What was life going to look like? For the families and friends of these victims, they have a long road of grief ahead of them. For all of us, we know that the only way to walk it is with Christ by your side.

This is an unbelievable tragedy which will stay with this country for a long time. There is neither resolution nor peace to be found in this event. All we can do on the outside is to stay true to our faith in God for his timing and reasons, and be grateful for the loved ones we have in our lives. Take some time to call and reach out to the people you love, because we never know what tomorrow will bring. Should any of us ever personally experience something so viciously disturbing, I pray that we are able to truly live our faith and rely on God for strength. Let us end with a moment of silence for the victims and their loved ones.

St. Monica Novena

The St. Monica novena starts tomorrow! According to praymorenovenas.com, she is the patron saint of alcoholics, married women, mothers, wives and difficult marriages (also, evidently, abuse victims). She is the mother of St. Augustine, once a wayward non-Christian who converted after she prayed on his behalf for 17 years. St. Augustine is of course now a Doctor of the Church, a revered theologian and philosopher. His feast day is coming up on August 28. St. Monica's feast day is August 27, which is the day after this novena ends.

Are there any people or situations in your life in need of prayer? Give them up to St. Monica's intercession in faith.  Perhaps take some time, too, to meditate on the struggles in her life and how prayer helped her overcome - always a good lesson to remember in our own lives.

The Vexillum

Below is adapted from the allocutio I will give this evening during our Legion of Mary meeting.

In Ch. 27, Frank Duff gives us a very brief overview of the appearance and placement of the Vexillum Legionis. The vexillum, as we will call it for short, is emblematic of the standard which a Roman army would have carried. In appearance, it is representative of several Legion symbols: at the top is the dove of the Holy Spirit; below that, the image of Mary as she appears on the miraculous medal; and underneath that, the world. It is, as Duff notes, a visual reminder that the world will be conquered by the Holy Spirit, acting through Mary and her children.

There is a note in this chapter regarding St. Louis Marie de Montfort’s views on the inextricability of the Holy Spirit and Mary, and that as a result, Legionaries are always seeking a more thorough knowledge of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. I have never heard the phrase “doctrine of the Holy Spirit,” so naturally, I googled it, and here is what I found from EWTN:

·         The Holy Spirit comes with seven gifts (we know these as wisdom, understanding, council, knowledge, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord)

·         On Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down visibly on the Apostles. He gave them the power to speak in strange tongues to the crowds that came to Jerusalem for that Feast. He also transformed them, from selfish and timid men into giants of courage and faith

This must be what is meant by a “doctrine” of the Holy Spirit, then – that, being part of the Trinity that is God, the Holy Spirit is manifest in these gifts, or graces, in our lives. This is the same Holy Spirit which comes to us now, particularly upon receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Legionaries, being close to Mary’s heart and wanting to grow in these graces, are always seeking their increase in our lives. It is not enough to pray for them, but one must put them into practice, too.

Can you think of times when the Holy Spirit has worked in your life? Perhaps a job that came through right when you needed it, or a chance encounter with someone who knew a good doctor, or an appointment opening up when you needed it. I think if we really look for these instances, we will see them everywhere in our lives. Being attuned to the Holy Spirit will enable you to see these instances of His intercession.

Similarly, of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you can probably see where yours lay. You couldn’t hide it even if you wanted to – God calls us in specific ways, for His purpose.

The Holy Spirit works through Mary, and through us, to “renew the face of the earth.” As we perform our work as Legionaries, it is good to remember that we can call on the Holy Spirit to guide our work: to give us the right words, to place us in the right place at the right time, to truly use us for His will. And at the end, we give thanks to the Holy Spirit for leading us by His light.