by Fr. Robert J. Carr
Fr. Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire Ministries and rector of Chicago’s Mundalein Seminary, spoke to the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston on Wednesday.
The well known media priest and theologian addressed the men at the invitation of Boston Archbishop Cardinal Seán O’Malley about the three paths of the spiritual life that can be found “all through the Bible.”
1. Finding Your Center
2. Know You Are a Sinner
3. Realize that Your Life Is Not All About You.
Fr. Barron taught that we begin our spiritual life understanding that grace comes first. “If Luther taught grace first, not grace alone, he would still be in the church.” He explained.
Fr Barron taught that grace breaks through in our lives, as God’s grace broke through Isaiah’s life and called him to preach even though he was a sinner. He also cited Peter’s first encounter with Jesus as this grace breaking through. “When was the first time Jesus got into our boat and started giving orders.” He said, bringing the reality of grace breaking through into our human way of life.
Fr. Barron cited the importance of making Christ the center and illustrated that this is found throughout Catholicism including her architecture. “The rose window at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is an icon of a well ordered soul.” He taught. He illustrated that in that window Christ is at the center and all that extends out from it is connected to Christ. He calls the priests to order their lives similarly. “Is all your life connected to the center?”
“If we allow even part of our life to be disconnected from Christ all becomes out of order.” He said to the men.
“If I give glory to God in the highest, peace will break out.” he said, adding “If I get worship right, all else gets right.”
Ordained to the diocesan priesthood in 1986, he explained that he came of age in the banners and balloons period of the post-Vatican II era, and was struck in high school by a graced moment where he learned despite the environment of the era that one could think seriously about God.
The second path he cited was to know you are a sinner.
He explained that we do not commence with sin, we commence with grace. “When a soul is turned toward grace,” he explained, “the more it is aware of its sin. It all begins with grace.”
He lamented that his generation got cheap grace, “for real grace always calls to conversion,” he said. Grace is where we recognize sin.
In the final path, he warned that once we know that we are sinners, we must recognize that life is not about us.
He warned that what God wants us to do is to break out of our ego drama where we focus on ourselves, and enter into the theodrama where we allow God’s will in our lives.”
“When you see what God you to do, sell everything and buy that.” He taught meaning give up everything for God’s win and leave our will and plans behind.
Speaking for about forty-five minutes Fr. Barron addressed the men after Boston Priest Fr Mark O’Connell who heads up the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese explained to Fr. Barron the life of the Boston priesthood. He cited life over the past twenty or so years. He illustrated well in his short speech what life has been for them living at ground zero in the crisis of the church. That crisis spread to the entire world beginning in Boston. The priests gave Fr. O’Connell a standing ovation following his words.
The annual convocation is a one day meeting of all the priests and the Archbishop, Cardinal Seán O’Malley for fellowship, mutual support and encouragement.
Fr. Robert J Carr is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, an alliance community member of the New Song Community of Brazil and the editor of this blog.
Father Robert Barron” by Frank Licorice – https://www.flickr.com/photos/118175464@N04/14260659474/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
