A Pilgrim's Journey: Follow Christ!

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Follow Christ!

On October 1st, forty years ago, I was standing on the Boston Common with about 600,000 others. I was a young Episcopal cleric, and a Catholic priest friend of mine had encouraged me to go to Boston "to see the Pope." It rained for most of the day, and I was standing in it with no umbrella. A community of religious sisters was in front of me, screaming with excitement and waving their signs to no one in particular. I didn't know a single person around me, and after standing in the mud and rain for nearly seven hours, I didn't think I'd ever want to do this again.

But then... the Holy Father arrived. The Mass started. The memory of the long and uncomfortable wait we'd had melted away. I didn't hear anything but his voice.

When he began his sermon, my heart was ready. And when he repeated, "Follow Christ!" that's all I wanted to do. So I made my decision then and there. I would become a Catholic. I didn't know how, and I didn't know when, but to follow Christ meant that I had to become a Catholic.

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Here are the final words from Pope St. John Paul II when he stood on the Boston Common:

To all of you who listen to me tonight, I would say this: the reason for my mission, for my journey, through the United States, is tell you, to tell everyone — young and old alike — to say to everyone in the name of Christ: “Come and follow me!”

Follow Christ! You who are married: Share your love and your burdens with each other; respect the human dignity of your spouse; accept joyfully the life that God gives through you; make your marriage stable and secure for your children's sake.

Follow Christ! You who are single or who are preparing for marriage: Follow Christ! You who are young or old: Follow Christ! You who are sick or aging, who are suffering or in pain; you who feel the need for healing, the need for love, the need for a friend: Follow Christ!

To all of you I extend — in the name of Christ — the call, the invitation, the plea: “Come and follow me.” This is why I have come to America, and why I have come to Boston tonight: to call you to Christ — to call all of you and each of you to live in his love, today and forever. Amen!

Meeting Pope St. John Paul II

In 1983 I was a newly-ordained priest. In November of that year, it was my privilege to be in Rome to take part in developing The Book of Divine Worship. During that time an invitation was extended to celebrate Mass with His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in his private chapel. After we had said Mass, and in those few moments I had with the Holy Father, he told me that he remembered considering the request for my ordination, and he described how he came to an affirmative decision. For me, our brief conversation was an experience which will be treasured forever. At the conclusion of our time together, I asked him if I could take his blessing back to the people of my parish. His very simple words remain precious to me: "With all my heart, I bless you and your people." He then embraced me, and I knew that I was forever "home in my Father's house."