The Solemnity of the Ascension makes clear the Lord’s mandate that we continue His work in the Church until He returns in glory. What could be more explicit than the words: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” In Matthew 28:18-20 we read: “And Jesus came to them and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.’”
As Catholics, we not only have the duty to fully live the faith, but to bring it to others, as well. Fathers and Mothers are particularly obliged to bring their children to the Lord in a way unique to their vocation. Yet all believers are commissioned by the Lord Himself to save souls, as it were. We must all be missionaries to spread the gospel. All of our recent popes have made the obvious assessment that even the Western world needs a dynamic and thorough re-evangelization. Even some Christians have foolishly succumbed to the dictatorship of relativism and secularism. Instead of standing up to the world many are now kneeling to it. The Church calls this the heresy of neo-Modernism.
To know what the Church wants in our time requires that we read and study or maybe even re-examine and re-study the sixteen official documents of the Second Vatican Council. This is the last official council of the Church and holds the greatest weight in our time, but must always be interpreted in light of all the previous councils of the Church. Vatican II was not intended to be a rupture with the past, but clearly sought to teach in full continuity with all that went before. Nevertheless, in the last fifty years how often have we heard Vatican II cited, when in fact a particular position is found nowhere in its official documents?
We should also always have on hand and study the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, published almost thirty years ago to clarify Catholic doctrine and discipline in our day. It remains the sure compendium of the basics of Catholicism. We always have the small hardback edition available at the rectory.
Let each one of us do his or her part to further the kingdom. Thy Kingdom Come!
Yours in the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Father Mark G. Mazza, Pastor