O God, Who by the zeal of blessed Boniface, Thy Martyr and Bishop, did vouchsafe to call a multitude of people to the knowledge of Thy Name; mercifully grant that we who celebrate his festival may also enjoy his protection.
From a Letter by Saint Boniface
In her voyage across the ocean of this world, the church is
like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life's different stresses. Our
duty is not to abandon ship but to keep her on her course. The ancient Father
showed us how we should carry out this duty: Clement, Cornelius and many others
in the city of Rome, Cyprian at Carthage, Athanasius at Alexandria. They all
lived under emperors who were pagans; they all steered Christ's ship -or rather
his most dear spouse, the church. This they did by teaching and defending her,
by their labors and sufferings, even to the shedding of blood.
I am terrified when I think of all this. "Fear and trembling
came upon me and the darkness" of my sins "almost covered me." I would gladly
give up the task of guiding the church which I have accepted if I could find
such an action warranted by the example of the Father or by Holy Scripture.
Since this is the case, and since the truth can be assaulted but never defeated
or falsified, with our tired mind let us turn to the words of Solomon: "Trust
in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own prudence. Think on
him in all your ways, and he will guide your steps." In another place he says:
"The name of the Lord is an impregnable tower. The just man seeks refuge in it
and he will be saved."
Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for
trial. Let us wait upon God's strengthening aid and say to him: "O Lord, you
have been our refuge in all generations." Let us trust in him who has placed
this burden upon us. What we ourselves cannot bear let us bear with the help of
Christ. For he is all-powerful and he tells us: "My yoke is easy and my burden
is light."
Let us continue to fight on the day of the Lord. "The days
of anguish and of tribulation" have overtaken us; if God so wills, "let us die
for the holy laws of our fathers," so that we may deserve to obtain an eternal
inheritance with them.
Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers
nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead let us be careful
shepherds watching over Christ's flock. Let us preach the whole of God's plan
to the powerful and to the humble, to rich and to the poor, to people of every
rank and age, as far as God gives us the strength, in season and out of season,
as Saint Gregory writes in his Book of Pastoral Instruction.
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