On Saturday, February 21, the Connecticut North East Area met for its Lenten Day of Recollection at St. Thomas More Chapel at Yale University, New Haven.
After the welcome by Bob O’Hara welcomed the group and prayer was offered by the deputy chaplain and Yale’s Catholic chaplain, Fr. Joseph L. MacNeill. Our Associate David Sellery spoke to us on Bl. Adrian Fortescue, a contemporary St. Thomas More. Saints are road maps for us because they demonstrate for us that the living the Gospel is possible. David’s presentation on Bl. Adrian Fortescue reveals Blessed Adrian Fortescue as a Knight for conscience, charity and courage.
Expands our understanding of what knighthood means for us today, embodying holiness, models conscience under pressure, reminds us it is not a nostalgia for the past but courage in each moment. Three things Bl. Adrian asks: how is my conscience tested now, where must faith stand quietly firm and where are we called to witness, not with swords but with integrity.
Fr. MacNeill, spoke on the purpose and spirituality of the Order of Malta, which are the reasons we engage in works of charity. He used an essay from the Journal of Spirituality (2014) and a presentation given by the now former Prelate of the Order, Bishop Jean Laffitte on essentials of our charism. Promotion of the glory of God, sanctification of members and then the service to the poor and defense of the faith. We can’t give what we don’t have. The point is that we need a well-formed and a thriving interior life is foundational because it is rooted in Jesus Christ before serving the poor and defending the faith. Benedictine Father Henry O’Shea says,
“In order to defend, one must have something to defend, one must know what one is defending. In order to serve the needy, one must be aware to the extent to which one is needy oneself. To breathe the ‘supernatural breath in the midst of everyday life,’ one needs to learn how to breathe in and out that supernatural air that is the breath of God, the breath of the Holy Trinity with which we were sealed by the Holy Spirit in our baptism and confirmation in Christ.”
The stress, therefore, is placed was on promoting God’s glory, working on our personal sanctification (the call to holiness, the interior life —our relationship with the Lord) and then to do the works of charity. Too often the first two points get eclipsed by the third. The Church has given us all tools for our spirituality and charitable work through the companionship of the Order.
The Mass readings for the day significantly echoed the talk on the spirituality of the Order.
We enjoyed a potluck lunch made by Gina, Jackie, Jeff, Luis and Paul. The Area members contributed goods to assemble nearly 200 blessing bags distributed to the needy in three cities, including the Malta House of Care in Hartford.
Blessed be God.