Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 20, 2023
Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted
and they came to him.
He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles,
that they might be with him
and he might send them forth to preach
and to have authority to drive out demons:
He appointed the Twelve:
Simon, whom he named Peter;
James, son of Zebedee,
and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges,
that is, sons of thunder;
Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew,
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus;
Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean,
and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.
Reflection
We Christians love to talk about our apostolic lineage—that line that goes all the way back to a remarkably average group of twelve whom Jesus sent out to spread the Good News of God’s salvation.
We see this tendency even in the Scripture record itself. The phrase “whom he also named Apostles” from Mark 3:16 is likely a later addition to the biblical manuscript. It reveals that first generation post-resurrection Christian writers were already seeking to show that the Apostles held authority to govern the life of the emerging churches.
Just as Jesus sent the twelve, so too have Christian communities sent out their own apostles throughout history, teaching us, as the letter to the Colossians says, to edify and admonish one another in all wisdom.
The founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Blessed Basil Moreau, shared this apostolic impulse inherent to Christians. Among Moreau’s writings is an extensive collection of hymn texts, composed for CSC communities and published as part of his treatise On Christian Education, which call us to proclaim our apostolic mission not just with action, but with full heart and voice as well.
In the Summer of 2022, sixteen of Moreau’s hymn texts were published in a bi-lingual collection called Faithful Echoes: Hymns by Basil Moreau through the efforts of myself and Fr. Kevin Grove, C.S.C.
One hymn that speaks especially well to our apostolic task says in its refrain, “The faith of those before us will guide us all our length of days; Its mysteries still restore us to awe and joyful praise.”
“The Faith of Those Before Us” calls us to our apostolic task, in which we, empowered with the Spirit by our baptism, must walk the walk of faith striving toward the justice, peace, and love modeled for us by Jesus, and later the Apostles, all those many centuries ago.
Prayer
Good and gracious God, in your Divine Providence, you chose Blessed Basil Moreau to help make you known, loved, and served throughout the world. Supported by his prayers and example, we ask that you make our faith ever stronger so we, too, may transcend our weaknesses and limitations to do great things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Blessed Basil Moreau founded the Congregation of Holy Cross—the order of priests and brothers that founded the University of Notre Dame.
Basil Anthony Marie Moreau was born near Le Mans, France, in 1799, and would be forever affected by the spiritual upheaval caused by the French Revolution. Church property was seized, priests were executed and arrested, and religious communities were expelled from France. Basil Moreau's hope was to fill this vast spiritual and educational gap.
In 1821, Moreau was ordained a priest for the diocese, later becoming a seminary professor teaching philosophy and theology, while enthusiastically continuing his pastoral duties.
By 1835, Moreau had organized a group of young and energetic “auxiliary priests” whose mission was to travel the diocese, assisting in educational and spiritual growth programs at parishes. That same year, the bishop asked him to oversee the Brothers of St. Joseph, a community of educators. Two years later Fr. Moreau merged the priests and brothers into one association, which took its name from the small French town outside of Le Mans where it was based, Sainte-Croix. The new order's name became Congregatio a Sancta Cruce (hence the initials that follow the name of every Holy Cross religious—C.S.C.), which literally means "Congregation of Holy Cross."
The cross soon became an integral part of this community’s spirituality. The motto of the congregation is Ave Crux, Spes Unica, which means "Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope"—calling on the community to "learn how even the Cross can be borne as a gift."
Blessed Moreau’s vision was to give this association “one heart, one soul” by modeling it after the Holy Family and bringing into it a group of sisters who would also be involved in education and evangelization.
Reflecting his congregation’s zeal to make God known, loved and served, Moreau started sending members to other countries, including Algeria, Canada, Bangladesh, and the United States. He sent seven young men—six brothers and Father Edward Sorin—to the United States, where, in 1842, they founded the University of Notre Dame.
Moreau later resigned as Superior General mid crises and controversies and disagreements with Fr. Sorin. Moreau lived his last days estranged from his community, and Fr. Sorin was the second man elected to succeed Moreau as superior general. Moreau died in Le Mans on January 20, 1873.
On September 15, 2007, Fr. Moreau was beatified in Le Mans, France, the city where he lived and died, the home of the Congregation’s Mother Church and the sacred place where he is buried.
Blessed Basil Moreau, founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross who sought to make God known, loved, and served—pray for us!