New Buffalo bishop stresses need for modern-day martyrs

Last updated on: August 11, 2012 at 1:09 pm by CNA Daily News

New Buffalo bishop stresses need for modern-day martyrs 2012-08-11T13:09:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Buffalo, N.Y., Aug 11, 2012 / 07:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- As Bishop Richard J. Malone became the fourteenth Bishop of Buffalo, N.Y. on Aug. 10, he outlined the need for martyrs who will witness to Jesus Christ through “a daily dying to self.”

Bishop Malone, the former bishop of Portland, Maine, noted that his installation on the Feast of St. Lawrence – who was martyred by fire – and the day after the Feast of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, the Jewish convert and philosopher Edith Stein who was murdered by the Nazis.

The bishop said in his homily that a martyr is a witness whose discipleship is “so authentic, so deep, so uncompromising, so credible, that he or she is willing, with God’s grace, to give all, to surrender all to Christ, and the truth Christ is revealed.”

The martyr is willing to do this “in the face of fear, loss, scorn, misunderstanding, rejection, suffering, even death” in response to “Christ’s love poured out for us on the Cross.”

Many prominent bishops attended Bishop Malone’s installation Mass at Buffalo’s St. Joseph Cathedral.

Cardinal Timothy J. Dolan of New York, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley of Boston and Cardinal Edward M. Egan presided at the Mass. Over 24 U.S. and Canadian bishops were among those who concelebrated.

Papal nuncio Archbishop Carlo M. Viganò was to have read the letter from Pope Benedict XVI that named Bishop Malone as the new head of the diocese, but his attendance was delayed.

In his homily, Bishop Malone said that some martyrs’ lives “rise to a dramatic climax,” but most Christians witness through their “persevering commitment to Christ and to the Gospel. “

However, this can be attempted only with “profound hope and even, paradoxically, real joy,” the bishop continued.

He cited the Mass reading from the Gospel of John in which Jesus said a seed must die to live. “Not to die is to remain fruitless, unproductive, truly dead,” Bishop Malone said.

He stressed the need to reach out to inactive Catholics and to evangelize to transform individuals in Christ. Evangelization, he said, also aims to transform “our increasingly secular culture into a civilization of love and a culture of life.”

He noted the need to respect human life, to respect marriage as a union of one man and one woman “open to new life,” to respect religious liberty, and to show compassion to the poor and to immigrants.

“We need the martyrs’ conviction and courage, tenacity and selflessness, and, yes, hope, to stand up in our increasingly relativistic society in defense of these truths and values so threatened in our time,” the bishop exhorted.

Bishop Malone succeeds Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, whose retirement took effect Friday.

On Aug. 9, the incoming Bishop of Buffalo presided over Evening Prayer at downtown Buffalo’s St. Lois Church with over 200 diocesan and religious priests from Buffalo, Maine and Boston.

Previous Post

August 10, 2012

Religious sisters' conference plans to continue Vatican dialogue

Next Post

August 11, 2012 Romney names Catholic Rep. Paul Ryan as running mate

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many chapters are in the book of Revelation?

Select your answer to see how you score.

30 22 24 12