Let Us Dream Part One: Time to See

Have you ever reflected on a past experience and think “I might have handled that differently, if I knew then what I know now”? Or when you are faced with a challenge today, do you think back to an experience from the past and realize that you “can work through this,” because of what you learned then?

In the First Part of “Let Us Dream.” Pope Francis includes three stories of what he calls “personal Covids.” The first occurred when at the age of 21 he became ill. He was in a diocesan seminary at the time. He was taken to the hospital in August 1957 and the following November, the upper right lobe of one of his lungs was removed. He writes about the kindness of those who took care of him during his recovery and how he learned from them how to visit the sick: being present and comforting, speaking as little as possible. During that time, he decided to join the Jesuits because he was impressed by their missionary commitment. (PP.39-40)

The second took place when he went to Germany to learn the language and experienced being an outsider. He felt isolated and homesick. He returned home after 3 months.

He writes about his third Covid experience when he was sent to Cordoba from 1990-1992 after having served as provincial of the Argentine Jesuits and then rector in their seminary. His leadership had been controversial and divisive at times. His assignment in Cordoba was to hear confessions.

He writes “I’m sure I did a few good things, but I could be very harsh. In Cordoba they made me pay and they were right to do so.” He had to rethink how he exercised leadership. It was an “uprooting” experience. He reflects: “Your habits, your reflexive behaviors, the reference points of your existence that take shape over time—all these get turned on their head, and you have to learn how to live life anew, to take up arms again.” (p.42)

The Covid of Cordoba was a real purification. It gave me greater tolerance, understanding, the ability to forgive, and a fresh empathy for the powerless. And patience: a lot of patience, which is the gift of understanding that important things need time, that change is organic, that there are limits and we have to work within them while keeping our eyes on the horizon as Jesus did. I learned the importance of seeing the big in little things and attending to the little in big things. It was a period of growth that happens after a harsh pruning.

PP 42-43

In 1992, Pope Francis returned to Buenos Aires as auxiliary bishop. After his “exile” of prayer and reflection, he had totally remodeled his approach to being a leader. Later he became Archbishop of Buenas Aires and then Cardinal.[1]

About personal Covids, Pope Francis writes “What I have learned was that you suffer a lot, but if you allow it to change you, you come out better. But if you dig in, you come out worse.” (p.44)

My Take-Away from Part One of Let us Dream

We have all experienced the Covid-19 pandemic in different ways. Our ministries were dramatically changed and what we always did no longer applied. In response, we expended time, energy, creativity and innovation to reach those who were and may still not be with us in person.

It is time to think about what we will do when the “regulars” come back. Before the pandemic less than 40% of Catholics attended Mass. That number may be lower after the pandemic. Have we learned anything this past year that we can use to reach them going forward? We have made many efforts to reach out and include everyone in our various outreach ministries this past year. Will we continue that outreach beyond the church doors when the pandemic is no longer impacting us? Can we do that? What do you think?

Note:  There is much more in Part One of Let Us Dream as Pope Francis discusses media, internet, climate change and other topics as well. I can’t cover it all. If you are interested, I encourage you to read the book.

[1] Read more about the Cordoba “exile” here: https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2015/09/specials/pope-dark-night-of-the-soul/