Memorial of St. John Neumann, bishop
(I John 3:11-21; John 1:43-51)
“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,” writes poet
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She
continues to name manifold ways from childhood faith to eternal joy in which
her love thrives. There is a similar
concentration on the glory of love in the First Letter of John. Because Christmas is, above all, a testament
to God’s love for us, the first reading these days is taken from this work.
John has testified that God is love. In order to please God then, John indicates
that Christians must imitate His loving.
This means that love flows from words into action. If not, he would say, then it is
counterfeit. The test comes when one
sees a member of the community in need.
Just as Jesus gave his life for his followers, one has to assist the
needy brother or sister.
Love, like all virtue, is not a habit in the sense that
it is performed in a rote way. It calls
for creativity at times, along with care.
This may be why John Neumann is declared a saint. He came to the New World because the bishop
of his native land did not need more priests.
In the United States he first worked in rural areas – offering sacraments,
preaching, and training catechists so that the faith might grow. As bishop of Philadelphia, Neumann founded
the nation’s first diocesan school system.
Speaking several languages, he was also able to meet the spiritual needs
of the various immigrant populations.
