Don’t Miss the Pentecost

The Miraculous Medal Shrine is one of the treasures of Philadelphia, a retreat in the city dedicated to Mary, the Mother who brings us to her Son. Fr. Carl Pieber is executive director of the Miraculous Medal Shrine there and he talks with me about what not to miss about Pope Francis in the U.S. (I’ve met Fr. Pieber over the course of the last year through my work with Catholic Voices USA, which he is a volunteer with for the World Meeting of Families.)

Q: Are you looking forward to the pope in the U.S.? Why?

A: Yes. The pope brings the Holy Spirit. He is the successor to Peter, the head of the Church on earth, the Vicar of Christ. Because he is all of this, he can touch the Holy Spirit in each of us. He does this through his prayer. We receive an energy — the Spirit — from him. We become thrilled to see him. We become at peace to know he is with us. We see our faith, our hope, and our love all verified in this person. It is a mini-Pentecost to each and every one of us. To touch him is almost like touching Jesus Christ on earth. His words always, always speak the Word of God, contradicting nothing in Scripture or revelation. This is impossible without him. Don’t miss it or you will miss the Pentecost today.

Q: What is it about Pope Francis that seems to get people excited? Nervous, too!

A: People get excited and nervous because of this mini-Pentecost. They get excited because the Holy Spirit is upon them. Everything wells up in them. Their heart, their bosom where God and Spirit reside, seems like it is going to burst. This kind of excitement is a slight taste of heaven on earth. They are nervous because when you are in the presence of the Spirit inside you, you feel unworthy. Of course, we think that we are unworthy to be seen or touched by the person who causes this Spirit to come upon us. Pentecost makes us shake, rattle, and roll and sometimes speak in tongues because we are so elated.

Q: Why is the World Meeting of Families aspect of it so important to you?

A: Families teach many, many things. The World Meeting of Families — whose theme is “Love is our Mission — the Family fully alive,” will talk about many aspects of what it means to be and to practice and to teach “Family.” I came from a German-American family that had to work very hard to make a living. They loved through their work. Little affection was shown; there was no time for that. Tears were unnecessary. But we were always more important than anything else in their lives. The World Meeting will straighten the crooked road that My sister and I received. My parents self-sacrificing love was a gift only appreciated after the event. The world meeting of families will make family appreciated by everyone now and not after it is over.

Q: What would you love for Pope Francis to know about life in Catholic Philadelphia?

A: Philadelphia Catholics are baseline Catholics. The older 30+ Catholics like black and white and keep to Philadelphia. They are very true to the Church and faith Catholics. It feels good to be what you were since you were born. They are not relational Catholics. For instance I have yet to be invited to a home for dinner. They relate to the people in their parish IF they have a need or because their children are related through school etc. Their understanding of the human person is somewhat black and white with little grey. They do not seem to find grey areas in their life. This makes them great in decision making but weak in sometimes making the right decision. This also makes them weak in encountering Mystery, especially in God. God is prayed to with formal prayers.

Q: What would you want others, perhaps who aren’t Catholic or who have left the Church to know?

A: Get Real! If you have not found the joy of communal prayer, of belonging, then start looking for it. You are missing too much life. If you left the Church: Why? Move on and up. Get over it or you will spend your whole life carrying this psycho bundle. Throw it away any way that you can. See a priest, tell him why and then curse him out if that is what you need to do to come back to the church. But get back in love with Jesus Christ and the 12 stars.

Q: Do you plan to see him?

A: Yes. Saturday am in the Cathedral. Saturday evening at the Festival of Families – I am in section DDD, row 5 seat 16. Send over a scotch and a hotdog!!

Q: What’s your prayer for him?

A: Holy Spirit put your Word in Francis’ mouth. This Word will warm the cold, soften the hard, open the closed, and attract the uncaring. Holy Spirit, it is only your Word that makes the flood, saving water; the snow, cooling refreshment; the inferno, inspiration; and the landslide, victory. And I ask this for him, who comes as your shepherd, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Q: Why are you Catholic?

A: Because I was baptized as such. The better question is Why do I remain Catholic? I am Catholic because the Catholic faith answers all my questions about God, gives me multiple forms to worship God and to pray to God and supports the revelation that God is doing with me now, (literally answering all of these questions). Nothing else has it all!! Catholicism as a faith is based on Truth (Western Christianity) and Beauty (Eastern Christianity). If God is love and love is creative unto infinity, then God is in us, with us, and through us in Jesus Christ and his Mystical Body, with Mary our Mother. And that’s why I am Catholic.