FATHER ISAAC HECKER. . .IS HE A SAINT?


The first time the question was raised about Father Hecker's being a saint, it caused quite an uproar.

It happened when Fr. Walter Elliot's biography of Fr. Hecker was translated into French. The title had the question "Est il un saint?" in its very wording. Another newsletter will spin out some of the sorry consequences of this French translation; for now, it is sufficient to remember that the excitement behind Fr. Hecker in late 19th century France led to the papal condemnation of "Americanism," as I say, a whole other story.

The 2006 Assembly of the Paulists, in June at Oak Ridge, NJ, formally voted to open the Cause of Fr. Hecker. "Cause" is a technical word for the whole process whereby someone becomes considered a formal "saint" in the Catholic Church. The process itself is fairly elaborate, as the wider has come to realize through the many canonizations of Pope John Paul II, and the enthusiasm of many people to have people like Mother Theresa or the American Dorothy Day formally recognized as saints.

Fr. Paul Robichaud, CSP, Director of the Office of Paulist History, has been appointed by Fr. John Duffy, Paulist President, to be the "postulator." Those of us who worked in Latin in past ages recognize that root meaning of that word is "to ask." It is Fr. Robichaud's job to help us Paulists ask, or petition, the offices in Rome to consider the various reasons why Fr. Hecker should be declared formally and publicly a saint.

The first steps in this process began when Fathers Duffy and Robichaud met with Cardinal Edward Egan the Archbishop of New York to receive his approval to begin the cause. The cause begins in New York because Father Hecker was born and died here and almost all of his ministry occurred here. The Paulist community began at the Church of Saint Paul in Manhattan in 1858 and New York has served as a home and base for the Paulists

Now that Cardinal Egan has given his initial approval, the work begins. The Archdiocese of New York will establish two commissions, one historical and one theological to examine Father Hecker's life and writings. Part of Fr. Robichaud's new task in these next few month will be to organize and reproduce all of Fr. Hecker's writings so they can be considered by this tribunal.

At the beginning on 2008, the Paulist anniversary year, Cardinal Egan will visit the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, inspect Father Hecker's tomb and proclaim him a "Servant of God" in a service of prayer and song. Then the diocesan tribunal will begin formal meetings at the chancery office to examine Father Hecker's cause. The final report will be presented to Cardinal Egan and we hope it will recommend that the cause proceed to Rome. The steps that follow in Rome should proceed toward Father Hecker's "beatification" and "canonization" all orchestrated with the approval of the Pope.

The canonization process will help each of us deepen our reflection on the spirituality and charism of Fr. Hecker and the Paulists.

In what ways would you consider Fr. Hecker a "saint?" Perhaps he does not fit the mold of the standard "plastic statue" images we have of sanctity, with images and levatations and other paranormal occurrences. Nevertheless, think about the following:

-- His life is a textbook study of someone who puts himself into the hands of God. Even during his darkest moments (and he had them throughout his life, from start to finish), he thought of himself as directed by the Holy Spirit.

-- He had an entire discipline around this listening to the Holy Spirit, beginning with the renunciation of his own ego, the testing of directions which he believed the Spirit was giving him with other people, a direct and consistent prayer life, and the adoption of appropriate penances to help diminish selfishness.

-- He had a vision of his mission from early on in his priestly formation, organized and inspired others to undertake this vision, spent his years in deepening fidelity to this vision.

-- His was one of the few voices urging the Church to address the modern world--and the modern mind--in positive terms, thereby anticipating much of the renewal of the twentieth century.

-- At a time when the Church thought primarily in terms of authority and structure, Fr. Hecker evolved a whole other way to think about Church in terms of the direction of the Holy Spirit.

We should all begin praying in intercession with and through Fr. Hecker as his cause is being considered.


FORMAT FOR THE MEETING

1. Welcome and check in
2. Prayer from the Paulist Prayer Book
3. Reading from "The Paulist Vocation," on pp. 130 -134 on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
4. General reflections on the passage from Fr. Hecker
5. Review of suggested questions in terms of the resolutions about Associates in the 2006 Assembly.
6. New Business
7. Individual Reports: Apostolic opportunities that have come my way. (Encourage members to share situations in which some of the Paulist vision and Fr. Hecker's charisms were exercised.)
8. Plans for the next meeting.
9. Closing Prayer (For vocations, p. 411 in Paulist Prayer book.)

SUGGESTED QUESTIONS:

1. What do you think is the popular sense of holiness among Catholics today? What are the positive and perhaps negative aspects of these popular images?
2. What difference would it make to you if Fr. Hecker were declared a saint?
3. What aspects of Fr. Hecker's holiness speaks most to you? Why?

CHRONOLOGY
November 6: Death of Fr. Michael Hunt, CSP, in New York
December 11: Meeting of Paulists in General Ministry Offices concerning regionalization
December 12-14: Meeting of the General Council in New York
January 19: Columbus Associates meet with F. DeSiano

Contact:
Frank DeSiano, CSP
Associate Coordinator
8611 Midland Parkway
Jamaica Estates, NY 11432
(718) 291-5995
www.paulist.org

PLAN AHEAD: HECKER RETREAT, NOV. 2-4, 2007, WITH FATHER TERRY RYAN. REGISTRATION IS OPEN. CHECK IT OUT AND MAKE RESERVATIONS HERE

November 2006
September 2006