Cardinal
Rigali thanks Boy Scouts
for commitment to works of service
Homily of Cardinal Justin Rigali
Scout Sunday Mass
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
February 3, 2008
Praised be Jesus Christ now and forever!
I mentioned already at the beginning of Mass what a fine view it was from
the Archbishop’s chair, but it is an even better view from here
in the pulpit! I can see so many of you on this wonderful occasion of
Scout Sunday gathered together in the name of Jesus to confirm our young
people in their high ideals.
My dear brother Priests — Monsignor Wendrychowicz, Father Rogers,
Father McFadden,
Dear Scouts, dear Scouters, dear Leaders who give so much of your time,
energy and devotion for our young people,
Dear Parents, Families and Friends,
It is a great joy to have you here as a part of this celebration. It is
pleasing to see so many scouts and scouters, families and friends observing
Scout Sunday here in this Cathedral Basilica at Jesus’ Eucharistic
Sacrifice. This celebration takes on added dimension since we celebrate,
here in Philadelphia, our bicentennial as a diocese — the bicentennial
of our local Church.
When Bishop Michael Egan arrived in Philadelphia in 1810 to serve as our
first bishop — the coming of the Boy Scout movement to America was
exactly a hundred years in the future. It was during the episcopate of
Archbishop Patrick Ryan that Boy Scouting made its debut in our nation.
During the tenure of Cardinal Dennis Dougherty, the first Ad Altare Dei
medal was awarded in 1926. In 1934 the Bishops of the United States through
the National Catholic Welfare Conference approved a “Plan of Cooperation”
with the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America whereby Scouting
recognized the Church’s interest in the spiritual welfare of Catholic
youth, and the Scouting program was recognized as an approved program
for youth ministry in the Catholic Church.
I am certain that the scouts and scouters present know the story behind
the bringing of the Boy Scout movement from England to the United States,
but — for the few who may not — permit me to share with you
the abridged version.
It happened many years ago on the foggy streets of London, in England
when an American named William D. Boyce lost his way. A boy walked up
and asked if he could be of assistance. Mr. Boyce explained where he wished
to go. The boy led him to his destination, but when Mr. Boyce offered
to give him some money, the boy said: “No, thank you, sir. I am
a Scout. I won’t take anything for helping.”
Scouting came to America because a scout did a Good Turn. And as they
say — the rest is history! My brothers and sisters, there is a clear
theme running through today’s readings and that is the theme of
the poor and the needy. “I will leave in your midst a people humble
and lowly”—the words from our first reading from the prophet
Zephaniah. The Responsorial Psalm repeats: “Blessed are the poor
in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!” And, in our second
reading we hear Saint Paul say: “God chose the foolish … the
weak … the lowly and despised of the world in order to confound
the wise and the strong.” “Blessed are the poor in spirit”—
this is so much of what the Gospel is about.
The Prophet Zephaniah, the Psalmist and Saint Paul remind us that while
we may not be the most wise, or the most wealthy or the most powerful
by human standards, we must still be ever ready to help those in need.
We are called to help satisfy the hungers of all people and protect and
defend the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters. In Scouting terms,
it means to be always prepared to do a Good Turn.
At this time, I wish to acknowledge and commend the many and various acts
of service that you do, dear young people, individually and corporately
in your parishes, schools, neighborhoods and in the community at large.
During this bicentennial year, I invite you to a heightened level of volunteer
service from this moment, especially to the Feast of St. Katharine Drexel
on March 3rd. This period of time has been designated as a very special
period of time for service in the whole Archdiocese. And how wonderful
it is that the scouts and scouters can make their very important contribution.
We must never tire of being attentive to the needs of our brothers and
sisters. Once again our hearts and consciences are struck by the words
of the Master: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of
the least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
In the Gospel, Jesus pronounced blessed the poor in spirit, “for
the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Material poverty of itself is
no blessing nor does it give the materially poor a free pass to heaven.
We are all called to be poor in spirit, that is, to realize that we all
are have-nots before God. We all have our needs, our spiritual needs before
God our Father. We have no righteousness of our own. In our second reading,
Saint Paul points out that Jesus is our wisdom. He is also our righteousness,
our redemption, our sanctification. We are totally dependent on Jesus;
without Him we can do nothing!
There are many Good Turns, dear friends, but the Best Turn is to lead
another person to Jesus, who alone can satisfy the hunger and thirst of
the human heart.
The Church is so grateful to the scouting movement, because it is such
a fine preparation for our young people. It helps them to be prepared
for the great message of Jesus, for His final instructions to us on exactly
how to live in so many circumstances. Today we hear Jesus say: “Blessed
are the poor in spirit,” and “Blessed are the merciful,”
and “Blessed are the peacemakers.” All these instructions
of Jesus are very important, teaching us how we are to live. And the whole
movement of scouting is a good preparation, with solid ideals, that help
prepare our young people to see and accept and further embrace all the
teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A young scout did a Good Turn seeking no reward, no praise for the good
deed he performed. And that’s what it means to be a Scout. A disciple
of Jesus, young or old, does the Best Turn seeking no reward, no praise
for the good he performs. And that’s much of what it means to be
a Christian!
All of us today are grateful for our young people. We are grateful that
God has given them this opportunity to be filled with these fine principles
and to pursue, as Catholics, a greater understanding of the teachings
of the Master. They are called to give their very best in every way as
scouts and Christians to help others, to uplift people in their needs
and to lead so many of their brothers and sisters to our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is our Savior and the Light of the world. Amen.