Bishop addresses suffering of Christ, pain of abuse victims in Palm Sunday Mass

Palm Sunday Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral featured the usual traditions Sunday, March 23, from beginning with the blessing of the palms, to the reading of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. It was a celebration of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, followed soon after by his betrayal, suffering and crucifixion.

But attention was also placed on the suffering of victims and survivors of past sex abuses committed by clergy, lay personnel or volunteers affiliated with the Diocese of Buffalo.

“As we join our Lord’s Passion on this Palm Sunday, we come together to pray for healing and forgiveness, penance and reparation, mindful of the horrors of sexual abuse that has occurred in our Church, around the world, and even more specifically here in our diocese,” said Bishop Michael W. Fisher during his homily. “We pray for healing, forgiveness and repentance for these horrors in all their forms, but especially those against children, for we are all children of God. We are mindful that our Lord also takes the suffering of abuse upon Himself.”

The intention of this Mass was for all victim-survivors of abuse. Bishop Fisher suggested the timing was appropriate, in this most important period of the Christian year. He told the congregation that as the people walk with Christ on His road to the cross, they could never really know the suffering Christ endured, nor can all present fully understand the pain abuse survivors have endured. That pain, he noted, has also been suffered by victims’ extended friends and families.

The bishop spoke of the meaning of passion as it related to Christ’s journey, including the elements of pain, emotion and love. He recalled the emotions Jesus must have felt during His Passion, including fear of what was to come while praying in Gethsemane, betrayal when Judas led authorities to Him, and the heartbreak of Peter, despite vowing he would never deny Christ, doing so three times later that night.

He spoke of love as part of Christ’s Passion, explaining that its mystery shows that it’s not so much loving what one is doing, but rather loving those for whom one is doing it.

“You may not love the cross, but you take up your cross daily for those you love,” Bishop Fisher said.

In the bishop’s words, “We also are here today in embarrassment and in search of reparation” for people who were violated by those who were called to respect and protect others while breaking their vow to live a chaste life.

Addressing the diocese’s current renewal, Bishop Fisher noted that it is most importantly a spiritual renewal, and that the church is called to atonement and account. That spiritual renewal, he suggests, involves suffering, sacrifice, and then in any way it can be achieved, healing.

“Words cannot restore wholeness to those who are hurting. But as inadequate as they are, on behalf of the local church here in Buffalo and of my brother bishops, priests and the people of this diocese, I apologize,” he said. “I continue to commit myself and our local church to continue to do everything we can to prevent such sinful and destructive behaviors in the future. To hold those credibly accused accountable, to be present to you, to extend to you our promise of accountability.”

You may hear Bishop Michael Fisher’s entire homily by clicking on the audio link below.