Justice and peace...

Crucifixtion.

When I was in the monastery, Fr. Maurus died of cancer. Trappists do not embalm normally, nor do they use coffins. What is lovely about a monastic death is that the community assembles around the dying, praying. When the person dies, his body is placed in the chapel and monks keep vigil around the clock until the funeral. In Fr. Maurus' case, the funeral had to be delayed for relatives who were coming from a great distance to attend. Fr. Maurus began to deteriorate, the cancer or medicines began to smell foul. We burned incense to cover the odor, but it did little good. It reminded me of the "Brothers Karamozov" where the monk who had died decomposed and the people were disappointed as if this indicated he had not been a saint.

I hadn't known Fr. Maurus very well, but he was always kind and seemed an exemplary monk. He visually reprimanded me one evening as we novices were going upstairs to our cells and I started silently playing like the kids from "The Sound of Music" on the stairs, making everyone laugh out loud. I wasn't aware that Fr. Maurus was behind us, he gave me a severe look. I was sure he'd vote against my acceptance when it came time.

Yet there he lay, a corpse, before he had the chance. Instead of feeling disliked by him as I knelt reciting the psalter with my brother, I felt his warmth and kindness, I can almost smell that sickenly sweet odor of his rapidly decomposing body as I write.

At Mass today I thought of him again. The responsorial psalm was one of the psalms I prayed at Fr. Maurus' feet.

"Kindness and truth shall meet;
Justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven." -Psalm 85

It was at this verse that I understood something of the monk's life and that of the cross. It seemed to me that this passage contained the meaning of what happened on Calvary. The intersection of "kindness and truth" with "justice and peace" formed the cross, that cross of Jesus crucified, "the root of Jesse has blossomed" with the crimson corpse of the Divine Son, while justice has looked down from heaven, like that scene in Gibson's film, "The Passion", where that huge drop of water, that tear falls from Heaven, from the Divine Father.

"Kindness and truth" - Mercy and humility.
"Justice and peace" - Doing what is right, which is the way of peace.

Since then, suffering has had greater meaning for me, while I look upon this insight as a personal legacy to me from Fr. Maurus.

Later I thought of yesterday's post and Fr. Maurus' silent rebuke that night long ago. I always want to be funny. Last night I posted on that priest (Fr. Fay) because I wanted to insert the "Brainerd Cash Call" into one of my posts, at that poor guy's expense. If only the truth I could keep focused upon would remain Jesus and Him Crucified. One knows these things yet one never seems to learn.

I considered that perhaps Fr. Fay may have "sold his birthright for a meal" as Essau had, yet Fr. Fay can gain back his inheritance through repentance, as did the Prodigal Son. Let's pray for Fr. Fay and for all priests. Especially for those who prefer anything at all to the love of Christ.

And may the soul of Fr. Maurus and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Mea culpa!