Homilies

April 26, 2008
Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Blessed Rafael Arnaiz-Baron, OCSO
Acts 16:1-10; John 15:18-21
Fr. Marcellus Earl, OCSO

"Suppose, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that you are at home, sick, full of anxieties and cares, perhaps even paralyzed, useless, in a word incapable of doing anything, but one day you catch sight of Jesus passing by outside your window.

"If you should see that a large crowd of sinners, poor, sick, and leprous people were following Jesus, if you should see that Jesus was calling you and proposing a task for you among his followers, and examining you with those divine eyes flowing with love, gentleness and pardon, and that he would say to you:

"'Why don't you follow me?'"
"Just what, my friends, would you do?
" Perhaps you would reply:

"'Lord, I would follow you if you should appoint a nurse for me . . . give me doctors so that I could follow you conveniently and without danger to my health. I would follow you if were healthy and strong so that I would be of some use."

"No, I'm sure that if you had seen the sweetness of Jesus' eyes, you would have said nothing like that, rather you would have risen from your bed without a thought of those anxieties, without reflecting on anything. You would have been focused, even though at the point of death. Set yourself firmly, then, amongst the followers of Jesus and say to him:"

"'I will go with you, Lord. My aches and pains are of no importance, nor death, nor food, nor sleep. If you accept me, I will go. If you wish you can cure me . . . It doesn't matter if the path by which you take me is abrupt, difficult and full of thorns . . . It is of no account if it is full of thorns, if you want me to die on the cross . . . I will come, Lord, because you are the one who will guide me, you who promise an eternal reward, you who promise to pardon and save. You are the only one who fills my soul.'

"'Should there be cares about what might happen to me in the future, human fears, still it is Jesus of Nazareth who guides, what is there to fear?'" (1)

Except for that bit about friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ, all the words I have just spoken to you are not my words, they are the words of him who is the object of today's memorial, Blessed Rafael Arnáiz-Barón who was born in Burgos, Spain, on April 9, 1911 and died on April 26, 1938 at the ripe old age age of 27. He became a Trappist late in his short life and packed a lifetime in the brief time he lived.
Bl. Rafael was highly intelligent, an architect and artist. He picked up the violin and played it well without instruction showing a great musical talent. He was tall, with dark hair and sparkling eyes.

His humility and purity of heart can be grasped from these words of his which I leave with you as his parting gift.

"I love God for himself, and nothing else, Although I love God so little, still he wants me and that is enough." (2)

1. Vida Y Escritos de Fray María Rafael, Monje Trapense, Abadia Cisterciense de San Isidro de Dueñas (Palencia, 1960, Al Lector, pages x-xi
2. ibid. p. x