On this Memorial Day Weekend - thankful for those who gave the last measure to maintain this…

■ G. K. Chesterton wrote: America is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed. That creed is set forth with dogmatic and

even theological lucidity in the Declaration of Independence; perhaps the only piece of practical politics that is also theoretical poli-

tics and also great literature. It enunciates that all men are equal in their claim to justice, that governments exist to give them that justice, and

that their authority is for that reason just. It certainly does condemn anarchism, and it does also by inference condemn atheism, since it clearly

names the Creator as the ultimate authority from whom these equal rights are derived. (“WHAT IS AMERICA?”

WHAT I SAW IN AMERICA)

Thoughts on the Ascension of our Lord

Thoughts on the Ascension of our Lord from St. John Henry Newman

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7

I have long taken comfort from the ascension of our Lord Who has gone to reign from on high (Deus Ascendit not Deus Abscondit, as Will Willimon once put it). Were Jesus still physically localized (say, visiting Peoria, IL) the clamor would be such that we’d never get close to Him. With God’s presence in the Spirit, working through the Word, we can be in communion with Him anywhere and at any time.

Jesus says that His ascension is to our advantage, in order that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, might come to be with us. It’s a kind of cause and effect that had never struck me so bluntly until I read an article from St. John Henry Newman (“Mysteries in Religion”, The Catholic Thing, Monday, May 13, 2024). Along with pointing that out, Newman considers other “departures” that we have endured, often causing us to wonder “Why them?” and “Why now?”

“Moreover, this departure of Christ, and coming of the Holy Ghost, leads our minds with great comfort to the thought of many lower dispensations of Providence towards us. He, who, according to His inscrutable will, sent first His Co-equal Son, and then His Eternal Spirit, acts with deep counsel, which we may surely trust, when He sends from place to place those earthly instruments which carry on His purposes. This is a thought which is particularly soothing as regards the loss of friends; or of especially gifted men, who seem in their day the earthly support of the Church. For what we know, their removal hence is as necessary for the furtherance of the very objects we have at heart, as was the departure of our Savior. . . .”

This helps me as I consider the deaths of Lorri, Dale, Fred, Pat, John, and others dear in memory. I pray that even though the deaths of dear ones leave us bewildered as to the counsel of God this can provide a bit of comfort for you, too. For God has them in His keeping and there will be a great reunion when our Savior returns – “in the same way (we) have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).