Bishop Gerard Bergie: The Joy in Christ of following the example of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Today November 25 is the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. As the early Church was persecuted in the first 3 centuries, many Christians suffered and were put to death since they refused to worship the Roman emperor but only Christ they worshiped. Catherine who lived in Alexandria, Egypt was terrorized for her faith but remained faithful. When she was 18 years old, during the persecution of Maximinus, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments, and immediately martyred. Maximinus had her scourged and imprisoned. The empress and the leader of the army of Maximinus were amazed by the stories, went to see Catherine in prison. They converted and were martyred. Maximinus ordered her broken on the wheel, but she touched it and the wheel was destroyed. She was beheaded, and her body whisked away by angels. She is buried in Mount Sinai in the Monastery that belongs to Greek Orthodox Christians. Bishop Gerard Bergie is Bishop of St. Catherine's in Canada. He celebrated Mass today and prayed for her intercession. In his homily, he spoke about the desire of everyone to live, especially in these hard times of COVID-19. Most of this applies to old and sick people. However, the fact that we can watch the Mass online means that we participate in the Mass spiritually even if we do not receive physically the Eucharist. He thanked everyone who helped prepare for the Mass and everyone who watched for their participation."Even though you do not come to church, the church comes to you" he said.St. Catherine is a model for us today, he said, since she kept her faith and trusted in God. This was an extraordinary welcoming message - Beautiful for every Cnristian who participate in the on-line Mass. The prayer for unity of the Cburch sounded beautiful. And above all, I could feel that I was participant in the Eucharist. Years ago, Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. said this "Jesus is a revelation. Jesus is a revolution" says the Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad. But what kind of revolution? "Jesus empties heaven and moves the [Divine presence] to be among us: Emmanuel." and continues "Is it possible that God makes such a radical move? I have a response here to our Muslim brothers who think it is impossible. For them God cannot descend from heaven without losing his honor and dignity." This was a homily by Fr. Boulad on Christmas in 2014 Now listen carefully because here Henri Boulad summarizes the Christian Mystery in as simple language as possible "If Jesus Christ is an illusion...If Christianity is a sheer mystification...If God did not come to us and did not descend from his heaven...If he did not take the radical and seemingly impossible leap of the incarnation, then he ceases being credible - he ceases being love - he ceases being God." Let us reflect. Here is the message: "The scandal of the Incarnation, which means that we cannot believe that God could debase himself , becomes the key and the supreme proof that this is the truth" "But a God in heaven well served who looks to me and says 'You suffer. Have courage. Perhaps one day you will be with me in my heaven' is not God. A God who says 'Patience. I am fine here but you over there can suffer' is not God. This is the false God that we, often, figure that he sends us prophets from time to time to console us' . NO, NO. NO. This God who looks to me with a telescope is not my God. I do not want him." "If there is a phenomenon of atheism today in the West as well as in Egypt, it is precisely because men say we are in fact better than God. The walk that I walk to help when I see a hungry person or a thirsty one or a person without faith, can't God do it? Has he no choice regarding his honor?" "No. He did it. This is the supreme proof of the Christian Mystery. Do not look somewhere else. 'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' He descended. No more seventh heaven..." "The only God I can believe, love and worship is the God Jesus Christ because he descended to me." "'Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down...' " And the great preacher and Jesuit scholar Henri Boulad finished here his homily.