| Happy New Year, 2007 |
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| Tuesday, 02 January 2007 02:58 | |||
 Archbishop Henry J. Mansell The Roman poet Virgil lived from 70-19 B.C. Many people believe that his epic work, the Aeneid, is the greatest poem ever written. If not the greatest, it certainly is right up there among the best. The Romans regarded the work as their national epic. Composed of 12 books, the Aeneid relates the legendary story of Aeneas’ journey from Troy to the founding of the town of Lavinium. The last of the Trojans is reborn as the first Roman. Aeneas is initiated into the history of Rome and its inner meaning for the human race. The themes of Rome’s destiny and human suffering are embodied in the character of Aeneas, who, despite his human limitations, tries to fulfill his divine mission. Book VI of the Aeneid has been regarded as the greatest achievement of Virgil’s imaginative and poetic powers, as the keystone to the entire poem. With elaborate religious and patriotic imagery, it depicts the visit of Aeneas to the afterworld. Through poetic license, past and future are blended together, and Aeneas is able to review all that has been and to preview the future glory of Rome. Book VI provides spiritual unity and singleness of vision for all the Aeneid. Reflection during these early days of the New Year can also enkindle spiritual unity and singleness of vision in our personal lives. It is a time for looking back and looking forward. The very word “January” is derived from the ancient god Janus of Roman mythology, the guardian of doorways and portals and the patron of beginnings and endings. The clamor and jubilation of the Christmas season are somewhat abated during January. In quiet reflection, we can hear variations on the songs of the angels, we can hear voices of the past and praise God for those gifts. I thank God and you for the wonder of your gifts, your goodness, and your aspirations for the future. Of course, as we look back over the past, we are reminded of failures that balk the soul’s high dreams. Yes, our blind spots, shadows, mistakes, faults, and sins are there. We cannot, however, be paralyzed or consumed by them. God’s mercy is also there, and we have to be more firmly convicted of that gift. It is the perennial message of Christmas. As we open a new year, our reflection calls upon us to learn from our past, from our mistakes and failures, but also from our successes. Mistakes come with the human condition. How we bounce back, in God’s grace, can make all the difference. The voices of the angels and the promptings of the Holy Spirit tell us that bouncing back from mistakes and moving forward from successes and failures have to be the focus of our vision for the coming year. Where will we be in our spiritual development a year from now? Where will our planet be a year from now? We pray for a greater measure of peace, an odyssey of peace across the world. Iraq, Iran, North Korea, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Darfur in Sudan, comprehensive immigration reform in our country, a cessation of bloodshed in our streets, tranquility in our homes – the list goes on and calls us to more intensive prayer and work. In our New Year’s reflection we are conscious of the passage of time. How does it go by so fast? In our focus on time, we might see it as “chronos,” an ancient Greek word for secular time, or as “kairos,” the understanding of time as sacred. It is all God’s gift. Every day is sacred time. From ancient times to 2007, the hope for world peace is harmony with the God of love, the hope for our souls is communion with the loving God. There is wonderful hope in your goodness, expressed in so many ways. One, of course is the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. The total for 2006 has not yet been finalized, but it comes to $8,944,801. Your generosity reveals your communion with God and the power of the loving God alive in your hearts. With deep, heartfelt gratitude, I wish us all together a Happy New Year.
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