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Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Washington, DC
April 12, 2008
Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke: 1:26-38

We never walk through this life alone. That is the promise the Lord our God makes to His people throughout Sacred Scripture and the one He speaks daily to our hearts. Today, we see a visible expression of that reality. We have journeyed to this Basilica Shrine as pilgrims, as members of God=s holy family, as one diocesan church with a rich diversity, and as sisters and brothers united in Christ Jesus. I express my deep gratitude to Bishop Gossman, my Brother Priests, Deacons, Religious Sisters, our Seminarians and all of you who have made this journey today. Thank you so much for the great efforts and sacrifices you have made to be here. In a special way, we are united today in prayer with all the faithful in our Diocese, especially those who are unable to be with us due to illness and hardship.

As pilgrims who travel in the company of one another, we renew today our trust in the Lord's abiding presence for He is the One who leads us today and always, the One who guides us on the right path. To Him, we offer glory, praise and honor forever.

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, for whom we pray in a special way today as he prepares to make his pastoral visit and historic trip to our great nation, recently reminded us of an important lesson. He emphasized that our journey here on earth has heaven as our final destination. As we strive to reach our goal, we must remember that life on earth is like a voyage on the sea, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that guide us on our route. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history. But to reach Him, we need lights close by - people who shine with His light and so lead us along our way. Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us? With her "yes" she opened the door of our world to God himself. (Spe Salvi, 49).

Today, we must hear anew the words that Jesus spoke to His beloved disciples and to us as He hung dying on the cross, “Behold, your Mother.” In His time of great suffering, the Lord turned to her. She stood with Him to the very end. And because of His great love for us, the Lord gives Mary to us. How blessed we are to call her Our Blessed Mother, who under title of the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of our Diocese, as she is of our Nation. In Mary, especially in our time of need, we find our refuge and help. In her faith, trust and obedience, we see the model of true discipleship. She is a light who guides us, the star of hope who will accompany us in every moment of our lives.

Last June, I had the joy of celebrating the Mass in which my niece was married to a wonderful young man. As soon as they returned from their honeymoon, we gathered to watch the video of the Mass and reception. (In fact, I think we had to watch it twenty times since then)! There was one powerful moment captured in the video that inspired all of us. Like many brides, at the end of the Mass my niece presented flowers to the Blessed Mother and knelt before the statue in her honor, with her gaze fixed upon Mary. What we noticed was that my niece's eyes never moved and that her face was serene and radiant. It was so clear that she took seriously the words of the Lord, “Behold your Mother.” When asked about that moment, my niece confirmed that she was consecrating herself to Mary and asking for her help so that she too could always say "yes" to the Lord.

Dear friends in Christ, it is my hope and prayer that this pilgrimage has been for you a grace-filled time in which you have fixed your gaze upon Mary and renewed your consecration to her. At this Eucharist, we pray that through her intercession and with the divine assistance of her Son, we may renew our "yes" to the Lord. That "yes" is not only for special days. It must be repeated each and every day of our lives.

That "yes" is renewed when we recognize the Lord our God as the Source of all good gifts and remember as the Letter to the Ephesians today reminds us, that He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. Thus, every day we must embrace the theme of our pilgrimage and echo the words of Mary, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”

That “yes” is repeated when we fail to despair in the midst of crosses and hardships and renew our trust in the promise of today's Gospel, that there is no need to be afraid, for all things are possible with God.

That “yes” is renewed when we keep the promises we have made to the Lord, His Church and one another. I renew my “yes” to be a shepherd for you after the heart of Christ. Dear Brother Priests, renew today your "yes" to prayer, holiness, the reverent celebration of the Sacraments and the authentic proclamation of the Gospel. Dear Deacons, renew your “yes” to generous service. Dear Consecrated Religious, renew your “yes” to poverty, chastity and obedience. Dear married couples, renew your “yes” to faithfulness and to a sacrificial love that is kind and patient and always ready to forgive. Dear Seminarians, renew your “yes” to give yourself completely to the Lord and His Church. Dear single people, renew your "yes" to find your joyful hope not in the things of this world but only in and through Jesus Christ. Dear young people, renew your “yes” to discern the will of God in your life; to listen closely to what He is asking of you; to respond generously; and to grow daily in your intimate friendship with Him.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, strengthened today in Word and Sacrament and with abundant graces, renew your “yes” to return to your home, parishes and communities with a commitment to protect the sacredness of all human life and the dignity of each and every person; to be faithful citizens who work constantly for peace and justice; to reach out in compassion to all those who may have grown lukewarm in their faith or even wandered away from it; to strengthen family and married life and to sustain a culture in our Diocese in which vocations to the Priesthood and Religious life are promoted and encouraged.

How blessed we are that our “yes” to the Lord does not depend on our own efforts alone. We who journey through life as God's holy family are supported by the love of one another. Most importantly, we have the promise that Jesus will be with us at every moment of our lives, as the true Light who leads and guides us to our final destination. He is the One who says to us, “Behold your Mother” and gives her to us as the star of hope and the model of true discipleship. Mary Immaculate, Mother of God, Mother of the Church pray for us so that each and every day we may say “yes” to the Lord and His ways. To Him we offer glory, praise and honor forever and ever!