杏MAP导航: 鈥楥hrist, crucified in Canada's residential school students, reconciles us'
By Devin Watkins
杏MAP导航 Francis set out that path for the Catholic Church in Canada on Monday, as he met with members of the country鈥檚 only designated Indigenous parish church.
The 杏MAP导航 held the encounter in the western city of Edmonton with parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, which came on the heels of his public apology for the Church鈥檚 role in running residential schools.
Church as 鈥榓 house for all鈥�
, 杏MAP导航 Francis expressed his joy for the opportunity to come 鈥渁s a friend and pilgrim in your land鈥�, adding that his Apostolic Journey to Canada is meant as a concrete sign of his desire to support the process of healing.
The Sacred Heart Church welcomes people from the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, as well as immigrants from other countries.
The 杏MAP导航 said the parish offers an example of how the Church should be 鈥渁 house for all鈥� a home where everyone should feel welcome, regardless of past experiences and personal life stories.鈥�
Pain for Church鈥檚 past
杏MAP导航 Francis recalled the reason for his 鈥減enitential pilgrimage鈥� to Canada.
Education, added the 杏MAP导航, should be based on respect and never imposed in a pre-packaged format, but rather undertaken as an adventure to 鈥渄iscover together the mystery of life.鈥�
Reconciliation on 鈥榯ree of life鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 then focused on the theme of reconciliation, saying Christ brought a form of reconciliation which goes beyond outward appearances.
That tree of life, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, joins heaven and earth and embraces all Creation, even things that seemed 鈥渦nthinkable and unforgiveable.鈥�
He said indigenous peoples attribute 鈥減owerful cosmic significance鈥� to the cardinal points, noting how Sacred Heart Church appropriates that symbolism and gives it a Christological meaning.
鈥淛esus, through the four extremities of His cross, has embraced the four cardinal points and has brought together the most distant peoples; He has brought healing and peace to all things,鈥� he said.
鈥楽candalous love鈥� and peace
Recognizing the pain endured by many indigenous peoples and families at the hands of Canada鈥檚 residential schools, 杏MAP导航 Francis said he can 鈥渙nly imagine the effort it must take, for those who have suffered so greatly because of men and women who should have set an example of Christian living, even to think about reconciliation.鈥�
The path forward, said the 杏MAP导航, is to look together to Christ and to embrace Christ鈥檚 gift of reconciliation, 鈥渁 peace that radiates from the heart of Jesus, a grace which must be sought.鈥�
鈥淚f we want to be reconciled with one another and with ourselves, to be reconciled with the past, with wrongs endured and memories wounded, with traumatic experiences that no human consolation can ever heal,鈥� he said, 鈥渙ur eyes must be lifted to the crucified Jesus; peace must be attained at the altar of his cross.鈥�
鈥楲iving body of reconciliation鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis went on to say that the Church is the 鈥渓iving body of reconciliation鈥�, since she is the one body in which Christ has reconciled us.
He said the Church can never lead people to Christ by imposing Him through proselytism. Rather, Jesus must be 鈥減reached as He desires, in freedom and charity.鈥�
The Church, he added, must be a place of welcome in which the Holy Spirit fosters the healing of wounded memories, which he said should be carried out at the local level in praying and sharing life with one another.
Teepee: Sign of God鈥檚 closeness
The 杏MAP导航 concluded his address to members of the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples with the image of the teepee.
He noted that above the altar and tabernacle are four poles representing the typical indigenous tent, saying it recalls the Tent of Meeting where God dwelt as the people of Israel journeyed in the desert for forty years.
鈥淭he teepee reminds us that God accompanies us on our journey and loves to meet us together,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淕od is a God of closeness, and in Jesus He teaches us the language of compassion and tender love.鈥�
May God, he concluded, 鈥渢ake us by the hand, and even through the deserts of history, and continue to guide our steps on the way of reconciliation.鈥�
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