Cantalamessa on Good Friday: Cross, the Christological foundation of fraternity
By Robin Gomes
鈥淲e build fraternity in precisely the same way that we build peace, that is starting close by, with ourselves鈥� For us, that means universal fraternity starts with the Catholic Church,鈥� said the Preacher of the Papal Household, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa. He made the point in his homily at the Celebration of the Lord鈥檚 Passion on Good Friday evening in St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica, which was presided over by 杏MAP导航 Francis. In observance of the Covid-19 health protocols, the liturgy was attended by a limited number of faithful.
Meanings of brother
On the day that Christians commemorate the passion and death of Jesus, the cardinal explored the notion of fraternity and unity from various perspectives, starting with the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 latest encyclical Fratelli tutti.
He said the document is addressed to a very wide audience, inside and outside the Church, indeed practically to the whole of humankind. It indicates some ways to reach real and just human fraternity in the various spheres of life, ranging from the private to the public sector, and from religious circles to social and political spheres.
鈥淭he mystery of the cross that we are celebrating,鈥� the Italian cardinal said, 鈥渙bliges us to focus precisely on this Christological foundation of fraternity which was inaugurated on Calvary.鈥� The term brother, in its most common meaning, is a sibling. A step further, it means the same nation or people. The meaning widens to include every human person, in the sense that brother is translated as neighbour as in the Bible. When Jesus says, 鈥淲hatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me鈥�, he intends to include every human person in need of help.
Fraternity after Easter
However, the 86-year-old Capuchin cardinal said, with Easter, there is a decisive development in the significance of brother. In the Paschal Mystery, Christ becomes 鈥渢he firstborn among many brothers鈥� (Rm 8:29). The disciples become brothers and sisters in a new and very profound sense. In fact, Cardinal Cantalamessa pointed out that it is only after the resurrection that Jesus calls his disciples brothers for the first time. 鈥淕o to my brothers and say to them, 鈥業 am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God鈥�,鈥� He tells Mary Magdalen.
After Easter, the term brother indicates a brother in the faith, a member of the Christian community - blood brothers in the blood of Christ. Rather than replacing the fraternity of family, nation, or race, this fraternity of Christ crowns them all. The Christian faith adds a second and decisive dimension, that we are brothers not only because we all have the same Father in virtue of creation, but we also have the same brother, Christ, 鈥渢he firstborn among many brothers鈥� in virtue of redemption.
Healing divisions in the Church
The Preacher of the Papal Household noted that fraternity among Catholics is wounded and divisions between Churches have come about not because of dogmas, the sacraments and ministries. 鈥淭he divisions that polarize Catholics,鈥� he said, 鈥渟tem from political opinions that grow into ideologies after being given priority over religious and ecclesial considerations鈥�, issues that are 鈥渘ot openly talked about or are disdainfully denied鈥�.
For Catholics, the Italian cardinal pointed out, fraternity is built the same way that we build peace, that is by starting with ourselves, within the Church. What is needed is a serious examination of conscience and be converted. Fomenting division, he said, is the work par excellence of the devil, 鈥渢he enemy who sows weeds鈥�.
In this regard, Jesus is an example to be followed. He vehemently refused to be drawn into any of the four parties of his time - the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Herodians, and the Zealots. The early Christians also followed the same path.
Cardinal Cantalamessa said, 鈥淧astors need to be the first to make a serious examination of conscience.鈥� They need to ask themselves whether they are leading their flocks to themselves or to Jesus.
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