By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Homily preached by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on Oct. 3 at the Mass of Christian Burial for Bishop Gilberto Fernandez at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Miami.
As Archbishop of Miami, I am grateful to the other bishops of Florida who join with Archbishop Favalora and Bishop Roman and me, together with the priests of this local Church, in celebrating this Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of the soul of Bishop Gilberto Fernandez.
We extend our deepest condolences to Bishop Fernandez� siblings � just a few weeks ago, his sister, Ondina, preceded him in death. Even as we pray for Gilberto, we remember her before the Lord and we also pray for his brothers and sisters who survive him � Teresita, Sister Lydia, Nelson, Fausto, and Miguel. May the God of consolations comfort you in this moment. You know that now the battle is over for him � and he is at rest.
Even as we commend his soul to our merciful Lord, we do so with much gratitude � for his ministry but also for the contributions of his siblings to the life of the Church, both in Cuba and in the Archdiocese of Miami. On this day, we also remember with gratitude Bishop Fernandez� parents who instilled in all their children the desire to serve God and his Church.
But we are also grateful for the care given to Bishop Fernandez during his long illness. This month, as announced by the Apostleship of Prayer, the Holy Father�s general intention is for the terminally ill. The pope asks that we pray �that the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters.� Certainly this was the case with Bishop Fernandez � he was always supported by his faith but also by the love of his siblings.
Every person�s life is lived under the sign of the Cross. Experience shows, especially when that experience is interpreted in the light of the wisdom that age can give one, experience shows that life�s difficulties, by God�s grace, contribute to peoples� growth and the forging of their character.
St. John Chrysostom said: Tribulations not only do not destroy hope, they are its foundation. And so it was with Bishop Fernandez: even in his infirmities he gave us a witness to hope, a witness of priestly integrity and the joy that comes from walking through this life as a friend of Jesus. When for reasons of his health, he submitted his resignation to the Holy Father, he asked for our prayers but he also pledged to pray for us. And he did indeed pray for us � but not only with his words but through the humble embrace of his infirmity: He offered up to the Lord his illness for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls. His last years were a lived prayer.
Archbishop Favalora, who ordained both Bishop Fernandez and me as his auxiliary bishops on Sept. 3, 1997, used to call us �the twins�. However, we were not, to be sure �identical twins�. We were nevertheless �fraternal twins�: Bishop Fernandez was a brother to me � as he was to the priests of this archdiocese. Many of these priests are here today and they could recall the things he did in the many years of priesthood he spent in the service of Christ here in Florida and even back in Cuba.
But rather than list the accomplishments and the assignments of this man, rather than enumerate his virtues, or kid about his shortcomings, let it suffice just for us to say: Gilberto Fernandez was simply a dedicated and humble pastor of souls.
If we can associate the words �Christian� and �ambition�, it should only be when �Christian ambition� describes the Christians �ambition� to serve. Gilberto�s only ambition was just that � to serve. It was in order to serve God�s people that he became a priest; it was in order to serve that he accepted every assignment that was given to him � from ministering among migrant farmworkers to obediently accepting a �mitre� as an auxiliary bishop of Miami. His episcopal motto was: Amor ultima ratio � love for God and love for God�s people and not love for honor, prestige or earthly glory � was the ultimate reason for his life. He knew that Jesus� Kingdom was not about �who wears the crown� but about �who bears the cross�.
We bishops and we priests know our own human frailty; and so, today we are not shy in asking for prayers for Gilberto Fernandez � and when we die, we beg your prayers for us, confident that the love of Jesus Christ who gave us the gift of the priesthood is stronger than death. Indeed, it is a special bond that unites us to Gilberto, a priestly bond of solidarity and communion. This special bond is �stronger than death� � for we were ordained like Melchisedek of old, priests forever.
Bishop Fernandez, like each of these men here, carried an immense treasure in an earthen vessel and so we invoke God�s loving mercy on his soul and ask for him the joy and peace of eternal life in the communion of the most Blessed Trinity.
We pray confidently for we are comforted by the words of St. Paul: �If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere, we shall also reign with him.� In gratitude for his faith, his long years of priestly and Episcopal service, and his perseverance in his vocation, we commend him to Mary, Our Lady of Charity.
A hymn that occasionally we have the opportunity to sing has the refrain: We remember, we celebrate, we believe. Today, as we offer this Mass for Bishop Fernandez, we, too, remember, we celebrate, we believe.
As Archbishop of Miami, I am grateful to the other bishops of Florida who join with Archbishop Favalora and Bishop Roman and me, together with the priests of this local Church, in celebrating this Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of the soul of Bishop Gilberto Fernandez.
We extend our deepest condolences to Bishop Fernandez� siblings � just a few weeks ago, his sister, Ondina, preceded him in death. Even as we pray for Gilberto, we remember her before the Lord and we also pray for his brothers and sisters who survive him � Teresita, Sister Lydia, Nelson, Fausto, and Miguel. May the God of consolations comfort you in this moment. You know that now the battle is over for him � and he is at rest.
Even as we commend his soul to our merciful Lord, we do so with much gratitude � for his ministry but also for the contributions of his siblings to the life of the Church, both in Cuba and in the Archdiocese of Miami. On this day, we also remember with gratitude Bishop Fernandez� parents who instilled in all their children the desire to serve God and his Church.
But we are also grateful for the care given to Bishop Fernandez during his long illness. This month, as announced by the Apostleship of Prayer, the Holy Father�s general intention is for the terminally ill. The pope asks that we pray �that the terminally ill may be supported by their faith in God and the love of their brothers and sisters.� Certainly this was the case with Bishop Fernandez � he was always supported by his faith but also by the love of his siblings.
Every person�s life is lived under the sign of the Cross. Experience shows, especially when that experience is interpreted in the light of the wisdom that age can give one, experience shows that life�s difficulties, by God�s grace, contribute to peoples� growth and the forging of their character.
St. John Chrysostom said: Tribulations not only do not destroy hope, they are its foundation. And so it was with Bishop Fernandez: even in his infirmities he gave us a witness to hope, a witness of priestly integrity and the joy that comes from walking through this life as a friend of Jesus. When for reasons of his health, he submitted his resignation to the Holy Father, he asked for our prayers but he also pledged to pray for us. And he did indeed pray for us � but not only with his words but through the humble embrace of his infirmity: He offered up to the Lord his illness for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls. His last years were a lived prayer.
Archbishop Favalora, who ordained both Bishop Fernandez and me as his auxiliary bishops on Sept. 3, 1997, used to call us �the twins�. However, we were not, to be sure �identical twins�. We were nevertheless �fraternal twins�: Bishop Fernandez was a brother to me � as he was to the priests of this archdiocese. Many of these priests are here today and they could recall the things he did in the many years of priesthood he spent in the service of Christ here in Florida and even back in Cuba.
But rather than list the accomplishments and the assignments of this man, rather than enumerate his virtues, or kid about his shortcomings, let it suffice just for us to say: Gilberto Fernandez was simply a dedicated and humble pastor of souls.
If we can associate the words �Christian� and �ambition�, it should only be when �Christian ambition� describes the Christians �ambition� to serve. Gilberto�s only ambition was just that � to serve. It was in order to serve God�s people that he became a priest; it was in order to serve that he accepted every assignment that was given to him � from ministering among migrant farmworkers to obediently accepting a �mitre� as an auxiliary bishop of Miami. His episcopal motto was: Amor ultima ratio � love for God and love for God�s people and not love for honor, prestige or earthly glory � was the ultimate reason for his life. He knew that Jesus� Kingdom was not about �who wears the crown� but about �who bears the cross�.
We bishops and we priests know our own human frailty; and so, today we are not shy in asking for prayers for Gilberto Fernandez � and when we die, we beg your prayers for us, confident that the love of Jesus Christ who gave us the gift of the priesthood is stronger than death. Indeed, it is a special bond that unites us to Gilberto, a priestly bond of solidarity and communion. This special bond is �stronger than death� � for we were ordained like Melchisedek of old, priests forever.
Bishop Fernandez, like each of these men here, carried an immense treasure in an earthen vessel and so we invoke God�s loving mercy on his soul and ask for him the joy and peace of eternal life in the communion of the most Blessed Trinity.
We pray confidently for we are comforted by the words of St. Paul: �If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere, we shall also reign with him.� In gratitude for his faith, his long years of priestly and Episcopal service, and his perseverance in his vocation, we commend him to Mary, Our Lady of Charity.
A hymn that occasionally we have the opportunity to sing has the refrain: We remember, we celebrate, we believe. Today, as we offer this Mass for Bishop Fernandez, we, too, remember, we celebrate, we believe.
