Pope Benedict in is encyclical on hope makes this statement, "Life is a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, and we watch for the stars to show us the route. The true stars are those who live good lives. Those who allow the star of Christ to shine through them illuminating the path so that we might follow."
The saints are these people. Throughout the liturgical year we celebrate the feast of saints, those who have lived good lives, allowing the light of Christ to illumine then and shine through them for all to see.
St. Robert Bellarmine, whose feast we celebrate today, is one of those.
St. Robert lived during a tough time in the history of the church. He lived right after the reformation, a time of trial where catholics persecuted those who left and those who left persecuted the catholics.
St. Robert was a defender of the faith. He defended the faith by living the faith.
Two things about St. Robert.
1)
When he began to preach the word of God, spreading the message of the kingdom, he would stand upon a stool behind the pulpit. He was very short in stature and he did not what his lack of height to interfere with the word being heard. So he improvised and swallowed his pride.
We too should do whatever it takes to make sure the word is heard through us. we should make sure that our bodies are not a distraction but an instrument.
2)
St. Robert was a bishop. As a bishop, you receive a ring as a sign of the teaching authority in the church. St. robert had a knack of removing his ring and selling it so that he would have more money to feed the hungry who came to him. Those who knew him would often go behind him and buy the ring back, only to have the bishop sell it when someone who needed food would come.
Not only would he not let his stature interfere with the word being heard. He would not let his office interfere with the word being lived.
He became a light for those around him and he continues to be a true star that radiates the light of Christ illuminating the path for the rest of us still on the voyage on the sea of history.
Robert Bellarmine understood what love was and he took to heart the words of St. Paul. These words that dwelt in his heart became a burning light that can never be extinguished. May we also learn what love is... and shine so that others might fine the way home.
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