December 28, 2003

Jesus lives in the perfect unity of the Holy Trinity. He did not have to come into history at all. He did so out of love and gratuitously willed to be born as a baby in a family. He made families the heart of civilization, a “little church,” an “ecclesiola.” The first Sunday in the Christmas season celebrates the Holy Family for this reason.

Just before Christmas, the Pope authenticated miracles which will qualify two family figures for the honors of the altar. The Emperor Karl I, last ruler of Austria-Hungary, will be declared Blessed. He ascended his throne toward the end of World War I and failed in trying to attain peace for his people. He died at the age of 34 in exile in Portugal in 1922, blessing his eighth child who was still in the womb of the Empress Zita. Their poverty was such that the little archduke was cradled in a washtub. For some years, the Empress lived in Tuxedo Park and her sons and grandsons are known to some of us for their Catholic devotion. The Emperor told his wife that if they could no longer reign as monarchs, they must pursue the higher calling of serving as saints.

His witness to the sanctity of family life is paralleled by Blessed Gianna Beretta Molla, who will be declared a saint. A pediatric surgeon trained in the universities of Pavia and Milan, she refused an abortion and died a martyr of maternal love at the age of 39, giving birth to her fourth child who will be present at her canonization.

These family figures contradict our culture of death. Miracles attributed to their intercessions were announced at the same time it was announced that the birth rate in the United States has reached an all-time low of 13.0 per 1000 people, down 17 percent from 1990. More than one-third of all births in our nation are to unmarried mothers. Coupled with divorce, this means that well over half of all our children will not grow up in a family of mother and father. The psychological consequences already are taking their toll, not to mention the economic chaos which has already hit Europe. The “population explosion” predictions of international organizations have been dead wrong (expect no apologies to Pope Paul VI) and at this rate, within three centuries the entire world population will be less than the population of North America.

This tragedy results from a selfish refusal to reciprocate the generosity of God. The good news is that while anti-life people are dying out, pro-life people are sending children into the world. Our parish has more children than ever, and we are becoming the youngest part of Murray Hill. May Our Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph, holy Karl and Gianna and all the saints pray for our parish family.

Fr. George W. Rutler