Learning Christ

Catholic News Services ran a brief article yesterday about the late New York Cardinal Terence J. Cooke, who was archbishop of New York City from 1968 until his death in 1983. Yesterday the position paper summarizing Cardinal Cooke's life and holiness was presented to Pope Benedict by New York Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan; Baltimore Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien; Patricia Handal, coordinator of the Cardinal Cooke Guild, which is promoting the sainthood cause; and Msgr. Joseph R. Giandurco, the cause's vice postulator. This 2,000-page volume will be filed formally with the Congregation for Saints' Causes as an initial step in the Vatican process to determine whether the cardinal should be beatified and canonized. Reading this article made me think of a simple but powerful prayer called "Learning Christ" that I found years ago in a small prayer book compiled by Cardinal Cooke. The author of this prayer was not included, but its words made me wonder if the Cardinal himself wrote it because it mirrors so well his deep spirituality and faith. I greatly admire Cardinal Cooke, and whenever I pray this prayer, I remember his beautiful example of genuine holiness and his gentle, peaceful spirit.

Learning Christ

Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of life, in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied. Let me put myself aside, to think of the happiness of others, to hide my little pains and heartaches, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them. Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it may make me patient, not irritable. That it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow, haughty and overbearing. May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble for having been a fellow traveler in our journey toward Eternal Life. As I go my rounds from one distraction to another, let me whisper from time to time, a word of love to Thee. May my life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity. Amen!