Laundry Duty

Ave Maria!  Yesterday, CNN's Belief Blog posted an article entitled "When Pope Francis was put on laundry duty," which you can read here.  It was written by  Chris Lowney, a former Jesuit seminarian and author of the book Pope Francis: Why He Leads the Way He Leads.  In this article, Lowney recalls the days during the early 1980s when Pope Francis, then known as the Rev. Jorge Bergoglio, was rector of one of the Jesuit seminaries.  Lowney spoke with some of the priests who were seminarians at that time and asked them what they learned from Bergoglio about being a good leader.  Their first memory was of Bergoglio doing the laundry of their 100-member community.

As Lowney notes:  "Bergoglio used to stress that the seminarians were a family, and each person had to do his share of the chores to support the other family members.  Even though Bergoglio was their superior and carried a heavy administrative and teaching load, he also chipped in, taking the role of community laundry man.  Any seminarians awake at 5:30 in the morning could find him down in the basement, pitching bales of laundry into balky, 1980s-style industrial washing machines."

Lowney then reflects a bit upon "three vital leadership principles that every good parent instinctively understands, but that too many managers and executives forget."

Don’t tell us you value us, show us.
Don’t ask us to make sacrifices that you are unwilling to make.
Send the message that you’re here to serve us, not that we’re here to serve you.

In conclusion, Lowney notes:  "Soon after his election, Pope Francis said that 'authentic power is service,' a simple yet profound vision. Those seminarians who remember him doing the laundry at 5:30 in the morning saw that vision in action: He is here to take care of our needs."

There's a message here for all of us, whether or not we hold a leadership position in life.  Our Lord Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve, calls each one of us to serve in our daily lives.  St. Francis de Sales used to stress that it doesn't matter "even were we to herd swine all our lives and to do the most abject things in the world" because "whatever service God asks of us, ought to be all one to us."

My sister Annie and I are blessed to have learned the importance and necessity of service from Mummie and Daddy when we were very young.  I can see Mummie even now, going across town weekly to clean her aging parents' apartment.  And Daddy, after supper, putting on Mummie's frilly apron and then washing the dishes.  They did these things and so much more matter-of-factly, with a humble and discreet spirit, lovingly and happily, with readiness and good cheers .  Theirs were "hands willing to dip in any water" (John Bartlett), and their example became a way of life for Annie and me.  Deo gratias!

Dear Lord, today may we discover anew that "authentic power is service."  Today may we serve You and our brothers and sisters anew with gladness and joy.  Amen.