Homily by His Eminence Daniel Nicholas Cardinal DiNardo Archbishop of Galveston-Houston At the Episcopal Ordination of His Excellency Bishop William Michael Mulvey Corpus Christi Cathedral, March 25, 2010 - Solemnity of the Annunciation Archbishop Sambi, and all the bishops, priests, deacons, religious and faithful here present: I once heard a priest open the homily for the feast of the Annunciation by saying, "Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, there are only nine more shopping months until Christmas." This was the [I can't understand a couple of words here -- JMP] the otherwise unknowing faithful that there is a relationship between March 25 and December 25. The people of God in Corpus Christi are more than aware of that connection (applause). One of the most beautiful icons of the Annunciation in the Byzantine Church comes from Novgorod, Russia. The two central figures, the Archangel Gabriel and the Mother of God, appear larger than life and monumental in the depth of the icon and they are against a golden background. Both also are standing, and Mary's face seems as if she's receiving a royal command from the angel, who is clothed in red, white and gold, and its highly draped fashion looks very similar to the divine Source's clothing, who is sending the angel. By contrast, Mary is totally enclosed in a red cherry hot cloak - what they call Incarnation colors. Her head is inclined toward the angel in welcome, but her large eyes are looking inward. The Virgin Mary has an incredibly innocent smile on her face. It is the youngest Madonna ever seen in an icon. The Christ child, monumental like she is, is within her, and he raises his hand already in a solemn blessing. He is conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit; he's always the Father's Son, never called, always sent. She is the Virgin Mother. The Virgin's one hand is turned toward her heart in acceptance of the message, but the other hand holds yarn from her weaving. She is in time and history, and yet through her and her energy of acceptance - her innocence elevated, if you will - she will help lead the introduction of the eternal Word into our time and history. Outside the pictures of the Nativity and the Crucifixion there's perhaps no other scene that has captured the imagination of artists both Eastern and Western, than the scene of today's feast day, the Annunciation. And the Annunciation, sisters and brothers, is ultimately beautiful. "Today is the dawn of our salvation," so the Church sings in the office. "The wise plan of the Father in heaven suddenly becomes a blossom here on earth in a way that surpasses all human roles." The Gospel of Luke paints the scene in words that seem restrained and ordinary in light of the wonder beyond all wonders that he announces: it's the revelation of the Word made flesh. The restraint is precisely the means to show the astonishing reality. He, the Christ, is one of us. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary and became man, but one of us: totally on God's side, totally on our side. Yes, the place of Mary is great, but the place of her son, our Lord, is infinitely greater. At the same time, the God-bearer, the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, will always be the God-given protection of the Church of the truth about her son, which is why we will always venerate her. Her yes - her fiat, her acceptance - is on the heights of grace. On our side, she is the highest achievement made possible by grace. Grace makes possible self-surrender, and her embrace of self-surrender makes cooperation possible. There is no calculation in the Virgin Mary. There is no obstacle to the indwelling of God. By faith she is active energetic acceptance. The eternal yes of Jesus makes Mary's yes possible. But it is because it's by his cross that we can even talk about Mary's faith as immaculate and unbounded. And yet, in an odd way, Mary's creaturely yes allows the human nature and will of Jesus Christ to be. He says in his human nature yes to the Father, here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. What a brilliant analysis the Letter to the Hebrews today presents us about what happens because the word becomes flesh. This is a splendid day for the ordination of Bishop Mulvey. The church of Corpus Christi and the city of the same name, a church which celebrates the Body of Christ born of the virgin today, receives a shepherd, one who oversees as successor of the apostles an apostolic church - and make no mistake, Corpus Christi is an apostolic church. Bishop Mulvey is to epitomize the headship of Christ for his church his body and to be a visible sign for all - priests, deacons, religious and faithful - of unity so all will be drawn to the chief high priest and shepherd of our souls Jesus Christ. Ten years ago this past St. Patrick's Day - what an odd coincidence - (laughter) Bishop Carmody was welcomed to diocese, and he has won the affection and love of the Catholic people here and all people here and beyond. Anyone of good will loves Bishop Carmody!. Bishop Carmody, thanks for your Episcopal leadership these past 10 years (applause). The depth and wealth of your episcopal ministry is matched only by the fierceness you show on the racquetball course (laughter). Our gratitude goes out to Bishop Gracida, who is here today, and to Archbishop Gonzalez, who is here from Puerto Rico. Bishop-Elect Michael, you have a whole lot of apostolic ministry summed up here ahead of you. It should encourage you, because you stand on great shoulders. A welcome as well to all the bishops of Texas who are here; those from outside of Texas, we'll admit them to Texas today because it's such a great day. (laughter, applause) A welcome, too, to all here from the Diocese of Austin, including the former bishop, who is now the archbishop of New Orleans, Archbishop Aymond, and also their new ordinary, Bishop Vasquez. I used to be his boss, and he ran away from me (laughter, applause). Members of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, just as Jesus Christ was sent by the Father, so he sent out the twelve apostles to the world. Filled with the Spirit, they preached, governed and sanctified and drew the church as one, that their office might always remain, and chose helpers. They handed on the gift to the Holy Spirit to these men just as they had received it from Christ. The work of the Savior continues through our times through the succession of these apostolic shepherds. Bishop Michael, with you as chief shepherd and surrounded by your priests, who are your new brothers and sons here, Christ will never fail to teach, to shepherd and to sanctify his people. In this earthly pilgrimage in South Texas, Bishop Michael, you are to be wise and prudent in directing the flock to the end of their pilgrimage and for the end of their pilgrimage. Priest, deacons and religious faithful here in Corpus Christi, welcome your new brother and bishop, whom we bishops now admit to the college by the laying on of hands. Respect as he is charged to bear witness to the full truth of the Gospel and as chief steward of the mysteries of God in sanctifying and shepherding. By the way, NEVER forget a sense of humor, Bishop Michael (laughter, applause). Be, Michael, a good shepherd, who always knows his sheep. Get to know well your chief collaborators, those in the office of priesthood. Listen and allow them to collaborate with you in building up the body of Christ in Corpus Christi. Bring to your heart the deacons, called in the early church the left and right hands of the bishop. Honor the charisms of a variety of religious communities. Above all, love the faithful and energetically serve, like the yes of the Virgin Mary. Be mindful of the faithful who are poor or weak, the immigrants and the strangers, the ones who have wandered from their Father's embrace and their mother's house, the Church. In this day, on this day and in this age, please, Bishop Michael, be mindful on the Annunciation of the unborn, whose fragile and delicate beginnings the Savior Himself accepted in becoming man. The first and last stages of human life with newly conceived do not yet have a name, and the elderly and the deeply ill, they have forgotten their names. Those stages, the first and the last, Brother Michael, do not ever forget them. You give them a name (applause). Your challenges, Bishop Michael, are many, but your family, your great sound training, your seminary formation here and in Rome, your devotion of the heart in prayer and outreach, magnificent in your work with Focolare, bring all this to the Lord's day in your own fiat that echoes that of the Virgin Mary. Look to Christ …offering as high priest has saved us all. He is lord and brother. For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross. He is like us, yet transcended to us his very person. With his grace and mercy, his cross and glory, you, too, will know all joy, even in the midst of difficulties and even controversy. Set your heart on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfector of your faith. The Virgin Mary not only was not only called to the radiance of the Annunciation, but also with the day and sometimes dark night of faith throughout her life. Through this dark, her heart was enlarged. Ask her prayers today, Bishop-elect Michael, and those of the saints and the clergy and people here that the Lord Jesus may allow the Spirit to enlarge your heart spiritually. In the realms of the spirit, an enlarged heart is not a sign of a lack of health but of good health, for it is a sign of Christ breaking open and spreading that heart in ministry being a genuine episkopos by being a warm heart and a warm hearth - a focolare - of the expanding presence of Jesus to all. God bless your apostolic work, Bishop Michael. May the Diocese of Corpus Christi through the Eucharist, truly, in small but definite increments, become Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ, his church. May the energy and prayers of the Virgin Mary accompany you. God bless you, Michael Transcribed by J. Michael Parker, Oblate School of Theology