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BETHESDA, MD — Yesterday, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, in keeping with his annual custom on the first day of Lent. Nearly 150 U.S. Military personnel, patients, hospital staff, and others gathered in Memorial Auditorium for the noon Mass, which took place soon after Archbishop Broglio brought ashes and Holy Communion to bedridden patients in their rooms.
In his homily, Archbishop Broglio called on the faithful to stay persistent in their Lenten penitential observances over the 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and to seek spiritual renewal during this Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church, a time of forgiveness and reconciliation. His Excellency preached in part:
“You know the elements of our blessed journey: prayer, self-denial, and charity. Bishop (Robert E.) Barron reminds us of the definition and way of prayer: ‘prayer is intimate communion and conversation with God.’ Judging from Jesus's own life, prayer is something we ought to do often, especially at key moments of our lives.
“How should we pray? What does it look like? We have to pray with faith. According to Jesus' model, we have to pray for forgiveness. The efficacy of prayer seems to depend on the reconciliation of differences. That is essential in our time. Society is so divided that we have forgotten even those with whom we disagree are created in the image and likeness of God.
The community of humanity must always be remembered and cherished. It is the only path to renewal, reconciliation, and the climate in which all of us as pilgrims can walk forward on the journey of life.”
“This annual retreat of the whole church calls us to pray with persistence. We should not give up too easily. Look at the example of the saints. Augustine says that God sometimes delays in giving us what we want because he wants our hearts to expand. We have the example of his saintly mother Monica, who never doubted that her son's heart could be renewed.”
Archbishop Broglio implored those gathered to practice charity “in our words, our actions, and approach.” He encouraged almsgiving to Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services, and other Catholic service organizations.
Concelebrating with His Excellency were Fathers Jason C. Burchell, CHC LCDR, USN, and Krzysztof Kuczynski, CHC, LT, USN. Mr. Hans Semple served at the altar.
