The Church is a divine institution that is populated by sinners: every single member is a sinner. Only the Head of the Church, Christ, and the Mother of the Church, Mary, are sinless. The rest of us come under the influence of evil, what Paul VI referred to as the “smoke of Satan.” It is forever the challenge of the members of the Church, clergy and laity, striving to serve God and His people faithfully.

The sinfulness of priests is especially discouraging, as they are commissioned to serve in leadership, proclaiming the Gospel and setting an example. The operative word is “serve.” When service is forgotten or set aside, sin prevails, and the smoke of Satan chokes the faithful. The failure to communicate truthfully is in direct opposition to the ministry of the Word: you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

I wish that the duplicity that has been observed here among clergy was limited to diocesan chanceries; sadly and clearly, it isn’t. I appeal to the faithful to pray for their priests, to pray specifically that they will continually conform themselves to the image of Christ, to receive the grace of God that transforms priests into living icons of Christ. I am so far from this transformation, and am constantly reminded of my unworthiness to be a priest.

The specific virtue needed is humility. I am reminded of this as I have reflected regularly on the life of our parish patron here, St. Charles Borromeo, whose episcopal motto was “Humilitas.” The experience of the modern Church, especially in the suffering from criminal sexual abuse, will continue to bring the clergy to that humility. The decline in financial stability in the Church will also contribute greatly to a growth in clerical humility, and will by necessity bring priests to a life of greater simplicity and service.

There is a tremendous need for reform, the new Pentecost that Benedict XVI spoke of during his recent visit to America. Pray today, on this solemn feast of Pentecost, that the Holy Spirit will bring about this renewal in the priesthood, and may it begin with me.

A few weeks ago I was showing my 89-year-old father some YouTube music performances of Rachmaninoff from the early 20s, and asked, half joking, if he listened to any Rachmaninoff at home back then. He said no, but they had a windup phonograph that played thick records. It was one with a big trumpet for a speaker. Did it have a RCA dog pictured on it, I asked? Yes, he thought it did. I’ll bet I know where it ended up, I told him. I had remembered playing with one like he described in my cousin’s attic, probably during summer vacation in 1958 (i.e. not that long ago). Dad said that was probably it. He had always wondered what had happened to that phonograph, and it wouldn’t have surprised him that his oldest brother ended up with it.

It seemed kind of strange that I had more recent information than he did about a household mystery from the distant past. (We haven’t yet inquired as to whether it still exists.)

The bad thing is finding out that some of those old people whom I treat as my elders are actually younger than me.

And as for those ‘68 Tigers, there is a more important name than those others to mention: Pitching coach Johnny Sain. Where he was hired he won pennants. (E.g. for my 1965 Minnesota Twins.) When he was let go, the team went downhill.

I’m 48…and 2008 is the 40th anniversary of the greatest sports team of all time…The 1968 Detroit Tigers…

Lolich & McClain, Cash, McCauliffe, Oyler, Wert, Horton, Northrup, Stanley, Freehan…and the greatest ball player of all time…Al Kaline! And good ol’ Mayo Smith at the managerial helm.

No arguments…you youngsters…the 1984 team was qualified to carry the 68’s dirty socks.