Commentary - Archbishop Dolan: You Just Knew He Had Greatness

Catholic Online ^ | 4/15/09 | Randy Sly

[tcg]

In March 2006 we knocked on the door of the bishop’s residence in Milwaukee and waited to meet a man we knew only by his wonderful reputation – Archbishop Timothy Dolan. I was an archbishop in the Charismatic Episcopal Church at the time.

Bishop Philip Zampino, and I had been invited to be his guest for a few days through the gracious initiative of the Bishop Zampino’s son, David, who knew him.

We were soon greeted by the nun who cooked for the archbishop and undertook other duties, such as chief greeter, when needed. She escorted us into the sitting room where we waited.

Soon the room was filled with a large smile accompanied by the man who wore it. Archbishop Dolan greeted us as though we were old friends and shared his joy that we were able to come for a visit.

[tcg]

Prior to his entry into the Catholic Church, Randy Sly had the opportunity to visit Archbishop Timothy Dolan when still a bishop in the Charismatic Episcopal Church.

[NYer]

Thank you for posting Archbishop Dolan's commentary from this evening's Vesper service, which was covered live by EWTN. Two observations I would like to make.

There was a short reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter, read by Sr. Mary Bosco Daly, R.S.M. This was an elderly, grey-haired nun with a sweet Irish brogue. Shortly afterwards, Archbishop Dolan delivered his homily. As tcg noted, he kept with the theme of knocking on the door and spoke of his Catholic school education. He vividly recalled his 2nd grade teacher holding up a picture of Jesus Knocking on the Door.

She asked the children to stare at it and asked what was different about the picture. One young girl raised her hand to say: "Sister, there is no handle on the door". Archbishop Dolan then named his 2nd grade teacher - Sr. Mary Bosco Daly - and thanked her for coming this evening, all the way from Ireland. He then explained to his parents that this one teaching was worth all the financial expenditures they had invested to assure a Catholic education for their 5 children.

My 2nd observation is for you! Get ready folks, especially in NY, the battle lines are rapidly being drawn for Dolan's first showdown as Archbishop of NY. The governor announced today that he plans to introduce a bill to legalize gay marriage in NY. In his brief homily this evening, Archbishop Dolan spoke of protecting the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. The governor is Catholic and he will be in attendance at tomorrow's Installation Mass. Coverage begins at 1:30pm ET. Don't be surprised if Dolan shoots the first arrow.

Cardinal Cooke was unabashedly pro-life and used the pulpit to defend it. I believe Dolan's battle will begin with the issue of gay marriage. Please pray for the new Archbishop.

[mojo114]

EWTN will carry the Archbishop’s first sermon, tomorrow 1:30p.m. EDT.

[AnAmericanMother]

Great insight!

Another, very famous painting of this scene was done by the English Pre-Raphaelite William Holman Hunt, and it hangs in St. Paul's Cathedral (where I saw the original).

Sure enough -- no handle on the door.

[NYer]

That's a magnificent painting!

Archbishop Dolan spoke of his trepidation at accepting this new post. He maintained this theme of Jesus knocking, saying he opened the door slightly, but left the chain on :-) He couldn't close the door because the Lord already had his foot wedged between the door and the jam.

He's quite the cut up but much of this fluff is to engage the listener and then draw them deeper into the message. He quoted from JPII's speech at the UN and Benedict's homily at his installation. One gets the feeling this Irishman will not stand for any guff and means business. We desperately need someone of his character here in NY. Of all the bishops who have spoken out against Obama's invitation to NDU, not ONE bishop from NY is on the list, except for Archbishop Dolan, who will be formally installed tomorrow.

Such tenderness, though, for his 2nd grade teacher and the lesson she taught him. The Archbishop just turned 59. God bless those nuns that taught him! He will need to draw strength from their lessons.

[m4629]

Cheesehead takes on the Bad Apple. God bless him.

[NYer]

She was right. I am still, inordinately I might add, proud of my penmanship! Thank-you, Sister Mary Roderick! :)

Given the memory and respect you still have for Sister Mary Roderick, thought you would enjoy the Archbishop's recollection of his 2nd grade teacher.

[AnAmericanMother]

God bless the Archbishop, and prosper his work, and defend him.

(he's gonna need it!)

(I'm quoting from the old hymn, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" - "who doth prosper thy work and defend thee./Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend thee./Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do,/ Who with his love doth befriend thee.")

Holman Hunt did a whole series of spectacular religious paintings. They are packed with symbolism, and you really need to see them in the original to pick up on all the details.

"The Shadow of Death". The Virgin turns as Our Lord rests from his work and stretches, to see the shadow of the crucifix on the wall.

"The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple". Look at the character studies of the rabbis. Hunt travelled to Jerusalem and sketched the locals for his painting.

"The Triumph of the Innocents". On the Flight into Egypt, the Holy Family encounters the spirits of the Holy Innocents, bearing the marks of their martyrdom. Only Christ can see them - he holds out to them ears of wheat, symbolic of the Eucharist. The transparent globes contain images of direct encounters between God and man -- Jacob's wrestling with the angel, Adam and Eve in the Garden, the Tree of Life with the Lamb.

[dominic flandry]

I had seen the picture of the painting of Christ knocking at the door by Mr. Hunt but not these other two (one will not open) which are magnificent. I have been to St. Paul’s but do not recall seeing the painting there. Thanks for sharing them.

[Salvation]

**Don’t be surprised if Dolan shoots the first arrow. **

I wouldn’t be surprised if Archbishop Dolan asked to talk with Paterson before Mass and explain to him that he could not give the governor Communion due to his stand on gay marriage politics.

[AnAmericanMother]

This link should be good --

Glad you like them. Hunt was a little off the mainstream of the Pre-Raphaelites in his subject matter, but his technique is splendid (much better than, say, Rosetti).

"The Light of the World" is in the north transept of St. Paul's, in a side chapel:

[NYer]

I watched the live of coverage last night's Vesper Service. In case you missed it, I think you will appreciate my postings on this thread.

Rest assured the Archbishop is in the prayers of many NY Catholics. The Holy Father singled him out as the right man to address the problems here. He will need our prayers!

[AnAmericanMother]

Sometimes I think that New York needs a Don Camillo . . .

. . . but the Holy Father is right, the position needs a consummate politician with a disarming demeanor, as well as an orthodox, faithful man of God.

Prayers for the new Archbishop and his flock!

[ELS]

Of all the bishops who have spoken out against Obama's invitation to NDU, not ONE bishop from NY is on the list,

All subpages on the NY Arch. site are currently being redirected to the main page, but my mother told me that Cardinal Egan did speak out against the Notre Dame scandal.