I know Fr. Oppenheimer, founder of the Canons Regular of New Jerusalem, pretty well. He once told me about how then Bishop Burke welcomed him into the diocese of Lacrosse, Wisconsin before they both moved on to St. Louis. Fr. Oppenheimer said Burke provided him with all the help he could give, and made the canons feel right at home. Then an exchange along the following lines took place:
Fr. Oppenheimer thanked Burke for everything he had done.
Burke told him he was glad to help, and then said: “I do have one favor to ask of you Father.”
Fr. O.: “Sure, what can I do for you, Your Excellency?”
Burke: (and Fr. O said he made this request with great humility), “Sometime I would like to serve as your altar server at the old Mass.”
Fr. O. was pleased and horrified at the same time. He knew this was a sign of great humility on Bishop Burke’s part. A bishop, a rising star in the Church, who once was the highest ranking American canon lawyer in history, was asking him if he could be his altar boy to humbly assist at Mass! Fr. O. knew, however, that this could never be. He said something like: “No, Your Excellency, you could never serve as an altar server. You’re a bishop, we would gladly have you assist at Mass in your role as bishop!”
Fr. Oppenheimer, who as a convert, former member of SSPX, original member of FSSP, and now the founder of a religious order has seen it all, but he was genuinely touched by Archbishop Burke’s humility. I wish we had many more bishops like him. I wonder if he will be made a cardinal soon too?
From your keyboard to God's eyes. That is a beautiful account of his request to Fr. O. Thank you for posting it.