The Empty Chair: Part II

The Year of Faith opened with great jubilation. All across the world parishes and diocese were preparing classes on the Catechism, the Second Vatican Council, and the Creed. Conferences, studies, prayer vigils sprung up in all parts of the world. I personally say the logo for the Year of Faith in Italian, German, French, Polish, Vietnamese, Spanish, Korean, English, Tagalog, and of course Latin. What a marvelous blessing to see so many thrilled to celebrate our common faith!

Then, on the morning of February 11th I received a very early morning text saying that Pope Benedict was resigning. The reactions were as vastly different as the members of the Church. One moaned they were an orphan, another that Pope Benedict never was as great as John Paul II, still others were sure the world was going to end before Easter Sunday, and many applauded this historic step. One emotion not expressed, whether by secular, gnostic media sources or fervent Catholics, was indifference.

At a moment of apprehension and wonder, our faith was tested again. It is not always easy to accept all that the Church teaches, and we cannot always accept what Her members do. Waiting like the disciples after the Ascension, it is not easy to be on the outside of the upper room wondering and praying for the apostles to lead us in all their human frailty. Still, many of us laughed to ourselves as we heard talk about the Church as if She were a purely human instituion. "Maybe, finally, a Pope will be elected who will get with the times?!"

While our faith was tested; we were also strengthened. The Papal election process and the vacancy of the Chair of Peter leaves us all with one - sometimes subtle - question: Am I still in? Was I a follower of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict, or Jesus? Am I absolutely certain that I should pray for the Cardinals in conclave, and yet equally certain that nothing will prevail against the Church?

Many, many wait to see who is elected before making the response of faith. Most of us make the response the moment the Chair is vacant, and yet I am certain that we all must make it.

Therefore, that moment - those weeks - that seemed so very extraordinary in the life of the Church, was perhaps the greatest gift of the Year of Faith. We were given the opportunity to recognize our human side, and adore the Divine, to say yes again to the Lord through His Vicar, and to celebrate what faith is at its very heart: knowing that God is in charge, in control, and ever-present, even when there is "no one in the chair."