July 25, 2010 THE UNFINISHED IMAGE
The grand facade of St. Peter’s Basilica was cleaned for the Jubilee Year 2000, its marble front gleaming an amber color. The pilgrims from La Crosse had fine seats during the papal liturgy celebrated on the piazza in front of the Basilica. Arriving two hours before the start of the liturgy, we were entertained by festive music. Pilgrims from many countries filled the piazza, each waving a Jubilee neckerchief to display their pride and joy.
One thousand priests processed in for seating behind the great outside altar. At the liturgies throughout the pilgrimage, I teamed with Father Todd Mlsna, a young priest of our diocese who is severely visually impaired. “Do me a favor, Bob,” he asked me on the first day. “Be my eyes during the liturgies.” “I’d be happy to,” I responded.
From our places thirty yards from the altar I could see the bishops in procession. I pointed. “There’s Bishop Burke. Do you see him with the others?” “Yes, I think so.” Then, from the main entrance to St. Peter’s came Pope John Paul II. A roar of welcome and joy greeted him from the throats of thousands. “Wow!” Todd exclaimed. “This is great. This is a wonderful day.” “He looks very stooped,” I said. “He’s looking old, Todd.” The liturgy began. “What’s happening now?” he asked. It all happens there in grand scale. I whispered to Todd that the pope was in a white chair in front of the altar; I whispered that the readers were moving to the ambo, that the gifts were carried in procession. We listened, Todd and I, to the pope’s homily, equally ignorant of his Italian message. I explained that the choir was opposite us in a fenced area, that 250 priests helped distribute communion to the immense assembly. I assisted Todd through the maze of folding chairs to the priest near to us with the Holy Eucharist. “This is the greatest day of my life,” said Todd. He was filled with awe. “I’m coming back here again, that’s for sure!”
I knew Todd couldn’t see as I could see; I doubt he could see many of the movements I tried to describe to him. Still, Todd’s heart, so full of awe, saw as I didn’t see. He saw with the vision of his generous heart more than I could see on that lovely, sunny day, in St. Peter’s Piazza in the Eternal City.