A year after Cardinal Joseph Bernardin’s death cloaked the city in silence, he inspired a different kind of quiet Friday–a peace that marked worshipers at a memorial mass at Holy Name Cathedral, and hundreds more who filed through a cold drizzle to visit the cardinal’s grave in Hillside.
More than a thousand Chicago-area Catholics took long lunch hours or an early start to the weekend to attend the anniversary mass, which was celebrated by Archbishop Francis George and involved many of Bernardin’s family members and close friends.
The mass marked the culmination of a week–indeed, a year–of memorials for Bernardin, events that have carved his place in the city’s history as a great churchman who transcended his position, a pastor and example to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
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Unlike the cardinal’s funeral and so many other milestone liturgies in the cathedral, Friday’s mass featured no plumage, no assemblage of prelates and politicians from around the nation.
This was Chicago’s time to remember Bernardin–and to look ahead.
“The way of the world, our way all too often, is the way of hanging on–to people, to things . . . to life itself,” George said in his homily. “As much as anyone I have known, Cardinal Bernardin taught us to let go.”
Bishop Raymond Goedert, Bernardin’s vicar general, echoed that thought in remarks he made at the conclusion of the mass.
“For me his greatest moment was at the end, the last three years, when he was able to model for all of us,” he said. “He was the real article.”
Then Goedert reminded the congregation that Monsignor Kenneth Velo, in his eulogy for Bernardin last November, had asked over and over about the cardinal, “Didn’t he teach us? Didn’t he show us the way?”
Goedert declared Friday it was time to answer that question.
“Joseph, surely you did, and now it is our turn to go and do likewise,” he said.
In the pews, Tom Bartholomew of Orland Park was thinking about the man he first met in his church’s gymnasium, the friendly stranger who introduced himself by saying, “Hi, I’m Joe,” and later ordained Bartholomew as a deacon.
“I think people are touched by his holiness,” Bartholomew said. “You know one when you see one, and he definitely was one.”
Meanwhile, at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, more than 250 people climbed the hillock leading to the Bishops’ Mausoleum, where Bernardin was laid to rest with five of his predecessors.
Friday was the first day the mausoleum was open since August. A private service for the cardinal’s family was held at the tomb Thursday evening.
Joanna Bruff of Darien, making her second visit to Bernardin’s crypt, said a brief prayer, then cried.
“He understood and took his mission on real well,” said Bruff. “In a world so materialistic, he spoke of love, kindness and compassion and really tried to show people what was important.”
Kathryn Shaunessy of Geneva agreed, saying that she and her husband, John, would continue to pay tribute to Bernardin.
“Many will come to this place for years to come,” she said. “I know we will.”