REFORM IS LITTLE

by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.

St. Francis loved little things, birds, lambs and fallen down old chapels. He chose the word " minori " or " little ones " to describe his community. He would comment "would that the world marveled at the fewness of the Friars Minor." It did not. He saw them grow to several thousand members in his own lifetime possibly a big mistake!

Sometimes those who are convinced that we religious, along with all of American society', need reform get discouraged. There is not a great crowd of people who agree. One can feel very much alone except at a pro-life demonstration or something like that. Cardinal O'Connor has pointed out several times that the serious Christian at this moment is a counter-cultural person going against the tide. This is certainly true of our little community and of several other reform communities we are friendly with. We are all little. We are all weak. Most are overlooked, and those who are not overlooked are criticized severely. Many young people who would come to investigate our way of life are deterred by criticism of our attempts at reform. Despite that, we continue to grow moderately in little steps.

All true reforms start out as little things. They are never a grand cause accompanied by sudden swells of enthusiasm. This very smallness makes them all the more effective. The great reforms of Church history were begun in little places, by people who were initially quite unknown. St. Benedict began in his forest cell, St. Francis in his ruined chapel, St. Ignatius in his cave, St. Teresa in her cloister and St. John of the Cross in his prison. Reform begins with little people. St. Vincent de Paul went around rescuing abandoned children. Mother Teresa picked up people who were about to die. And what can we say about the life of Christ? He never went 200 miles beyond His home. His disciples were a pathetic cluster of totally obscure people. He is not mentioned in secular history for almost a century after His death and then His name is misspelled. Yet, with shepherds and fishermen He changed the face of the universe. Littleness can be powerful. It can in fact be much more effective than the opposite. We may ask why.

The answer is that a little group can be far more fervent, more devout, more convinced. At times littleness is just a symptom of ineffectiveness or apathy. Things can shrivel when they are old and are preparing to die. But in the case of reforms in the Church, littleness was a quality associated with intensity, sincerity, and fervor. A devout high school teacher who attended one of our parish missions sent the following quotation to me from the writings of St. Cardinal Newman. She thought it summed up well the goals of our little community:

"It is indeed a general characteristic of the course of God's providence to make the few the channels of His blessings to the many... It is plain that every great change is effected by the few, not by the many; by the resolute, undaunted zealous few ... One or two men, of small outward pretensions, but with their hearts in their work, these do great things. These are prepared, not by sudden excitement, or by vague general belief in the truth of their cause, but by deeply impressed,often repeated instruction; and since it stands to reason that it is easier to teach a few than a great number, it is plain such men always will be few... He that believeth in the Son of God hath the witness in himself. Truth bears witness by itself to its Divine Author. He who obeys God conscientiously, and lives holily, forces all about him to believe and tremble before the unseen power of Christ. To the world indeed at large he witnesses not; for few can see him near enough to be moved by his manner of living. But to his neighbors he manifests the Truth in proportion to their knowledge of him; and some of them, through God's blessing, catch the holy flame, cherish it, and in their turn transmit it. And thus in a dark world Truth still makes way in spite of the darkness, passing from hand to hand."

Our little community is grateful to God to be part of the few. Small is beautiful, and powerful. And we cherish you, our friends, who believe with us that God can do much when He operates through the few who, despite their weakness, are willing to respond to His summons.