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Introduction: University-in-a-Saint
If St. Ephrem,
whose feast we celebrate today, were to apply to this University,
we would want him to teach Scripture, theology, poetry, and semitic
languages, especially Syriac. And since this fourth century saint
is known also as “the harp of the Holy Spirit” we might also
invite him to lecture in the School of Music. It would be fun
to attend the Academic Affairs Committee when it came time to
consider giving him tenure. We would want to grant him tenure
in several schools.
The saint from whose life, example, and intercession
we today draw strength was born into a Christian family in Syria,
Nisibis to be exact, in 306 AD. He was a theologian and a poet,
indeed a poet because he was a theologian. Ephrem, who was ordained
a deacon, was a prolific writer. He wrote commentaries on Sacred
Scripture, homilies, and letters. But he is remembered most of
all for his theological poetry, including poetic homilies. In
him, the noetic and poetic were successfully combined. His was
a theology capable of both informing and re-fashioning mind,
heart, and spirit.
To be sure, ancient Syriac poetry is an
acquired taste for Westerners. Suffice it to say that it was
not written in iambic pentameter. We are fortune enough to be
associated with a university where there are professors who teach
Syriac, understand his poetry deeply, and are making modern translations
of Ephrem’s writings available. Apocryphal or not, it was claimed
that a patristics professor at Catholic University would absent-mindedly
slip into ancient Syriac while lecturing. Not too many universities
can make that claim! Among other things, St. Ephrem helps identify
why we are academically unique and academically excellent.
Worship
in Spirit and Truth
St. Ephrem was a life-long teacher. In fact,
he founded two schools – one with the Bishop of Nisibis and the
other in Edessa where he moved when Nisibis fell to the Persians.
St. Ephrem didn’t faced the complex administrative challenges
that daily confront Father O’Connell – but Ephrem certainly did
face substantial cultural headwinds … … as does this University
in the fulfillment of its mission. Edessa was known “the Athens
of the East”. Arriving there the Deacon Ephrem found pagan cults
still flourishing together with no less than five major heresies
or distortions of Christianity. His reaction was not to pen poison
pamphlets but rather to illustrate and illuminate the Christian
faith. He even answered his opponents in poetry.
In doing so,
Ephrem created “space” for Christianity in the secularity of
Edessa just as this university seeks to bring the salt & light
of our Tradition to bear on culture. Even more so, Ephrem wrote
theological poetry to enlarge the hearts of those who heard it.
In this way, they would be prompted to worship the living and
true God. He practiced what Hans Urs von Balthasar would later
call “theology on one’s knees”. Ephrem’s hymns constitute a poetic
assent to the truth and love of Christ. Some of them found their
way into Eastern liturgies for they illuminate the mysteries
of salvation which are the substance of our worship.
Perhaps
we can see something similar happening here when Fr. Bob Schlagater
gathers young people from every corner of campus for Mass, Eucharistic
adoration, vocations discernment, and much, much more. Once again,
St. Ephrem sheds light on the mission of our university.
Heroic
Service
St. Ephrem not only combated paganism and heresy, he
also fought hunger. In the spring of 373 a severe famine broke
out in Edessa. There was grain to be had but it was hoarded by
the wealthy. The government was either unable or unwilling to
intervene. Ephrem offered himself as a mediator between the rich
and well-fed and the rest of the city that was in dire straits.
He distributed the grain and also saw to the needs of the sick
and dying in what might have been Edessa’s first emergency relief
effort. He gave his life in imitation of the One whose saving
love he had sung with such great skill.
While we don’t think
of our university as engaging in emergency relief, we are proud
of the immense service which our students render to the poor
and needy, here in Washington, and far beyond. In doing so, they
too imitate the One whose truth and love is at the heart of this
Universities mission and existence.
Conclusion
“The lamp of learning
the light of faith” – this remains a fitting moniker for CUA
and with the example and prayers of St. Ephrem the Syrian to
inspire us may this university be that lamp-stand upon which
the splendor of truth shines bright in our world.
St. Ephrem,
pray for us!
Return to the Writings of Bishop
Lori
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