There is a wonderful tradition in the Church that encourages us, in the words of St. Augustine, to seek unity wherever necessary and liberty wherever possible. That principle serves both those ideals -- unity and liberty -- in the best possible way. The Church should never look for a monolithic uniformity since it is made up of so many different people, human beings with their own personal talents and strengths, weaknesses and failings, needs and accomplishments.

Unity, which is so great a characteristic of the Church and a truly essential mark of its Divine institution, is found rather in the beautiful harmony of a great painting or perhaps more accurately in the marvelous working together of all the parts of a healthy body, instead of in bland and uninspiring colorless cloth or in the single cell of an amoeba.

The unity that gives beauty to the Church is a rich panoply of many hues and many shades, each of which is marvelously manifesting the essential nature of St. Paul's great theological description, a Church which proclaims together "one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all."

All this was wonderfully brought home to me again a couple of Sundays ago when I was privileged to join the other diocesan Bishops of New Jersey at a Eucharistic celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Byzantine Ruthenian Diocese of Passaic. We who are the Latin Rite in the Church tend sometimes to be unmindful of the rich tradition that exists in the Eastern churches.

We remember from our Church history that St. Peter was Bishop of Antioch years before he became Bishop of Rome. And the ancient Apostolic traditions of Antioch, Alexandria and Jerusalem -- Sees that were also founded and ruled by Apostles -- extend back to the earliest roots of our Christian Faith and are abundant in a heritage of extraordinary beauty in liturgy and devotion.

After the Roman world was converted to the teachings of Christ and the Gospel, the ancient City of Byzantium (now called Istanbul) became the great metropolis of the Eastern World and the capital of its emperors. The Bishops of that Imperial City included outstanding Fathers of the Church like St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory Nazienza.

It was Chrysostom and St. Gregory's great friend, St. Basil, who composed the rites and liturgies which are used by many of the Oriental churches and are so wonderfully rich in faith and expression. In the years that the Latin or Roman Rite was developing in Western Europe, these other forms of liturgy were developing in the East.

Here is a wonderful example of what St. Augustine was proclaiming in the principle I quoted above. All these liturgies are united in their absolute manifestation of the truths of our faith. The doctrines we hold as Catholics are expressed clearly and without hesitation. The role of the Holy Father, the Pope of Rome, is recognized in them all but their manner of expression, their music, their language, their art and ceremony are different and varied. They proclaim necessary unity amid perfect liberty of expression. They enhance the beauty and the wonder of God's Church.

Bishop Michael Dudick of Passaic whose Diocese is celebrating its Silver Jubilee is himself an extraordinary man and a remarkable leader. He has been Bishop of this Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Diocese for 20 years. How fortunate we are to have him and so many of his faithful here in New Jersey! As I concelebrated the anniversary Mass with him, I was thinking of you and hoping that you, too, might become conscious of the great gift of the Eastern Church and its grace-filled presence among us.

last updated 13 February 2000 Copyright © 1999-2001, St. Thomas the Apostle Church