In the Name of Heaven
~ A few weeks ago, I answered the door at St. Pius V, I found myself humming the tune of the traditional Posadas song. How many times a week do I open the door to find one of our immigrant neighbors standing there seeking shelter, food, clothing, or merely a place of welcome and hope? But the song had me seeing these encounters in a new light. This particular time I was greeted with smiles from a familiar family that had arrived months before with no shelter and knowing no one in St. Louis. “Come in, come in!” I said, seeing that they were shivering in the wind (even with temperatures in the fifties, they weren’t quite ready for what they were certain was the harshness of winter in North America). All four of them came pouring in rejoicing to tell me the news we’d been hoping for. Today was the day they would finally move out of the temporary shelter and into their own apartment! That’s when Las Posadas swelled in my subconscious.
Las Posadas, which refers to the inn, is a tradition from Mexico and Central America in which the faithful relive Mary and Joseph’s desperate search for refuge as they anxiously anticipate the birth of Jesus. Those portraying the Holy Family and their entourage knock on several doors pleading with those inside:
En el nombre del cielo, os pido posada, pues no puede andar mi esposa amada.
In the name of heaven, I beg you for shelter, for my beloved wife can go no farther.
After receiving rejection and scorn for their requests for hospitality, the Holy Family approaches one last door and hears the joyful singing from within, “Come in holy pilgrims, pilgrims, receive this little corner, not only of this humble shelter, but rather of my heart. Tonight is a night of joy, delight, and rejoicing because we will welcome here the Mother of God the Son!” As warmth and light rush out into the winter darkness, the weary travelers come pouring into the home, filled with relief as they are received with joy.
Las Posadas is a prayer. Like any authentic prayer, it shapes our hearts and calls us to loving action. As we pray with the Holy Family—an immigrant family—this Advent, may God inspire our hearts to say, “Come in! Come in! Receive this little corner of my heart!” Once our hearts receive our immigrant neighbor, may it call us to provide sanctuary for all who seek posada.
During these frightening times for our immigrant sisters and brothers, we remain fully committed to assisting, accompanying, and welcoming all of our neighbors, regardless of immigration status, country of origin, religion, race, ethnicity, or other factors that might be cause for discrimination. We will remain true to the Gospel and Catholic Social Teaching on the God-given dignity of every person. We will not cease serving Christ in the stranger.
I encourage you to read We Stand in Firm Solidarity with Our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters, a statement from Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Bishop Mark Seitz, and Bishop Jaime Soto.
Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff or ministries on a rotating basis.