L’amore Più Grande (The Greatest Love)

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Turin, Italy to spend some time in prayer before the Shroud of Turin. Currently, it is exposed for a rare public viewing. While the Church has no official position on whether or not the Shroud is the burial cloth of Jesus, many recent popes have promoted veneration of the image on the Shroud. Pope Francis said of it, “By means of the Holy Shroud, the unique and supreme Word of God comes to us: Love made man, incarnate in our history; the merciful love of God who has taken upon himself all the evil of the world to free us from its power.” The image on the Shroud depicts a man who has undergone considerable suffering, beating, and crucifixion. The image of Jesus crucified reminds us, as Pope Francis said, of the sheer love Jesus had for us in order to suffer and to die such a death. It is no wonder then that the theme chosen for pilgrims to the Shroud to meditate on is “L’amore Più Grande” (“The Greatest Love”)

This theme, “The Greatest Love”, calls to mind the Gospel from this past Sunday. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). However, Christ’s love for his friends was not a one-time event. Archbishop Fulton Sheen said, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.” The faithful of Turin consider it no small coincidence that in the same year the Shroud arrived in their city a Eucharistic miracle occurred there! The Eucharist is what strengthens Christians to offer their own lives in sacrificial love for others. This is true in an even more special way for a priest, who can unite himself to Jesus’ very words, “This is my Body… This is my Blood.”

For a young man considering the priesthood, getting to know Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament is one of the best things he can do to further his discernment. Here at the seminary, daily Mass is required and a daily Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament is strongly encouraged. For me, these daily encounters with Jesus have become the highlight of my day which strengthens me to follow Him for the rest of my day. As summer approaches, I want to encourage any discerner who will have time off from school to make daily Mass or daily prayer before the Blessed Sacrament a greater part of their day. This daily encounter with Jesus, with the greatest love, will open our hearts to hear His voice and follow His call.