Cardinal Joseph Bernardin passed away on this day in 1996. I never knew him personally but he is a spiritual mentor and I am honored to carry his name as a former Bernardin Scholar at Catholoc Theological Union. He has much to teach (and challenge) us in our current times of polarization, not just in our national climate but also our church.

Literally weeks before his death, he launched the Catholic Common Ground Initiative (now housed at CTU) with these words:

Are the differences among U.S. Catholics generating reflection, exchange, debate, ideas, initiative, decisiveness? Or are they producing distrust, polemics, weariness, withdrawal, inertia, deadlock?

No one can answer these questions definitively. But I and many others representing a range of theological outlooks feel that, in far too many cases, the brave new sparks and steady flame of vitality in the Church are being smothered by the camps and distractions of our quarrels.

… [T]he Catholic Common Ground Project offers the promise of our rising above hardened party lines and finding renewal in the splendor of truth revealed in the person of Jesus who is our Lord and our savior.

And so, in that spirit I hand on to you the gift that was given to me– a vision of the Church that trusts in the power of the Spirit so much that it can risk authentic dialogue. I hand that gift on to you without fear or trepidation. I say this because I know that it is a gift you already prize and cherish. I ask you, without waiting and on your own, to strengthen the common ground, to examine our situation with fresh eyes, open minds, and changed hearts, and to confront our challenges with honesty and imagination. Guided by the Holy Spirit, together, we can more effectively respond to the challenges of our times as we carry forward the mission that the Lord Jesus gave to us, his disciples. It is to promote that mission that the constructive dialogue we seek is so important.

Amen. Pray for us Cardinal Bernardin