Reflection: Brother Patrick Power, FSC

Brothers Patrick Power, left, and Daniel Burke, right, receive a visit from Superior General, Br. Robert Schieler, at De La Salle Hall.

85 years a member of the Institute, at 103 years of age, our eldest Brother, Patrick Power, continues to reflect of God’s love and wisdom, and how it is still playing out in his life as a Christian Brother. Jesus said “Follow Me” … the call continues.

Pope Francis is well known for promoting the spirit of mercy and forgiveness in his pastoral letter Evangelii Gaudium. It can be said that “The Prodigal Son” was one of the favorite parables of Jesus. While squandering his legacy, the son waisted his life in dissipation and debauchery. He had sunk to the level of the pigpen, in order to survive. But, coming to his senses, he thought, my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here I am dying of hunger … I shall go to my father and say to him,”I have sinned against you and deserve no longer to be called your son … ” While still a long way off from him, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said, “I no longer deserve to be called your son”. But the father ordered his servants to put on him his finest robe, ring, and sandals. “Take the fatted calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast … because my son was dead and has come to life again. He was lost and has been found”.

When Jesus spoke the words, “Follow Me”, they could have been heard as the order of a military officer leading his troops against the enemy. The enemies of Jesus were greed, selfishness, violence, poverty, and related evils. It seems that Jesus promised happiness for the suffering people by offering cures and varied miracles just for the asking.

Br. Patrick Power, FSC

In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis speaks of the importance of mercy and forgiveness as the basis for Christian living. In Rembrandt’s famous classic painting the father is the focus of the picture because of his mercy and forgiveness. We know that the “Follow Me” call of Jesus met with an immediate response from 12 disciples. The same call continues to go out today for religious vocations whether in the form of a quiet inner suggestion or a loud clarion call. Today the response for vocations has decreased as the need has increased. A few years ago I responded to an ad as a volunteer night chaplain. Having retired from teaching after 40 years, I was available. My experience as night chaplain at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania for 10 years was very rewarding. Jesus may call for your help in various ways. Henry Nouwen suggests that we endeavor to discern His will even if our final choice is not our first choice.

It is equally important to accept our neighbor’s help as well as to offer your help. The story of my experience may illustrate this statement. My mother had been in the hospital for several weeks, but now she was recuperating at home with the aid of nursing care. I did not know that her condition had declined.

Br. Patrick Power, left, seated, with his Brothers at La Salle Hall, counterclockwise, Anthony Baird, James Steck, Joseph Lapp, John Karl, and Daniel Burke.

I phoned home to check on her condition, while asking the care giver to express my concern and love for my mother, the care giver suggested that I speak to my mother. My mother came to the phone, in about 10 minutes. As I was preparing my apology for the trouble and inconvenience I caused in dragging her to the phone my mother answered the phone. As I started to express my apology, she ignored my apology and brushed aside my protestations as she said, “I would come to this phone today, if need be, crawling on my hands and knees just to hear the sound of your voice.”

As Peter discovered the question was not so much “Do you love me?”, but do you realize how much I love you?” As we travel the overwhelming tunnel of love to heaven with its vista of hope, we learn that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered the heart of man to conceive what God hath promised to those who love Him”.