Reflections
The following reflections have been written by Holy Cross brothers and priests to share the life, vision, and charism of Blessed Basile Moreau. Also, check out other reflections by Holy Cross religious on the Congregation's spirituality.
"Blessed Basile Moreau: The Fruits of Self Denial" by Fr. Gregory Haake, C.S.C.
Fr. Gregory Haake, C.S.C., reflects on how Blessed Moreau’s denial of himself sets an example and helps us to find the joy and the hope that transforms our denial into fulfillment, our crosses into gifts, and our lives into sweet and blessed offerings for God and His people.
"Blessed Basile Moreau: Ave Crux Spes Unica" by Br. Omukuyia Benard, C.S.C.
In reflecting on Blessed Moreau's vision of education, Br. Omukuyia Benard, C.S.C., writes: “Our hope is further based on the fact that the heritage of our congregation is living and evolving. Many adaptations are taking place to the cultures and contexts we live in and minister. We are international, multicultural, and our diversity offers a lot to hope for!”
"Blessed Moreau: Guided by a Faithful Father" by Fr. Zach Rathke, C.S.C.
Fr. Zach Rathke, C.S.C., invites the Holy Cross family to reflect on its "foster father," Blessed Basile Moreau. “He longs for us to come to him in prayer in these trying times—to share with him our sorrow from the brothers and sisters we have lost, our woes from walking with people in great darkness, our pangs of loneliness and confinement, and our disappointment and fears from the present challenges in ministry and in community.”
"Blessed Moreau: Conformed to the Conduct of Jesus Christ" by Fr. Binoy Johns, C.S.C.
Fr. Binoy John, C.S.C., of North East India, draws on Blessed Moreau's life and writings to call us to greater conformity with Jesus Christ. “Fr. Moreau insisted his men and women ‘to be Christ,’ not simply Christ-like. In our day-to-day life situations, one may do intellectual work, another manual work, one will teach and another will administer, but all are called to radiate Christ.”
"Blessed Moreau: Conqueror of the Sky" by Fr. Kanikkai Jeyraj, C.S.C.
Fr. Kanikkai Jeyraj C.S.C., highlights Blessed Basile Moreau’s trust in Divine Providence. “Moreau was sure of the future fruitfulness of the Congregation, and he based his confidence solely on his faith in God and the active presence of Mother Mary. … His pursuit of sanctity was not for self-glorification; rather, it was the expression of the depth of his relationship with God.
"Blessed Moreau: A Unique Example for Our Life" by Br. Harold Bijoy Rodrigues, C.S.C.
Br. Harold Bijoy Rodrigues, C.S.C., explores how Blessed Moreau inspires us to conform our lives to the life of Jesus. He concludes, “There are many other examples and teachings of Jesus that we can and need to give importance to be a true religious of Holy Cross as Moreau did. ... Blessed Moreau is a unique example for all of us to follow in our lives as religious of Holy Cross. “
"On His Way to Be a Saint" by Fr. Anol Terence D’Costa, C.S.C.
Fr. Anol reflects on the various dimensions of Moreau, including how he was a faithful and enthusiastic disciple of Jesus, an educator of faith in his time, and a good and holy shepherd to his people. "For this reason we need to pray to him, and practice his virtues and holiness in our lives and ministries of Holy Cross."
"On His Way with Him" by Br. Vianney Saint-Michel, C.S.C.
Br. Vianney imagines us "walking with Blessed Basile Moreau after his beatification, as the two disciples walked with Jesus to Emmaus after the resurrection. Our destination might be different, but the warming of our hearts comes from the same active presence of him with us today."
"Living the Cross as Our Only Hope" by Br. Thomas A. Dziekan, C.S.C.
Br. Dziekan writes that we "have inherited [Moreau's] legacy of love and zeal." He reflects in particular on Moreau's legacy of finding hope in the Cross. "This world needs hope. We are and must always be men and women of hope. We can say with all our hearts: “Ave Crux, Spes Unica.” Hail the Cross, Our Only Hope.
"A Heart that Burns with Desire to Help You" by Fr. John DeRiso, C.S.C.
Fr. DeRiso reflects on how "our holy founder’s most fervent goal, for himself and for his spiritual sons, was to be one with the Lord." He invites us to find "strength and confidence in the assurance that he whose heart burned with the desire to help us, desires to help us still, as he makes intercession for us before the Lord whom we serve."
"An Education in Family" by Fr. James King, C.S.C.
Fr. King writes how the charism Moreau imparted to the Congregation moves "Holy Cross not only to promote academic excellence in its institutions, but also to create environments within them that allowed for families of disciples to discover their true purpose and vocation together through instruction in classrooms and the relationships they built outside of them."