Jan 6 John de Ribera

Jack and Thom,
Good morning, I love you

Our Church universal has many iterations – from parish to parish, diocese to diocese, country to country, and era to era. St Paul the Apostle Parish, in the Diocese of Charlotte, in Post-Vatican II era is a long way away from sixteenth/seventeenth century Valencia, Spain. Heck, we’re a long way from twenty first century Valencia, Spain. We’re still a mission diocese: some 60,000 Catholics from the Triad to the Tennessee border. Most of those Catholics are in metro Charlotte: with a measurable cluster in the Triad: then Catholics scattered hither and yon across more than half the 95 counties of our state.

We’re also a long way from County Galway and the root of our Irish collective unconscious. Yet we continue to rejuvenate those feeloughts in song and prayer and our unique Irish Dance, our own Lord of the Dance. Reaching back to a John saint in far off 1500-1600 Valencia is a stretch. But isn’t that what spiritual development is all about: stretching ourselves to become closer to God?


January 6

John de Ribera, d. 1611 c. 1959

John was the son of the Duke of Alcala. He was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. John de Ribera was also blessed with many talents. You’re not quite the golden or silver spoon set but you have been given enormous resources and talents. John de Ribera might be an example to you of how to maximize those in the best service to God. The bioblurb in Angels and Saints gives us nothing on how he discerned his vocation to the priesthood. He obviously was not the oldest son or else his path would have been to the Duke-dom. In his times, the Church was often the next best route to wealth and leadership.

In 1557, John de Ribera was ordained a priest. Eleven years later, 1568, John de Ribera became Archbishop of Valencia. And, oh by the way, also Viceroy of that great province. The man had the pull and the talent to rise to a high pinnacle in service to the Church and the people. He used these gifts from God to serve both from this perch for forty years.

Unfortunately, the bioblurb doesn’t give us a description of his saintly or his secular talents or accomplishments. But to serve forty years in one position is an example to emulate; forty years in service to the same organization, like Grandpa with the RRRB, is worth your trying to replicate.

The one act that the bioblurb gives us does not sound particularly saintly to me. Although, it likely led Pope Pius V and King Philip II of Spain to revere him. John de Ribera ordered the Moors from his see. If you can’t convert them, those who are particularly opposed to your faith and way of life, simply exile them. That has the added bonus of letting you confiscate their property. Sorry, I can’t stretch far enough to find a redeeming story or counsel from this act.

I love you,
Dad
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