Cardinal Francis George, OMI

“ Christo Gloria In Ecclesia ”

Venerabili Fratri Nostro

Francisco Eugenio S.R.E. Cardinali George, O.M.I

Licet, solstitio hiemali incidente, dies vicesimus et primus mensis Decembris brevissimus totius huius anni evertatur, ille

tamen magna luce felicitatis tibi exorietur, cum anniversariam recolas memoriam diei quo, unctus a Deo oleo laetitiae

prae consortibus tuis (cfr Ps 45, 8), ad sacrum presbyteratum es adscitus. Itaque, quamquam terrae tunc circumfundentur

caligine, Solis nihilominus veri Invicti, Domini nempe Iesu Christi, iubar te intus pervadet, qui tenebras nostras non desinet

illuminare (cfr Lumen fidei,1; Ps 18, 28). Placet igitur, cumulatis tuis in Ecclesiam aedificandam ac regendam studiis,

laetitiae Nostrae addere significationes tibique gratulari de cunctis quae beneficio divino quinquaginta per annos ovili Dei

effecisti.

Nostrorum quidem votorum haec summa est, ut recordatio rerum a te gestarum in salutem dilecti gregis et Nostra

comprobatio te tacentem erigant subleventque. Quanta enim constantia, quanta gravitate quantaque fortitudine in

apparationem ad sacrum ministerium incubuisti! Nullam reapse corporis infirmitatem obicem aestimasti quominus

Summi Sacerdotis vestigia sequereris. Quapropter, studiis apud Gymnasium Sancti Henrici Bellevillense arte confectis,

novitiatum Missionariorum Oblatorum B. M. V. Immaculatae es ingressus in oppido vulgo Godfrey. Disciplinis denique

philosophicis peractis, sacra in theologia es versatus apud studiorum Universitatem Ottaviensem. Unoquoque huius

itineris ad sacerdotium gradu feliciter facto atque propositis tuae missionariorum congregationis alte in te infusis,

sacerdotalia munera tibi concredita sunt in templo S. Paschalis anno MCMLXIII. Tantum autem repertum est in te ingenium

ut studia maiora subinde assequereris apud studiorum Universitates Catholicam Americae Vashingtonensem, Tulanensem

atque Ottaviensem. His solidis doctrinis imbutus, aliis per munus docendi liberaliter sapientiam tradidisti.

Deinde, ut alia praetereamus, prudentem sollertiam ostendisti in officiis tua pro Oblatorum provincia exercitis, quam

utpote Superior Provincialis armis MCMLXXIII et MCMLXXIV gubemasti. Facultate huiusmodi administrandi prospere usus,

Vicarius Generalis tuae Congregationis anno MCMLXXIV es factus, quo munere fructuose Romae functus es usque ad annum

MCMLXXXIV. Porro notanda sunt cuncta quae faustum ad exitum perduxisti apud Institutum Cantabrigiense pro Studio

Fidei et Culturae in civitate Massaciusetana.

Archiepiscopo Metropolitae Chicagiensi

Amplo praeconio te honestare non dubitamus ob virtutes quas, Episcopus anno MCMXC consecratus, ostendisti

in Ecclesiis tum Yakimensi tum Portlandensi in Oregon moderandis. Profecto in agendis rebus etiam in Sede

Metropolitana Chicagiensi praeclari exempli facem praefers. Enimvero in communi bono procurando, fecundo foedere

sociasti gravitatem morum cum comitate, quod summe decet sacrorum Antistites Ecclesiae. Quibus omnibus perspectis,

minime mirandum est quod Beatus Ioannes Paulus II te in Cardinalium Collegium adlegit biennio ante

Magnum Incarnationis Domini Iubilaeum; quibus cum Purpuratis Patribus collaborans, beneficus adiumentum tulisti

ac adfers ad varia Romanae Curiae Dicasteria.

Haud interea ignoscimus gravitatem morborum quos mirabili virtute contendisti ac per quos, Sanctissimo Sacramento

roboratus, pretiosum testimonium praebuisti quantum gaudium quisque nostrum ex tribulatione percipere possit (cfr

1 Cor 7, 4). Talis cum sis adprobatione digni tenax propositi, diu vivas, felix vivas, invicto amore adspiciens in auctorem

fidei et consummatorem Iesum, auspice Deipara Virgine Maria, titulo Immaculata Concepta tuis ab fratribus

necnon concivibus speciatim venerata, laetitiae sanctae et spei bonae praestite.

Haec flagrantibus votis postquam adprecati sumus, nihil Nobis restat, Venerabilis Frater Noster, nisi ut tibi, Episcopis

Auxiliaribus tuis, presbyteris et fidelibus universae Chicagiensis archidioecesis Apostolicam Benedictionem, supemae

munificentiae pignus, peramanter impertiamus.

Ex Aedibus Vaticanis, die IX mensis Novembris, anno MMXIII, Pontificatus Nostri primo.

Francis

To Our Venerable Brother

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.

Although the 21st day of December, since it coincides with the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the entire year, for

you it will nevertheless come with a great light of joy as you recall the anniversary of the day when, “anointed by God

with the oil of gladness beyond your associates” (Ps. 45:8), you were admitted to the sacred priesthood. And so although

the earth will then be wrapped in darkness, the radiance of the Invincible Sun, Our Lord Jesus Christ, “which does not

fail to illumine our darkness” (Ps. 18:28), will fill you. It is fitting therefore, in view of your abundant efforts to build up

and to guide the Church, that We add signs of Our joy and congratulate you for all you have done, with God’s blessing,

for God’s flock in these 50 years.

And so it is Our greatest desire that an account of your work for the welfare of the beloved flock be noted and Our

voice of approval may supply for your silence. What perseverance, what seriousness and fortitude have you put forth in

carrying out your sacred ministry! Indeed, you did not consider any physical weakness as an obstacle to following in

the footsteps of the High Priest. And so, after succeeding in studies at St. Henry High School Seminary in Belleville,

you entered the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Godfrey. After studies in philosophy, you

studied theology at the University of Ottawa. As each step on this road to the priesthood was successfully completed, and

as the aims of your missionary congregation were fully absorbed, the priestly role was conferred on you at the Church

of St. Pascal in the year 1963. And as your aptitude for higher studies became evident, you were subsequently assigned

to studies at the universities of Catholic University of America, at Tulane and at Ottawa. Then, imbued with sound doc-

trine, you freely passed on that wisdom as a teacher.

Passing over other deeds, you showed a prudence and skill in the offices you filled in your Oblate Province, such as your

service as Provincial Superior in 1973 and 1974. Then, having exhibited such administrative skill, you were made Vicar

General of your Congregation in 1974, filling that office in Rome with notable success until 1984. Especially noteworthy

is all that you accomplished at the Cambridge Institute for the Study of Faith and Culture in Massachusetts.

Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church / Metropolitan Archbishop of Chicago

Based on ample evidence, we do not hesitate to commend you for the qualities shown when after being consecrated bishop in

1990, you governed the Church of Yakima and then of Portland, Oregon. And in the Metropolitan See of Chicago as well, you

present a clear model for handling matters. As you work for the common good, you have put together a happy union of serious

attitude and civility, which is most fitting of the Church’s Custodians of the sacred. With all this in mind, it is not surprising that

Blessed John Paul II brought you into the College of Cardinals in the biennium before the Great Jubilee of the Lord’s Incarna-

tion, where you have joined those purple-robed Fathers, giving of yourself generously and contributing to the various offices of

the Roman Curia.

At the same time, We are certainly not unaware of the serious illnesses which you have borne with remarkable courage and

through which, fortified by the Blessed Sacrament, you have provided a valuable witness of the great joy that each of us can find

in tribulation (cf. I Cor. 7:4). As you are steadfast and to be commended, long may you live, happily may you live, looking with

enduring love to Jesus, the source and the goal of faith. Under the protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, who is specially

venerated under the title of the Immaculate Conception by your brothers and fellow members, may you flourish in holy joy and

good hope.

Having uttered these ardent prayers, it only remains for Us to bestow affectionately Our Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of heavenly

favor to you, Our Venerable Brother, to your Auxiliary Bishops, to the priests and faithful of the entire Archdiocese of Chicago.

Given at the Offices of the Vatican on the 9th of November in the year 2013, the first year of Our Pontificate.

Francis

Your Eminence,

Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.

On behalf of the Oblates throughout the world, I wish to offer our congratulations to you, Cardinal George, as you

celebrate 50 years of priesthood in service to God’s people. Your priestly ministry is best understood through the

prism of your consecrated life as a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. You have lived a missionary priest-

hood marked by a spirituality inherited from Saint Eugene de Mazenod: “Called by vocation to be the servant and

the priest of the poor…” (De Mazenod, 1813). Your priesthood is an oblation lived in union with Jesus the High

Priest and a life of service, always concerned about the poor, the abandoned, the vulnerable and those rejected by

society.

From your early days as professor at the Oblate seminary, your teaching was clear, thought-provoking and chal-

lenging; the ministry of formation in which you were engaged was responding to the signs of the times, insightful,

personal, and deeply influential on a generation of young Oblates at a time when the Church and the congregation

were seeking how best to implement the challenges of Vatican II. Both as a teacher and brother Oblate you have

been a model to many young Oblates. The importance of your Oblate identity and your connection to our religious

family have always been evident in your life in whatever service you have been engaged.

After serving briefly as provincial you were called to serve the world-wide Oblate congregation as vicar general. In

this ministry you made significant contributions to the Congregation’s worldwide mission: your readiness to make

pastoral visits to distant missions; your insights into history and its influence on the development of the mis-

sions; your commitment to on-going formation and continuing education particularly among Oblates involved in

formation ministry; the beginning of the Peace and Justice Ministry at the level of the Congregation; your respect

for and collaboration with Fr Jetté, then the Superior General, and your recognition of his gifts in the spiritual

leadership of the Congregation. In fact your assistance to Father Jetté, our Superior General at that time, was

outstanding and loyal.

To our brother Oblate, Francis,

Throughout your generous response to the church’s call to Yakima, Portland and Chicago, and to your role in

the universal church as Cardinal, we have seen you conscious of those who are in need of the Good News. In

these many years, the words of St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of your and our congregation, have guided you in

responding to the various calls which the Congregation and the Church have presented to you. Zeal for souls and

passion for God’s mission have always been constants in your life. May you continue to be a witness to the Gospel

message whenever the Lord calls you to serve in the years ahead. We pray for you as you come to this milestone,

and rejoice with you in the celebration taking place today.

Sincerely in Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate,Father Louis Lougen, OMI

Superior General

January 16

1937Francis George

is Born

Born in Chicago to Francis J. and Julia R. McCarthy George

Cardinal George first heard his call to the priesthood on the day of his First Holy Communion

Cardinal George first heard his call to the priesthood on the day of his First Holy Communion

Attended St. Pascal Grade School on Chicago’s northwest side

Attended St. Henry Preparatory Seminary in Belleville, Illinois

1957August 14 Entered Missionary

Oblates of Mary ImmaculateStudied theology at the University of Ottawa, Canada

1963December 21

Ordained a PriestOrdained by Most Rev. Raymond Hillinger

From 1973-1974 he was Provincial Superior of the Midwestern Province for the Oblates in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was then elected Vicar General of the Oblates and served in Rome from 1974-1986.Photo of Father Fernad Jettè, OMI and Father Fancis George, OMI

1990September 21

Ordained and installed as Bishop of Yakima

1996May 27

Installed as Archbishop of Portland

Installed as Archbishop of Portland

Mr. and Mrs. Francis George

1997 May 7

Installed as Archbishop of Chicago by the Most Rev. Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, at Holy Name Cathedral

1998 January 18

Pope John Paul II announced Archbishop George’s elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals. He was assigned San Bartolomeo all’Isola in Rome as his titular church on February 21, 1998.

2005April 18 & 19

Participated in Papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI

2005

20072004 to

Served as Vice-President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

20102007 to

Served as President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

2013March 12 & 13

Participated in Papal conclave that elected Pope Francis

Participated in Papal conclave that elected Pope Francis

“Christo Gloria In Ecclesia”

21 December 2013 Celebrating 5o Years of Priesthood

The Illuminated Manuscript:

The Episcopal motto of Francis Cardinal George, OMI , “Christo Gloria in Ecclesia,” is inspired by Hebrews 13:20 and by the

motto of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. His Eminence chooses it as his essential purpose in life as a Father of his people and

wishes his work and witness always to profess the Resurrection by crying out “To Christ be Glory in the Church!”

The Early Church Father, Saint John Chrysostom (+ 407), Archbishop of Constantinople, associates Hebrews 13:20 with

the Resurrection, which is the central image of the cover illustration. In his Homilies (34) the great preacher writes:

Therefore having first asked their prayers, he then himself also prays for all good things on them. “Now the God of peace,” he

says (be ye not therefore at variance one with another), “that brought again from the earth the Shepherd of the sheep” (v. 20)

(this is said concerning the Resurrection) “the Great [Shepherd]” (another addition: here again he confirms to them even to

the end, his discourse concerning the Resurrection) “through the blood of the everlasting covenant, our Lord Jesus Christ,”

(v. 21) “make you perfect in every good work, to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight.”

Again he bears high testimony to them. For that is made “perfect” which having a beginning is afterwards completed. And he

prays for them which is the act of one who yearns for them. And while in the other Epistles, he prays in the prefaces, here he

does it at the end. “Working in you,” he says, “that which is well-pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory

for ever and ever. Amen.”

In the illuminated composition, Christ steps from the open tomb with His right foot and raises His right hand in blessing; the

right hand of Christ, in medieval art, represents divine mercy. As in most medieval depictions of the Resurrection, two chrono-

logically distinct events (Christ’s rising from the tomb and the stone’s removal) are shown together; this was traditionally done

to emphasize the stone’s signification of the Old Testament.

Symbolism pervades medieval art; this is nowhere more clear than in its juxtaposition of scenes from the New Testament and

the Old Testament. To quote the art historian Emile Mâle, “God who sees all things under the aspect of eternity willed that the

Old and New Testaments should form a complete and harmonious whole; the Old is but an adumbration of the New.” Our Lord

Himself taught the symbolic method of exegesis when He said, “For as Jonah was in the whale’s belly three days and three

nights: so shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights” Matthew 12:40.

Christo Gloria in Ecclesia

Following a widespread traditional belief, Jonah emerges from the whale bald and naked. He has come to be known as the

“reluctant prophet” since he was commanded by God to go to Nineveh, but travels in the opposite direction to Tarshish instead.

In the course of his travel, a storm arose and threatened the ship. The sailors cast lots to see who was responsible. The lot fell to

Jonah, and they tossed him overboard. The Lord, intent that Jonah get to Nineveh, sent a great fish to swallow him and take him

to Nineveh. After three days, the fish deposited Jonah on dry land, and again God commanded him to go to Nineveh. This time he

began to travel toward Nineveh.

Jonah preached repentance in the city of Nineveh and the people, from the king on down, listened and repented. We find this story

recalled in the Gospel of Matthew when the present generation asks for a sign. Jesus responds that no sign will be given except the

sign of Jonah, “Just as Jonah was in the belly of the big fish for three days and three nights so the Son of Man will be in the heart

of the earth three days and three nights.” This was a reference to the time that Jesus would spend in the tomb. Jonah’s sojourn in

the big fish was a sign/type of the burial of Jesus. Jonah’s being deposited on the dry land was a sign of the resurrection.

Jonah and the Big Fish

The upper left miniature illustrates “The stone which the builders rejected: the same is made into the head of the corner.”

Psalm 118 contains the welcome of the king as he returns from battle with the people of the city of Jerusalem lining the walls

to welcome their triumphant king. Arriving at the city gates, the king halts his entourage and cries, “Open the gates of righ-

teousness, I will enter and thank the Lord.” The people on the heights respond, “This is the Lord’s own gate, through it the

righteous enter.” The dialogue continues with the king, “I thank you for you have answered me, you have been my savior.” The

king has been victorious in battle. Then the gate is swung open for the king and the people from the ramparts cry out, “The

stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.” And the

king and his entourage enter the city to the cries of “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.”

The gospels and the early fathers saw this “rejected stone” motif as a type of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. The stone

rejected by the builders was a type of Jesus crucified through the provocation of the Jewish leaders. Becoming the cornerstone

is a type of the crucified Jesus rising from the dead. The reference is to the building of an arch where the final most significant

stone is the capstone (aka cornerstone) which bears the entire weight of the arch. The stone rejected has become the capstone.

The rejected and crucified Jesus has become the risen Lord. And it is all the work of the Lord. Truly Easter is the day of the

Lord which calls for rejoicing and gladness.

The Stone Rejected by the Builders

The lower right miniature depicts Samson carrying off the gates of Gaza. We find Samson in the book of Judges where he is

presented as the last of the judges prior to Samuel. In this narrative, Samson travels to Gaza where he encounters a prostitute

which is not the best place to be found because the book of Proverbs cautions that prostitutes reside in the gateway to death

(Prov 6:26). Thus, Samson is going against a prime principle of proper living. The people of Gaza hear that Samson is in their

town and they surround Samson at the city gates and ambush him throughout the night, saying that in the morning light, they

will kill him. In response, Samson rose at midnight, seized the doors and the gate posts of the city gate and tore them loose;

he hoisted them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the ridge opposite Hebron. Quite a feat, as Hebron is over

forty miles from Gaza.

This story is the prelude to the rather famous tale of Samson and Delilah in which Samson loses his life in destroying a

Philistine temple in Gaza and all the gathered Philistine leaders inside. This text prepares for the final scene of the Samson

cycle in which Samson, having regrown his hair after the Delilah incident, is taken to a Philistine temple where most of

the Philistine leaders are gathered. He requests that he be placed between the two main pillars of the building. He uses his

returned strength to bring down the temple.

In this action, he sacrifices himself for the freedom of his people. He is very similar to the shepherd who is willing to sacrifice

his life for the sake of his sheep.

Samson and the Gates of Gaza

These three prefigurements appear alongside the Resurrection in the Speculum Humane Salvationis, a popular typological

encyclopedia of the late Middle Ages.

In the lower left side of the drawing reside the personal arms of Francis Cardinal George, OMI. The basic field is silver and

signifies the purity and wholeness of the Faith to which we are committed as our means of salvation. Over this is the blue

heraldic pile, the color of Our Blessed Lady. In the upper shield is a six pointed star taken from the coat of arms of Saint

Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop of Marseilles in France and the founder of Cardinal George’s religious congregation, the Oblates

of Mary Immaculate. This star is pierced to allow the silver to show through it, and so suggests the Archbishop’s commitment

to witness faithfully to the Gospel. The crescent next to it is associated with the Immaculate Conception, another allusion to

the Oblate Fathers. Again, the profusion of blue speaks of truth, perseverance, and all the virtues so important in our spiritual

pilgrimage. The ship’s anchor is an ancient Christian symbol of hope, confidence, and stability in a sea of temptations and

difficulties, and the red rope “fouling” the anchor is for the Precious Blood of Christ by which we take hold of hope in the

Church. A bishop in his diocese is a sign of that hope and stability for his people which is promised in the gospel.

The Speculum Humane Salvationis

Nearby are the arms of the diocese of Yakima and the archdioceses of Portland and Chicago. The coat of arms of the

Archdiocese of Chicago is a phoenix rising from flames, a religious symbol of the resurrection of Jesus and his triumph over

sin and death. The phoenix design, which also constitutes the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Chicago since it became an

Archdiocese in 1880, symbolizes the rebirth and reconstruction of the city in the years after the Chicago fire of 1871. The

color red is symbolic of the Holy Spirit who guides, protects and breathes life in the church. Written across the breast of the

phoenix are the Greek letters iota, eta and sigma, which form the monogram of Jesus in the Greek language, symbolizing the

Cathedral of the Holy Name, the Cathedral Parish of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The first Gothic structure of the Cathedral

was destroyed in the great fire of 1871 yet rose from the ashes to be rebuilt in 1875. On the wings of the bird are two fleur-

de-lis, the French form of the lily, which symbolize the exploration of the Chicago area by two Catholic French missionaries,

Joliet and Marquette, in 1673.

Also included in this illuminated manuscript are the personal arms of Bishop Raymond Peter Hillinger, who ordained

Cardinal George a priest; and Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, who ordained him a bishop. The decoration surrounding

these elements is composed of passion vines. These vines have flowers whose parts resemble the Crown of Thorns, the Holy

Nails and the Five Wounds.

The Coats of Arms

T

Acknowledgements

The Most Reverend Francis KaneVicar General

The Very Reverend Peter SneigModerator of the Curia

The Reverend Monsignor Richard HynesDepartment of Parish Life and Formation

Todd WilliamsonOffice for Divine Worship

PhotosOffice of Communications

Illuminated ManuscriptDaniel Mitsui

Scriptural ExegesisReverend Jim McIlhone, Ph.D.

Book Layout and Graphic DesignOffice for Peace and Justice