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Cardinal Bernardin: a blessing for us all
Fr. Daniel Montalbano

An unprecedented gathering took place during the wake of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, archbishop of Chicago, on November 19, 1996. Never before, while the local bishop lay in state, had such a group of prominent Jewish leaders gathered in a Catholic cathedral to offer words of tribute and respect. Entitled: A Jewish Farewell the members of the Catholic-Jewish delegation to Israel led by Cardinal Bernardin in spring of 1995 spoke before a standing room only congregation as part of the official program for the Cardinal's wake and funeral.

This moment of course, would never have happened without Vatican II, the American and specifically Chicago-style attitude concerning relations among historic religions, and the outstanding and sensitive leadership of "our brother Joseph".

From the seminal document Nostra Aetate the Catholic church has embarked on a path to reshape and deepen our understanding of the enduring validity of the Jewish Covenant and to honor that reality in our teaching, liturgy, and pastoral practice. A Chicago peritus at the Vatican Council recently stated that the Council Fathers did not know, and could not know, that the dialogue with the Jews would produce so much theological and pastoral development to the point where it has been reckoned as the most significant outcome of the Council.

The Archdiocese of Chicago, first under Cardinal Cody and then even more substantially under Cardinal Bernardin, took up the challenge of dialogue with the Jews within the structures and programs of the Archdiocese. This resulted in a relationship that is multi-faceted, having both scholarly and pastoral dimensions that have enjoyed much success and are still developing.

Cardinal Bernardin's contribution cannot be minimized. While not a bishop at the Council he understood himself as a Vatican II leader and from his days as General Secretary for the NCCB and Archbishop of Cincinnati he practiced and sharpened his vision and skill that served Chicago and the whole church so well.

If Vatican II's spirit was a respectful dialogue with the world, then the Cardinal was equipped in this dialogue in several outstanding ways: No one could listen better than Bernardin. Not only in Catholic-Jewish dialogue, but especially here where the weight of history and the nuance of change matter so much, he could hear what was difficult and complex and respond not with naive simplicity, but often with theological elegance.

The Cardinal took his role as teacher very seriously and took the opportunities offered to articulate the developing vision of the church in an area needing such leadership. Being a student himself, he would hear the work of contemporary scholarship, reflect on it himself, make it his own and use his pulpit to present this teaching in calm, reasonable, and cogent words. While he was a leader, he always led from and within the Church, albeit on its cutting edge.
A BLESSING TO EACH OTHER: Cardinal Joseph Bernardin and Jewish-Catholic Dialogue, Chicago, IL; Liturgy Training Publications, 1996, $18.00, ISBN 1-56854-104-X (pb.)

With a Foreword by Cardinal Edward Cassidy and Introductions by Rabbi Herman Schaalman, Fr.Thomas Baima, Fr.John Pawlikowski, and Fr.Daniel Montalbano, this fine work compiles twenty of Cardinal Bernardin's addresses that he delivered throughout the years. This selection of the Cardinal's addresses, prayers and columns over the years shows the breadth of his interest and the depth of his commitment. In addition to the Cardinal's thoughts on Jewish-Catholic relations, the book contains tools helpful for those interested in the dialogue, such as discussion questions, a bibliography and guiding documents from Vatican Council II, the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, and the U.S.National Conference of Catholic Bishops.

At the end of the Jewish tribute at his wake copies of the newly published collection of his writing and speaking on the Jewish-Catholic dialogue were given to all delegation members present. Containing the articles and addresses given while he was Archbishop of Chicago, the collection includes such important topics as Religion and Power: The Urgency of a New Synthesis (given at the Twelfth National Workshop on Christian-Jewish Relations in Chicago), Preserving the Dignity of all Creation: Toward a Renewed Christian-Jewish Relationship (given at the Jewish-Catholic International Liaison Committee in Baltimore) and the very significant Anti-Semitism: The Historical Legacy and Continuing Challenge for Christians (given at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he also received an honorary doctorate for his life work.)

Entitled A Blessing to Each Other, the collection is published by Liturgy Training Publications of the Archdiocese of Chicago and also contains relevant Roman and American documentation and support as well as discussion questions helpful for grassroots learning. The very style of the book reflects Bernardin's style: well-rooted in a living tradition and seeking to make that tradition live in the lives of the faithful.

At the end of the book's Afterword, written a month before he died, the Cardinal said: "... I wish to tell you how much I love you and how much the Catholic-Jewish friendship has meant to me during the years I have been in Chicago. As we both go forward into the future God has planned for us, I want you to know that the dialogue has been a blessing for me. After 14 years I truly feel that you have accepted me as Joseph, your brother."

At the 1985 celebration of the twentieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate at Mundelein College, Chicago, Cardinal Bernardin said: "We will probably never agree on all the theological issues that lie before us, nor are we likely to achieve consensus on every public policy question. But we can seek and find a unity of heart whose enriching power will sustain us despite our differences until God's reign appears in its full glory. May God strengthen us in this resolve."

At the end of that service Cardinal Bernardin yoked his arm with that of Rabbi Louis Jacobs, Professor of Talmud from Leo Baeck College in London, and pronounced a joint blessing over the congregation ritually proclaiming that Catholics and Jews are and can be a blessing to each other. At this moment we might very well proclaim in a very Jewish way. "Blessed are You, Lord God, ruler of the Universe, who have given us brother Joseph as our leader, guide and friend." He was a blessing to us all.