Homily for Memorial of Bl. Edmund Rice

Homily for the Memorial of
Bl. Edmund Rice

May 5, 2026
Is 42: 1-4, 6-7
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

O

Edmund Rice (S.R. Watson)

ur 1st reading prophesies of the Servant of the Lord:  “I have put my Spirit upon him.  He will bring forth justice to the nations” (Is 42: 1)

When we celebrate the saints, we’re celebrating the most exemplary servants of the Lord.  Each servant has his or her own gifts from the Lord and uses them as the Spirit of the Lord directs.

Bl. Edmund directed his gifts of faith, generosity, and leadership toward opening the eyes of the blind and bringing prisoners out of dungeons (42:7), not in a literal sense but metaphorically—thru education.  Education is liberating and empowering, elevating “those who sit in the darkness” (42:7) of ignorance and poverty.  Pope Leo reaffirmed that in his exhortation Dilexi te:  “Children have a right to knowledge as a fundamental requirement for the recognition of human dignity.  Teaching them affirms their value, giving them the tools to transform their reality. . . .  Christian education does not form only professionals, but also people open to goodness, beauty, and truth” (#72).  That letter was entirely about the Church’s service of the poor in Christ’s name and after his example.

I don’t suppose that Edmund envisioned a worldwide educational mission.  But the Spirit is powerful, and he enabled Edmund’s charism to “bring forth justice to the nations” (42:1), for the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers to be “lights to the nations” (42:6).  “By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8).  Thanks be to God, glory be to God, for the fruit borne by Bl. Edmund Rice and his worldwide family.