Pallium Path: A Cloud of Witnesses

As the archdiocesan group headed to Rome for the Pallium Pilgrimage, the skies call to mind the “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us each and every day, in Rome, Denver and worldwide.

(Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.)

It’s an interesting experience seeing things from 30,000 feet. Everything looks so small from that height: the great rivers and mountains of the West, the sprawling metropolises of the East, the “pond” that is the mighty Atlantic.

As I spent most of the day on a plane — 10.5 hours with a few hundred of my new closest friends — I couldn’t help but reflect on the clouds through which we flew.

Now, I’m no stranger to flying, having been to 30+ weddings in 6 years and visited friends and family across the continent. I’ve noticed clouds outside of airplane windows, from Denver’s parks and during outdoor activities. But these clouds stood out. They were beautiful. They were fluffy and vast. It was like we were flying among cotton candy. Sweet though it was, you could still see the ground 30,000 feet below.

As Catholic Christians, we believe in the Communion of Saints, a body of those holy individuals who preceded us in life, in sanctity and in love for God and neighbor. We believe that we’re united with them, that they pray for us to God, whose face they behold in Heaven. The Scriptures often call it a “cloud of witnesses.” Different, but just as sweet as those cotton-candy clouds.

When we look to the saints, the “cloud of witnesses,” we see the face of God in a particular day and age. We see the majesty of sanctity, the magnificence of humanity united to the Trinity. We are reminded of the “things that are above.”

We also see the supreme dignity of humanity in all its imperfect beauty. We see how God can elevate, perfect and sanctify. The saints live holy lives in but not of the world, showing us what life can look like at 30,000 feet. Through the saints, we see the most beautiful things of this world: charity, compassion, love for God and neighbor. Yet, you can “still see the ground,” so to speak, in their humanity.

Flying amid those clouds reminded me of the spiritual reality we will be living on this pilgrimage: we will be walking in the footsteps of holy and ancient saints and martyrs. Men, women and children who laid down their lives out of love for Jesus. The flower of Rome has been watered by their prayers, their tears and even their blood.

The witness of these holy men, women and children surrounds us — here in Rome, home in Denver and, indeed, everywhere — like the “cloud of witnesses” it is. We are united with each other, with those saints and martyrs that have gone before us and with God himself through the Communion of Saints and the Church.

That unity is part of what makes a pilgrimage like this so special, too. We come together as an archdiocesan family — those of us in Rome and those following along in Colorado — with Archbishop Golka, Pope Leo and Catholics from around the world, in faith, hope and charity. We learn what it means to be truly catholic (remember, that means universal!). We glean insight and grace from our holy, heavenly siblings. We draw nearer to the Heart of God.

As you read this today, look up to the clouds wherever you are and remember the “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds you and offers you grace. Say a prayer for us as we begin this pilgrimage. Know of our prayers for you, too.

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Read more from the Pallium Pilgrimage here.