Emily Stimpson writes well and truly in her note "A Word of Caution" earlier today:





"Every last bishop on the floor can say all the right words and cast all the right votes, without any real and lasting good being done. They can stand before the cameras weeping, crying "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa," without any real inner transformation taking place. They can pass policies that satisfy even the harshest of critics, without doing one pleasing thing in the eyes of the Lord.





"The most important things that happen in Dallas, the things that God cares about the most, will not happen on TV. EWTN cannot show us the hearts of the bishops or of the victims who will attend the meeting. The television cameras won’t be present during the hours of quiet private prayer. We won’t hear the confessions these men make before God. We won’t see the rekindling of the Holy Spirit in their souls. We won’t know if one simple act of courtesy by a bishop will start the renewal of faith in the life of a victim.





"We need to remember that the Holy Spirit is the one in charge of making sure this conference blesses the Body. And frustrating as it may be, He does not always work in ways that make sense to us or that we can easily and quickly evaluate. "







The unctuous will be there, of course, and the political, and the fearful -- men, after all -- but men also gifted in their various ways. And holding an office, and wearing a chrism, of committed service.



How important to remember Whose service. How necessary to remember the obligation of preaching Him by "kindly deeds and virtuous life," as it's written in today's hymn of trust and assurance, Faith of Our Fathers.