Contemplating the Face: A Call to Spiritual Depth in Secular Oregon

In a landscape often defined by secularism, Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland has issued a profound invitation for spiritual recalibration. His recent pastoral letter, released on the feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, does not merely address administrative concerns but calls for a “mission renewal” rooted in personal holiness and deep discipleship. This is not simply about growth numbers, though he notes the “stunning” influx of new members, particularly youth, into the Church in western Oregon.

The core of his message rests on the ancient practice of contemplation. Quoting his own episcopal motto, “Vultum Christi Contemplari,” Sample urges the faithful to “contemplate once again the Face of Christ.” He argues that authentic evangelization cannot be manufactured through strategy alone; it must emanate from a transformed interior life. As he emphasizes, the mission requires clergy and laity alike to let “the face of Jesus Christ shine forth.”

This renewal begins with the priesthood, invoking Jean-Baptiste Chautard’s timeless insight that clerical fervor directly influences the piety of the people. In an era of spiritual fatigue, this call to inner depth offers a vital anchor for those seeking genuine connection in God’s vineyard.