In Paris of the 17th century, members of the Capuchin religious order, in addition to their ordinary ministry, acquired a reputation for two other activities aimed at saving lives. We owe knowledge of these actions to letters written by Madame de Sevigné whom many in France still read for her perceptive observations of French life those hundreds of years ago.

The first activity in which the Capuchins engaged was putting out fires. They would limit the spread of flames that threatened people in their homes and throw water on the members. This happened before the time that pumps were used to actually put out the fires.

A second effort at life saving by these followers of St. Francis of Assisi was dispensing medicines to people suffering from disease. Thus the priests and brothers of this community acted as quasi doctors in those days of rudimentary medical practice.

Perhaps these historical footnotes have some relevance to the tasks set before Sean O’Malley, a member of the Capuchin order installed this week as the new archbishop of Boston. Looming large among his challenges is the need to put out the fires that threaten to consume the credibility of the church among both among Catholics and others in the general public. He will also have to offer healing to those victimized by sexual abuse at the hands of priests and to provide remedies to other members of the church terribly disillusioned by these actions on the part of those they trusted.

If he manages to put out the fires and heal those alienated, he will be judged a success. If he does not, he will ultimately be considered a failure, even if he accomplishes other important purposes. Such is the scope of the ongoing crisis in the church of Boston.

The new archbishop’s most important qualification for reaching these two chief goals will be his spiritual stature. As a Capuchin friar, he has long cultivated the interior life of prayer and the contemplative traditions of his religious order that traces its origins back to Saint Francis of Assisi. This inner spirit will make a crucial difference in a daily life that surely will be subject to great pressures.

Another side of his spirituality is the way he has reached out to other people, especially the poor and the marginalized. His record of service to those in need gives hope that, among the church’s priorities, he will insist on putting people first. As he himself said in the most striking statement of his first press conference: “People’s lives are more important than money.”

Archbishop O’Malley creates an image that in itself suggests the spiritual. His brown robe tied at the waist with a knotted white cord evokes Saint Francis, who loved poverty and the beauty of God’s creation. The sandals he wears also remind one of the beloved saint who walked the paths of Umbria in his native Italy.

The archbishop’s kindly face with its wreath of white hair, his smile and look of human kindness go further to enhance his image. These features awaken hope that he will prove approachable in his new and demanding position.

But image will go only so far to achieve change. As one life-long Catholic told me: “Just because he looks like Santa Claus does not mean he’s Mr. Wonderful. He’s probably like Cardinal Law but with better people skills and a more humble façade.” Indicating changes in herself, she added: “We’ve all become so jaded.”

Nor will much come from the subservience that too often passes as loyalty to the Vatican. The time demands initiatives that are imaginative in conception and daring in scope.

Among other things, he will have to challenge the clerical culture of the church of Boston. Ever since the sixth bishop, Cardinal O’Connell, who reigned from 1907 to 1944, the archdiocese has suffered from an atmosphere of privilege among some of its clergy. Too often they have abused their authority and oppressed the spiritual gifts of lay members of the church.  

In any event, one man cannot bring about the needed repair and revitalization of a large and complicated institution. It would be unrealistic and unfair to expect him to do so. But the new archbishop can set a tone and release the spiritual resources within the people for whom he is leader.

Richard Griffin