The life God creates is full of events and experiences, which the Catholic Church holds sacred. To understand our faith we search for meaning and draw on these life experiences. As a Christian, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin found meaning in his faith through his life experiences; by joining the holy order, as a peacemaker, walking and living in the footsteps of Jesus, being accused of sexual abuse, his reconciliation with Steven Cook, through his diagnosis of cancer and his death.

Cardinal Bernardin found meaning in his life through connecting his experience with his faith. His faith was in a God who loved all "God is love" (1John 4:7). His belief was that we will be granted eternal life, just as Jesus suffered, died and resurrected. "We share abundantly in Christ's suffering. If we unite our suffering with his we will be comforted" (2Cor 1:5-7). Cardinal Bernardin's ordination to a bishop...