Fr. Emile Lafranz

He Lived the New Pentecost

by Jim Murphy

I braced myself as I stood at the chapel door. I had known this day was coming for while, but I don't know if we are ever ready to deal with the loss of a friend. I had come to New Orleans soon after getting the phone call that Fr. Emile Lafranz had died on the night of Ascension Thursday. My mind had been full of memories on the way down, but now I was here, I actually felt a little nervous.

I walked into the chapel and immediately felt peace, joy, and a holy presence. The chapel was filled with people, some praying, some talking in hushed tones. Music was playing and I felt as if I had entered a level of heaven. At the front of the church before the altar was Fr. Emile's casket with an honor guard at each side. The whole scene seemed like a dream.

After paying my respects and offering my condolences, I sat in the back of the chapel. My mind was numb, my heart torn, and I wanted to sit, think, and pray. Fr. Vincent Bono, who worked with Fr. Emile at the Center of Jesus the Lord, came over to me and asked me to speak at the wake service that night.

I agreed, but after Fr. Vincent left, I wondered what I would say. Would I break down half-way through? I nervously rolled and unrolled a paper that I had found in the pew.

Looking at it more carefully, I saw a picture of Fr. Emile with a simple quote: "The entire focus of my priesthood is to help bring the new Pentecost into the church."

I sat there looking at the photo and the quote. Somehow the words "Fr. Emile" and "new Pentecost" just seemed to go together. I opened my Bible to the first few chapters of the Acts of the Apostles and began to reflect on Pentecost, the early Christian community, and Fr. Emile.

Unity:

"When the day of Pentecost arrived, it found them together in one place." [Acts 2:1] Fr. Emile labored hard for reconciliation within the Christian community, working to build bridges and to tear down walls. He believed in unity; he worked for it and he lived it.

Peter:

"When they entered the city, they went to the upper room where they were staying, and among them was Peter." [Acts1:13] Fr. Emile was a true son of the church. While he did not care for bureaucracy or red tape, he was always faithful to the episcopacy and was an ardent supporter of the Holy Father. At the last meeting where I was with him, Fr. Emile was promoting the Pope's vision for a new evangelization and the third millennium of Christianity. Emile recognized Peter in the Holy Father and knew him to be an important player in the new Pentecost.

Mary:

"All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women and Mary, the mother of Jesus." [Acts 1:14] Fr. Emile had great devotion to the Blessed Mother, seeing in her his ally for the new Pentecost. Fr. Emile had done a lot of ministry in intercession and spiritual warfare. Mary was a key partner in these efforts, and he attributed much to her.

Eucharist:

"They devoted themselves...to the breaking of the bread." [Acts 2:42] Emile's energy was legendary. He ran circles around those half his age. I well remember many late nights at conferences being bleary-eyed, watching Emile joyfully and enthusiastically ministering to people. "How does this guy keep going?" I wondered.

Fr. Emile relied on a powerful energy source, being wholeheartedly devoted to the Eucharist. He was at his best when he broke the bread in the midst of his beloved community. He would frequently sit in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and seem to soak in energy as a dry sponge absorbs cool water. To him, the Eucharist was at the center of his life in the church.

Signs and wonders:

"Many signs and wonders were done through the apostles." [Acts 2:43] Fr. Emile believed that signs and wonders were both normative and necessary as a part of the new Pentecost. Over the years as I have followed Fr. Emile around the country at various conferences, I saw things happen which I can only describe as wonders. Like St. Paul, Fr. Emile believed that the kingdom is not a matter of mere words, but of words and the demonstration of the power of God.

Being a humble man, he wasn't afraid to go out on a limb to demonstrate the power of the Gospel. I remember him preaching: "It is not enough that as Christians we perform signs and wonders. Our lives themselves must be signs and wonders."

Care for those in need:

"There was no needy person among them, for those who owned houses or property would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale to the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to their need." [Acts 4:34] Fr. Emile had his eyes heavenward, but his heart stayed on Earth among the people. He was exceptionally generous. Staff members at the Center used to say to me, with something of an exasperated chuckle, "He would give the whole place away if we didn't keep an eye on him!" The poor loved Fr. Emile; he was their father, their friend, and their advocate. In the midst of all his traveling and missionary work, he was eager to set up programs to provide food, shelter, and clothing to the poor.

He was as generous with his time as he was with his material resources. Anyone could talk to Fr. Emile, and nearly everybody did. He never lost his patience, always had a kind word and went to bat for those in need-whatever the need.

Evangelization:

"With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." [Acts 4:33] I'm not sure what his birth certificate says, but I think evangelization must have been Fr. Emile's middle name. This man lived to evangelize. He would organize evangelization opportunities, and he himself would share the gospel with anyone, anywhere, anytime. It was amazing to watch him in action. He knew that evangelization was integral to the new Pentecost.

Struggle:

"On that day there broke out a severe persecution of the church." [Acts 8:1] For all his gentleness, Fr. Emile never backed away from a fight. He saw the church engaged in a struggle against the forces of darkness and he waged a heroic battle. Suffering, criticism, persecution, and setbacks were all part of Fr. Emile's vision of the new Pentecost, and he bore the battle with honor, grace, and dignity. He urged us to confront evil and sin, but to love the sinners.

Much to my own surprise, I got through the talk that night. The chapel was packed to overflowing, with the crowd spilling out the doors onto the street. The worship was incredible, and signs and wonders happened even as we gathered around our friend for the last time on this earth. But I was most struck by seeing the chapel doors opened out to the streets. The church and the world were coming together. The grace of the moment was going forth. Praise of God echoed throughout the neighborhood.

Through my tears I looked at the casket and smiled. "Emile," I thought, "you always did know how to lead a prayer meeting."

Fr. Emile Lafranz proclaimed and demonstrated the new Pentecost. We have all learned and benefitted as we watched Fr. Emile in action. He was bold and gentle, outrageous and profound, challenging and consoling. We will miss his presence on earth, be we all sense his entrance into heaven. And if I know Fr. Emile, he's already working on some new project up there to bring about the new Pentecost down here. Go for it, Emile. We love you.

This article has been reprinted, with permission, from the Aug./Sept./Oct. issue of the CHARISCENTER USA newsletter.