by Fr. Brian Wirth,
Director of Rural Life
We just celebrated National Beef Month, which recognizes the dedicated work of cattle farmers and ranchers across the country and particularly throughout the Midwest. This annual celebration is fitting as we too celebrate the feast day of St. Isidore the Farmer May 15.
Personally, I want to thank everyone who participated in the Novena for St. Isidore the Farmer, as well as for rain this year. I humbly request that we continue to pray such prayers.
The economic and cultural impacts of the U.S. cattle industry are massive. With more than 700,000 cow/calf operations across the nation, the U.S. is the largest producer of beef in the world. Thus, the cattle industry is deeply rooted within American culture (rural and urban), and is an essential contributor in the efforts to increase global food security by providing wholesome, nutrient-rich food sources.
In Nebraska, agriculture is the state’s leading industry, with cattle production representing the largest segment of the industry. Many resources go into the cattle industry (water, grain, hay, grass, land, etc.) To provide further perspective, there are nearly 6.8 million head of cattle in Nebraska, compared to a state population of 1.9 million people!
Thus, as the familiar slogan states best: “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.”
On a humorous note, although my grandpa was always appreciative of the home-cooked meals my grandma would prepare for him after a long day on the farm, on the few occasions she would cook something other than hamburgers (his favorite) or a beef-based meal, he would jokingly ask: “Where’s the beef?” Even in his obituary, when listing his favorite things and pastimes, last but not least, beef was included.
Although our family farm hasn’t owned cattle for almost 20 years, it was our cattle operation that greatly sustained our family and farm over many generations through thick and thin, and equally represents the same vocational calling of many farming/ranching families throughout the diocese. To all of you, I say thank you.
Knowing the labor-intensive nature of raising cattle, farmers and ranchers sacrifice greatly and suffer many hardships, physical and spiritual. And yet, farmers and ranchers take great joy in their work. In a Genesis context, farmers and ranchers value being stewards of God’s creation, possessing dominion over the tame and wild animals, toiling by the sweat of their brows in caring for and cultivating food for the Universal Body of Christ, as Adam was ordained to do in the beginning.
Now, as we segue into June, contrary to what society want us to believe, June is essentially dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist: Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
Moreover, on June 11, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Church begins Year Two of the Eucharistic Revival, which will focus primarily on parish families.
Viewing these months together, in recognizing the goodness of the cattle beef industry and the wholesome physical nutrition that it provides us, so now in June we are called to faithfully recognize the Infinite Goodness of the Most Holy Eucharist and the spiritually wholesome nourishment it provides us via God’s supernatural grace.
Truly, through the care-filled labor of our farmers and ranchers and above all through the providential care of God our Heavenly Father, we as Church recall our desire to be nourished in body and spirit. In short, their united work is a beautiful reminder of one of the seven primary petitions of the Our Father: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
As our nation’s farmers and ranchers toil daily by the sweat of their brow to feed us, so does Christ sweat blood for us in His agony in the garden to feed us. For all eternity, Christ has eagerly desired to feed us with this Passover Meal (Lk. 22:15).
Jesus offers us His Heart, His Eucharistic Body and Blood at the Last Supper and upon the Cross, the One True Perpetual Memorial Sacrifice.
Thus, like our farmers and ranchers, what Christ so desires to provide us is a wholesome, nutritious meal. For Christ, this meal is the Passover Meal, the Eternal Banquet, a total gift of Himself via His Sacred Heart in the Eucharist, which provides us every grace and spiritual blessing. Jesus Himself tells us: “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (Jn. 6:55-57).
From family and friends to former/current parishioners, and numerous colleagues, so often have I seen firsthand the love farming/ranching families have for their God-given vocations for the sake of the common good. Without fail, I am continually blown away at their sacrificial work ethic and dedication to their vocation, which equally serves as a daily inspiration for me as a priest to sacrificially feed the world through Christ and His Church, and above all, through the Most Holy Eucharist, the Bread of Life.
Heavenly Father, through your Son, your beloved priests, and your laborers: “Give us this day our daily bread.”
