September 10, 2025

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

I remember the day that I attended a funeral of a woman, Jane, a friend and member of a parish where I had formerly been pastor. I remembered Jane well. She was the leader of that parish’s music ministry. She was also very active in many of the parish activities. In addition, she was involved in many of the local town activities. Jane was a well-known person. She was one of those people that got things done, and she had a certain dignity about her.

At her funeral Mass, the present pastor of the parish spoke the homily, remembering her many achievements. He then invited me to add a few words. The word that came to me was “gravitas.” I had no doubt that Jane had gravitas. She lived with a certain depth and authority. She had gravitas.

So, today, I have been thinking about that unique and rather important quality of gravitas. I know so many people who have been so much of my ministry and life, people who truly exhibited gravitas. I have learned so much from each of them. So, a little bit about gravitas.

Gravitas comes to us from those ancient Romans; they spoke of gravitas for a person with a commanding presence. It was a quality that made others take them seriously. Gravitas seems to indicate a person with a true sense of responsibility. This is a person who lives with self-control and dignity. Gravitas as a virtue characterizes someone who has courage and excellence.

I am certain that you know many such special people, people who display gravitas. They make a difference in their communities. I think we all should strive to display some gravitas in our lives. And I am certain this is possible and good for us. We might even say that those who lack a little gravitas will be seen as immature and unreliable.

When I think of our Catholic Church, we always look for some gravitas from the Church’s leaders – our pope, bishops, priests and deacons. Gravitas describes that quality in a bishop or a pastor that makes people instinctively take them seriously not because they are stern but because their words and presence carry spiritual weight.

I personally have been influenced by many bishops who truly demonstrated gravitas. Their prayerful demeanor, the way they celebrated Mass or the way they listened, they showed me a great deal about being a good priest.

One good example that I think of is Pope Fracis, even though his manner was simple and pastoral. Pope Francis displayed gravitas when he spoke of mercy, justice or peace. It was easy to sense his authenticity and moral seriousness.

Each one of us, as disciples of Jesus, must develop some gravitas as we strive to make others recognize the love of Jesus for us all. The Catholic Church has always displayed gravitas when presenting Sacred Scripture, and through the great saints, always demonstrating a dignity that flows from holiness, authenticity, truth and responsibility before God.

I have recognized in every parish where I have served, so many who witnessed in their lives the love of the Lord Jesus and the way to follow the Lord through their lives lived with gravitas. They knew Jesus and showed others how to follow him, leading their families and their parishes closer to God.