HISTORY
BRUCE A. HAKE: MY VOCATION
One day in May 1984 I was trying to decide whether to pursue a Ph.D. in Philosophy or a J.D. in Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Both doors were open. I was terribly torn. Basilica means “really big church.” The basilica at CUA is the largest church in the Western Hemisphere and an awesome, holy building. I was pacing with my head down in the Hall of Saints in the lower level of the church, pondering and praying about my choice. Suddenly I strode into a statue, knocking myself out and falling down.
When I came to a few moments later I saw that the statue said “St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants” and I immediately thought: “Oh! I’m supposed to be an immigration lawyer!” At the time, I did not know about Mother Cabrini. But for more than 40 years I have never second-guessed my conviction that in that rather comical way she revealed to me that my vocation was to follow her in serving immigrants. So I got my law degree at Catholic University.
SECOND VOCATION: THE PATH OF MERCY
On September 1, 2021 my heart stopped for at least 10 minutes, leaving my mind unharmed but my body disabled, so I can no longer practice law. During a long rehabilitation, I came to believe that I have a second vocation: moving from the path of knowledge to the path of mercy. My way of doing that is to endow a prize to perpetuate my contributions to several vital and hotly contested issues, in the hope of inspiring future advocates and scholars. In trying to find and follow the path of mercy, my main guides are Jesus, Saint Callistus, Mother Cabrini, Saint Faustina, and Saint John Paul II.
From the Parable of the Judgment: 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’” Matthew 25:41-45 (NASB). Note: In the Bible “stranger” means “immigrant.” See also this sermon on the Beatitudes.