Common impressions seem to disassociate being Franciscan friars who supposedly living a simple ordinary life with the whole idea of the mass media especially the operation of a radio station. Such subconscious judgment must have been structured by the witness of many of the whole Franciscan tradition of living poor life like that of St. Francis of Assisi. Similar incident occurred in the life of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, a Polish Franciscan Conventual who started an apostolic initiative of 700 friars living together and working in a massive mass media apostolate in the 1940's. One of the visitors curiously asked him what St. Francis will say about this mass media apostolate and being a friar at the same time. Fr. Kolbe replied, "St. Francis will roll his sleeves and will start to help us evangelize the world."

Poverty in order to enrich

It was St. Maximilian Kolbe who had given us a tangible example of harmony in the apparent opposition of being Franciscan and a man of the media and technology at the same time. Far from being opposed, he says that the fruit of being poor is the growth in one's capacity to enrich another. What is central to the virtue of poverty is the shift of the focus from being self-centered to be "other-oriented"; being a vow of religion, that "Other" is God-- and by way of extension, one's neighbor. In other words, Fr. Kolbe sees Franciscan poverty as oriented to apostolate. One deprives himself of the unnecessary to provide for the necessity of others; one reduces his self-preoccupation so that he can be available for another: "He became poor, so that by His poverty, he can make others rich." (cf. 2 Cor. 8:9) The greatest want of the people in general today is lack of faith. Hence, the work of evangelization, that is bringing the faith to all walks of life especially in the modern times takes its form to be more effective, by using the most modern means of the apostolate to spread the Gospel and the Church's teachings. It is in having faith that eternal life and happiness depends. (cf. John 11:26)

Radio CorMariae

The news about the possible start of a Catholic Radio station in New Bedford is certainly a blessing. It is an opportunity to reach as many people as possible (and at the start, the entire New Bedford area) without physically traveling to different places. St. Paul would have used this means if it was available in his time.

But the uniqueness of Radio CorMariae depends on its two quintessential characters: its Franciscan and Marian at the same time. It is Franciscan, because, it depends upon divine providence for its operation. This means that the expense in starting and maintaining requires the generous help of good Catholic faithful. This frees it from any institutional dependency from any agency that might constrict it to do or broadcast anything that will make it compromise from its original objectives. It is Marian, because, the key recurring contents of different programs even covertly will be the mysteries of Mary Immaculate. This flows from a deep theological conviction of Mary's essential role in the work of salvation and sanctification of souls.

If there is any first recipient and at the same bearer of the Gospel, it would have been Mary, the Mother of God. She who at the annunciation received the first "radio broadcast" that filled the world with hope: "The Word will be made flesh." (cf. John 1:14). Because of her love that is transformed into her obedience to God to become His mother, that all "communication" (including the radio station) finds its root. God "communicates" His Word to become man--tangible, visible, audible. It is Mary's obediential love that allows the possibility for this divine "tangibility." Mary's love is symbolized by her heart, the heart of Mary. Hence, the radio is named, "Radio CorMariae."