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It is hard to imagine a more qualified speaker on living one’s Catholic identity in public life.
Timothy Steven Jeffries is a government official and successful entrepreneur who refuses to hide his faith.
Gregorian Fellows at Benedictine College heard from the Director of the Arizona’s Department of Economic Security last Monday.
He has an impressive resume: Prior to his cabinet appointment, Mr. Jeffries served in several high-level business and corporate positions. But what animates his commitment to his faith and to reaching out to those who are “broken and scarred” by life is his own personal history. His beloved big brother, Michael, was murdered in 1981 in one of the most gruesome murders in Colorado history, propelling Jeffries into the crime victims’ rights movement.
He has been married for 30 years to Dr. Mary Frances Jeffries, who also knows a thing or two about living one’s Catholic identity in public life as the headmaster of Archway Classical Academy Veritas, a Great Hearts Academy in Phoenix, Arizona.
Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, launched the Gregorian Institute to promote Catholic identity in public life by equipping leaders (the Gregorian speech digest), training future leaders (the Gregorian Fellows), defending the faith (the Memorare Army for Religious Freedom), and celebrating Catholic identity (the Catholic Hall of Fame).
Here are ten highlights from Jeffries’ address to Gregorian Fellows on Oct. 10.
1: On Hatred
“I carried hatred, deep-seated corrosive hatred for my brothers’ killers for 25 years. I hope you don’t have anyone in your life that’s worthy of that kind of hatred. But you all have heartbreaks and maybe you have some hatred. Get out of God’s way and let him heal you. Anger is one of the seven deadly sins for good reason.”
2: Treasure Every Day
“Treasure every day. Whatever your darkness is, it will not be the only darkness in your life. Whatever it is, find blessings, find learning, and use that as a force of Good. The devil wants to tell you, you should be sad. You should be angry. Don’t listen to him.”
3: On ‘Bad Days’
“My brother Michael had a bad day. A horrible day. For 25 years plus, I’ve never said I had a bad day. It’s physically impossible for me to say I had a bad day. Whatever your worst day is, Use that as a juxtaposition for whatever ‘bad day’ you have again.”
4: The ‘Holy Pivot’
“I prayed the sorrowful mysteries for years and years, I couldn’t get out of them. I was saying, ‘Lord let this cup pass’ but I couldn’t get to ‘thy will be done’ – that holy pivot.”
5: Why Jesus Fell
“Jesus Christ allowed himself to fall three times with the cross. Allowed. He didn’t fall. He allowed it. Why? For us. Why? Because our cross weighs on us. Our cross shudders us. Our cross buckles us and Jesus Christ gave us his example. He gave us permission to fall. Jesus Christ allowed himself to fall on the way of the cross for you. “
6: Hope for America
“I’ve never been more vexed as an American. I’m a Patriot. I love this country. But America is in great peril. America’s existence is not guaranteed. Things are that dire. … But I take great hope. From the beginning, this is how Jesus rolled. He said, ‘Peter, come.’ One person. And we won.”
7: Love and Government
“How am I transforming the department of economic security in Arizona; an agency everyone said was unfixable. One colleague at a time. I am transforming the department of economic security with love. People ask, ‘Can you say that in government?’ I say it all the time. It is my first amendment right.”
8: The Crisis of Men
“I take issue with the fact that America is not producing enough men. No, we are not perfect. We are kind of goofy. Embrace the inner dork! But America’s not producing enough men with faith, enough citizens who seek information, enough community members with principles.”
9: Citizens Needed
“Our country desperately needs citizens like you. Desperately. God willing you stay in your faith and keep to your faith; I tell you your life will be easier if you do. But people will come after you. Take that as a sign you are doing the right thing. Blessed are the persecuted.”
10: Find the Suffering
“The poor and the suffering isn’t just picture book poor and suffering. You want to find someone who’s suffering? Stick around after church, and see who’s staying there. And know that they have a lot to pray for, and pray for them.”
BONUS: ‘God Bless You!’
“Tell people ‘God bless you.’ You’ll be amazed when more than a couple stop you and say, ‘No, God bless you!’ When we serve the poor and the sick and the suffering you’ll find that as much as you serve them, they serve you.”
The Gregorian Institute is Benedictine College’s initiative to promote Catholic identity in public life by equipping leaders (the Gregorian speech digest), training leaders (the Gregorian Fellows), defending the faith (the Memorare Army for Religious Freedom), and celebrating Catholic identity (the Catholic Hall of Fame).
Founded in 1858, Benedictine College is a Catholic, Benedictine, residential, liberal arts college located on the bluffs above the Missouri River in Atchison, Kansas. The school is honored to have been named one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, the best private college in Kansas by The Wall Street Journal, and one of the top Catholic colleges in the nation by First Things magazine and the Newman Guide. It prides itself on outstanding academics, extraordinary faith life, strong athletic programs, and an exceptional sense of community and belonging. Benedictine College is dedicated to transforming culture in America through its mission to educate men and women within a community of faith and scholarship.
