Archbishop of Boston Visits MIT Chapel
Archbishop Richard G. Henning celebrated mass at the MIT Chapel on Feb. 23.
As a part of his efforts to engage with college campuses and see the communities of his newly inherited archdiocese, Archbishop Richard G. Henning, the Seventh Archbishop of Boston, celebrated mass at the MIT Chapel on Feb. 23.
Recognizing the analytical mindset of MIT students, Archbishop Henning incorporated mathematical reasoning into his homily to illustrate the messages of the day’s Biblical readings. He began with the simple fact “1 + 1 = 2,” a universal truth that is logical and clear.
He then expanded on this idea of clear-cut logic to highlight how, unlike the physical laws many study on campus, God’s love is “beyond understanding,” emphasizing how its abundance and boundlessness seemingly violates reason itself because of how it is freely given. He captured this concept by saying, “1 + 1 = infinity,” explaining that such is a testament to how God’s immeasurable love is beyond our conventional reason.
Following the mass, the Archbishop visited students in W11, sharing coffee and donuts with the community to conclude his trip to MIT.
Archbishop Henning was installed as the seventh Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston last Halloween, succeeding Cardinal Seán O’Malley. Before coming to Boston, Henning served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Providence, RI. His visit to MIT is one of many others in the Boston area as he familiarizes himself with the archdiocese.