Remembering Cesar Chavez

Catholic New Times, May 18, 2003 by Robert Madden

Editor's Note:

On April 23, 1993 after fasting for a number of days as was his wont, Cesar Chavez died in his sleep. More than 35,000 people attended his funeral, walking behind the coffin for over three miles. Cardinal Roger Mahoney celebrated the requiem Mass, offering personal condolences from the Pope. This April, the 10th Anniversary of Cesar Chavez's death, we remember the non-violent prophet. Many Canadians cut their teeth in justice by working with the saintly Chavez when he came to Canada in the 70s asking for our solidarity with the exploited California grape workers.

As is true of other Canadians it was my privilege, and a great grace, to spend time with Cesar Chavez in Toronto in the 70s and early 80s and on two occasions in California. My memories of him from these relatively limited encounters are still warm and vivid. A man of charismatic intensity and great courage, he had that authority that springs from humble, selfless dedication and practical, personal identification with the lot of those whom he was called to lead.

In September of 1973, St. Basil's College (I was Rector) was asked to put up eight Mexican-American farm workers, and help feed about 30 others who had just arrived from California to start the newly established boycott of grapes and lettuce. In February of 1974, I was asked to be part of an inter-church delegation to California. We were eight in number, I believe, and Msgr. George Higgins met us there and stayed with us for the whole period. We were to meet with growers and Chavez and then report back. When Cesar visited Toronto to help the boycott (and on a few occasions after that), he stayed at St. Basil's College.

"Authenticity" is a word that one associates with Cesar Chavez. He was a true pilgrim; he had few possessions, lived simply, showed great respect for human dignity, and was determined to reach his destination--justice. He had a great sense of community, beginning with his own family, and was continually looking for ways to strengthen the sense of community among the union members. In many ways he considered the United Farm Workers (UFW) more of a community movement than a union.

One strong sign of this sense of community was a home for retired farm workers, many of whom were from the Philippines and who, because of earlier laws, were not allowed to marry white women. These men were without work pensions; many had no family and suffered illnesses resulting from poor conditions in the fields. Chavez was particularly and personally concerned for them; I saw the respect and sincere affection he and those who worked in this facility had for them. Although he witnessed physical violence to his people, and was himself the victim of violence and death threats, he insisted on nonviolence as a central character of the UFW. Gandhi was his model in this regard, and on more than one occasion he entered upon lengthy fasts to win peace in the fields and to ensure that the UFW remained a nonviolent movement.

Although he was appalled at the injustices he saw, he avoided personal bitterness toward those individuals who were the cause. He respected the dignity of every person, but did not hesitate to stand up against those who acted unjustly, whatever their social or political or religious status. He knew the importance Christ gave to forgiveness, was willing to offer it to others, and encouraged his followers to do the same. In the midst of controversy, violence and challenge, he was, I believe, a person of deep inner peace. He could become angry, as when, on one occasion in California, he was describing the economic, social, political and sexual abuse and harassment suffered by migrant workers in the fields and at the hands of labour contractors. His anger was against the abuse of human dignity and the exploitation of vulnerable people.

Cesar Chavez was a man of strong Christian faith and prayer, influenced by the social teachings of the Church. The teachings of Jesus, especially in the sermon on the mount, were central in his life. He had great devotion to the Mass and every day he was with us he made sure, if at all possible, to attend Mass.

One eucharist is still indelible. In 1979, I had moved to the Newman Centre and the first Sunday in the fall, I was to be the celebrant. Cesar was staying at St. Basil's at the time (another stage in the struggle) and we invited him to reflect on the Gospel--the sermon on the mount--at the 11:00 a.m. Mass

As we were about to begin, Cesar arrived and either just before or after him, unannounced, Fr. Tom McKillop arrived wheeling Black Like Me author John Howard Griffin in a wheelchair. Griffin and Chavez had admired each other for years, but had never met. Needless to say it was quite a Eucharistic celebration. I told the people at the end of the Mass that I would not be able to provide that kind of a liturgical service every Sunday.

Cesar Chavez did much to better the lot of farm workers, from less exploitive hiring practices and safer working conditions in the fields, to just wages, increased health care, greater personal political involvement and more. His simple, courageous, selfless faith-filled pilgrim way led to the reaffirmation in the lives of many of their own self respect, and the just respect all should have for the dignity of human labour and for the human labourer. It is entirely fitting that both California and Arizona have state holidays in his honour, while in Canada we have the warm memory of an authentic nonviolent Gospel practitioner.