By Beth DeCristofaro
The community of
believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. (Acts 4:32)
Jesus said to
Nicodemus: “‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and
you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or
where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:7-8)
Piety
Holy Spirit, come into my heart; draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God,
and grant me charity with filial fear. Preserve me, O ineffable Love, from
every evil thought; warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love, and every pain will
seem light to me. My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions. Jesus,
love, Jesus, love. Amen. (St Catherine of Siena)
Study
Sunday, we watched
two new Saints be officially raised up by the Church. On “Meet the Press” debates waged over what
this means to the United States (Catholic plus) population. One of the comments struck me. A panelist pointed out that the rituals in
Rome were for two very different men, one considered liberal and the other
conservative by today’s American Church but that the Catholic Church was
proving that it is a very big tent, welcoming in those of many perspectives. He lamented the fact that our political
parties should have such a “big tent” mentality and work together for a more
common good than “my side is right.”
St. Catherine of
Siena’s prayer might be an avenue that could help us Catholics in the trenches
and in the voting booths. “Holy Spirit,
inflame my heart,” she prayed. She
prayed for the Spirit’s life within her to move her life, which the wind of the
Spirit would blow her where it would.
Action
Can we ask this humbly?
“Blow us, Holy Spirit, where you will. Help
us respect and enable your community, Jesus Christ, to serve your Church as you
would have us serve.” We could be of one
heart and mind rather than “conservatives” or “liberals”, “traditionalist” or “progressive,”
“relativistic” or “fundamental.” The
Spirit will blow where it will. Where
will I be?
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