(The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde during the Convocation Mass of the Holy Spirit at Christendom College in Front Royal on Aug. 21.)
From both a catechetical and spiritual perspective, it is truly instructive for us to reflect on the role of God the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is especially so during this Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit, which signals the beginning of a new academic year here at Christendom College, a “year of favor from the Lord,” as we heard in today's first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Yes, a new academic year lies before you, and I join my prayer to yours, asking the Lord to bless each of you in every way.
Let us return to our theme: the role of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives. First, there is the absolute fact that the Holy Spirit lives within us, along with the Father and the Son. Today's opening sentence from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah clearly tells us: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me.” The reality of the Divine Indwelling in every person in the state of grace is so awesome! Here is the wonder of belonging to Christ and keeping His word. Jesus tells us in today's Gospel account from St. John: “"whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make a dwelling with him.” Later on, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit will be sent as well: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.” Yes, when we are in the state of grace, we are a living temple. Made in the image and likeness of God as human beings, we are then remade in Christ's image through baptism. Here lies the reason for treating our own bodies with respect and the bodies of others: the living God makes His home within us! No wonder, Pope St. Leo the Great exclaimed: “Christian, remember your dignity.”
At baptism, God the Holy Spirit was given to us and, again, at Confirmation His presence was deepened within us. So, then, what is His role? Is it not to enable us to grow in holiness, to become more and more like Jesus, to deepen our friendship with God? Yes, each one of us is called to holiness, whatever the specific nature of our individual vocation: bishop, priest, deacon, consecrated religious, married person, single person. As Pope John Paul II wrote, “The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, 31).
It is the role of God the Holy Spirit to train us in holiness. How? First by leading us in prayer, both personal and liturgical. Are we attentive to His inspirations and guidance when we enter into prayer each day? Are we aware that He desires to lead us ever more closely to Christ and through Him to the Father? Permit me to share with you a beautiful prayer proposed by Cardinal Mercier as a way of helping us each day to be more attentive to God the Holy Spirit. He introduces the prayer this way: “Five minutes every day keep your imagination quiet. Shut your eyes to all things of sense and close your ears to all sounds of earth, so as to be able to withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized soul, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Speak there to that Holy Spirit, saying:
[here then is his prayer] O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore you. Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell me what to do and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive to everything you permit to happen to me. Show me only what is you will.”
If we are attentive to the Holy Spirit in our daily personal prayer, He will draw us into ever-deepening holiness of life. The Holy Spirit also aids us in liturgical prayer, especially when we meet the Lord Jesus in the sacramental celebrations of penance and holy Eucharist. Indeed, in the closing months of the Year of the Eucharist, let us allow Him to draw us into deeper intimacy with Our Blessed Lord, Who comes to us, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, under the appearance of bread and wine, and Who dwells among us in His Real Presence in each tabernacle throughout the world.
The role of the Holy Spirit in our lives also encompasses our mission in the Church and our service to others. We are trained in true holiness of life in order that we might make God's Presence in the world tangible and felt. The tragedy of our times is the absence of God in people and in our society. We are anointed with the Holy Spirit “to bring glad tidings to the lowly,” that is, to announce and to make present the Divine Presence of God " the glad tidings of His love, which heals the broken hearted, proclaims liberty to the captives and releases the prisoners (cf. First Reading). Today's second reading from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians outlines for us the diverse gifts given to us who belong to Christ's Body. Whatever our individual gift or gifts, the Holy Spirit is the source and these are given for some benefit to the Body of Christ. Attentive to the Holy Spirit, we discern our particular gifts and with generosity of heart, we use these for the service of others, both within the household of faith and in the wider human community.
Finally, it is the Holy Spirit's role to teach us everything and to remind us of what Jesus has told us. We never stop growing in our understanding of the Truth and all that our precious Catholic Faith teaches. The more we remain open to His divine inspiration and direction in our lives, the more do we become committed disciples of the Lord Jesus and obedient loyal members of His Church.
You are now gathered " and will be all year long " as the community of Christendom College " administrators, faculty, staff and students. Christendom College is a fully integrated Catholic institution of higher education. Here, authentic Catholic education takes place, including ongoing formation in faith. Surrender your lives to the lead of God the Holy Spirit. Let Him draw you into new ways of holiness, so that what you are and do will continue to equip you for living out faithfully your call to holiness and the individual vocation God gives you.
I close, echoing the words of Pope Benedict XVI to young people. At his installation on April 24, our Holy Father said: “I say to you, dear young people; do not be afraid of Christ. He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to Him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ " and you will find true life” (Installation Homily). Just two Sundays ago, on Aug. 7, Pope Benedict XVI was referring to the young people traveling to Cologne for World Youth Day " which concluded today " when he spoke about true worshippers of the living God loving Him without reserve at every moment of their lives. Then, he said this: “With the forthcoming meeting in Cologne, the Church wants once again to present this holiness, the peak of love, to all the young people of the Third Millennium” (Angelus Message, Aug. 7, 2005). And I would add, so too does Christendom College in this new academic year " a year of favor from the Lord. Amen!
