Holy Spirit, Powerful Gift
Do you remember when we called the Third Person of the Trinity the Holy Ghost? Because “ghost” conjures up a spooky Halloween figure, this Person was renamed Holy Spirit. This name is better because it conveys that this Person doesn’t have a material body but is pure spirit. Because we are approaching the feast of […]
Sisters of Notre Dame Crucifix and Its Artist
This morning during meditation I asked the Holy Spirit for an idea for this blog. During the past years I’ve already covered most topics related to our faith. This creative Spirit did not disappoint. As I sat down before my computer, strangely my crucifix was clearly reflected, centered, in the shiny black apple at the […]
Communities: From the Trinity to Us
In a few days, I will be moving to an apartment building where I will live with about forty Sisters of Notre Dame and a growing number of laypeople. We will form a community that will be a new experience for me. I’ve lived with large and small groups of Sisters, I’ve lived alone, and […]
Children of the Trinity
As I reflected on Trinity Sunday, my thoughts flowed along this path: We believe that the one God is three divine Persons. We also believe that we are made in the image and likeness of God. We are God’s adopted children. It follows then, that we must bear a family resemblance. Of course, we will […]
Who Is This God We Believe In?
Last week I listened to a panel discussion about God, sponsored by Notre Dame College’s Abrahamic Center. A Jesuit priest, a rabbi, and a Muslim were to answer three questions, but never got beyond the first one, “Who is God?” Their talks and the discussion that followed provided much rich food for thought. In this […]
Belief in God as One in Three, a Mystery
Yesterday on “Jeopardy” the contestants were asked the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, also the name of two churches in England. No one could answer. This is rather surprising since the Trinity is the foundation of Christian faith. This Sunday we will celebrate the only feast in honor of God: the feast […]
On Fire with the Spirit
As we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Church, it’s good to reflect on just who this Person is and who he is for us. Remember when we called the Holy Spirit the Holy Ghost? That spooky term did not do much to encourage a relationship with the third person of […]
The Holy Spirit Takes 911 Calls
A spiritual director once asked me, “Do you pray to the Holy Spirit?” When I said, “No, not specifically,” he was surprised and replied, “You, a writer, and you don’t pray to the Holy Spirit!” Since then I’ve addressed prayers to all three persons in the Trinity: the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, who […]