Come, Holy Spirit

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 8/24/06)

The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde during the Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit on Aug. 20, 2006, at Christendom College in Front Royal.

Those of us who have spent time in Rome are perhaps acquainted with the worth of a good glass of vino. If today were not Sunday, we would be celebrating the feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who also appreciated the gift of a good glass of wine. St. Bernard is quoted as saying, “Prayer is a wine which makes glad the heart of man.” It is prayer that I wish to discuss today during our celebration of this Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit.
Here at Christendom College, you have the amazing opportunity to study the best fruits of a Catholic culture — philosophers, theologians, literary personages, men and women of faith. St. Bernard of Clairvaux was a man of prayer, a man through whom the Holy Spirit accomplished great things. As we see throughout the Acts of the Apostles, when men and women truly seek God and pray to Him, the Holy Spirit can work in their lives. I challenge you this year to follow St. Bernard’s example — become men and women of prayer so that God may accomplish great things through each one of you.
Many of you are trying to decide what to major in, what path to take in life. Sometimes it seems that no matter how hard you try, you can not discern what your role on this earth will be. St. Bernard would tell you, “You wish to see; listen. Hearing is a step toward Vision” (Bernard of Clairvaux: Selected Works). As Christians, we realize that the best way to listen is through prayer. St. Bernard entered the Cistercian monastery when he was 22 years old, not much older than many of you. Not only did he choose to live his life in contemplative prayer, he brought 31 relatives and friends with him, including four brothers! A fifth brother and his father joined him later. While few of you will follow St. Bernard’s path into the cloister, every one of you can make prayer an integral part of your life.
As students here at Christendom you have many opportunities to lift up your minds and hearts to God in prayer. This beautiful Chapel of Christ the King provides the sacred space for many Masses and frequent times for the Sacrament of Confession. Our Blessed Lord has given us the sacraments that we might draw nearer to Him and receive the grace to carry on through life’s trials, from small matters like your next philosophy test, to difficult, life-changing decisions. We are also blessed to belong to the Catholic Church, which has handed down to us the Holy Scriptures and such rich traditions as the rosary and novenas. It is sometimes difficult to find the words to pray, but in her wisdom, the Church has given us these words to praise God and to ask Him for what we need.
Also, do not underestimate the power of silent prayer. It is in the silence that we can truly hear what God is trying to tell us. You are all very busy people. You have heavy course loads to juggle, along with work, extracurricular activities, social engagements, and keeping in touch with family. Sometimes it seems as if there is no time left in the long day to be with God in prayer. I encourage you to make time for prayer, especially when it is difficult to do so. God remembers every sacrifice that you make, every moment you spend with Him, every word that you utter. I promise you that you will never regret those minutes spent with Our Beloved Father, His Son and Our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Every gift of prayer you offer, He will return to you a hundredfold.
St. Bernard said, “He who labors as he prays lifts his heart to God with his hands.” As young people, you have a vocation to serve God through your work, through your relationships, and through your studies. We must practice what we profess; it is not enough simply to take part in the Eucharistic Sacrifice on Sunday; we must offer our lives to God. In an increasingly secular and apathetic world, we are called to make our entire life a prayer. The world asks us to take what we want or think we need, but God asks us to give all that we are and have to Him, so that He might truly give Himself to us. St. Bernard’s spiritual writings and his charismatic personality, combined with God’s grace, allowed his influence to spread far beyond the monastery. Within his lifetime St. Bernard healed a papal schism, worked for peace between England and France, saved Jews from persecution, and preached the Second Crusade. These are the fruits of a prayerful life! In him, the words of today’s second reading were realized: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” The same can become true in each of your lives.
You can live a life of holiness from the moment you wake up in the morning until the moment you fall asleep. Virtue is a habit that is not always easy, but always well worth the effort. Show charity toward your roommates, your neighbors and your teachers. Always be generous with your time. Making the choice to listen to your classmate’s worries or to help a fellow student study not only assists them, but helps you grow in grace. Avoid gossiping about one another, strive to encourage one another to be holy. Study well, because your vocation is that of a student, and therefore studying is a wonderful way to praise God.
We are able to obtain holiness when God is our first love. St. Bernard teaches that “what we love, we shall grow to resemble” (Encyclopedia of Religious Quotations). Wouldn’t you rather resemble God than your iPod!
God the Father and His Only-begotten Son Jesus Christ send God the Holy Spirit to each one of us for the precise purpose of forming us into a clearer image of Jesus, into becoming a holy person.
As today’s first reading reminds us, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me…” Remember that each one of us was anointed with the Holy Spirit at Baptism and again at Confirmation. So then, it is the mission of the Holy Spirit to transform us so that more and more we make Christ visible and present within us by lives of living faith and Christian service. Through prayer we open our minds and hearts to the transforming power of Christ’s Word. In so doing and under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Indwelling becomes a deeper reality within us. Does not Jesus refer to this in today’s gospel account: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him”?
When we begin to resemble God in holiness, the Holy Spirit is able to bring others to God through us. By the time of his death, St. Bernard had established or reformed 68 Cistercian monasteries! Men were drawn to this simple way of life because of St. Bernard’s love of God, his deep faith, and his life of virtue. You also have the capability to draw others towards the Lord. Your generation longs for something more than what advertising, television, and fashion magazines have to offer. Your witness in your daily life, your own pursuit of the Truth, will draw others by virtue of its profound simplicity. St. Augustine spoke a universal truth when he stated, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord.” By God’s grace, the Holy Spirit will use you to bring the world the truth it so desperately needs.
At this grace-filled place, here at Christendom College, you have an entire year to deepen your prayer lives, to praise God through your work, and to lead others through your example. Holiness can not wait until you are older; you must begin today. Our Church needs men and women of prayer in the mold of St. Bernard. In closing, allow me to share with you a prayer of St. Bernard as we continue to celebrate the holy mystery of the Eucharist:
“Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts, Thou fount of life, Thou Light of men, from the best bliss that earth imparts We turn unfilled to Thee again. We taste Thee, O Thou living Bread, and long to feast upon Thee still: We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead, and thirst our souls from Thee to fill. O Jesus, ever with us stay, Make all our moments calm and bright; Chase the dark night of sin away, Send o'er the world Thy holy light. Amen.”

Copyright (c) 2006 Arlington Catholic Herald