You have all done it, you are now confirmed Catholics! You have said yes to our church and yes to the Holy Spirit in a unique way, and this is YOUR yes. So what comes next? Are you now graduates from learning about your faith, is it time to go back to going to mass on Sunday and calling that enough? NO! For our last blog post of the year, I want to talk a little about what is next – well maybe a little bit MORE. Now that you have opened your heart to the Holy Spirit, you are primed for amazing things to happen. The third person of the trinity is sometimes the hardest to figure out. Think of it this way, how can we get to know a person whom we have trouble understanding? One of the best ways is by the fruits of their labor. In the same way, letting the Holy Spirit work in you will show in how you allow the fruits of the spirit to be made visible in your life. Remember the fruits? Stasi nailed them at the rehearsal – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. Here are some thoughts on how to make these fruits shine as you move forward: LOVE – If the Spirit is active in your heart, you will show it by loving people. Love is not a feeling, it is an act of will. Make a decision to want the good of others over the good of yourself, and act on that decision. Everything good, everything holy, everything worthy, everything that makes life worth living is built on love. JOY and PEACE – Joy isn’t skip down the road happiness, joy stems from the peace of being connected to the spirit of God. If you are in relationship with your creator, the creator of the universe, you will know that He loves you and your soul will be at peace. Joy allows you to approach good and tough times with the confidence of that peaceful connectedness with your creator. Find that peace by continually building your relationship with God and show joy to all you meet – No stink faces! PATIENCE – If you live for yourself and are always looking inward, you will often be frustrated by other people and how they always seem to hinder your path. If your life is based on others, the people along your path are an opportunity to meet God, and not people who just get in your way. See God in everyone, and especially in those who annoy you. Your patient listening will cast them in a whole new light. KINDNESS and GOODNESS – One of my favorite recent country songs is “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw. The last verse says: “Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you …When you get where you're goin' … Don't forget turn back around … Help the next one in line … Always stay humble and kind” When we are kind and good to others we give the gift of God to them. Often, they have never known that gift, and through you they may come to know God. FAITHFULESS – At some point in your life, you are going to be called to make a great commitment to love. It may be in marriage, maybe in the priesthood. Those who enter the military are making a commitment based on love of country. Whatever commitment you make, being true to that commitment is a measure of your love. This measure is most difficult and most profound in difficulty. Make a commitment of love, and stay faithful to it. GENTLENESS – How do you approach people? Do you like to intimidate them, make sure they know you are the boss? Christ constantly approached those , particularly on the fringes, with gentleness born out of love for them. Be approachable, be interruptible. SELF CONTROL – Some people think that Catholicism as puritanical and says no to physical desires. Not true! We are bodily creatures, and we are creatures made for love. If everything is guided and ordered by love, our desires are there not for our own selfish ends, but to show God’s love. Self control will keep you pointed in that right direction. I have seen the fruits of the spirit in each of you in different and wonderful ways. I know you will continue to open your hearts to the Spirit and let the fruits flourish even more now. Thank you for a wonderful year, and remember that we still need your gifts during your senior year. I leave you with a simple prayer, one which you may remember from the confirmation ceremony. While you were being anointed with chrism, the Latin form of this prayer was being chanted. I watched you be anointed while standing by the Cardinal, and heard Kathleen chant these words, and I had to fight back tears of joy. Sometimes the simple prayers are the best prayers. Veni Sancte Spiritus – Come Holy Spirit. In Christ, Eric
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AuthorYour confirmation teachers - Kathleen, Eric, Sophia, and Valerie, and with contributions from 410 alumni Archives
September 2021
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