Communication with Visitors* Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us! March 3, 2003 (P.S. March 30) Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, The Apostleship of Prayer reminds us to pray during this month of March that the People of God and its pastors may grow in the realization of the importance of the sacrament of Reconciliation, the gift of God's merciful love. And what time can it be more opportune! As we know, on Wednesday March 5 we will begin the season of Lent in which we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Paschal Mysteries of Holy Week. Christ Jesus came into the world to bring us peace. The celebration of this Sacrament Reconciliation offers to restore to us this peace when lost by our serious sins whether of thought, word or action. The effect of its celebration lifts a burden of guilt from its receiver and restores to the person that peace and freedom which the world cannot give. It is well worth our while to ask our Lord and Savior to give us a deeper realization and fuller appreciation of this wonderful Easter gift to His People, an abiding expression of his compassionate and merciful love. Michael Lapierre, S.J. (P.S. March 30) Living According to the Spirit St. Paul says of the Holy Spirit, in one place among many, "if you live by the Spirit follow the Spirit's guidance." All Christians in receiving the sacrament of Baptism receive the Holy Spirit. And our Savior said to Nicodemus, "Unless one be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. What then do we mean when we say, 'living according to the Spirit?' It means that we follow the Spirit's guidance. But where do we find this guidance? How do we become aware of the Spirit's guidance? How do know when it is the Spirit who is guiding us? These are important and serious questions for the one who earnestly seeks to fulfil God's will in the daily living of the Christian life. One of he marks of Christian maturity consists in the increasing ability to discern and to follow the directives of the Holy Spirit in daily living. Ignatius of Loyola in his book entitled the Spiritual Exercises lays down some rules for our guidance in this matter. These rules offer us suggestions that help come to decisions the source and meaning of the illuminations and inspirations of the movements arising within our minds and hearts. It is well to make ourselves familiar with these for our own growth; and progress in Christian living. * Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this monthly column. While the former is writing in January, March, and May, etc., the latter is doing so in February, April and June, etc. As usual, we take July and August as our summer holidays. The background hymn is a version of "Immaculate Mary". Thank you. A wonderful e-mail received: A dear gracious visitor whose initials are M.K. wrote on January 13, 2003: "I just love your website". Praise God!
March 3, 2003 (P.S. March 30)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The Apostleship of Prayer reminds us to pray during this month of March that the People of God and its pastors may grow in the realization of the importance of the sacrament of Reconciliation, the gift of God's merciful love. And what time can it be more opportune! As we know, on Wednesday March 5 we will begin the season of Lent in which we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Paschal Mysteries of Holy Week. Christ Jesus came into the world to bring us peace. The celebration of this Sacrament Reconciliation offers to restore to us this peace when lost by our serious sins whether of thought, word or action. The effect of its celebration lifts a burden of guilt from its receiver and restores to the person that peace and freedom which the world cannot give. It is well worth our while to ask our Lord and Savior to give us a deeper realization and fuller appreciation of this wonderful Easter gift to His People, an abiding expression of his compassionate and merciful love.
Michael Lapierre, S.J.
(P.S. March 30) Living According to the Spirit
St. Paul says of the Holy Spirit, in one place among many, "if you live by the Spirit follow the Spirit's guidance." All Christians in receiving the sacrament of Baptism receive the Holy Spirit. And our Savior said to Nicodemus, "Unless one be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, one cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. What then do we mean when we say, 'living according to the Spirit?' It means that we follow the Spirit's guidance. But where do we find this guidance? How do we become aware of the Spirit's guidance? How do know when it is the Spirit who is guiding us? These are important and serious questions for the one who earnestly seeks to fulfil God's will in the daily living of the Christian life. One of he marks of Christian maturity consists in the increasing ability to discern and to follow the directives of the Holy Spirit in daily living.
Ignatius of Loyola in his book entitled the Spiritual Exercises lays down some rules for our guidance in this matter. These rules offer us suggestions that help come to decisions the source and meaning of the illuminations and inspirations of the movements arising within our minds and hearts. It is well to make ourselves familiar with these for our own growth; and progress in Christian living.
* Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., and the editor John Cheng are currently taking part in this monthly column. While the former is writing in January, March, and May, etc., the latter is doing so in February, April and June, etc. As usual, we take July and August as our summer holidays. The background hymn is a version of "Immaculate Mary". Thank you.
A wonderful e-mail received: A dear gracious visitor whose initials are M.K. wrote on January 13, 2003: "I just love your website". Praise God!