Donna M. Cole

St. Paul and the Holy Spirit

Welcome to ML’s Year 36. This year we join the universal church in celebrating the year of Paul, as ML continues the journey of deliberate discipleship. Emboldened by the certainty of new life in Christ, and assured of the validity of our ministry by baptism, we are called now to walk with Paul in the unity of the Holy Spirit. ML will explore the gifts we have been given, and reflecting on St. Paul’s charism, will work “to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12). Throughout the year, we will consider ways to be more visible signs of Christ in the world and how to sustain our Christian communities. We will reflect on conversion experiences and how the Holy Spirit calls us to be courageous witnesses in an increasingly secular world. We will look for inspired ways to bring the gospel to life in our society. Together, we will move beyond divisions to focus on a unified discipleship committed to service in Christ.

This year there are two new additions to our writing team. Mary Patricia Storms brings her experience with worship environment to restore ML’s long-absent Sacred Space column. So many readers have asked for a column in this area to balance out our content. Mary Pat is chair of the theology department at Archbishop O’Hara High School in Kansas City, Mo., where she also teaches Advanced Placement English and journalism. We welcome her insight and perspective. Adding depth to our understanding of ritual is Darren M. Henson, who will be composing the “Ritual Foundations” section of the Liturgy Formation column this year. Darren is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Emporia, Kan. He holds a licentiate in sacred theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, specializing in liturgy and sacraments. He is a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy and Societas Liturgica. One of our veteran writers merits acknowledgment this year as well. In this issue, Paul Turner has written his 300th bulletin insert for ML. His precise and accessible style of explaining the intricacies of Catholic worship in these inserts is a remarkable feat of catechesis.

In this issue of ML we consider how we are called to be living witnesses, Spirit-filled and emboldened by what we know of the paschal mystery. We are called to look beyond the ordinary in order that we might act in extraordinary ways. Pat Parachini challenges us with the words of the Triduum and what those ritual phrases mean in our lived experience. Mary Pat Storms introduces us to her craft as she invites us to look deeply into the images of Triduum. Michael Prendergast invites us to experience the sounds of Triduum in a deliberate way. Bill Graham reflects poetically on how we are to live as new creations in this time and place.

In this moment, when so much in our world is vapid and cursory, how we pray and serve must have an eternally enduring nature to it. Lex orandi, lex credendi isn’t just a catchphrase. For better or worse, it is truth, but it is up to us to shape what kind of truth that will be. Liturgy must be compelling, it must have depth, it must be prepared with intimate care, and it must always be worthy both of the worship of God and the sustenance of God’s people. Together we have to restore the pieces that the liturgy wars have torn apart so that God can be our focus again. Together we have to listen to that God so that the assembly can be first among ministers. Together we have to commit to what builds us up in community and vow to exclude no one, for the person we turn away could very well be Christ.

If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:1–5, brackets in original)

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