We are a sacramental people, so when we think about how we make common elements holy, we often look first to our eucharistic elements. Bread and wine are changed in our presence, transubstantiated by a great mystery of our faith into something beyond the understanding of our human senses. “When God’s people gather for prayer, the most intimate and all-embracing aspect of their life together occurs: the moment when they touch, taste, smell, hear, see, and share those hidden realities that would otherwise remain imperceptible. Together they adore the holiness of God and give expression to the unceasing life God has given them. God nourishes them as a community and makes them holy through the use of ordinary perceptible signs of water, oil, bread, and wine, transformed by extraordinary grace” (Built of Living Stones 140). But not only are these signs made holy; here too we shatter darkness with the fire of love as that extraordinary grace makes each person holy, changing our essence into sacrament for all the world.

In this issue of ML, we explore the dimensions of that holiness. In a busy world where being constantly “plugged in” is valued as measure of success and a desire for silence is often considered dysfunctional, tending to spirituality can be a challenge. But as individuals and as communities of faith, working to maintain our spiritual health is essential. Ron Raab, recognizing the symptoms of spiritual burnout among those ministering in his parish, describes a method of spiritual direction for parish staffs. Based on a model of individual direction, this program offers promise to those committed to a shared mission and a devotion to the spirituality of ministry. If we take good care of our own spirituality, we are better able to be present to others in faith. Kathleen Brown and David Orr reflect on spiritual friendship and the many ways of journeying with others in faith. This is the first of a series of articles focusing on several dimensions of spiritual companionship. Jim Greenfield takes a practical look at ministry and proposes five essential skills for a spiritual ministry. Evaluating ministry for signs of health, stability, and growth is critical but in reality happens rarely. By being attentive to basic skills, a healthy balance of these elements can be achieved. Developing spirituality is a multifaceted task, and sacred art plays an essential role in that development. Scott O’Brien offers a perspective on iconography that considers the role of art in the liturgical assembly. He proposes that art serves as a “visual anamnesis” integrating the worshiping assembly into the communion of saints. Creating some of that profound art are the winners of the Visual Arts Awards in the Sacred Art category. These artists literally make common materials holy, forming out of shapeless material works that inspire hearts and capture souls. The results of their efforts are truly “‘signs and symbols of the supernatural world’ and expressions of the divine presence” (146).

We are challenged to make holy the “common” moments of our days. It is a conscious choice to experience life as sacramental, to feel the breath of the Holy Spirit in the wind, to be open to the grace in the journey of a spiritual companion, to welcome extraordinary moments. Those moments are abundant if we take the time to notice them. Beyond that, we are called to be a holy people, the presence and action of God in a world desperate for light and peace. When our everyday words and actions are infused with a sense of holiness, we begin to transform the world around us. The “ordinary” parts of our world begin to reflect our worship life in which a meal becomes a banquet, a gathering becomes one people, and a song becomes one voice in prayer. Our Lord does indeed make these holy, and there is nothing at all common about that.

Lord, you make the common holy: “This my body, this my blood.”
Let us all, for earth’s true glory, daily lift life heavenward,
asking that the world around us share your children’s liberty:
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry. ML

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