1/9/14 What does St. Paul, the Church’s First Theologian, Mean by "The Church"?

e Church"? from Homilies and Reflections by the Norbertines in De Pere, WI

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What does St. Paul , the Chur ch’s First Theo logian,
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Spirituality th e s to r y o n Wh i s p e rs i n th e L o g g i a . R o cco Pa l m o w ro t e : "S i x s e m i n a r i a n s w e re o rd a i n e d b e fo re a n o ve rfl o w
cro w d o r m o re th a n 1 5 0 0 w h o h u g g e d , w e p t a n d s h o o k th e ca t h e d ra l ’ s c o l o n n a d e s w i th a p p l a u s e . Th i s i s th e
National Shrine of St. re n e w a l o f th e p ri e s th o o d s t a rte d b y Arch b i s h o p D o l a n . An d w i th 4 1 s e m i n a ri a n s n o w i n tr a i n i n g a t St. F ra n ci s
Joseph th i s i s a ca u s e fo r re j o i ci n g .
C o n g ra tu l a ti o n s to th e re cto r Fa t h e r D o n a l d H yi n g a n d to t h e fa m i l i e s w h o p ro vi d e d th e f a i th fro m w h i ch th e
p ri e s th o o d g r o w s .
Abbey Music

Pa u l’s S pir it ua l D e ve lo pm e nt
Justice and Peace
Ministry
We g a th e r h e r e th i s e ve n i n g to re fl e ct o n S t. Pa u l ’ s u n d e r s ta n d i n g o f th e C h u r ch . I th i n k i t’ s h e l p fu l to l o o k
b ri e fl y a t Pa u l ’ s s p i ri tu a l d e ve l o p m e n t a s a n i n tro d u cti o n to h i s vi s i o n o f th e C h u rch . L e t’ s b e g i n w i th th e
Norbertine Volunteer p ro ce s s o f h i s co n ve rs i o n .
Community
As w e a l l kn o w , h i s h i s t o ri c tri p to D a m a s cu s e n d e d w h e n a b l i n d i n g l i g h t th re w h i m to th e g ro u n d . H e h e a rd a
Vocation vo i ce s a yi n g to h i m , "S a u l , Sa u l , w h y a re yo u p e rs e cu ti n g m e ? " "Wh o a re yo u , s i r? " "I a m Je s u s w h o m yo u a re
p e r s e cu t i n g ." (Act s 9 :4 -5 ) Je s u s d i d n o t s a y, " Wh y a re yo u p e r s e cu t i n g m y C h u rch ? " N o , h e s a i d , "Wh y a re yo u
p e r s e cu t i n g m e ? " An y s t u d y o f w h a t Pa u l m e a n s a b o u t C h u rch b e g i n s w i th Je s u s . H e n e ve r s e p a ra te d C h ri s t
Office for Prayer & Gifts
fro m C h u rch .

Norbertine Associates Th e s a m e p ri n ci p l e i s tru e w h e n e xa m i n i n g Pa u l ’ s co n ve rs i o n . T h e b e s t e xp l a n a ti o n o f Pa u l ’ s co n ve rs i o n

m a y b e f o u n d i n h i s o w n w o rd s :
Links "I w a s " b a p ti ze d i n to t h e d e a th o f C h r i s t a n d b u ri e d w i th h i m t h e n t o ri s e w i t h h i m a n d w a l k i n th e n e w n e s s o f
l i f e ." ( R o m 6 :3 -4 ) To p a ra p h ra s e Pa u l : "I w o u l d re l i ve th e p a s c h a l m ys te r y o f C h ri s t fo r th e re s t o f m y l i fe ."
Contact
L i ke m a n y p e o p l e I te n d e d to th i n k Pa u l ’ s co n ve rs i o n s to ry w a s b a s i ca l l y t h e D a m a s cu s e ve n t a n d h i s
b a p ti s m . Th e n h e w o u l d ro l l u p h i s s l e e ve s a n d b e g i n e va n g e l i zi n g . I n fa c t h i s co n ve rs i o n w a s a co n te m p l a ti ve
p ro ce s s th a t l a s te d a n u m b e r o f ye a rs .

Pre a ch e r to th e p a p a l co u rt, Fa th e r R a i n e ro C a n ta l a m e s a s ta te s t h a t a fte r b e i n g b a p t i ze d b y An a n i a s , Pa u l

w i t h d re w to t h e d e s e rt a ro u n d D a m a s cu s . C a n ta l a m e s a s a ys , "Exe g e te s e s ti m a te t h e re w e re s o m e s e ve n to t e n
ye a rs o f s i l e n ce i n Pa u l ’ s l i fe b e tw e e n th e D a m a s cu s e ve n t a n d th e s ta rt o f h i s p u b l i c m i s s i o n . Hi s c on ve r s i on
did not la s t a fe w m inu te s . Th e s e ye a r s o f s o l i t u d e w e re h i s ke n o s i s . In th i s d e p ri va ti o n a n d s i l e n ce h e
a cc u m u l a te d t h e b u rs ti n g e n e rg y a n d l i g h t t h a t w o u l d p o u r o ve r th e w o rl d . " (Ad ve n t Se rm o n D e c 5 , 2 0 0 8 )

H o w e ve r, a fte r th re e ye a rs Pa u l d i d b re a k h i s s i l e n ce b ri e f l y w h e n h e w e n t to J e ru s a l e m t o m e e t Pe t e r a n d
Ja m e s a n d i n t ro d u c e h i m s e l f. (Ga l 1 :1 8 -1 9 ; Acts 9 :2 6 - 2 9 ). So th e g i a n ts o f C h r i s ti a n i ty m e t o n e a n o th e r . Pa u l
th e w i ry a n d ze a l o u s ra b b i n i ca l s tu d e n t a n d Pe te r, th e ro u g h -h e w n fi s h e rm a n . T h e y t o o k m e a s u r e o f o n e
a n o th e r, a cce p te d e a ch o th e r a s b ro th e rs a n d s p e n t fi fte e n d a ys to g e th e r i n Je ru s a l e m .

If I w e r e fi l m i n g th e i r m e e t i n g I w o u l d i m a g i n e th i s vi s i t a s a p i l g ri m a g e . As a ra b b i n i ca l s tu d e n t Pa u l kn e w
Je r u s a l e m l i k e th e b a ck o f h i s h a n d . B u t Pe te r s h o w e d h i m th e J e ru s a l e m s a n cti fi e d b y Je s u s . I p i c tu re Pe te r
b ri n g i n g Pa u l to t h e p l a ce s m a d e m e m o r a b l e b y th e d e e d s o f Je s u s : th e p l a ce w h e re J e s u s s a ve d th e w o m a n
ta k e n i n a d u l te ry, th e U p p e r R o o m w h e r e Je s u s i n s ti tu te d t h e Eu ch a ri s t, a n d th e Te m p l e t h a t J e s u s cl e a n s e d .
Th e y s to o d b e fo re th e h o u s e o f C a i p h a s , th e Pra e to ri u m o f Pi l a t e a n d th e p i l l a r o f th e s co u rg i n g . Th e y w a l ke d
th e Vi a D o l o r o s a a n d kn e l t a t C a l va ry. Th e y p ra ye d a t th e to m b o f th e R e s u rre c ti o n .

In tu rn Pa u l s h a re d w i t h Pe t e r a n d th e o th e rs h i s e n c o u n te r w i t h C h r i s t o n th e D a m a s cu s ro a d , h i s ye a rs i n
th e d e s e rt. T h e i r fa i th s h a r i n g b o u n d th e m s o cl o s e l y th a t th e y w o u n d u p to g e t h e r a s m a r tyrs i n R o m e . T h e
C h u rch c e l e b r a te s th e i r fe a s ts to g e th e r o n th e s a m e d a y, J u n e 2 9 .

At t h e e n d o f th i s tw o w e e k vi s i t, o n e m i g h t th i n k Pa u l w a s re a d y to co n q u e r th e w o r l d . An o i n t e d fr o m h e a ve n
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At t h e e n d o f th i s tw o w e e k vi s i t, o n e m i g h t th i n k Pa u l w a s re a d y to co n q u e r th e w o r l d . An o i n t e d fr o m h e a ve n
a n d co n f i rm e d b y P e te r w h a t o th e r p re p a ra ti o n d i d h e n e e d ? Bu t Pa u l s ti l l h a d a n e d g e . I n a h o t d e b a te h e s o
e n r a g e d a g ro u p o f Gre e k s p e a ki n g Je w s th a t th e y th re a te n e d to ki l l h i m ( Acts 9 :2 9 ) . Pe t e r j u d g e d th a t Pa u l
n e e d e d m u ch m o re t e m p e r i n g . Pa u l ’ s b o i l i n g a rd o r w o u l d m o ve th i n g s t o o fa s t.

H e n c e Pe t e r a d vi s e d Pa u l to g o to Ta rs u s a n d a w a i t a c a l l f ro m t h e l e a d e rs h i p . Th e H o l y S p i ri t h a d m o re to
te a ch Pa u l a n d d ra w h i m i n to a cl o s e r re l a t i o n s h i p w i th C h ri s t. Mo s t l i ke l y Pa u l re ti re d to t h e Ta u ru s m o u n t a i n s
o ve rl o o k i n g T a rs u s w h e r e h e co u l d b e a s h e p h e rd a n d c o n ti n u e h i s s o l i ta ry l i fe . H e w a s l e a rn i n g Go d ’ s w i s d o m .
1 C 2 :7 -1 6 .

T h e m a n w h o b e ca m e o u r g re a te s t m i s s i o n a r y w a s a s ke d b y th e a p o s to l i c l e a d e r s to a cce p t a " m i n i s try o f

s i l e n ce " fo r fo u r m o re ye a rs . H e s a w t h e co m m u n i ty m o vi n g o n w i th o u t h i m . In f a i th a n d o b e d i e n ce h e co n ta i n e d
h i s m o n u m e n ta l e n e rg i e s a n d o ffe r e d h i s p ra ye r a n d s i l e n ce fo r b l e s s i n g s o n o t h e rs ’ m i s s i o n .

Pa u l i n e s ch o l a r, F a th e r Jo s e p h Fi tzm ye r j u d g e s t h a t d u ri n g th i s Ta rs u s p e ri o d Pa u l h a d a n o th e r s tu n n i n g
re ve l a ti o n fr o m Go d w h i ch h e w ri t e s a b o u t i n 2 C o ri n t h i a n s 1 2 :1 -6 : " I w i l l g o o n to vi s i o n s a n d re ve l a ti o n s o f th e
L o r d . I kn o w s o m e o n e i n C h ri s t, w h o fo u rte e n ye a rs a g o w a s ca u g h t u p i n to th e th i rd h e a ve n …ca u g h t u p i n to
Pa r a d i s e a n d h e a rd i n e f fa b l e th i n g s w h i ch n o o n e m a y u tte r ." It w a s a l s o th e t i m e w h e n P a u l b e g a n to s u ffe r h i s
"th o rn i n th e fl e s h ." H e p l e a d e d w i th Go d t o d e l i ve r h i m f ro m t h i s t o rm e n t. Go d s a i d no. "My g ra ce i s s u ffi c i e n t fo r
yo u fo r p o w e r i s m a d e p e rfe c t i n w e a kn e s s ." (1 2 : 9 ) ( C f Fi tzm ye r, JB C 4 6 : 2 2 )

Pa u l a c ce p te d th i s cu r b o n h i s m i s s i o n a ry a p p e t i te . "I a m co n t e n t w i th w e a kn e s s e s , i n s u l ts , h a rd s h i p s ,
p e r s e cu t i o n s a n d c o n s tr a i n ts , fo r th e s a ke o f C h ri s t. Wh e n I a m w e a k th e n I a m s tro n g ." (1 2 :1 0 ).

In t h i n ki n g o f Pa u l ’ s ye a rs o f p ra ye rfu l u n i o n w i th C h ri s t, I re a d re ce n tl y a d e s cri p ti o n o f P o p e J o h n P a u l I I’ s
d e e p co n te m p l a ti ve l i fe b y C a rd i n a l Su e n e n s :

"Th e d a y o f J o h n P a u l ’ s i n a u g u ra t i o n w a s a g re a t d a y i n d e e d . Th e p o p e e xu d e s a n a i r o f f a i th a n d p o w e r. I
fe e l th a t Go d h i m s e l f h a s ch o s e n h i m f o r u s …H e w i l l n e e d t o b e s tro n g a t th e h e l m a n d ve ry w e a k i n p ra ye r
b e f o re G o d . O n e o f h i s fe l l o w s tu d e n ts i n R o m e , Pa u l d e H a e s , u s e d t o s a y th e i n te n s i ty o f h i s p ra ye r i s e n o u g h
to m a ke yo u j e a l o u s .

‘ H e p ra ys w i th h i s w h o l e b o d y. H e i s a n i n ca rn a ti o n o f p r a ye r. In t h o s e m o m e n ts h e l o o k s ye a rs o l d e r. H e
b o w s d e e p l y, b e n d i n g cl o s e t o th e g ro u n d . I n th e Si s t i n e C h a p e l , d u r i n g h i s p r a ye r o f th a n ks g i vi n g , h e l o o ke d a s
th o u g h h e h a d co l l a p s e d . I f e a re d h e w a s s i ck. B u t a s s o o n a s h e s to o d u p s tra i g h t a n d s m i l e d , h e l o o ke d
a m a zi n g l y yo u n g .’ "

Afte r fo u r ye a rs i n Ta rs u s , P a u l w a s ca l l e d b y Ba rn a b a s to co m e to An ti o ch a n d b e g i n h i s p u b l i c m i n i s try. "Fo r

a w h o l e ye a r th e y m e t w i th t h e ch u rch a n d t a u g h t a l a rg e n u m b e r o f p e o p l e . cf. Acts 1 1 :2 5 -2 6 )

Pa ul ’s Us e of the W or d C hur c h

It h a s o f te n b e e n s a i d t h a t t h e o l o g y i s l e a r n e d o n o n e ’ s kn e e s . Th e s tu d y o f Go d a l w a ys b e g i n s w i th fa i t h a n d
Pra ye r. Ou r H e a ve n l y Fa th e r ca l l s th e th e o l o g i a n to p ra ye r . Th e So n w h o i s i n c a rn a t e Wi s d o m i s th e re s e rvo i r o f
th e o l o g y. Th e H o l y Sp i r i t i s th e i n te r i o r t e a ch e r o f th e t h e o l o g i a n . St. Pa u l i s b i l l e d a s th e "C h u rch ’ s fi r s t
th e o l o g i a n ." Bu t i n w h a t s e n s e ? L e t m e g i ve yo u tw o q u o te s fro m Pa u l i n e s ch o l a rs a b o u t P a u l t h e th e o l o g i a n :

" Fo r P a u l , C h ri s to l o g y w a s n o t a n a b s tra c t s ci e n ce o r d e ta ch e d th e o l o g i ca l s p e cu l a ti o n . It w a s w h a t m a d e h i m
ti c k." D a n i e l H a rr i n g to n , S. J. Au th o r o f Me e ti n g St P a u l T o d a y

In o th e r w o rd s Pa u l ’ s t ra i n i n g u n d e r G a m a l i e l w a s i n t e n s e l y s cr i p tu r a l . H i s tu to ri a l b y th e H o l y S p i ri t a fte r
D a m a s cu s w a s i n te n s e l y re ve l a ti o n a l , r o o te d i n f a i th a n d p ra ye r . Pa u l w a s m o re l i ke Is a i a h th a n Pl a to . Pa u l w a s
m o r e a p ro p h e t th a n a p h i l o s o p h e r , th o u g h h e w a s w e l l tra i n e d i n Gre e k o r a to ry a n d rh e to ri c.

S e co n d q u o t e : "Mo s t o f w h a t P a u l w ro te w a s c o m p o s e d a d h o c – fo r th e h a n d l i n g o f co n cre te s i tu a ti o n s b y
l e t te r."
Jo s e p h F i tzm ye r, S .J.

In o th e r w o rd s , Pa u l ’ s th e o l o g y w a s p i e ce d to g e t h e r l i ke a m o s a i c i n w h i c h C h r i s t b e co m e s th e u n i f yi n g
p re s e n ce o f a l l Pa u l ’ s i n s i g h ts . Pa u l w a s a t o n c e b o t h a m is s io na r y p l a n t i n g f a i th co m m u n i ti e s e ve ryw h e re a n d
a p a s tor re s p o n d i n g to q u e s t i o n s a n d n e e d s o f h i s p e o p l e . In m a n y w a ys Pa u l ’ s a p p ro a ch i s w h a t I w o u l d ca l l
pa s tor a l the o logy. H e i s a b o rn s h e p h e rd . A fe w s a m p l e s fr o m h i s w ri ti n g s :

1 . Ma y I b u y m e a t p re vi o u s l y o ffe re d t o i d o l s ?
- Ye s , s o l o n g a s yo u d o n ’ t s ca n d a l i ze a n yo n e . ( 1 C o r 8 )

2 . H o w c a n w e i n te rp re t th e g i ft o f to n g u e s ?
- Ap p o i n t a n i n te r p re te r.(1 C o r 1 4 )

3 . Ma y a w i d o w re m a rry?
- I t i s b e tte r to m a rry th a n to b u rn . (1 C o r 7 :9 )

4 . If th e w o r l d i s e n d i n g s h o u l d I q u i t m y j o b ?
- I f yo u a re u n w i l l i n g w o rk, yo u s h o u l d n ’ t e a t. (2 Th e s s 3 :1 0 )

5 . I’ m a g e n t i l e . Mu s t I b e ci rcu m ci s e d a n d o b e y Je w i s h fo o d ru l e s ?
- N o . Bu t b e s e n s i ti ve to Je w i s h co n ve rts . Acts 1 5

6 . H o w s h a l l w e d e a l w i th a b u s e s d u ri n g Eu c h a ri s t?
- W h o e ve r e a t s th e b re a d o r d ri n k s th e cu p o f th e L o r d u n w o r th i l y e a ts a n d d r i n ks j u d g m e n t o n h i m s e l f. 1 C o r
1 1 : 1 7 ff
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7 . Wh o s h o u l d w e f o l l o w : Ap o l l o s , Pe te r, C h ri s t, Pa u l ?
-Is C h ri s t d i vi d e d ? Wa s Pa u l cru ci fi e d fo r yo u ? (1 C o r 1 :1 0 -1 7 )

Wi th th i s i n m i n d I p ro c e e d t o co n s i d e r 6 m a j o r w a ys i n w h i ch Pa u l s p o ke a b o u t th e C h u rch . I t re a t th e m
s e p a ra te l y b u t i n Pa u l th e y a re w o ve n to g e t h e r l i ke a ta p e s try.

1 . The Chur c h is the P e ople of God

Pa u l w o u l d u s e th e w or d Chu r c h 6 0 tim e s i n d e s c ri b i n g th e co m m u n i ty o f f a i th p l a n n e d b y th e Fa th e r,
fo u n d e d b y C h ri s t a n d m a n i fe s te d a n d s u s ta i n e d b y th e H o l y Sp i r i t. H e w a s w e l l a w a r e o f th e J e w i s h m e a n i n g o f
th e te rm ch u r ch a n d h o w i t a p p l i e d to th e f a i th o f Is ra e l .

Th e w o rd C h u r ch – e kkl e s i a i n Gre e k - i s a tra n s l a ti o n o f th e H e b re w q a h a l w h i ch m e a n s a n a s s e m b l y o f

p e o p l e c a l l e d i n to e xi s te n ce b y G o d . ( C f. E xo d u s 1 9 :3 -6 ; I Pe te r 2 :9 -1 0 .) Go d th e F a th e r fo rm e d Is ra e l i n to h i s
p e o p l e t h ro u g h th e co ve n a n t a t Si n a i . Th ro u g h C h ri s t a n d i n th e Sp i r i t, t h e C h u rch i s ca l l e d to b e th e u n i ve rs a l
a s s e m b l y o f G o d ’ s p e o p l e . Th e C h u rch c o m e s i n to e xi s t e n ce n o t b y th e co n s e n t o f th e g o ve rn e d , b u t b y th e ca l l
a n d g ra c e o f Go d .

We te n d to th i n k o f ch u rch a s a b u i l d i n g . I n Pa u l ’ s t i m e t h e re w e re n o C h ri s ti a n ch u rch b u i l d i n g s a s w e kn o w
th e m , n o ca th e d ra l s , n o b a s i l i ca s n o s p i re s w i th cro s s e s , n o b e l l s r i n g i n g to ca l l th e f a i th f u l , n o vi s i b l e to th e
p u b l i c e ye o f a p l a ce o f w o r s h i p . Pa u l o fte n p re a ch e d i n s yn a g o g u e s b u t C h ri s t i a n s h a d n o s u c h p u b l i c m e e ti n g
hal ls .

Wh e n C h r i s ti a n s a s s e m b l e d th e y d i d s o i n e a ch o t h e r’ s h o m e s , u s u a l l y i n o n e s l a rg e e n o u g h fo r a h o u s e
l i t u rg y. C h u r ch e s w e re th o u g h t o f a s h o u s e h o l d s o f th e fa i th . T h e R o m a n e m p i re ’ s s u s p i ci o n a n d h o s ti l i t y to
C h r i s ti a n i ty w a s t h e m a i n re a s o n fo r t h i s .

Th e te rm ch u r ch w a s p e o p l e o ri e n t e d . Ye t Pa u l d o e s u s e b u i l d i n g i m a g e s a s i n F i rs t C o ri n th i a n s : "L i ke a
w i s e m a s te r b u i l d e r, I l a i d a fo u n d a ti o n …b u t e a c h o n e m u s t b e c a re fu l h o w h e b u i l d s u p o n i t, o th e r th a n th e o n e
th a t i s th e re , n a m e l y, Je s u s C h ri s t." (C f. 1 C o r 3 : 9 - 1 6 ).

2 . The C hur c h is t he Bo dy of Chr i s t

"C h ri s t i s th e h e a d o f th e b o d y, th e C h u rch ." (C o l 1 :1 8 )

St. Pa u l ’ s co n ve rs i o n b e g a n w i th a p ro fo u n d re l i g i o u s e xp e ri e n c e o f Je s u s C h ri s t, o u r ri s e n L o rd a n d Sa vi o r.
St. Pa u l u s e s th e e xp re s s i o n " In Chr is t" 1 6 5 tim e s in his w r iti ngs , m o s t fre q u e n tl y w i th th e ti tl e Kyri o s o r L o rd .
Pa u l i s s a tu r a te d w i th C h ri s t Je s u s . H e s p e n t o ve r s e ve n ye a rs o f s o l i tu d e a n d p ra ye r g r o w i n g i n u n i o n w i th
C h r i s t. N o w o n d e r h e co u l d s a y w i th i m m e n s e co n vi cti o n :

"Fo r I a m co n vi n ce d th a t n e i th e r d e a th n o r l i fe , n o r a n g e l s , n o r
p ri n ci p a l i ti e s , n o r p re s e n t th i n g s , n o r fu t u re t h i n g s , n o r p o w e rs ,
n o r h e i g h t, n o r d e p th , n o r a n y o t h e r c re a tu re w i l l b e a b l e to s e p a ra te u s
fro m th e l o ve o f G o d i n C h ri s t Je s u s o u r L o rd ." R o m 8 :3 7 -3 9

Th e C h u r ch i s th e b o d y "o f C h ri s t ." Th e h e a d C h r i s t a n d th e m e m b e rs o f th e b o d y b e l o n g t o g e th e r. W e m a y
n o t s a y, I l o ve C h ri s t b u t I d o n o t n e e d th e C h u rch . St. P a u l w o u l d re s p o n d i m m e d i a te l y, " We , th o u g h m a n y, a re
o n e b o d y i n C h ri s t , a n d i n d i vi d u a l l y p a rts o f o n e a n o th e r. " (R o m 1 2 : 5 ).

Th o s e w h o w a n t a C h ri s t s p i r i tu a l i ty w i th o u t th e C h u r ch m i s s th e te a ch i n g s o f Pa u l . "Go d g a ve C h r i s t a s
h e a d o ve r a l l th i n g s to th e ch u rc h , w h i ch i s h i s b o d y." (E p h 1 : 2 2 -2 3 ) To w a n t th e h e a d w i th o u t th e b o d y i s to
co n tra d i ct C h ri s t’ s p u r p o s e fo r u s .

Th e re s u l t o f b e i n g a m e m b e r o f C h ri s t’ s b o d y i s p a r ti ci p a ti o n i n t h e l i fe o f Go d . L i s t e n to St. Pa u l ’ s p o w e rfu l
o p e n i n g to h i s l e t te r t o th e Ep h e s i a n s : "B l e s s e d b e th e G o d a n d Fa t h e r o f o u r L o rd Je s u s C h r i s t w h o h a s
b l e s s e d u s i n C h ri s t w i th e ve ry s p i ri t u a l b l e s s i n g …In l o ve h e d e s ti n e d u s fo r a d o p t i o n t o h i m s e l f th ro u g h Je s u s
C h r i s t." (Ep h 1 :3 , 5 )

Bl e s s e d Ab b o t Ma rm i o n d w e l t o n th a t ve rs e w i th p ra ye r a n d fa i th fo r m a n y ye a rs . H e w a s i n s p i r e d to w ri t e
th r e e s p i ri tu a l cl a s s i c s b a s e d o n th i s te xt : C h r i s t t h e L i fe o f th e So u l … C h ri s t th e Id e a l o f th e Mo n k…C h ri s t th e
Id e a l o f th e Pri e s t. L i ke a m o d e r n St. Pa u l h e r e cl a i m e d t h e p o w e r o f C h r i s t f o r th e C h u rch a n d fo r th e p ro p e r
u n d e rs ta n d i n g o f C h u rch a s C h ri s t ’ s s a vi n g p re s e n ce i n th e w o rl d . Ma rm i o n s h o w e d u s a g a i n th a t C h r i s t’ s
s a l va ti o n w a s a m a tte r o f d e l i ve r a n ce fro m s i n , b u t a l s o a re s u rre ct i o n t o n e w l i fe , a p a rti c i p a ti o n i n th e l i fe o f
Go d . Ma r m i o n e n co u ra g e s u s t o re n e w o u r fa i th i n th i s tru t h a b o u t o u rs e l ve s .

" Oh , i f w e h a d f a i th i n th e s e t ru th s ! If w e u n d e rs t o o d w h a t i t
i s fo r u s to h a ve e n te r e d b y Ba p t i s m i n to t h e C h u rch , to b e
b y g ra ce , m e m b e rs o f C h ri s t’ s b o d y! Jo i n St . Au g u s ti n e w h o
s a ys , ‘ L e t u s b re a k fo r th i n to th a n ks g i vi n g . L e t u s w o n d e r a n d th ri l l
w i t h g l a d n e s s ; w e a re b e co m e C h ri s t. H e th e h e a d , w e th e
m e m b e rs . ’ " C h ri s t th e L i fe o f th e So u l , p . 1 0 1

On Ma y 2 0 th , w e ce l e b ra te d t h e m e m o ri a l o f St. B e rn a r d i n e o f Si e n a ( 1 3 8 0 - 1 4 4 4 ) w h o w a s a fi e r y p re a ch e r i n
th e s tyl e o f St. P a u l . H e a t tri b u te d h i s e f fe cti ve n e s s to h i s e m p h a s i s o n th e n a m e o f Je s u s . "Th e n a m e o f Je s u s
i s th e g l o ry o f p r e a ch e rs , b e ca u s e th e s h i n i n g s p l e n d o r o f th a t n a m e ca u s e s h i s w o r d s to b e p ro cl a i m e d a n d
h e a rd …Wh e n a fi re i s l i t to cl e a r a fi e l d , i t b u rn s o ff a l l th e d ry a n d u s e l e s s w e e d s a n d th o rn s . Wh e n th e s u n
ri s e s a n d d a r kn e s s i s d i s p e l l e d , ro b b e rs a n d n i g h t cr a w l e r s s l i n k a w a y. S o w h e n Pa u l p re a ch e d a b o u t Je s u s , i t
w a s l i ke a cl a p o f th u n d e r, a b l a zi n g fi re ca rryi n g a l l b e fo re i t." (L H Vo l II , p .1 8 2 9 )
In fi n d i n g d i ffe re n t w a ys to d e s c ri b e th e r e l a ti o n s h i p o f C h ri s t a n d th e C h u rc h St. Pa u l w ri t e s th a t Je s u s i s
th e b ri d e g ro o m o f th e C h u rch a n d e a ch o f i t s m e m b e rs . Em p l o yi n g a m a ri ta l i m a g e h e s a ys , "H u s b a n d s , l o ve
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th e b ri d e g ro o m o f th e C h u rch a n d e a ch o f i t s m e m b e rs . Em p l o yi n g a m a ri ta l i m a g e h e s a ys , "H u s b a n d s , l o ve
yo u r w i ve s a s C h ri s t l o ve d t h e C h u rch . " (Ep h 5 :2 5 ) Je s u s h a s j o i n e d th e C h u rch to h i m s e l f a s a s p o u s e a n d
n e ve r s t o p s c a ri n g fo r h e r a s h i s o w n b o d y. (C f Ep h 5 :2 9 ).

In th i s s a m e s p i ri t Pa u l e n s h ri n e s tw o o f t h e m o s t e xa l te d h ym n s o f th e e a rl y C h u rc h : In Ph i l i p p i a n s 2 : 1 -1 1 , Pa u l
p re s e n ts u s w i th t h e d i vi n e h u m i l i ty o f C h r i s t w h o e m p ti e s h i m s e l f o f g l o ry a n d d i e s fo r o u r s a l va ti o n . "Th e re fo r e ,
Go d b e s t o w e d o n h i m a n a m e t h a t i s a b o ve e ve ry o th e r n a m e . " A p o p u l a r h ym n ca p tu re s th i s : "Eve ry k n e e s h a l l
b o w , e ve ry to n g u e co n fe s s th a t Je s u s C h ri s t i s L o rd ."

C o l o s s i a n s 1 : 1 5 -2 0 p o rt ra ys Je s u s a s t h e w i s d o m o f Go d - a s th e o n e i n w h o m a l l w a s cre a te d a n d w h o
m a d e p e a ce b y th e b l o o d o f t h e C r o s s . "Fo r i n h i m a l l th e fu l l n e s s w a s p l e a s e d to d w e l l , a n d th ro u g h h i m to
re c o n ci l e a l l th i n g s fo r h i m ." P a u l t e l l s u s th a t a u th e n t i c fa i th i n C h r i s t m e a n s b e l o n g i n g to h i s b o d y, th e
C h u rch .

3 . The C hur c h is Euc ha r is tic

S t. Pa u l e s ta b l i s h e d a n e s s e n ti a l l i n k b e tw e e n th e C h u rc h a s th e B o d y o f C h r i s t a n d C h u rch o f th e
Eu c h a ri s t. In h i s fi rs t l e tt e r to th e C o ri n th i a n s h e te l l s u s : "Th e cu p o f b l e s s i n g th a t w e b l e s s , i s i t n o t a
p a r ti ci p a ti o n i n t h e b l o o d o f C h r i s t? Th e b re a d th a t w e b r e a k, i s i t n o t a p a r ti ci p a ti o n i n t h e b o d y o f C h ri s t?
Be c a u s e th e l o a f o f b re a d i s o n e , w e , th o u g h m a n y a re o n e b o d y, fo r w e a l l p a r ta ke o f th e o n e l o a f ." (1 0 :1 6 - 1 7 )

Th r o u g h C o m m u n i o n Je s u s u n i t e s u s w i th h i m s e l f. Bu t J e s u s a l s o u n i te s u s w i th e ve ryo n e e l s e a t
C o m m u n i o n . C h ri s t a n d o u r n e i g h b o r a re i n s e p a ra b l e . At Ma s s Je s u s i s m a ki n g u s o n e b o d y i n h i m s e l f . A
Eu c h a ri s t w i t h o u t u n i o n w i th th e co m m u n i ty fa i l s to l i ve t h e tr u th o f w h a t i s h a p p e n i n g . St. Pa u l cl e a r l y i d e n ti f i e s
th e Eu ch a ri s t w i th th e R i s e n L o rd a n d th e C h u rch a s C h ri s t ’ s Bo d y. " We th o u g h m a n y, a re o n e b o d y, fo r w e a l l
p a r ta ke o f o n e l o a f."

At C o m m u n i o n Je s u s g i ve s u s h i s b o d y a n d m a ke s u s h i s b o d y.
Wh e n w e e a t o rd i n a ry b r e a d w e tu r n th a t i n t o o u r s e l ve s . Wh e n w e co n s u m e t h e Bo d y o f C h ri s t, w e a re ch a n g e d
i n t o C h r i s t’ s ri s e n b o d y. Th e Fa t h e rs o f th e C h u rch c o m p o s e d th e a xi o m , " Th e B o d y o f C h r i s t i n th e Eu ch a ri s t
b u i l d s u p th e Bo d y o f C h ri s t i n t h e C h u rch . " In L a ti n th i s i s c o n ci s e , "C o rp u s C h ri s ti a e d i fi ca t C o rp u s C h ri s ti ."

St. Au g u s ti n e i m a g i n e s Je s u s s a yi n g to u s a t C o m m u n i o n , "E a t th e b re a d o f th e s tro n g . Yo u w i l l n o t

tra n s fo r m m e i n to yo u rs e l f, b u t I w i l l tra n s fo rm yo u i n to m e ." Th e re fo re a s m e m b e rs o f t h e Bo d y o f C h ri s t w e a re
ta k e n o u t o f o u r c l o s e d s e l ve s a n d b e c o m e m e m b e r s o f o n e a n o th e r. To ta ke C o m m u n i o n o p e n s u s to
co m m u n i c a te w i th e a ch o th e r.

In ch a p t e r e l e ve n o f Fi rs t C o ri n t h i a n s , St. Pa u l co n d e m n s th e a b u s e s o ccu rri n g a t c e l e b r a ti o n s o f th e

Eu c h a ri s t. "I h e a r th a t w h e n yo u m e e t a s a c hur c h, th e re a re d i vi s i o n s a m o n g yo u …Wh e n yo u m e e t, i t i s n o t to
e a t th e L o rd ’ s s u p p e r, fo r i n e a t i n g e a ch o n e g o e s a h e a d w i th h i s o w n s u p p e r, a n d o n e g o e s h u n g ry w h i l e
a n o th e r g e ts d ru n k ."(1 8 , 2 1 ) . A E u ch a r i s t w i th o u t s o l i d a ri ty w i th o t h e rs i s a n a b u s e o f th e s a cra m e n t.

St. Pa u l th e n re ci t e s th e w o r d s o f In s t i tu ti o n o f th e Eu ch a ri s t a n d a d d s , "Fo r a s o f te n a s yo u e a t th i s b re a d
a n d d ri n k th i s cu p yo u p ro cl a i m t h e d e a th o f th e L o rd u n ti l h e co m e s ." (2 6 ) Th e y h a ve fa l l e n i n to d i vi s i o n s b u t i t
i s n e ce s s a ry to m a i n ta i n th e u n i t y o f th e S p i ri t i n t h e b o n d o f p e a c e . (E p h 4 : 3 -4 ).

4 . The C hur c h is t he Te m ple of th e Hol y Spi r it

Ju s t a s w e ca n n e ve r s e p a ra t e C h r i s t f ro m t h e C h u rch , n e i t h e r c a n w e s e p a ra te th e H o l y S p i ri t fro m th e l i fe o f
th e C h u r ch . T h e C h u rch i s th e Te m p l e o f th e H o l y Sp i r i t. T h e ca te ch i s m s a ys Je s u s i s h e a d o f th e B o d y o f th e
C h u rch a n d th e H o l y Sp i ri t i s i ts So u l . (C C C 7 9 7 )

We h a ve j u s t ce l e b ra te d th e H o l y Sp i ri t a t Pe n te co s t. St. Pa u l s a ys cl e a r l y, " D o yo u n o t kn o w th a t yo u r b o d y i s
a t e m p l e o f t h e H o l y Sp i ri t a n d t h a t t h e Sp i ri t o f Go d d w e l l s i n yo u ? " (1 C o r 3 :1 6 ) We a r e b a p ti ze d i n w a te r a n d t h e
H o l y Sp i ri t. At th e Eu c h a ri s t th e p ri e s t p r a ys f o r th e H o l y Sp i ri t t o co m e a n d tra n s fo rm th e b re a d a n d w i n e i n to th e
Bo d y a n d Bl o o d o f C h ri s t. In co n f e s s i o n w e h e a r th e p ri e s t s a y, "Ma y th e H o l y Sp i ri t g i ve yo u p a rd o n a n d p e a ce ."
At o rd i n a ti o n s w e s i n g "C o m e H o l y Sp i r i t" a s th e b i s h o p l a ys h a n d s o n th e h e a d s o f th e c a n d i d a te s .

Th e H o l y S p i ri t s u s t a i n s th e C h u rch i n g o o d t i m e s a n d b a d , w h e n i s s u e s a re p a i n f u l a n d w h e n th e y g i ve u s j o y.
Bl e s s e d Jo h n XXIII kn e w w h a t th i s m e a n t a s o n e o f h i s s to r i e s t e l l s u s . O n th e fe a s t o f St. P a u l ’ s co n ve rs i o n ,
Ja n u a ry 2 5 , 1 9 5 9 , Po p e Jo h n XXIII w e n t to t h e C h u rch o f St . Pa u l to m a ke a n a n n o u n c e m e n t . In h i s j o u rn a l h e
re c a l l s th e o cca s i o n .

"I m e t w i th 1 7 ca rd i n a l s i n t h e ch o i r c h a p e l a t 1 :0 0 p m . Aft e r a p ra ye r s e r vi ce , I g a ve a b ri e f ta l k th a t co n c l u d e d
w i t h th e s e w o rd s . Ve n e r a b l e b ro th e rs , I p u t b e fo re yo u a d o u b l e ce l e b ra ti o n , a d i o c e s a n Syn o d fo r R o m e a n d a
C o u n ci l fo r t h e u n i ve rs a l C h u rch . I a s k yo u to p ra y f o r a h a p p y o u tc o m e o f th e s e e ve n ts …

Th e c a rd i n a l s r e s p o n d e d w i th s i l e n c e . N o a p p l a u s e . N o o n e a r o s e t o s p e a k i n j o yf u l s u p p o rt fo r m y p l a n .
Ma yb e th e y w e re to o s tu n n e d . H u m a n l y s p e a ki n g I w o u l d h a ve e xp e cte d th e m to cr o w d a ro u n d m e e xp re s s i n g
g o o d w i s h e s . Bu t i t w a s n o t a m a t te r o f m y p e rs o n a l f e e l i n g s . I a m e m b a rk e d o n th e w i l l o f th e L o r d …

4 5 m o n th s l a te r o n th e e ve n i n g o f Octo b e r 1 0 , 1 9 6 2 , th re e h u n d re d th o u s a n d p e o p l e p a cke d St. P e te r’ s

Sq u a re . Th e y ca rri e d l i g h te d ca n d l e s . Th e y ca m e to o p e n w i th j o y th e Se co n d Va ti ca n C o u n ci l . Th e s u rg e o f th e
ca n d l e s re m i n d e d m e o f th e t o n g u e s o f fi re th a t a cco m p a n i e d th e d e s c e n t o f th e H o l y Sp i r i t a t Pe n t e co s t .

I s a i d , My d e a r ch i l d re n . My d e a r Pe o p l e o f Go d . I h e a r yo u r vo i ce s My vo i ce i s n o t a n i s o l a t e d o n e . Se e i n g yo u
I k n o w I a m n o t a l o n e . Eve n th e r o s e c o l o re d m o o n i s co n te m p l a t i n g o u r g a th e ri n g . ( cf. F r. Al fre d McBri d e , A
R e t re a t wi th Po p e Jo h n XXI I I , p p 1 0 3 , 1 0 9 )

Ma n y Gif ts , O ne Sp ir it

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Th e Sp i ri t i n f l u e n c e s u s w i th a n a b u n d a n ce o f g i f ts . P a u l w ri te s , "Th e re a re d i ffe re n t ki n d s o f s p i ri tu a l g i f ts b u t
th e s a m e Sp i r i t. T h e re a re d i ffe r e n t f o rm s o f s e rvi ce , b u t th e s a m e L o rd … To e a ch i n d i vi d u a l t h e m a n i fe s ta ti o n o f
th e Sp i r i t i s g i ve n fo r s o m e b e n e fi t." (I C o r 1 2 : 4 ,7 ) Th r e e ti m e s , Pa u l a d d re s s e s th e d i ve rs i ty o f ro l e s w i th i n th e
C h u rch a n d th e u n i fyi n g p o w e r o f th e H o l y S p i ri t i n R o m a n s 1 2 , Fi rs t C o ri n th i a n s 1 2 a n d Ep h e s i a n s 4 : 1 - 1 6 .

H e d e s cr i b e d th e va ri e t y o f ta l e n ts , s e rvi c e s a n d m i n i s tri e s i n th e ch u rc h a s g i fts fro m th e H o l y Sp i ri t.

D i f fe re n t co n tri b u ti o n s a re p ro vi d e d b y th e Sp i r i t fo r th e b e n e fi t o f a l l th e m e m b e rs o f th e Bo d y o f C h ri s t.

In t h i s c o n te xt Pa u l i n t ro d u c e s h i s fa m o u s i m a g e r y o f th e d i ve rs i ty a n d u n i ty o f th e h u m a n b o d y a s a p i c tu re o f
th e C h u r ch a s th e b o d y o f C h ri s t. A fo o t ca n n o t s a y i t i s n o t p a rt o f th e b o d y b e ca u s e i t i s n o t a h a n d . Th e e ye
ca n n o t s a y i t h a s n o n e e d o f th e h a n d , n o r th e h e a d c l a i m i t h a s n o n e e d o f th e fe e t. Al l th e p a rt s o f th e b o d y
s h o u l d h a ve c o n ce r n fo r e a ch o th e r.

So i t s h o u l d b e i n th e C h u rc h . "F o r i n o n e Sp i ri t w e w e re b a p ti ze d i n to o n e b o d y, w h e th e r Je w s o r Gre e k s ,
s l a ve s o r fre e p e r s o n s , a n d w e re a l l g i ve n to d r i n k o f th e o n e Sp i ri t." I C o r 1 2 :1 3

"N o w yo u a re C h ri s t ’ s b o d y a n d i n d i vi d u a l l y p a rt o f i t ." (1 C o r: 1 2 :2 7 ) We ca n ’ t a l l b e a p o s tl e s , p ro p h e ts ,
te a ch e rs , h e a l e rs , h u s b a n d s , w i ve s , ce l i b a t e s o r w o rk e rs o f m i g h ty d e e d s . Th e C h u rc h i s a te a m n o t a co l l e ct i o n
o f i s o l a te d i n d i vi d u a l i s ts . Pa u l a d vi s e s th e E p h e s i a n s t o m a i n ta i n th e "s e ve n u n i ti e s " th a t a re e s s e n ti a l fo r t h e
C h u rch ( cf 4 : 1 -6 ). (Se e a l s o Ep h e s i a n s 4 :1 1 -1 6 )

5 . The C hur c h is a n Ic o n of Love

In th e t h i rte e n th ch a p t e r o f Fi rs t C o r i n th i a n s , Pa u l o ffe r s u s th e t h e g r e a te s t s o l u ti o n to s e e ki n g u n i ty a m i d th e
p ro b l e m s o f l i fe . It i s th e s e cre t o f vi ta l i ty i n th e C h u r ch . H i s p o e m a b o u t t h e g i ft o f d i vi n e l o ve (a g a p e ) u p h o l d s
th e i d e a l s o f th e Bo d y o f C h ri s t. Th i s l o ve co m e s fro m th e H o l y Sp i r i t. " Th e l o ve o f Go d i s p o u re d o u t i n to o u r
h e a rts t h ro u g h th e h o l y Sp i r i t th a t h a s b e e n g i ve n to u s ." (R o m 5 :5 ) Pa u l s a ys w e s h o u l d s tri ve e a g e rl y fo r th i s
g re a te s t o f s p i ri t u a l g i fts . (cf. 1 2 :3 1 )

Pa u l b e g i n s b y te l l i n g u s th a t l o ve i s th e s o u l o f a l l th e vi rtu e s . H e a p p l i e s th i s te a ch i n g t o e l o q u e n c e , fa i th ,
d o n a ti o n s to th e p o o r a n d m a rtyrd o m .

H e w a s a n o u t s ta n d i n g p re a ch e r, b u t e ve n i f h e c o u l d p re a c h l i k e a n a n g e l b u t s p o ke w i th o u t l o ve , h i s w o rd s
w o u l d b e a s e m p ty a s a ti n kl i n g b e l l o r a c l a s h i n g cym b a l . H e d e vo te d h i s l e tt e r to th e R o m a n s u p h o l d i n g th e
e s s e n ti a l p o w e r o f fa i t h , b u t e ve n i f h e h a d fa i th th a t m o ve d m o u n ta i n s ye t h a d n o l o ve , h e w o u l d fa i l .

If h e g a ve a l l h i s m o n e y to th e p o o r, b u t i f h e d i d t h a t w i th o u t l o ve , h e g a i n e d n o th i n g . H e e n d u re d a l l ki n d s
o f h a rd s h i p s – b e a ti n g s , s h i p w re c ks , i m p ri s o n m e n ts – ye t i f h e d i d s o w i t h o u t l o ve , i t w o u l d h a ve n o m e a n i n g .
H e s a i d , "If I s h o u l d g i ve m y b o d y to b e b u rn e d b u t d o i t w i th o u t l o ve , I g a i n n o th i n g ." H e w a s b e h e a d e d a s a
m a r tyr. Wi th o u t l o ve th a t w o u l d h a ve b e e n a m e a n i n g l e s s a c t.

Th e n Pa u l p ro ce e d e d to cl a i m th a t l o ve i s t h e o p p o s i t e o f a l l t h e vi ce s . L o ve i s n o t j e a l o u s , ru d e , s e l f
s e e ki n g , p ro n e to a n g e r , b ro o d i n g o n i n j u ri e s o r j o yf u l a b o u t w ro n g d o i n g . Fi n a l l y, Pa u l o u tl i n e s vi rtu e s th a t
e xp re s s g e n u i n e l o ve . L o ve i s p a t i e n t, ki n d , h a s n o l i m i ts to i ts ca p a ci t y to b e fa i th fu l , to b e f i l l e d w i th h o p e , to
e n d u re a l l th i n g s .

In th e p ro ce s s Pa u l ca l l s u s to g ro w u p . Pu t a s i d e ch i l d i s h th i n g s . C o m e to m a tu ri t y "to th e fu l l s ta tu re o f
C h r i s t, s o th a t w e m a y n o l o n g e r b e i n fa n ts , to s s e d b y w a ve s a n d s w e p t a l o n g b y e ve ry w i n d o f te a c h i n g … L i ve
th e tru t h i n l o ve . Gro w i n e ve ry w a y i n to C h ri s t o u r h e a d . " (C f . Ep h 4 :1 4 -1 5 )

Eve n w i th l o ve w e d e a l w i th m ys t e ry. We s e e i n d i s ti n ctl y a s i n a m i rro r, b u t o n e d a y w e s h a l l s e e Go d fa ce to

fa c e . "S o fa i th , h o p e a n d l o ve re m a i n , th e s e th r e e , b u t th e g re a te s t o f t h e s e i s l o ve ." (1 3 :1 3 )
Be c a u s e th e C h u rch i s t h e Te m p l e o f th e H o l y Sp i ri t, i t s h o u l d b e th e h o u s e h o l d o f l o ve . Th e C h u rc h i s a t i t s
b e s t w h e n l o ve p e r m e a te s th e m e m b e rs . ["Se e th e s e C h r i s ti a n s h o w th e y l o ve o n e a n o t h e r." Te rt u l l l i a n ]

I w ill b e lov e in the h e a r t of th e Chu r c h

In s tru g g l i n g to f i n d h e r s p e ci a l ca l l i n g i n th e C h u r ch , S t. Th e re s e o f L i s i e u x d i s co ve r e d i t i n S t. Pa u l ’ s i m a g e
o f th e C h u rch a s t h e b o d y o f C h ri s t a n d l o ve a s i ts b e a ti n g h e a rt. S h e e m b ra ce d th e i d e a l o f l o ve d e s cr i b e d b y
Pa u l i n Fi rs t C o ri n th i a n s 1 3 .

Sh e w ro t e , "L o ve a p p e a r e d to m e t o b e th e h i n g e o f m y vo ca ti o n . I kn e w th a t th e C h u rch h a d a h e a rt a n d th a t
s u c h a h e a rt a p p e a re d t o b e a fl a m e w i t h l o ve . I kn e w th a t o n e l o ve d ro ve th e m e m b e r s o f th e C h u rch to a cti o n . If
th i s l o ve w e r e e xt i n g u i s h e d , th e a p o s t l e s w o u l d h a ve p ro cl a i m e d th e Go s p e l n o l o n g e r. Th e m a r tyrs w o u l d h a ve
s h e d th e i r b l o o d n o m o r e . I s a w a n d re a l i ze d th a t l o ve s e t s o ff th e b o u n d s o f a l l vo ca ti o n s , th a t l o ve i s
e ve ryth i n g …

Th e n n e a rl y e cs ta ti c w i th t h e s u p re m e j o y i n m y s o u l , I p ro cl a i m e d : ‘ O J e s u s , m y l o ve , a t l a s t I h a ve fo u n d m y
ca l l i n g : m y c a l l i s l o ve . I h a ve fo u n d m y p l a ce i n th e C h u rch . Yo u g a ve m e th a t ve r y p l a ce , m y Go d . I w i l l b e l o ve
i n th e h e a rt o f th e C h u rch , m y m o th e r. ’ " (L i tu rg y o f th e H o u rs , Vo l IV, p . 1 4 5 1 ).

I h a ve o ffe re d yo u fi ve a s p e cts o f Pa u l ’ s m e a n i n g o f C h u rc h : Pe o p l e o f Go d , Bo d y o f C h ri s t, E u ch a r i s ti c ,
Te m p l e o f th e H o l y Sp i r i t, a n d Ic o n o f L o ve . Th e co m m o n th e m e s a re u n i ty, re co n ci l i a ti o n , s a l va ti o n .

I co n cl u d e w i t h th e s to r y o f a w o m a n w h o m th i s Pa u l i n e vi s i o n o f C h u r ch h a s p ro d u ce d . Eve ry m o rn i n g s h e
g o e s to h e r p a ri s h ch u r ch a t 4 AM. Sh e m a ke s th e s ta t i o n s , s a ys th e ro s a r y a n d m e d i ta te s b e fo re th e Bl e s s e d
Sa c ra m e n t. Af te r t h e 6 AM Ma s s , s h e g e ts s o m e b r e a kfa s t a n d g o e s to w o rk a t Sh a ri n g a n d C a ri n g H a n d s . S h e
fo u n d e d th i s ce n te r th a t fe e d s fo u r th o u s a n d m e a l s a w e e k fo r t h e p o o r a n d h o m e l e s s . Th e re i s a p a n try w i th a l l
ki n d s o f fo o d , w h e re th e p o o r m a y ta ke w h a t th e y n e e d . Th e ce n t e r o f fe rs cl e a n s h o w e rs a n d re s t ro o m s a s w e l l
a s o p p o r tu n i t i e s f o r m e d i ca l , d e n ta l a n d e ye ca r e . Th i s s e rvi ce i s f re e , p ro vi d e d b y vo l u n te e r d o c to rs .

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1/9/14 What does St. Paul, the Church’s First Theologian, Mean by "The Church"? from Homilies and Reflections by the Norbertines in De Pere, WI

Acro s s th e s tre e t i s Ma ry My H o p e s p o rts ce n t e r fo r te e n s a s w e l l a s a ch i l d re n ’ s a ct i vi ty ce n t e r. N e xt t o th i s

a re tw o b e a u t i fu l a p a rt m e n t b u i l d i n g s w i th 9 2 s p a ci o u s a p a rtm e n ts a s tra n s i ti o n a l h o u s i n g fo r h o m e l e s s
fa m i l i e s a s t h e y l o o k f o r h o m e s o f th e i r o w n . Al l th e s e b u i l d i n g s a n d th e i r fu rn i s h i n g s a re s tu rd y, m o d e rn a n d
cl e a n . T h i s w o m a n b e g s th e m o n e y to m a ke i t ru n . Th e o ve rh e a d i s 7 p e rce n t. Sh e h a s a th o u s a n d vo l u n te e rs .

H e r ch i l d h o o d w a s a n i g h tm a re . H e d ru n k e n fa th e r fre q u e n tl y p u n c h e d h e r m o th e r, b e a t h e r. "Sh e s a i d , I h i d i n
a c o rn e r a n d p ra ye d h e w o u l d s to p . H e to l d m e th a t I w o u l d n e ve r a m o u n t t o a n yth i n g . Bu t a t a d a n c e I m e t th e
ri g h t m a n . We fe l l i n l o ve a n d m a rri e d a n d ra i s e d 1 2 ch i l d re n . Afte r o u r 1 2 th ch i l d w a s i n s c h o o l I b e g a n
vo l u n te e ri n g a t C a th o l i c C h a ri ti e s . Wh e n I s ta rt e d m y vo ca ti o n to th e h o m e l e s s , h e g a ve m e h i s fu l l s u p p o rt. "

Sh e g e n e ra l l y m e e ts e ve ryo n e w h o a r ri ve s a t h e r p l a ce e ve ry d a y. Th u rs d a y e ve n i n g s s h e h a s a s e s s i o n w i th
th e p a re n ts o f th e l i tt l e o n e s w h o co m e . Sh e a d vi s e s th e p a re n t s . "W a tch yo u r ch i l d re n . Pra y w i th th e m . Gi ve
th e m g o a l s ." Sh e a l s o w a s h e s th e fe e t o f th e h o m e l e s s . Sh e p o s t s a s i g n -u p s h e e t fo r 2 0 cu s to m e rs e a ch
a ft e rn o o n . Sh e s a ys , "T h e h o m e l e s s a re w a ry o f b e i n g to u ch e d . T h e i r fe e t a re s o re a n d b l i s te r e d . I kn e e l b e f o re
e a c h o n e w i th a fr e s h p a n o f w a rm , s o a p y w a te r. It’ s co n n e cti n g . I l o o k u p a t th e m a n d t h i n k, ‘ I d o n o t n e e d to
kn o w w h o th e y w e re o r w h o th e y w i l l b e . I j u s t w a n t t o l o ve th e m a s th e y a re . To m e th e y a re C h ri s t.

In t h e a u th e n t i c s p i ri t o f St . Pa u l s h e s a ys , "Ou r l i ve s a r e s h a p e d b y th o s e w h o l o ve u s o r re fu s e to l o ve u s …
Be b re a d to b e b ro ke n f o r o t h e rs … Be w i n e to b e s h a re d a n d p o u re d o u t fo r o th e r s …Ta k e Je s u s ’ h a n d a n d p r a y
th a t a l l w h o s e e m e to d a y w i l l l o o k b e yo n d a n d s e e yo u ." ( H e r n a m e i s Ma r y Jo C o p e l a n d o f Mi n n e a p o l i s , MN .)

St. Pa u l p ra y fo r u s .

Fr . Alf r e d M c Br id e , O. Pr a e m .,

w a s o rd a i n e d i n 1 9 5 3 . H e h a s s e r ve d a s p ro fe s s o r, n o vi ce m a s te r,
u n i ve rs i ty p r e s i d e n t a n d w a s th e fo u n d e r a n d e xe cu ti ve d i re ct o r o f t h e
d e p a rtm e n t o f re l i g i o u s e d u ca ti o n a t th e N a t i o n a l C a t h o l i c Ed u c a ti o n a l
As s o ci a t i o n . Th e U .S. C a th o l i c b i s h o p s a p p o i n te d h i m to w ri te th e
ca t e ch e s i s i n p re p a ra ti o n fo r th e s e co n d p a s to r a l vi s i t o f Po p e Jo h n Pa u l
II. Fr. McBri d e h a s l e ctu re d a n d w ri t te n w i d e l y— w i th 4 0 b o o k s a n d 2 0 0
a rt i cl e s h a vi n g b e e n p u b l i s h e d . H e cu rre n tl y s e rve s o n th e U SC C B
C o m m i tte e fo r C a te ch e s i s a s w e l l a s t h e B o a rd o f D i re c to rs fo r Ou r S u n d a y
Vi s i to r a n d th e B o a rd o f T ru s te e s o f St. N o rb e rt C o l l e g e . H e l i ve s a t St .
Jo s e p h Pri o ry o n th e St. N o r b e rt C o l l e g e ca m p u s w h e re h e co n t i n u e s h i s
w ri ti n g a n d r e tre a t/w o r ks h o p m i n i s tri e s .

No rb e rt i n e Q u i ck L i n ks:
h o m e | wh a t ' s n e w | wh o we a re | l i t u rg y | n o rb e rt i n e ce n t e r f o r sp i ri t u a l i t y | n a t i o n a l sh ri n e o f st . j o se p h
a b b e y m u si c | j u st i ce a n d p e a ce m i n i st ry | n o rb e rt i n e vo l u n t e e r co m m u n i t y | vo ca t i o n
o f f i ce o f p ra ye rs a n d g i f t s | n o rb e rt i n e a sso ci a t e s | l i n ks | co n t a ct

I f Y o u Ca n n o t V i e w t h e Dro p Do wn I t e m s o n t h e L e f t Ha n d M e n u t h e n P l e a se Use t h i s S i t e m a p t o Na v i g a t e

© 2 0 1 3 I P S S o l u t i o n s. co m , L . L . C.
G re e n B a y We b De si g n B y I P S S o l u t i o n s. co m

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