LAST SEPTEMBER, St. John’s celebrated Founders’ Week, a week of renewal dedicated to honoring those who founded the Vincentian Order and the Daughters of Charity, especially St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. One of the special sessions centered around a lecture by Father Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., the president of DePaul University, […]
Arts and Culture
Fr. Robert Lauder is a philosophy professor at St. John’s University and the author of “Pope Francis’ Spirituality and Our Story” (Resurrection Press).
God’s Presence As Gift
Eight and last in a series, The more deeply we become aware of God’s loving presence in our lives, the more likely it is that we will respond to God lovingly.
The Communion of Interpersonal Love
Seventh in a series, IN DEVELOPING THE idea of God as a gift-giver, and our vocation to imitate God as gift-giver in our own interpersonal relationships, Michael Downey writes beautifully about both God and us in his book, “Altogether Gift: A Trinitarian Spirituality” (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2000, pp. 143, $12). Noting that it is not just the human person who is made in the image of God as relational, but also that all of creation bears vestiges of God, Who is a profoundly relational mystery, Downey writes the following:
God’s Presence Fills All of Creation
Sixth in a series
ANYONE WHO READS this column with some regularity may have noticed that one of my strong beliefs is that there is no human activity, except sin, that cannot draw us closer to God. We are surrounded by God’s love and I think that many activities can help us grow into a deeper relationship with God.
Faith Takes Center Stage in Mel Gibson’s New Film
Ever since the success of 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ,” viewers of faith have waited anxiously for a follow-up from the film’s director, Mel Gibson. While a sequel is several years away, fans will find at least a thematic successor in Gibson’s latest movie, “Hacksaw Ridge.”
Whose Are We?
Fifth in a series I JUST RE-READ a few lines in Michael Downey’s “Altogether Gift: A Trinitarian Spirituality” (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2000, pp. 143, $12), which I think express a profound truth about God and yet, I guess I never thought of stating it as succinctly as Downey does.
Grammar of the Trinity Intended to Convey Truth
What we speak about the Trinity should help us to enter more deeply into the reality of Father, Son and Spirit. Our language should serve our lives.
Take a Contemplative Approach to Life
Re-reading Michael Downey’s “Altogether Gift: A Trinitarian Spirituality” has reminded me of the view of philosopher Gabriel Marcel that all God-talk should be not about God, but rather directed toward God.
Allow Yourself to Be Grasped by the Trinity
There are practices that we can embrace that might help us grow closer to Jesus, but we should never forget that God initiates the process and that God’s love and involvement in our lives are always gifts that we cannot merit, earn or win.
Trinitarian Spirituality
Michael Downey’s “Altogether Gift: A Trinitarian Spirituality” is a gem. It should be read and re-read because it is so filled with wonderful insights into the mystery of God and the mystery of us.