Rededication

A little note before departing for Saugerties, N.Y., and the candidate discernment weekend:

Our postulant director preached a fine homily this morning on the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Peter and the Basilica of Saint Paul in Rome, drawing from the day's readings on the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The people of Judea restored and rededicated their Temple after a period of profanation by the Greek rulers of the Seleucid Empire. Jesus cleared the Temple precincts of the money changers. As our ancestors in faith have done, and as Jesus has done, so we as Church and as members of the body of Christ must purify and rededicate our temples of the Spirit, our bodies and houses of worship, for God-centered living.

The candidate discernment weekend is a good occasion to commit ourselves once more, as people being formed into consecrated religious life, to the spiritual works of prayer, so that we may faithfully perform in this world the works of mercy and justice that witness to and enact the reign of God. Let us do so in a spirit of joyful devotion.