Dear friends,
As we near the celebration of Christmas, I want to help set
your mind to rest. I want to take away the burden we all fear about
giving the “right” gift to the special people in our lives. We spend
a lot of time, contemplating if they will like our gift or if this gift
will be their favorite present of the holiday. This year, let’s not
concentrate on what we want for ourselves and others, but instead
let’s focus on what we need.
We have been given gifts to share and the best way to start is
with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. By sharing these gifts with family,
friends, acquaintences and even strangers, we will see how our lives
are blessed to the fullest. With these gifts, we can ensure that we
are sharing “ourselves” just as Our Lord intended.
Today, we really don’t know what lies ahead – for us as
Christians and for us as Americans. We have taken the Lord out of
everything; removed Him from our schools, our sporting events,
our public places. Why are we questioning the position we find
ourselves? Did you take a stand and become part of the solution or
did you stand back and allowed others to play that role?
Let’s take a moment to remember and identify the gifts
given to us at our Baptism and strengthened at the sacrament
of Confirmation - the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Even though we
recently reflected on these gifts, there is no better time than now
to refresh our memory and study this topic again.
Can you name the gifts of the Holy Spirit? These
gifts, if shared, could be the beginning of our healing –
the beginning of change. These gifts of understanding,
right judgment, fortitude/courage, knowledge, reverence,
wonder and awe, and wisdom are all to be shared. What
do you think will happen if we find the courage to stand up for
what is right? How do you think you will be perceived by “rocking
the boat” or “not going along” because it’s not what everyone else
is doing? What more wonderful gift is there to give than for your
loved ones to see your courage and wisdom when it comes to
controversial times.
Now is the time to act. We were given “gifts” and it is time we
“
pay it forward.” Now is the time to be an example to our young
adults and children. Now is the time to give the gift of yourself by
being a disciple for Christ. We need Him back in our lives. Are
you ready to give of yourself?
As we approach the year 2013, let’s all make our resolution one
that will bring positive change to our homes, schools, community,
state and nation. The Lord has given us free will and He has also
given us all of the tools we need to become His disciple? Will you
answer the call? Will you become the “gift” this Christmas and all
year long?
May God bless you and your family this Christmas and I
pray that you include me, the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed
Sacrament, and all who visit Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer
Center seeking comfort and healing in your prayers.
Merry Christmas and a very blessed and
Happy New Year!
In the Service of the Lord,
Sister Dulce Maria
WINTER 2012
17560
George O’Neal Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70817 • (225) 752-8480
E-mail:
•
The Sister Dulce Foundation, Inc.
Supporting the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is sometimes called “The Forgotten Person of
the Blessed Trinity.” We know He exists, but who is He, exactly?
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, and is the
manifestation of the mutual love between the Father and the Son
in the form of a Divine Person. The Holy Spirit is known by many
titles and is referred to in many different ways in Scripture. He is
often depicted as a dove (Luke 3:21-22), as wind (Acts 2:2) as the
breath of God (Gen 2:7, Ezekial 37:5-14), as living water (John
3:8),
and as tongues of flame (Acts 2:3). He proceeds from the
Father and the Son as we profess in our Nicene Creed, and it is in
Scripture where we find the Holy Spirit referred to as the goodness
and charity of God (Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 13:13). It is from
the Holy Spirit that we receive the gift of sanctifying grace through
the sacraments - first through Baptism, and again every time we
receive the sacraments. There are other gifts, however, that the
Holy Spirit bestows upon those who seek Him.
The Holy Spirit sustains us with gifts that, according to the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, are “permanent dispositions
which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy
Spirit” (1830). They are specially intended for the sanctification of
the person who receives them. These gifts “complete and perfect the
virtuesof thosewhoreceive them” (Catechismof theCatholicChurch
