HOW THE SPIRIT WORKS IN OUR LIVES Speaker: Donal Dorr Summary of text - Strictly embargoed until its delivery at 11.15am on Tuesday 9th September 2003. The Holy Spirit touches and affects people’s lives in a variety of ways. At times the Spirit enables a person to be inspiring - to enthuse others to share one’s values and beliefs. At other times the Spirit helps a person to empower others, enabling them to discover their own gifts and to believe in themselves. The Spirit may also inspire somebody who is put ‘on the spot’ to say or do just the right thing in that difficult situation. A more long-term way in which the Spirit can touch people’s lives is by enabling them to flow with life, that, is to be in tune with nature and with people, so that good things happen easily and spontaneously. Finally, the Spirit enables a person to sense when is the right time to yield, to stop pushing and to accept failure, or disappointment or death. But how does the Spirit’s inspiration get through to a person’s consciousness? It can come through dreams of the night or dreams of the twilight time between waking and sleeping, or though significant coincidences. These are ways in which a person can get in touch with the inner wisdom which often lies deeper than everyday consciousness. The Spirit seems to find more space to work in the deep ‘unconscious room’ of which the poet Patrick Kavanagh speaks, than in our busy everyday lives. The Spirit may also work through nature to bring new life and fresh energy into people’s lives. Furthermore, the Spirit may use the fundamental symbols and myths of a people’s culture. Brian Friel’s plays ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ and ‘Wonderful Tennessee’ show how powerful these symbols can be in evoking deep spiritual experiences, even in people who have become disenchanted with traditional overtly religious language, symbols, and rituals. Ends Further information: NCPI Office (01) 836 7970 Fr John Littleton (086) 272 4964 |