Veritas - From the APRIM

Fran Angelico: The Ascension (left), Pentecost (right) and The Last Judgement (centre)

Veritas – From the APRIM

The Ascension, Pentecost and Catholic Education Week

In terms of spreading the good news of Christ – the Gospel, this period in the Christian calendar is poignant. It is the final week of the Easter season. It begins with Ascension Sunday and ends with Pentecost Sunday. It is also Catholic Education Week, so it is bookended appropriately by these two feasts. It is appropriate because Catholic education is primarily about continuing what the disciples began at Pentecost nearly 2,000 years ago.

Beginning on Easter Sunday, Jesus was present to the disciples in the flesh on multiple occasions. This was of great comfort to them; He had overcome death. They had witnessed His arrest, trial, humiliation, torture and shameful public execution, and all the suffering that went with it. His disciples had abandoned him, felt abandoned themselves, and were scared. Then they witnessed His Resurrection, and this settled any doubts about the identity of their leader; they then knew for sure that he is God. His physical presence amongst them added important meaning to the Eucharist and they knew He was always with them. His physical presence had to end, and it did so through the glory of The Ascension. Jesus was elevated to Heaven and His disciples were happy. Compare the shame of the first time Jesus left them, through death on the Cross, to the Ascension through which he left them in glory. Jesus instructed them to teach and promised them the Holy Spirit.

Despite this, the disciples remained frightened. All that they had witnessed and now knew was still not enough for them to risk their own lives. They had to fully receive God’s love, and this came through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They were gathered in quiet with the security of their own numbers. They were then miraculously inspired by the Holy Spirit and witnessed this in each other. It came in the form of light – flames above each of them. They then emerged and spoke to people of all nations. And they were understood, because they spoke the language of love, which is the one universal language. The love they had fully accepted from God was now the love they were able to spread. They overcame fear to speak the truth. They challenged existing paradigms. They were counter-cultural. Despite being in minority, they changed the world. This is the miracle of Pentecost; the day from which the Church emerged from a small band of scared disciples to the nearly two billion Christians today.

Because of the miracle of Pentecost and the Church, we have Catholic Education Week. Catholic schools are Church. Indeed, for many it is their only experience of Church. Jesus came so we could have life and have it to the full, and Catholic education continues this mission of Christ. Catholic education is about developing the whole person. It is about empowering students to be the best they can be. It is not a depositor of this disposition, but instead an inspirer for students to bring the best out of themselves for all to see. This is of benefit to themselves (like the pillars of Prayer and Study), and it then enables them to benefit others (through the pillars of Community and Service.) It is as much a spiritual pursuit as it is an intellectual and physical one, and one from which the fruits must be shared. Catholic Education South Australia’s Living-Learning-Leading Framework (depicted below) places personal responsibility and discipleship at its centre, albeit in different words. It is about inspiring a disposition that will inspire others. The best students accept this gift eagerly, just as the disciples accepted the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and then they lead the world as God desires, which is through living out the Gospel, also as the disciples did following Pentecost. Note: to the right of the centre, that students should be “spiritually aware and inspired by faith”. Blackfriars provides multiple, regular opportunities to engage in this spirituality, through daily prayer and meditation, regular Masses, liturgies and retreats. It educates in the faith through action and words. Like the disciples of the first century, Catholic education is counter-cultural and grounded in the truth of Christ. Given the existence of Christian persecution and censorship, Catholic education faces its challenges. And like the first century, Pentecost-inspired Christians will not be stopped!

One sign that Pentecost-inspired Christians and Catholic education continues to spread the Gospel and lead souls to God is the number of catechumens, those that are becoming Catholic, that continue to present at this time each year. A terrific and inspirational transformation is taking place at Blackfriars: Mother Alison Hutt and her boys Riley (Year 6) and Jordan (Year 8), as well as mother Louise Carlier and her children Daniel (Year 7) and Lucy (Year 3 at St Dominic’s), have been preparing for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Communion since around the middle of Term 1. Their commitment is truly inspirational. Br William has led their catechesis, and is overwhelmed with the reward he is experiencing. Daniel Carlier was the centre of an uncommon rite called the Signing of the Senses during Wednesday’s whole-school Catholic Education Week Pentecost Mass. His friend and support, Axel Parsons, contributed to the signing. This ritual was truly beautiful and deeply spiritual. As each sense is signed, it is accompanied by the following words:

Receive the sign of the cross on your ears,

that you may hear the voice of the Lord.

Receive the sign of the cross on your eyes,

that you may see the glory of God.

Receive the sign of the cross on your lips,

that you may respond to the Word of God.

Receive the sign of the cross over your heart,

that Christ may dwell there by faith.

Receive the sign of the cross on your shoulders,

that you may bear the gentle yoke of Christ.

Receive the sign of the cross on your hands,

that Christ will be known in the work that you do.