On May 26, we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia. The following Sunday was Pentecost Sunday that made me think about the role of the Holy Spirit in Australia and New Zealand today. We were then in two “Weeks of Prayer” - one for the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si' (Care for our Common Home) and the other for China. All this led me to a great deal of reflection.
In our very secular world these days, many people think that prayers are a waste of time. We do not always admit that the sacred is part of our reality. It seems to me that I operate in both worlds. Sometimes I can be spiritual and at other times, I am thinking in more practical terms. I am wondering what will work and what is best for Columban Mission. Maybe Pope Francis would criticise me when I am in that mode. He does not like hard and fast planning, which is always looking only at the political, the financial and the efficient. Usually, I do not leave much room for prayer and grace in my planning. This might be a common way of working but it is hardly Christian.
Seeing that Mary heard the words, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” from the Angel Gabriel at the time of the Annunciation, we Christians cannot but acknowledge the power and the presence of the spiritual in human history - past, present and future. If there is no Holy Spirit, no spiritual world, then there would be no Jesus and our faith is a fantasy. Any religion would be a fantasy.
When we pray to Our Lady Help of Christians, we are joining our spirits to hers. In the Collect on her Feast day, we prayed for “wisdom for our leaders “and “integrity for our citizens.” If we only listen to our secular side, we may not think such a prayer is useful. This may say something about our opinions of our leaders, inside the Church and out, or our views of our fellow citizens. Yet, it gives us some hope for improvement on all sides.
When we understand that the sacred is also part of being an Australian or a New Zealander, we can come to a more complete understanding of the spiritual world in which we live. There we know that Mary is the Help of Christians. She is also the help of people of all faiths and none. As Christians, we believe in Jesus and we know that he told us to pray. The logic of this is that prayer is useful, and that God continues to work in our world.
One of my favourite sayings from Pope Francis is, “Evolution is the way God creates the world”. Here he combines science and religion. When he wrote Laudato Si' he called together many scientists to gather the best scientific information on the topic of ecology and climate change. He also gathered theologians who helped him put into words the experience of many mystics over the centuries, who saw the sacred in the secular, God in Creation.
Laudato Si' is popular because it recognises the power of the various religious traditions to ground the values and the vision of humanity for billions of people across the world.
Today the Catholic people are involved in synodal journeys and the Holy Spirit is leading us. Through discernment, which includes study and prayer, we are part of God’s work of creation. We are co-creators of the future. The Spirit of God works within the minds and hearts of all of us. Whether we work or not, whether we speak English or not, whether we are of the First Nation people of our countries or not, the Spirit of God nourishes us, leads us and brings us to a fuller life.
While we in Australia have Our Lady, Help of Christians, in China they have Our Lady of Sheshan. My prayer to her is simple. I pray that the troubled relationships between our countries may be healed. It was to China that the first Columbans went on their first mission just over 100 years ago. Until today, the concerns of the people of China are our concerns.
The fact that Our Lady of Sheshan and Our Lady, Help of Christians, is the same person reminds me that we, Australians, New Zealanders and Chinese are all children of the same God and live on the one earth, our common home. May this unity lead us to real peace and a healthier planet.
Fr Trevor Trotter
Regional Director of Oceania
rdoceania@columban.org.au
Listen to "From the Director"
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
- Read more from The Far East - July 2021
