Spred Newsletter October 2016
Spred Newsletter October 2016
Spred Newsletter October 2016
AF
audience.Thesetwo paragraphs becamethe springboardfor Spred.
2. Withthis encounter,
therecomesa quiverof fearbecauseof a felt
presence,a formidablepower,anuncontolableenergyandinaccessible
purity,evokinga sentimentofweakness,littlenessandhumility.
The samedynamicis true in the preparationphaseof a sessionwith our friendsof all ages,
the 6 yearold, the 13yearold, the 40 year old. The adult catechistrelatesto a ftiend by
modelingconcentration on anactivity. Concentrationis beingfocusedin suchawaythatit is
'other'. Itborderson amomentintimethatis, shalll say,'sacred.'It is attractive. Thefriend
too would like to enterthat samezonethroughactivity. I believethat our friendsandourselves
areoperatingonthesamelevel. It is ameetingof imaginations.
The experienceis breathing.We havenothingto do with its presence. It is wholly not orus.We
did not askfor breath;but we cannotexistwithout it. It is a gift. The Spirit is a gift, dwelling
within eachof us: the Fatherfor the lncarnateSon, the love of the Son for the Father.A
comminglingof loveinhabitsus. SomedaytheFatherwill takethis grfi backto Himselfandwe
wili all drownin his love. A11our friends,includingourselves, needthis senseofthe sacred.
Rev.JamesH. McCarthy
Director,Spred- Chicago
OF TIIE
*Liber De Catechizandis P.
Rudibusby St.Augustine,translatedandannotatedby Rev.Joseph
ChristopherPh.D,NewmanPress,Westminster,Maryland,1946
*Unpublishedmanuscriptby the lateSisterBeatrixMedin4 S.H. SACRED
*"ReligtousExperienceasa GoalofReligiousEducation"BrendanCarmody,S.J.Lumen
Vitae.Nov. 198i
*The PrayerofAll Thines,PierreCharles,HerderandHerder,NY 1963
CALEI\iDAR