Several years ago, Fr. Dan Leary preached a wonderful homily on Pentecost at our parish. He challenged us each to pray to the Holy Spirit as part of our daily lives. After mass, I got to work in the backyard of our new house. I was determined to clear out some of the area around our azalea bushes. Before I got started, I paused and asked for the Holy Spirit to be with me — even in this basic task. I asked for Mary’s intercession. Then I got to work.

A few minutes later, I uncovered something that felt like a rock. There, hidden behind the flower bushes and piles of leaves, was a beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

When I texted a friend about the experience, he wrote back, “God is not in the mood for subtlety today.”

The Holy Spirit accompanies us in the big, decisive moments, as well as in the mundane ones — like clearing out the brush.

“Come, Holy Spirit”

I wish I could say that I continued this practice of praying, “Come, Holy Spirit”.

I am a great admirer of someone who did: Fr. Ted Hesburgh, who was president of the University of Notre Dame from 1951–1987. He elevated Notre Dame into an elite educational institution, and served on many commissions on public issues.

President Eisenhower formed a Civil Rights Commission in 1957 that included three southern representatives, two northern ones, and Fr. Hesburgh. It was designed to deadlock and fail. After a rough start, Fr. Hesburgh decided to host the commissioners at Notre Dame’s Land O’ Lakes property in Wisconsin. There, they built relationships of trust. They fished, enjoyed meals, and some even enjoyed some whiskey together in the evenings.

Their hearts softened and minds sharpened, and they released a report that became the framework of The Civil Rights Act.

Fr. Hesburgh was able to use his power and privilege to bring a unique contribution to the Civil Rights movement. Richard Conklin, the editor of two of Fr. Hesburgh’s books, wrote, “Hesburgh gave a cause characterized as radical by its opponents firm roots in Judeo-Christian ethics, and the commission surprised Eisenhower with recommendations sounding the first death knell for Jim Crow.”

He used his unique gifts to drive a result that benefitted people in need.

Why do I bring up Fr. Hesburgh?

In his book, Fr. Hesburgh wrote, “I have a simple three-word prayer that has served me well for many, many years: ‘Come, Holy Spirit.’ It has never failed me.”

He was able to change the world because he knew where to turn for guidance.

The Holy Spirit and us

How can we turn to the Holy Spirit?

Let’s look at today’s readings. They are so personal!

There is a real emphasis on each of our individual calls to follow Christ and serve others. At Pentecost, “[The disciples] were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” (Acts 2:4) Despite mostly hailing from the same region, they are able to speak in a way that reaches everyone — from every region, race, and religion.

Our second reading emphasizes the unity of the Body of Christ while also emphasizing all of the individual parts. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–8)

We are each called to listen to the Holy Spirit and determine how our gifts can be put to good use. Fr. Hesburgh was a bridge-builder and an academic leader. Each of us have our own gifts. Paul does not say that some people have gifts; he says, “to each individual the manifestation of the spirit is given for some benefit.” (Emphasis added)

Here, we are not just listening to Paul. We are listening to Jesus. When Jesus appears to the disciples and promises peace and the Holy Spirit, he does not use third person language or talk in generalities. He says, “As the father sent me, I send you” (Again, my emphasis added).

Jesus is not simply preaching, he is calling the disciples. He is calling us.

Whatever paths we discern, we must cling to him and remain in relationship with him. We get into trouble when we try to go out on our own way. If we pray to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit for guidance, we can find the path to flourishing.

The Spirit does not condition this encounter on anything other than our willingness to accept it. No mistake from your past — and no current imperfection — can stand in its way. The God who created you longs for you, wherever you are, and the Holy Spirit is eager to guide your steps forward.

Two ways to pray to the Holy Spirit

Carolyn Pirtle of Notre Dame has written a beautiful reflection on seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. She says that prayers to the Holy Spirit follow two basic forms:

“The first way consists of asking the Holy Spirit to come to us as we are, to comfort us in times of sadness or to guide us in times of confusion, but ultimately, to leave us essentially as we were without demanding too much of us in return.”

“The second, braver, more vulnerable way to pray ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ consists of emptying oneself, to literally ‘leave room for the Holy Spirit’ in our hearts by acknowledging that God knows what we need better than we do, and cultivating a profound awareness that the Holy Spirit isn’t the type of Person to leave human beings in essentially the same condition as he finds them.”

Do we have the courage to pray, “Come, Holy Spirit,” and really mean it?

Let’s think about the Galilean fishermen Simon (Peter) and Andrew. They could have been very faithful men by simply praying, “God, help me to catch enough fish today. Help me to be a good son, a good spouse. Help me feel safe in my home.” They could have prayed every day for God to meet them where they were, and to keep them there.

This is how we often pray! I must admit, when I am praying my Examen prayer or reflecting on scripture, I am often thinking in fairly limited terms about my day ahead at work, my duties around the house, and immediate concerns like wanting to drop a few pounds and be more disciplined.

But God had something much greater in store for these two fishermen: A Nazarean carpenter would come along and call them to be his apostles. Simon even had to change his name! His faithfulness did not simply lead him to be the best fisherman he could be, it led him to be Peter, The Rock, on whom the church was built and continues to be built today.

Carolyn writes, “The Holy Spirit means business, and if we’re going to pray ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we had best be ready for all that this Spirit might ask of us…When we pray ‘Come, Holy Spirit,’ we should pray in the next breath that we might be willing to follow wherever that Spirit might lead.”

Let us be bold

God is calling each of us forward in a personal way. We are not called to each become like Peter, but we are called to be the very best versions of ourselves. Ultimately, God does not seek to change us into a new person, he seeks to help us become exactly who we are. You have specific gifts that God had in mind when he decided, as I have written before, that he did not want his creation to go another day without you. Fr. Dan Leary, Fr. Hesburgh, and St. Peter all had specific paths laid out for them by God. You have your own.

Finding a Mary statue in the backyard brush was a fun little sign from the Holy Spirit, but the Spirit surely has even better surprises in store for each of us! In the week ahead, let’s each commit to praying, “Come, Holy Spirit,” as often as we can, and to see how this can make us more authentically ourselves.

Do not give in to fear or doubt. Do not think that you are unworthy or unable to do amazing things.

I’ll give Sister Mary Grace of the Sisters of Life the last word on this. In a recent talk, she reminded us, “What was given to Mary was given at Pentecost and is given to you. It is not restricted to the past or limited to the perfected; he specializes in falling upon our fears. God is devoted to casting out the fear in your life and regaining your gaze. Will we let him?”

Chris Crawford is our newest writer at Millennial.