Breathing life into the soul
TCEO Staff Commissioning Mass
Allow me to be a little metaphysical this morning. It is a new year and I am sure your brains are fresh and ready for a little exercise.
We understand that each of us are made up of body and soul. We human beings, unique among all living beings, are both corporeal and spiritual.
Our Christian understanding is fuelled firstly by an extraordinary statement in the Book of Genesis: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him”. (Gen 1:27)
This is a radical statement. We, human beings, creatures, share in the very nature of God. Now, we are not God, but there is something of God in us. God has given us something of his own nature.
Further on, the Book of Genesis describes the actual creation of the first human being in these words: “then the Lord God formed man of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life”. (Gen 2:7)
Now, for my metaphysical musings: How are the soul and body connected? How do they interact?
The soul is not an extrinsic form of the body, like a ghost. The soul just doesn’t rest within the body. The soul is the very foundation of the body’s existence.
Without a forming, animating soul the body is not a body at all. It is just a pile of organs and limbs. The soul contains the body and pervades it, energising all the body’s functions.
We are one reality as human beings. We are human, not two natures united but one nature.
One vital part of that animation of the body is that the soul is the spiritual principle of the person. It is through the soul that we are in communion with God.
This is where we are wonderfully unique among all creation and have a dignity and a destiny designed quite purposely by God.
Thus, ends the metaphysical excursion.
Why have I raised this for you at the commencement of the school year?
For one key reason principally: this truth about our nature as human beings as being body and soul is the reality of each of our students that we are privileged to educate and guide in our schools. Our students have the life of the soul.
Each student has this extraordinary dignity as a human being. They are body/soul in a union so complete that they live in both the material and spiritual world, whether they know it or not.
That they may truly flourish as human beings we want to animate all aspects of their life. In particular, that they may be fully alive, we want to help animate the life of their soul.
This is where the theme of this Mass is important. We are invoking the Holy Spirit on our work this year.
In the Gospel, St John tells us that Jesus breathed on the apostles after his resurrection. He said, “receive the Holy Spirit”. It reminds us of the Genesis account, God breathed life into the man.
Jesus breathed the life of the Holy Spirit into his disciples, animating the life of their soul.
Our task as Catholic educators is to assist our students in coming to a fullness of life by the activation of the life of their souls. The Holy Spirit is the agent for this to happen. We are the instruments by which it can happen.
Today as you are commissioned for your work in Catholic Education for 2024 I propose that as we begin this year we are aware of the life of the soul – in each of us and in the students.
May we all – staff and students – grow this year in the life of the soul.
Archbishop Julian Porteous
Wednesday, 7 February 2024