Breath of the Spirit

Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching, and Social Justice Moments brought to you by www.DignityUSA.org.

Breath of the Spirit is DignityUSA’s electronic spiritual and liturgical resource for our members and potential members. Nothing can replace your chapter or other faith community, but we hope you will find further support here for integrating your spirituality with your sexuality and all the strands of your life.

We welcome relevant homilies, inspirational writings, social justice opportunities, or theological articles from other sources also — particularly from wise women and men who can help us grow as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) and allied Catholic/Christians. You may volunteer to help with this program or send your comments by e-mailing info@DignityUSA.org ATTN: Breath of the Spirit.

MAY 27, 2007: Pentecost

Readings:

Acts 2:1-11

Romans 8:8-11

John 20:19-23

Our Christian sacred authors don't agree on a timeline for the Holy Spirit's arrival. Yet they all agree on the importance and necessity of the Spirit's presence in the community.

MAY 20, 2007: The Ascension of Jesus

Readings:

Acts 1:1-11

Ephesians 1:17-23

Luke 24:46-53

One drawback of celebrating Jesus' ascension on the Seventh Sunday of Easter is that every three years we don't hear one of the most important readings in the Christian Scriptures: the Acts narrative of Stephen's death. Many Lucan scholars believe this passage contains the first biblical mention of the belief that when Christians die they instantly find themselves in the risen Jesus' presence.

MAY 13, 2007: Sixth Sunday of Easter

Readings:

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29

Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23

John 14:23-29

Karl Rahner often mentioned that there have been only four radical changes in Christianity. “The first three,” he contended, “happened in the church’s first century and a half; the fourth took place in my lifetime.”

MAY 6, 2007: Fifth Sunday of Easter

Readings:

Acts 14:21-27

Revelation 21:1-5a

John 13:31-33a, 34-35

Luke mentions some significant items in today’s Acts reading. Perhaps the most significant is most frequently overlooked. “After proclaiming the word in Perga (Paul and Barnabas) went down to Attalia.

Vision Statement

DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality, and as beloved persons of God participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society.