The Grieving Spirit

Catholic New Times, Feb 8, 2004 by Mary Grey

   Dear Spirit of God

   I was young in those heady days,
   When the beloved Giovanni old man that he was.
   Flung open wide the casement of the fortress church.
   And let you blow free
   Through corridors of power, through rigid structures, deafened
   ears and hardened hearts.

   With a freedom rooted in the boundless mystery of God
   Your moved us into new horizons.
   With the foolish optimism of your vision--which many shared--
   It seemed a vision of the Church was given us
   Of pilgrim people seeking truth, (not owning it),
   Building bridges to all faith communities,
   And trusting, trusting human experiences of love.
   Believing in the body s goodness.
   Exhilarated by the knowing that Christ today is sought and found
   In embodied loving
   And justice struggles.

   And was it folly to believe
   that all God s people formed tins Body?
   Was it folly to believe
   That jewels of faith can flourish outside those corridors of power?
   That prophetic groups inspired by You
   Can speak for peace, for justice, for all that s good.
   And be the heart of that community we call Beloved?

   As psalmists of old cried out to you in desolation.
   I cry now, with the pain
   Of women, called to ministry, walking the piazza in silent protest,
   Theologians with voice suppressed, who seek a deeper truth.
   Priests of the Church, who yearn for ministry declericalised
   And power that s shared,
   And those excluded from communion.

   You grieve, dear Spirit, and I share your grief
   And shame, that we should see this day--
   The death of creams, slow bleeding of the vision of Pope John.
   And yet, as the tired breath of this millennium begins to falter,
   Could it be that the embers writ re-kindle.
   And you once again ignite the fires of ecclesia reborn?

   Come Holy Spirit!

Mary C. Grey is a contemporary feminist theologian at Saturn College, Salisbury. U.K. She is the author of ten books, including The Outrageous Pursuit of Hope: Prophetic Dreams for the 21st Century, and Sacred Longing: Ecofeminist Theology, and Globalization.