Catholic schools often begin each school year with a Mass of the Holy Spirit, a tradition that has been carried on for centuries. During this Mass, prayers are offered for the guidance and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, work, and the world. It is a time of hope and joy as we embark on new beginnings and anticipate the positive impact the Holy Spirit will have among us.
However, this year’s Masses take on a different significance in light of recent events in Managua, Nicaragua. In August, the authoritarian government of Nicaragua seized the Universidad Centroamericana de Managua (UCA), a Jesuit university. The regime shut down the university, confiscated its assets, and dismissed its administration, faculty, and staff. Crosses were removed from chapels, and the name of the university was erased from its buildings. The Jesuits who lived near the university were also forced out of their homes by the police.
The UCA was not the first university to be targeted by the autocratic government of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, but it was arguably the most significant. The students and staff at UCA had been bravely speaking out against the regime for years. Many students had already faced persecution or imprisonment for their political activism, advocating for democracy and social justice. Administrators and professors had also been forced into exile.
The government claimed that it shut down the university for “fostering terrorism,” but the real reason was that the UCA was doing what universities are meant to do: seeking truth through critical study, dialogue, and social analysis. It fearlessly spoke out against injustice and oppression. The UCA embodied the mission of Jesuit universities, drawing on faith in God and the Holy Spirit’s work for justice and reconciliation in the world. The UCA sought truth and promoted justice, goals that resonate with Jesuit institutions like ours at America Jesuit universities.
As we celebrate our Masses of the Holy Spirit in Jesuit universities in the United States, we are reminded of the absence of this tradition at UCA-Managua in the upcoming academic year. This compels us to reflect on why we engage in this practice and use these words, realizing that we should never take it for granted. It highlights the radical nature of our mission and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in our world. It also emphasizes our audacity in asking God to send the Holy Spirit among us.
The Scripture readings during our Masses depict a pivotal moment in Christian salvation history. In the Gospel passage from John, we witness the disciples hiding in a locked room out of fear. They had seen what happened to Jesus when he challenged the norms and divisions of his time, advocating for justice and liberation. The disciples were tempted to remain silent and give up on the difficult work of justice. But Jesus appears to them, bringing peace and reminding them of their grounding in him.
In an intimate act, Jesus breathes on the disciples, imparting the gift of the Holy Spirit. He sends them out as agents of truth and reconciliation, urging them to confront the sin and injustice in the world. The Acts of the Apostles show how this encounter with the Holy Spirit ignites a fire within the disciples. They go out into the streets, engaging people from all walks of life, speaking a language that resonates with each individual.
The words they speak offer a new vision, even in a divided time and city. Their message challenges oppression and violence, embracing and cherishing differences instead of trying to eliminate them. St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians uses the metaphor of the body to emphasize that every member is essential and has something valuable to contribute. This radical message affirms that no one is superior by design and that inclusivity is crucial for truth and justice to prevail.
The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a radical act because it calls us to double down on our pursuit of truth. It encourages dialogue across cultures, disciplines, and social status. It challenges us to have difficult conversations that our society often avoids. It reminds us that the well-being of each individual is interconnected with the well-being of all.
During the Mass, we do not simply celebrate or worship the Holy Spirit. We invoke the Holy Spirit, begging God to send the Holy Spirit upon us, our university, and our world. Left to our own devices, we might choose to remain silent or stick to our own ways. But with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we can live out the words we use in our community—truth and justice—and let them resound for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humanity.
(Note: This essay is an adaptation of a homily delivered at Georgetown University’s Mass of the Holy Spirit on August 22, 2023.)