In the Voice of Moreau: Our lives should never be complacent. We should never think that we have “got it right,” as if we might arrive one day at some celestial couch on which to rest eternally – no! We human beings are instead built for the drama of death and new life. Unique among all species, we have that constant capacity to let go, to become willing, to trust and on the other side to change, to be transformed, and to become a new person. This is the pattern of our salvation and the essence of the Kingdom of God. Isn’t this what the Lord was revealing to us at his baptism? He was sinless, yet chose to be baptized, stooping down from the river banks to enter into the rushing waters, only to rise again in the presence of the life-giving spirit and his heavenly father. Indeed his whole life testifies to the reality of this pattern from his humble birth to his public ministry, from the countryside to Jerusalem, from the cross to the empty tomb, from poverty to glory. When will our hearts stop searching for that one “thing” that we falsely believe will unlock our happiness? When then will we take the plunge with our Lord into this glorious and cosmic dance? Let us therefore, right here and now, make the decision to abandon all those empty visions and dreams that simply serve to derail our restless hearts on this journey of salvation. Let us resolve to walk with our Lord on this path no matter what! Ave Crux Spes Unica!
Holy Cross Educator’s Reply: “We human beings are built for the drama of death and new life”—to be transformed into new persons. Certainly, this phenomenon occurs countless times in the life of a Christian who progressively becomes a facet of the multifaceted Face of God. For the CSC educator, the essence of the interaction between teacher and student is the consistent practice of informing intellects and forming hearts unto the transformation of souls. To transform anything is to rebuild it, to reconstitute it, to cause its death so to blossom once again. Recall that Blessed Moreau teaches that one must possess the call to teach, the vocation to desire to engage in the cosmic dance. Initially, it is the teacher who encourages and facilitates students to learn the moves of the dance—to learn how to dance school. Through consistent modeling of the behaviors of engaged learning and scholarship, the teacher’s intent is for the student to periodically die and re-blossom as an ever more proficient master of the dance . Blessed Moreau counsels young teachers, and master teachers too, that they “must not come to believe that it is age, body size, tone of voice, or threats that give teachers authority and inspire respect.” No, rather “[it is] a character that is fair, firm, and modest, one that is consistent at all times and that never acts without reason or through outbursts.” (Christian Education) The reasonable CSC dance master orchestrates the many moves of the many dances along the journey with the Lord. Let each educator heed the invitation of the old Shaker hymn. “Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the Dance, said He. And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be, And I’ll lead you all in the Dance, said He.” Ave Crux Spes Unica!
Voice of Moreau 