On Thursday, September 9, Boston College celebrated its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit at noon. Due to the rain, it took place inside Conte Forum rather than on the O’Neill Plaza. Nevertheless, students, faculty, and staff poured into the seats of the hockey stadium to take part in this long-standing Jesuit tradition. The bleak weather did not hinder attendance, especially since last year when, due to COVID-19, the congregation was limited to reservations at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church or otherwise online streaming. That the Mass of the Holy Spirit this year took place in one of its usual locations on campus seemed to be a welcome return to normalcy.
University President Fr. William Leahy, S.J. presided over the Mass, while Campus Minister and Visiting Professor at the Boston College Law School, Fr. Nathaniel Romano, S.J., provided the homily. The Mass was concelebrated by Haub Vice President for University Mission and Ministry Reverend John T. Butler, S.J. and other priests from the Jesuit communities at Boston College.
The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition for the opening of the school year at Jesuit institutions that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was first celebrated in 1548, when St. Ignatius of Loyola sent 10 priests to establish the first Jesuit school in Messina, Sicily. Centuries later, the Mass of the Holy Spirit is still being celebrated at Jesuit institutions worldwide, and is an important part of Boston College’s identity as a Jesuit university. During this Mass, the University calls on the Third Person of the Holy Trinity to impart wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, and knowledge unto students and faculty alike as they anticipate the new school year.
Frank Wilhelm IV, CSOM ‘24, for whom this year’s Mass of the Holy Spirit was his first, commented: “To be welcomed into this year filled with new opportunities surrounded by the Boston College faith community was a wonderful experience.”
During his homily Fr. Romano stated, “As we gather together here at the start of our academic year, we invoke the Spirit of the Living God… to gather us, to form us, to renew and remake us.”
He harkened back to the words of the prophet Ezekiel from the first reading: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ez. 36:26) Fr. Romano also reminded the congregation that because of the great diversity of the Boston College community, it is vital to invite the Holy Spirit to bring it together.
Throughout the Mass, the Liturgy Arts Group, directed by Campus Minister Meyer Chambers, assisted worship by singing hymns that echoed the University’s call to the Holy Spirit and the reading from Ezekiel, such as Come, Holy Ghost and O Breathe on Me, O Breath of God. Finally, the Mass concluded the way it commenced, with an academic procession featuring members of the Jesuit community and faculty donning their religious and academic dress.
Featured image courtesy of Ethan Byrne, Campus Ministry
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