Often the spire of a church serves as an
important landmark of a city. To see it up close raises your eyes heavenward,
and probably your thoughts as well. St. Stephen Cathedral in Vienna attracted
me the first evening I was there in 1990. I had to take the spiral staircase as far as I could, and
found not only a breath-taking view
but also a gift shop! The one in our Covington cathedral leads to the choir
loft and the majestic pipe organ. I often aspired
to play an instrument like that, and to hear an accomplished organist do it can
be so inspiring!
All of this word play has
led me further. This is what I found:
·
Spiritus
is the Latin noun for breath, and the verb is spirare – to breathe; “spirit” can also mean “soul” or “life”
·
Then there are all these prefixes to be
used in related words; ex meaning
“out,” re means “again,” a means “toward,” in means “within,” dis
means “apart”
·
When the soul leaves the body, a person expires
·
A respirator
may be used to revive one who has difficulty breathing
·
In our lifetime, we may have aspired to a higher calling and been inspired by a beautiful experience to
create something beautiful ourselves
Then of course, there are
words like conspire – to plan
together secretly, usually something negative (con =against), and perspire
– to breathe through the pores of the skin (per
= through).
At school, or a sports
event, the students are in high spirits
when winning or ahead, and dispirited
when losing, (as we all can be.) There are many other similar occasions.
Think of all the times
you have used these related words.
Allow me one more spirit/spire-related word: What has transpired in the past two months that
has changed or “come across” into your spirit?
Jesus
breathed on his apostles, and they were filled with the Spirit, with power to
forgive, and he promised the Spirit would return again after He ascended.
As
we prepare for Pentecost this year, let us once again allow the Spirit to
restore our own good spirit and positive thinking, as we recuperate from the
time of quarantine, social distancing and fear of the pandemic plaguing the
world.
Sr. Mary Carol Hellmann, OSB
Hi Mary Carol. I enjoyed this post because I love analyzing the meanings of words and yours raised my SPIRITS!
ReplyDeleteDear Sister, thank you for reminding me of these wonderful connections, and the heavenly gift of Latin marrying English. I was studying the early years in England and learnt that the golden time was just before the time of the greatest English royal saint. There's an important message here. Latin was the great language of Western Europe for education science medicine and law. English has taken its place. Soon, we will have congregations who will be comfortable with the Mass given in English, even though it is their second language. Latin is English. Also for the first time, the Russian, Syrian, Coptic and other Orthodox liturgies have been made available in beautiful English -- in the last 30 years. For the Orthodox also, English has become beautiful. The beautiful spires of medieval Europe. I ask for them to be shared between the great Christian groups. Let us climb a spire of hope together, and breathe the fresh air. Pneuma Grk pronounce it like pnevma -- breathe to us Holy Spirit the healing strength of God's love. A holy language lesson and a catechesis for the mind. Let me learn the words for wind and breath and spirit in Hindi, in Chinese and Korean and Japanese, what is it in Sanskrit, in Pali and in the ancient hieroglyphics -- we have found the source of life in God. It is certain that he made all languages and all peoples. If we are wise we will find His love there also. Christ is ascended, Pentecost is near, Happy Easter always, OSB. God bless you amen.
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