The Gift Of the Holy Spirit
“Bowing his head he handed over the Spirit” (Jn 19:30). The Brothers of the Beloved Disciple are a community that has a special emphasis on the Holy Spirit. We seek to receive fully Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit, living baptized in the Holy Spirit with the love, power, guidance, spiritual gifts/charisms, fruits, unitive power, and transforming power (holiness) of the Holy Spirit. We seek to be a reminder of the charismatic dimension of the Church, and support the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement in the Church, which has pontifical status (directly under the Pope). Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict and Pope Francis have all encouraged Charismatic Renewal to help the whole Church realize the full gift of the Holy Spirit. We seek to respond to this call of the Popes, and want to help every Catholic to grow in their relationship with the Holy Spirit. In John’s Gospel we are told by Jesus how important it is to take the Holy Spirit as our Advocate. (Jn 16:5-15; 14:15-18, 25-27; 15:26-27).
The Gift of a Community of Faith “Standing” with Jesus
Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalen, other women, and the beloved disciple together form a community at the cross (Jn 19:25: “Standing by the cross of Jesus”). The Brothers of the Beloved Disciple are a community that unites for a common purpose; supports each other; and is given power to stand together through challenges and dark times. We stand against the “culture of death” in our world. On the third day after Jesus’ death the beloved disciple arrives at the tomb before Peter, but waits for Peter to enter first (Jn 20:1-9). The Brothers of the Beloved Disciple stand with the Church as a community that is faithful to the Catholic Church’s teachings and obedient to the Holy Father, the Pope.
The Gift of Mary
The beloved disciple is given to Mary, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, is given to the beloved disciple, and all Jesus’ beloved disciples (Jn 19:26-27). The Brothers of the Beloved Disciple are a community that takes Mary as “our own,” giving her a place in the home of our hearts. Mary is a model and mother for us in learning the ways of the Holy Spirit.
- Surrender to the Holy Spirit and Baptism in the Spirit (Lk 1:34-38): With Mary we want to allow the Holy Spirit to come upon us and the power of the Most High to overshadow us as we say with her, “Let it be done to me according to your word.”
- Prayer of Praise: With Mary we say, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God, my savior” (Lk: 1:46-55).
- Prayer of Pondering/Reflective Listening (1:29; 2:19, 51): With Mary we ponder the Scriptures and God’s actions in our lives, leading to growth in wisdom and maturity. We practice the “5 Silences” to grow in an attentive, listening, interior silence.
- Spirit of Faith: With Mary we say, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” and “Do whatever he tells you”(Jn 2:5), entrusting ourselves to God and acting with a spirit of faith; an expectant, bold faith.
- Openness to Spiritual Gifts (charisms): With Mary we exercise the spiritual gifts of prophecy, service, faith, words of wisdom and knowledge, tongues, etc.
- Intercession: Like Mary at the Marriage Feast of Cana (Jn 2:1-11), we intercede with expectant faith for the needs of individuals, the Church, and the world.
- Community Building: Like Mary (Visitation, Jesus’ birth, Cana, the cross, Pentecost) we seek to bring people together in communities of faith. Mary has a maternal presence that brings people together with her son, Jesus.
- Spiritual Childhood: With Mary we proclaim that the Lord “has looked on his handmaid’s lowliness (littleness)…and has lifted up the lowly (little ones)” (Lk 1:48, 52). We seek to share in Mary’s humility, simplicity, childlike trust, and special love for God’s little ones.
The Gifts of Discipleship and Love as Beloved Disciples
In John’s Gospel John is never named, but is called “the one whom Jesus loved” (Jn 13:23) or “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn 19:26; 20:2; 21:20). The Brothers of the Beloved Disciple are a community that seeks to live like John as disciples of Jesus; knowing we are loved by Jesus; always learning from Jesus; and ready to follow wherever Jesus leads us. We live Jesus’ call to love one another as Jesus has loved us, seeking to continually grow in holiness.
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