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St. Louis EmblemThe cross is the basic symbol and the fleur de lis within it evokes and images our French beginnings and the Institute charism that emanated from the earliest years. In the smaller open spaces created by the inclusion of the fleur de lis symbol within the cross, you might see an added symbol – the three sided figure or triangle – the ancient symbol for the Trinity.It can also be understood as the three dimensions to our mission in the world: God who speaks to all the issues and situations in which we find ourselves; the whole course of history which has led us to this; and the present social reality. So, if we want to know what God is saying to our world, we have to listen in prayer and in theological reflection. This is the first point of the small triangle. Every issue or reality is also situated against a background of history, tradition and culture – those invisible forces. We need to know the context of the issue: the tradition from which they have emerged, if we are to be of service in the Church in its present reality. The second point in the triangle can be seen as this dimension of history and tradition. The third point is the present social reality. We can only be relevant as an Institute if we are ministering out of an awareness of the economic, political, cultural and social realities of our times. If we perceive the gap between the Gospel and our world we will be shocked into a real response, but only if the other two dimensions of prayer and historical context are kept in balance also. So much of the present reality of violence, injustice and destruction of the earth and its gifts has been caused by human sinfulness and not just given by God. This gives us our understanding of the specifics of our mission which must be firmly placed in the truth of today’s world. The whole of our life in held within the cross through which we have been given life. |
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