Blessed Mother, Holy Spirit at ND
“In prayer and meditation we can find the tranquility and the transforming power of the presence of God. Union with God is, ultimately, the only basis on which our community with others can rest.”
—Father Hesburgh, in The Humane Imperative*
Michael O'Brien's Hesburgh: A Biography reports that, after Father Hesburgh's retirement, "reading his breviary, celebrating Mass, and praying the rosary remained the constants in his life."
Father Hesburgh's 13th-floor office in the Hesburgh Library includes a chapel where he often celebrated Mass.
He was known for mentioning in many talks and homilies his love for the Blessed Mother, his urging to seek her intercession, and his enthusiasm about this University dedicated to Our Lady, "Notre Dame."
He is also known for advising people to say the simple prayer, "Come, Holy Spirit," whenever they faced a challenging moment. His confidence that the Spirit reliably responds with a powerful presence resonated with his audiences.
*Hesburgh, Theodore Martin. The Humane Imperative: Challenge for the Year 2000. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1974. Print.