ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
"The Gift of God is the Holy Spirit. The Gift of God is Love. God shares Himself as love in the Holy Spirit. The ultimate thirst of men cries out for the Holy Spirit. He is the fresh water without which there is no life." Pope Benedict XVI
We are approaching Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. We must develop a greater RELATIONSHIP with Him, the Guest of our souls. Bl. Pope John Paul ll the Great as a child was reprimanded by his father for not praying enough to the Holy Spirit and developing this relationship - which began for him a lifelong growth and and docility to His love and inspirations.
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son, with the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified, He has spoken through the prophets." Nicene Creed
He is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. Also called the Paraclete, Advocate (He who is called to one's side), Sactifier, Consoler, Spirit of Truth.
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son and is the Love between Them.
He is completely EQUAL to the Father and the Son because He is God.
The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church - He is the soul of the Church - as the source of its life and it is attributed to Him to sanctify souls through the gift of grace.
The Holy Spirit TRANSFORMS!
Look at how He transformed the Apostles from scared and timid men into courageous witnesses to the Risen Christ - set ablaze with the Fire of Divine Love.
As He breathes over the waters in Genesis, bringing order out of chaos, the Holy Spirit brings order and peace to a chaotic soul as Jesus becomes the center with all ordered around him in balance.
The Holy Spirit brings the Gift of Joy to a soul. Jesus said, "No one will take your joy away." A deep and abiding peace.
Gives to your soul His Gifts:
In Baptism you receive the Gifts of:
FAITH: So we could believe in God and all that He has said and revealed to us and that Holy Church proposes for our belief.
HOPE: So we could desire the Kingdom of Heaven and Eternal Life as our happiness. Placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength but on the help and grace of the Holy Spirit.
LOVE: So we could love God above all things for His sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
SEVEN GIFTS:
FEAR OF THE LORD: Fear of offending the One I love - God. Love is the motive, not servile fear of being punished. It ensures awe and reverence before God.
FORTITUDE: Persevering in living a life of grace amidst difficulties, trials, and temptations.
PIETY: Leads one to devotion to God. A development of affection for God as a child has for his parents. To do all for His honor and glory!
COUNSEL: A light we receive to direct our steps along God's path and will for us in our actions and lives. Enables us to choose what is pleasing to God and good for ourselves.
KNOWLEDGE: Insights into the mysterious relationship between creatures and our relationship with God. To know the distance between creature and Creator, and to know my dignity of being a son or daughter of God and of being infinitely loved by Him in His mercy. To realize the importance of things of the earth in relation to Eternity. Seeing all things in the light of Truth.
UNDERSTANDING: To go into the deeper meaning of spiritual truths. A penetrating light into the Christian mysteries.
WISDOM: To see with the eyes of the Lord. Vision of how things look "from above." Wisdom enables one to know the purpose and plan of God
THE MISSION
"There is a mission, and for that mission the Lord has established a Church." Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago.
The Holy Spirit and the Son have a joint-mission - when the Father sends His Son He always sends His Breath. The Holy Spirit reveals Christ to others. After the Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven this joint mission is manifested in children adopted by the Father in Christ Jesus. He told the disciples they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they would be His witnesses ( comes from the word martyr).
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon the entire People of God - people consecrated to God and sent by God to announce the Gospel of salvation. Having been sealed witht the Spirit and called to Holiness." Bl. Pope John Paul ll the Great
THE LORD NEEDS YOU TO GIVE THIS WITNESS BY WORD AND EXAMPLE OF THE LOVE OF THE RISEN LORD TO OTHERS SO THAT THEY TOO MAY RECOGNIZE THE LOVE OF GOD FOR THEM!
A PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT by Cardinal Mercier
I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to all the noises of the world in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctuary of your baptized soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him: O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will. If youdo this your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gates of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.
JESUS SAID, "I HAVE COME TO CAST A FIRE UPON THE EARTH, HOW I WISH IT WERE ALREADY ABLAZE."
BECOME ALL FIRE!
