So it is with the Holy Spirit. This requires much trust and abandonment. So it is with the Holy Spirit in our lives. When this is properly understood, we should be in awe and greatly anticipate what God has in mind for us while we travel this pilgrimage on earth! Everyone following the will of the Father and living out their Christian dignity as sons and daughters of God. : The Spirit breathed on the waters at the beginning of Creation and is responsible for the principle of life. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy, Books from My Catholic Life! The Holy Ghost is … —In prayer, wherein he intercedes for us; We do not even know how to pray by ourselves. Next: Chapter 7 – The Church: The Living Body of Christ! He is there in His fullness, veiled by the liturgical action itself. This is a marking of God and a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. REFLECTIONS ON THE SPIRIT OF PENTECOST Jennifer Wortman/Guest contributer 05/26/2020 W ARREN, PA — I sit on my front porch, enjoying a gorgeous sunny day and I reflect on the fact that we have been living through isolation and quarantine in our diocese since March 17 th.None of us could have ever imagined life without Mass, the sacraments or community for ten weeks. An Infant Rejoices in the Presence of the Lord! We see the Holy Spirit alive in various ways in the Church today. At the beginning of time, we were slowly made aware of the reality of God the Father. Cloud and light: We see these images in the Old and New Testament. Now that’s saying a lot. And what are these divine qualities that they each share in? Source: Irish Catholic Media Office. Water also signifies death to sin. Each wants the other to completely possess the gift of who they are. The cloud is a masking and veiling of the presence of the Spirit, and the light is but a small portion of the radiance of the Holy Spirit shining forth. They share the same will and act in unison in fulfilling this will. A charism is a spiritual gift given to someone for the good of the Church. To be “consubstantial” means that God the Holy Spirit is of the same divine substance or the same divine nature as the Father and the Son. This bestowing of the Holy Spirit is seen in John 20:22. Promise, Theophanies, and the Law: God spoke to Moses, Joshua and the great prophets in various ways. Also, the prophets were anointed with oil to symbolize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on them for their ministry. We also learn that the Holy Spirit has spoken to us already through the prophets. : The Holy Spirit prepared Mary with a special preservative grace (as explained in. The Holy Spirit is the “Holy Breath of God.”  This image is seen in various places in the Scriptures. Resources. God’s light and goodness shine on them and through them for all to see. It was the finger of God that gave the Ten Commandments. The Holy Spirit also has the unique role of animating the Church in our day and age. It is the role of the Holy Spirit to enkindle within us the grace we need in order to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and to know the Father as our Father. Good question. For example, when you see a tree swaying, you know that the wind is blowing. Though we may not be able to tangibly perceive where the Holy Spirit comes from, we will be able to see the effects of the Spirit. It is poured at baptism, and the Holy Spirit is subsequently poured in that act. The Sacramental Liturgy is the most powerful way that God is present to us right here, right now. Or. It is by way of a holy kiss that Christ breaths his Holy Spirit into the Church. In this passage, Jesus offers an image of how the Holy Spirit works in us. The Holy Ghost Only one thing is important ~ eternal salvation. As a Person, the Holy Spirit is one we can be in relation with. Why? Rather, the Holy Spirit has been active with the Father and the Son from all eternity. It was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites through the desert. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. We see the Holy Spirit alive in various ways in the Church today. At the Annunciation, Mary conceived her Savior, and the Savior of the whole world, “by the power of the Holy Spirit.”. Anointing: The symbol of anointing with oil also signifies an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit! It is Pentecost 2020. All of us are on a journey of faith, and sharing the joys and struggles of our daily walk with the Lord affirms that we are not alone. What actually gives life? These manifestations of God’s presence are theophanies. He is One, yet He is also Three. And this perfect sharing in these attributes unites them and enables them to act as one. Subscribe to our Daily Gospel Reflections via Email! He wants to inspire each and every one of us for a powerful work He has given only to us. Reflect, today, upon the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. We do not see Him with our eyes, but He is there. And they are the only three Persons who share in this one divine nature. Jesus was transfigured in light. The most common attacks on Catholic belief concerning the Holy Spirit generally come from quasi-Christian sects such as the Iglesia Ni Cristo , Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others who deny the central mystery of the Christian faith—the Trinity. Not that the Holy Spirit wasn’t already with Him fully. Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, A Mysterious Pregnancy and Apparent Scandal, The Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, The Sorrowful Heart of Our Blessed Mother. There are many ways the Holy Spirit has been revealed to us throughout the ages. We need special charism (gifts) to accomplish this responsibility. And, don’t overlook the three additional reflections! Therefore, the Holy Spirit lives within us (see 1 Cor 6:19). The Breath of Life 'Spirit' is from a Latin word meaning air in motion, such as breath or the wind. If you think hard about it, you’ll discover that “life” is hard to define. This means that the Holy Spirit did not just appear after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Allow yourself to be led and moved by the Breath of God and anticipate great things in your life. Come Holy Spirit with your seven great gifts. Each one of these images reveals a unique characteristic of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is often described as the love between God the Father and God the Son. For example, John 20:22 says that Jesus “breathed on them and said to them, ‘receive the Holy Spirit.’”  The breath of God or wind of God is seen many places in the Scriptures, as we will see in our next section. The Holy Spirit is the “Holy Breath of God.”  This image is seen in various places in the Scriptures. Approach “Reflections on the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary” with an open heart and open mind and with gentle patience and you will discover the rewards that it has to offer. Reflect, today, upon the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. The saints are the great witnesses of God. The human author of each book of the Scriptures, as explained in Chapter 1, is a true author of the Holy Scriptures. But the human author is not the only one writing the book or letter. What sustains life? Please note that I am not a theologian or any sort of expert on Holy Scripture. We also profess that the human author wrote under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit! We see this in several of the sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders). They receive various charisms and are given a new strength and boldness to proclaim the Gospel. “Con” means “with,” and “substantial” means “substance.”  Again, this is philosophical terminology that our Church has used to try to vaguely put into language the relationships between these three divine Persons. The, The human author of each book of the Scriptures, as explained in. If you did not receive an email please check your spam and other folders. And we, on our part, respond. Many people remain isolated. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. Among the greatest of these actions is the Most Holy Eucharist. With the gift of knowledge, we come to know the true value of creation in relation to the Creator.This is important for all those times when we are surrounded by beauty, but we don’t think of anything except ourselves. The Holy Spirit has been around from before the beginning of time and has been made manifest throughout the history of our Universe. Thus, their inability to keep the law was a sign they needed more. We do, however, perceive the effects of the wind. The Heart of Perfect Love and Self-Giving, The Cross, the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother, The Profound Teaching of the Holy Eucharist, God Becomes Man—Nine Months Before Christmas. In doing so, we are able to discover God in His creation, … Thus, their inability to keep the law was a sign they needed more. We know the Holy Spirit…. But it’s also important to point out that the age we are in now, the age after the life, death, resurrection and ascension of the Son, is especially the age of the Holy Spirit! Restrictions continue. Jesus, I trust in You. Come Holy Spirit, renew within me the grace of my Baptism and lead me each and every day in accord with Your divine will. Or, As we look at the workings of the Holy Spirit, we see various ways that He has and continues to work in our lives and in the life of the Church. Finger:  It was by the “finger” of God that Jesus did many great works. It is by John’s hand that Jesus was baptized after which the Holy Spirit descended in manifest form. This shows the power of the Holy Spirit to act in us and to use us as instruments. Particularly in terms of practicing our faith, and specifically in terms of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Jesus, I trust in You. And the Spirit loves us just as He loves the Father and the Son. Charisms could be as amazing as being prophetic or healing the sick, or they could be as ordinary (but necessary) as being able to organize activities within the Church in an exemplary way. Hand: The laying on of hands is a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, Gift of God's Love. This is seen in Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and the Anointing of the Sick. Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Preparation for Advent – Feast of St. Andrew, Humility of Service, Nourished by the Eucharist. If our lives are under the power and care of the Holy Spirit, we do not know where we will be led. God invites us to consider wisely all that has been happening and to weigh up the choices we make. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared ~ sin. As Catholic Christians we are all called to be his disciples and participate in the plan Jesus has for the world with the help of the Holy Spirit. And this is an action of the Holy Spirit. When lovers kiss, it is as if they are trying to breath their spirits into each other. : God spoke to Moses, Joshua and the great prophets in various ways. The Holy Spirit will enlighten us if we live in Him. This is a marking of God and a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. kingdoms would fall as people failed to live by the law which was revealed by the Spirit. So let’s take a closer look at the activity of the Holy Spirit. Today, the spirit often times is associated with the wind, which is I think why back in the 90s, Rock springs you know, Discerned Rock Springs Catholics discerned to name this Catholic community Holy Spirit After the wind that blows through southwest Wyoming, there is a glorious freedom almost capricious, but it's also all about doing what it's designed to do. This grace was given by a special working of the Holy Spirit by applying the merits of her Son’s death and Resurrection to her at the moment of her conception. This was God’s way of slowly revealing the full truth of Who He is over time. This is the time when the Holy Spirit is especially active in our world and in the Church. Dove: Perhaps this is the most common symbol of the Holy Spirit. The Great I AM. He also was God. It was the finger of God that gave the Ten Commandments. But as time passed, we were also made aware of the Messiah who was the Son of God. These manifestations of God’s presence are theophanies. : To be marked or sealed with God is an action of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is now revealed in a different manner. EWTN is a global, Catholic Television, Catholic Radio, ... Reflections. : Water signifies the Holy Spirit in that it is poured and cleanses. He analogizes the Holy Spirit to the wind. But why they work is another question. The proper question is not “what” but “Who.”  “Who is the Holy Spirit” is the right question because the Holy Spirit is a Person. In the Liturgy, we use words and symbols through which God shows up and is made manifest. Holy Spirit, I give You my life and invite You to come to me, to overshadow me and to fill me with Your divine presence. In that verse, the resurrected Jesus is appearing to the Apostles in the upper room behind closed doors. Not that the Holy Spirit wasn’t already with Him fully. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Jesus promised His Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to His disciples. It is by John’s hand that Jesus was baptized after which the Holy Spirit descended in manifest form. : Fire transforms that which it touches. Seal: To be marked or sealed with God is an action of the Holy Spirit. The works of the Holy Spirit were revealed to us more fully after this time, helping us to understand Him as a divine Person. We say, in philosophical language, that the Holy Spirit is “consubstantial” with the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified. We see this in several of the sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders). Prayer is communication with God, and the ultimate form of communication we are called to have with God in prayer is surrender and love. The Holy Spirit did not just start to act at that time. :  It was by the “finger” of God that Jesus did many great works. Call the Duncanville Crisis Pregnancy Center, 972.298-1900, or the White Rose Center, 214.821-6292, or Catholic Charities to find out what you can do. The Holy Spirit, River of Grace. Jesus: Jesus is the “Anointed One.”  He is filled with the Holy Spirit and one with the Holy Spirit. Many of our local agencies need volunteers to help in assisting young women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Not in the same way that He once inspired the books of the Bible, but certainly in powerful ways nonetheless. Additionally, we do not know where the wind goes once it passes. He is the great gift that the Risen Lord breaths into the world. Jesus was transfigured in light. As members of the Church, we are called to evangelize by spreading the Gospel far and wide. From the Church, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ brings every believer to a new existence, to deeper intimacy and directs our deeds and our journey to eternal life. The “Church” here means everyone who is alive in Christ. This year the theme of these Lenten homilies is the work of the Holy Spirit, based on the biblical verse from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 3: ‘No-one can say “Jesus is Lord”, except by the Holy Spirit.’ The Holy Spirit is one member of the Holy Trinity. Water also signifies death to sin. This is not something the Holy Spirit will do again, inspiring more Scripture to be written. Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. One God, three divine Persons. Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, National Liturgical Calendars of the World. Or a mysterious aspect of God’s life. A theophany is a manifestation of God, by the working of the Holy Spirit, pointing to the promise of God that will ultimately be fulfilled by the Holy Spirit. He is there in His fullness, veiled by the liturgical action itself. Who is the Holy Spirit and why should you care? Charisms are especially necessary for the apostolic and missionary activity of the Church. : Pentecost is the clearest manifestation of the Holy Spirit. They needed the fullness of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist: John was “filled with the Holy Spirit” from his mother’s womb. In the Eucharist, we have a unity of Heaven and Earth. But the fact that the human author was inspired and was used as such a powerful instrument should tell us not only much about this wonderful gift of the Bible, it should also tell us much about the fact that the Holy Spirit wants to use us humans for divine work. Mary Pribbenow, a lifelong member of Holy Spirit Parish, recently began sharing short daily That Messiah would come and, in the end, bestow the Holy Spirit. In the end, at His death He “gave up His Spirit.”  And after His Resurrection He breathed the Spirit on the Apostles and promised to send His Spirit on all as He was preparing to ascend into Heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that the knowledge of faith that allows us to call Jesus Lord and to call God our Father is possible only in the Holy Spirit. Do you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? Reflections on the Pandemic and the Mass. Why is this the case? So the Holy Spirit has been very much alive and active in the history of our world and continues to be active in the life of the Church. Jesus promised His Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to His disciples. Because true prayer is something that must be a response to God. Both of these naturally suggest life. There have been many images of the Holy Spirit used in Scripture. The Father is especially seen and revealed in the creation of the world, the Son is especially seen and revealed in the redemption of the world after it fell from innocence, and the Holy Spirit is now clearly seen and revealed as the one active in our lives and in the Church sanctifying (making holy) all who follow Jesus and all who seek the will of the Father. This Holy Spirit is a mystery far beyond the grasp of the human mind, but the Bible tells us much about the Spirit, a divine breath that gives life to the world and wisdom to the minds of men and women. Confused? He was the greatest of the prophets who spoke with the anointing of the Spirit of God. As You fill me, give me the wisdom I need to speak of Your greatness and to be an instrument through which others are drawn into the glorious celebration of the birth of the Savior of the World. Come Holy Spirit, renew within me the grace of my Baptism and lead me each and every day in accord with Your divine will. 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