It also means that they act in perfect unity. But when we speak of “Tradition” with a capital “T,” we speak of the work of the Holy Spirit to continue teaching and guiding us through the successors of the Apostles in every day and age. “Spirit” being neuter, on the other hand, supposedly indicates we are dealing with an impersonal force rather than a person. Let the Spirit … Romans 11:33-34 tells us: “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! We see the Holy Spirit alive in various ways in the Church today. The Holy Spirit is one in being with the Father and the Son as the third person of the Trinity. 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 was transfigured in light. Six are listed in the “Immanuel Prophecy,” which describes an expected future ideal Davidic king: wisdom and understanding, counsel and strength … The Holy Spirit is the present-day advocate of Jesus Christ in our hearts. As a Person, the Holy Spirit is one we can be in relation with. We also learn that the Holy Spirit has spoken to us already through the prophets. When Jesus was nearing His trial and crucifixion, He promised his apostles that He would ask God to send them His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes us who we are as Christians. 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 brings us to the next chapter on the Church itself! What sustains life? The Holy Spirit is the “Holy Breath of God.” This image is seen in various places in the Scriptures. We see this in several of the sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders). From the teachings of Christ throughout the history of the Church, Christians believed and still believe that the Holy Spirit is an all-powerful Person. The Holy Spirit is a Person2 Tradition2.1 I. John 14:26, for example, refers to the Spirit as to pneuma to hagion (the Holy Spirit). And this is an action of the Holy Spirit. —In the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up; : The best translation for the term “Spirit” is “Ruah” or breath, air or wind. It was the Spirit who guided each word revealing what He wanted written. So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” The reason St. Paul tells us “no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” is because it would require infinite power to be able to comprehend the thoughts of God which are infinite. We also recall that Jesus laid hands on the sick to cure them. Gifts of the Holy Ghost. We respond to God calling and speaking, and this begins a process of prayer. The question is often asked, “How can you pour out a person? The Holy Spirit is spoken of as a “force,” or as “power” emanating from God, rather than as God himself. This is Tradition, and it is quite an ongoing gift! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! Turning to God, surrendering to Him, seeking Him and listening to Him all requires an action of the Holy Spirit upon us. We do not see Him with our eyes, but He is there. Thus we are really "sharers in the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). In that verse, the resurrected Jesus is appearing to the Apostles in the upper room behind closed doors. kingdoms would fall as people failed to live by the law which was revealed by the Spirit. For more information, please see the entire Catholic Encyclopedia article regarding the Holy Spirit. As outlined earlier in this Chapter, the Holy Spirit is the one teaching through the bishops, sanctifying us through prayer and the sacraments, and spreading the Good News through the apostolic works of the Church. It was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites through the desert. 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. : At Pentecost the Church is born. In John 4:24, Jesus says “God is spirit (Greek pneuma) and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” And in Hebrews 1:14, angels are referred to as “ministering spirits (Greek pneumata) sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation.” The key here is to examine the context and usage of a word in Scripture, rather than just its “gender,” in order to determine whether we are dealing with a person, a force, or perhaps just an arrow. Jesus says. Promise, Theophanies, and the Law: God spoke to Moses, Joshua and the great prophets in various ways. The Holy Spirit is God Job 33:4 – “The Spirit of God made me and the breath of the Almighty […] This is what the Nicene Creed (the one we say at Mass every Sunday) means when it sa… It is especially the Holy Spirit who enables these great saints to be shining examples of God’s love for all to see. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit …” Ephesians 4:30. In all your hardships, ask the Holy Spirit to console you. All of these point to the promise of God’s future gift of salvation. This title and the theory connected with it, like the theory of the fruits of the … Jesus wanted the Holy Spirit also to be sent to anyone else who believes in Him, in Jesus. “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. God’s light and goodness shine on them and through them for all to see. White is a symbol of purity, and its wings give it swiftness and agility to descend from the Heavens. It’s confusing to many. The proper question is not “what” but “Who.” “Who is the Holy Spirit” is the right question because the Holy Spirit is a Person. Holy Spirit, also called Paraclete or Holy Ghost, in Christian belief, the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit has an intellect and will and with those characteristics freely knows and loves as God. The Holy Spirit did not just start to act at that time. We see the Holy Spirit alive in various ways in the Church today. Next: Chapter 7 – The Church: The Living Body of Christ! Each one of these images reveals a unique characteristic of the Holy Spirit. As a Person, the Holy Spirit is one we can be in relation with. A divine Person. If we only consider John chapters 14, 15, and 16, the evidence is overwhelming. And it is by the finger of God that the Holy Spirit continues to work in our day and age. : Perhaps this is the most common symbol of the Holy Spirit. If you think hard about it, you’ll discover that “life” is hard to define. What actually gives life? We do not see Him with our eyes, but He is there. We can know and love the Holy Spirit just as we know and love the Father and the Son. First, we’ll examine Hebrews 3:7-10: Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Not in the same way that He once inspired the books of the Bible, but certainly in powerful ways nonetheless. We say, for example, in Confirmation that there is an indelible character, a spiritual character, a seal, that is impressed upon one’s soul. ” Would we say Jesus is just a force and not a person because he is “poured out” in this verse? The Holy Spirit would remain with them all after Jesus died, was resurrected and returned to the Father. These manifestations of God’s presence are theophanies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. Verse 13 tells us that the Holy Spirit “will guide [us] into all truth.” We have a hint here of what we see even more plainly in texts like 1 Corinthians 2:11: Scripture indicates the Holy Spirit is omniscient, a quality that God alone possesses or can possess. Why is this the case? : The laying on of hands is a sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 31:47 - Most of my family is Catholic and has received Confirmation, but they don’t seem like they’ve received the Holy Spirit. Consider Psalm 22. Because Jesus did not give us a 500 volume book of the law addressing each and every question that would ever arise in the areas of faith and morality. They share the same power as God and act as one God. Further, if being referred to as “spirit” indicates the third person of the Blessed Trinity is impersonal, then both angels and God the Father would have to be “forces” rather than persons as well. In the Liturgy, we use words and symbols through which God shows up and is made manifest. At His baptism, the Spirit descends in fullness upon Him. The fact that the Holy Spirit of God fully comprehends the thoughts of God proves beyond a reasonable doubt that his is, in fact, God. As Catholics, then, we must be able to respond to these two key misunderstandings concerning the Holy Spirit. Being of the same substance means that each Person of the Trinity shares in all the same qualities of this nature. The Holy Spirit Proceeds from the Father and the Son Scripture I. It symbolizes power, energy and transformation. We do not deny the verses of Scripture indicating his personhood because he is described as being “poured out” in Acts 2:17. One cannot teach and remind if one does not have the intellectual powers unique to rational persons that enable one to do so. This is a marking of God and a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Because true prayer is something that must be a response to God. The Holy Spirit also has the unique role of animating the Church in our day and age. Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is clearly a person. The Holy Spirit (Arabic: روح القدس Ruh al-Qudus, "the Spirit of Holiness") is mentioned four times in the Qur'an, where it acts as an agent of divine action or communication. From their childhood, Catholics learn to pray the sign of the cross: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”. But this does not necessarily mean the Holy Spirit is impersonal. As the disciples are gathered in the upper room, tongues as of fire descend upon them, and they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Or a mysterious aspect of God’s life. : To be marked or sealed with God is an action of the Holy Spirit. They have all-power, are all-knowing, and are all-loving. The Holy Spirit is one member of the Holy Trinity. Another part of a video series from Wordonfire.org. Also, the prophets were anointed with oil to symbolize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on them for their ministry. The intercession is our transformation in Christ. —in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses; —in the Church’s Magisterium, which he assists; —in the sacramental liturgy, through its words and symbols, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ; —in prayer, wherein he intercedes for us; —in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up; —in the signs of apostolic and missionary life; —in the witness of saints through whom he manifests his holiness and continues the work of salvation. The proper name of the Holy Spirit 691 "Holy Spirit" is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. Before He returned to heaven, Jesus said, “… you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit … But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Acts 1:5-8. This is seen in Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and the Anointing of the Sick. The “Church” here means everyone who is alive in Christ. We should examine one key phrase from John 16 more fully when considering the truth that the Holy Spirit is revealed not only as a person, but as a divine person—God himself. This shows the Holy Spirit at work in Jesus’ ministry. The third person of the Holy Trinity, who is distinct from the Father and the Son but one in being, coequal, and coeternal with them, because, like them, he is in the fullest sense God. But as time passed, we were also made aware of the Messiah who was the Son of God. : The kingdoms of the Old Testament also pointed to the promise of the one eternal Kingdom which would be established by Christ and orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. Seal: To be marked or sealed with God is an action of the Holy Spirit. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you. It is in this high form of prayer that we discover God acting in our lives and transforming us. Cloud and light: We see these images in the Old and New Testament. We can initiate “prayers.” But there is a difference between “true prayer” and “prayers that are said.” True prayer is when God, by an action of the Holy Spirit, speaks to us and draws us by an interior calling. The works of the Holy Spirit were revealed to us more fully after this time, helping us to understand Him as a divine Person. —In the sacramental liturgy, through its words and symbols, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ; The Sacramental Liturgy is the most powerful way that God is present to us right here, right now. As members of the Church, we are called to evangelize by spreading the Gospel far and wide. Pentecost: Pentecost is the clearest manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Rather, the Holy Spirit has been active with the Father and the Son from all eternity. By “joint action” I mean that the Church, in the person of the priest, speaks and acts using the assigned words, matter and actions (i.e., extending hands over bread and wine while speaking the words of consecration). This is a marking of God and a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Second, when the text says he will teach you all things the demonstrative pronoun (Gr. 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. Be it plants, animals or humans, no scientific discovery can unmask the actual principle of life itself. The Holy Spirit “intercedes for us” insofar as the Holy Spirit acts on us, transforming us into a member of Christ Himself, so as to present us to the Father in Heaven. We see this in several of the sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders). This pointed over and over again to the need for a Messiah. It was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night that led the Israelites through the desert. It’s just that we only came to a fuller understanding of this Person of the Trinity after Jesus’ ascension. This means that the Holy Spirit did not just appear after Jesus ascended into Heaven. God comes to meet us, to descend to us, and we encounter Him. Together, flowing from " the same divine well spring" they form the deposit of faith, which with the help of the Holy Spirit, has been preserved in the Catholic Church since the time of Jesus. And when he comes, he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment; of sin, because they do not believe in me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. We know the Holy Spirit…. The Holy Spirit's name describes his chief attribute: He is a perfectly holy and spotless God, free of any sin or darkness. It is this action that also guarantees the working of the Holy Spirit to make present the Savior of the world in a real and sacramental way. At that time, we are made adopted children of the Father, we are made one in Jesus the Son, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit to live out our new Christian calling as sons and daughters of God in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is a distinct person of the Holy Trinity, who exists as the communication and personification of the mutual, flowing, and never-ending relationship of love and unity between God the Father and God the Son. In your decision making, ask the Spirit to help guide you. He shares the strengths of God the Father and Jesus, such as omniscience, omnipotence, and eternality. We need special charism (gifts) to accomplish this responsibility. Thus, their inability to keep the law was a sign they needed more. It is the Holy Spirit who is given to us in baptism. But notice how it describes our Lord in verse 14: “I am poured out like water . Much can be said about living creatures and how they work from a scientific perspective. The Holy Spirit is also very much alive in the activity of the Church. 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. This pointed over and over again to the need for a Messiah. The Holy Spirit is God2.2 II. The gift of piety accords with reverence, inspiring a filial relationship with God so … Jesus promised His Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to His disciples. —in the signs of apostolic and missionary life; The Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier The Holy Spirit is the sanctifier, who was sent by … Equal in dignity and majesty with the Father and the Son. We also recall that Jesus laid hands on the sick to cure them. There have been many images of the Holy Spirit used in Scripture. It’s an interesting reality. Nontrinitarian Christians, who reject the doctrine of the Trinity, differ significantly from mainstream Christianity in their beliefs about the Holy Spirit. This is a messianic Psalm referring to our Lord’s Passion. I know this answer is cliché and isn’t what you were hoping for, so don’t fret — there’s more. ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’”. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. It is, therefore, no surprise to find many Catholics ill-equipped to deal with some of the more notable errors concerning he who is “the Lord and giver of life.” Thus, studying the person and nature of the Holy Spirit, though sometimes neglected, is crucial for us as Catholic apologists and as Catholics in general. 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. Bishop Barron will be commenting on subjects from modern day culture. The, The human author of each book of the Scriptures, as explained in. And the Spirit loves us just as He loves the Father and the Son. It is poured at baptism, and the Holy Spirit is subsequently poured in that act. That Messiah would come and, in the end, bestow the Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t be. They needed the fullness of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. : Pentecost is the clearest manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Most students of our Catholic theology of the Trinity agree: Pneumatology, or the study of the Holy Spirit, is probably the least developed, after the study of the Son and the Father. . This is seen in the story of Noah and the flood as well as in the story of the Red Sea when water destroyed the Egyptian army. And the Spirit loves us just as He loves the Father and the Son. So let’s take a closer look at the activity of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is equal to God in all ways; the Holy Spirit is God. The point is that the Holy Spirit gives us the Church and she, in turn, gives us the sacraments. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is referred to in personal terms by our Lord throughout the New Testament. And they are the only three Persons who share in this one divine nature. These texts leave no doubt as to the personhood of the Holy Spirit. Let’s take John 14:16-17 to start. The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. The law, given through Moses, was also a manifestation of God’s order and direction. Confused? Three key points are in evidence here. They needed the fullness of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. —In the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses; —In the Church’s Magisterium, which he assists; Jesus established the Church and bestowed the Spirit upon the Apostles who were His first bishops with Peter being the first pope. Fire: Fire transforms that which it touches. Notice the Holy Spirit is synonymous with God himself. What sustains life? The third person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is sometimes referred to as “the forgotten” member of the Godhead. The dove was present with Noah at the ark, the dove descended upon Jesus at His baptism. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. This bestowing of the Holy Spirit is seen in John 20:22. . 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. The dove was present with Noah at the ark, the dove descended upon Jesus at His baptism. It’s easy to think of the Holy Spirit as a powerful force from God. Origen of Alexandria (c.185-c.254) taught that the Spirit worked primarily within the Church, whereas the Word (Christ) worked within the whole of creation. —In the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up; The work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life is an on-going process of becoming holy through sanctification. If the Holy Spirit were an impersonal force, the inspired author would not refer to it as a he. When we speak of “traditions” with a small “t”, we are only speaking of human customs and practices that are established throughout time. But why they work is another question. In Latin and the modern romance languages, this is the case as well. That’s right, we need God’s help to pray to God. ekeinos) is used in the masculine singular. She then lived her early life filled with the Holy Spirit. All of these point to the promise of God’s future gift of salvation. There are many ways the Holy Spirit has been revealed to us throughout the ages. He is there in His fullness, veiled by the liturgical action itself. 16 The term "Spirit" translates the Hebrew word ruah, which, in its primary sense, means breath, air, wind. Jesus: Jesus is the “Anointed One.” He is filled with the Holy Spirit and one with the Holy Spirit. The Liturgy is a work of the Holy Spirit where the entire Trinity is made present. : Fire transforms that which it touches. But for now this brief introduction will suffice. In this text, St. Peter describes the power of God being manifested on the day of Pentecost by quoting Joel 2:28: But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. It was the finger of God that gave the Ten Commandments. 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. Both the personhood as well as the divinity of the Holy Spirit are rejected by these groups. This is not something the Holy Spirit will do again, inspiring more Scripture to be written. 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. they work is another question. Why? To do this effectively, and in accord with God’s plan, we need His grace and action in our lives. In the Eucharist, we have a unity of Heaven and Earth. It is by John’s hand that Jesus was baptized after which the Holy Spirit descended in manifest form. Let’s look at the various ways the Holy Spirit has been at work: Creation: The Spirit breathed on the waters at the beginning of Creation and is responsible for the principle of life. Now that’s saying a lot. Is this not proof the Holy Spirit is a force rather than a person?” The answer is a resounding no! But the human author is not the only one writing the book or letter. Finger: It was by the “finger” of God that Jesus did many great works. These O.T. And third, notice what the Holy Spirit does. It traces the history and development of the doctrine from Scripture forward. He is depicted as “bear[ing] witness,” “establish[ing] a covenant,” is referred to as “the Lord,” “puts [his] laws on [our] hearts,” and even forgives sins. Recommended Resource: The Holy Spirit by Charles Ryrie The Holy Spirit is love, to put things very simply. This article gives a systematic explanation from the Catholic point of view.. Catholic theology of the Holy Spirit is very little different from general Protestant or Orthodox theology of the Holy Spirit, with a few notable exceptions, which I will attempt to list: So what is the Holy Spirit? Take time to breathe and reflect on the Holy Spirit within your breath. He was the greatest of the prophets who spoke with the anointing of the Spirit of God. Jesus says he will both teach and remind us “all that [he has] said to [us].” Action follows being. That Messiah would come and, in the end, bestow the Holy Spirit. Through that person, each particular book of the Scriptures was written. The Holy S pirit is the 3rd person of the Blessed Trinity, and the one most active in the world today. White is a symbol of purity, and its wings give it swiftness and agility to descend from the Heavens. And the answer is the Holy Spirit who animates and sustains all life. : Water signifies the Holy Spirit in that it is poured and cleanses. The Holy Spirit has been around from before the beginning of time and has been made manifest throughout the history of our Universe. This is seen in Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination and the Anointing of the Sick. : The Holy Spirit prepared Mary with a special preservative grace (as explained in. That the Holy Spirit is like wind, that it goes where it wills, yet God can be … They are perfection! The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Risen Lord, the Spirit of adoption poured into our hearts (cf. Water: Water signifies the Holy Spirit in that it is poured and cleanses. The branch of Christian theology concerned with the Holy Spirit is called Pneumatology. : God spoke to Moses, Joshua and the great prophets in various ways. Let’s take a look at each one of these so as to gain a better understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit. In the 4th century, a heretical group known as the Pneumat… Kingdom: The kingdoms of the Old Testament also pointed to the promise of the one eternal Kingdom which would be established by Christ and orchestrated by the Holy Spirit. One God, three divine Persons. He is, no doubt, the least spoken of among the three persons of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. True prayer is thus the fruit of the Spirit's presence within us. Tertullian (c.160-c.225) and the Montanist heresy showed the need to distinguish between true and false activities of the Holy Spirit. At His baptism, the Spirit descends in fullness upon Him. Understandin… 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. Rather, this was a manifestation of the Spirit who was already with Jesus revealing this reality. There are numerous references to the Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments. They receive various charisms and are given a new strength and boldness to proclaim the Gospel. God the Holy Spirit takes the initiative by way of an invitation. John the Baptist: John was “filled with the Holy Spirit” from his mother’s womb. Nor does the fact that a word like baros, Greek for arrow, which is neuter, indicate arrows to be impersonal forces. What is the Holy Spirit? 17:40 - The Holy Spirit has always been my favorite person of the Trinity. It is the task of the Holy Spirit to bestow these gifts. The Holy Spirit does in the whole Church what the soul does in the members of the one body." Good question. It’s a sort of spiritual quality or ability to offer some service to the Church. The Great I AM. Not that the Holy Spirit wasn’t already with Him fully. 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How unsearchable are His judgments and how they work from a scientific perspective Son are clearly personal masculine... Spirit gives us the sacraments ( baptism, the Latin word for is. ” would we say Jesus is the “ Church ” here means everyone who is alive in,. Intellectual powers unique to rational persons that enable one to do this,... Equal in dignity and majesty with the Holy Spirit on them for all to see divine qualities that each... An intellect and will and act as one God s presence are theophanies person Jesus... If the Holy Spirit to bestow these gifts can be said on this later on in book Two of series... Learn that the Holy Spirit think of the Spirit loves us just as we know and the... And not a person, the Latin word for lance is lancea, which is feminine not... Subsequently poured in that it is especially active in our fight against sin s personality. Active in our day and a pillar of cloud by day and.! 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Are called to evangelize by spreading the Gospel far and wide 16:7-15, Jesus makes it very....