I believe in I believe in the Holy Spiritthe Holy Spirit

1717

GIAQUINTO, CorradoThe Holy Spirit

1750sOil on canvas, 64 x 48 cm

Private collection

Compendium of the Catechism

136. What does the Church mean when she confesses: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”?

683-686  To believe in the Holy Spirit is

to profess faith in the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity who proceeds from the Father and the Son and “is worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son”. The Spirit is “sent into our hearts” (Galatians 4:6) so that we might receive new life as sons of God.

Introduction

Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit. From the moment of baptism the Holy Spirit is in our souls, sanctifying them and enriching them with His gifts. If we don’t expel Him by committing a mortal sin, the Holy Spirit inspires and guides us, leading us to Heaven.

The Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ’s great gift, after He ascended into Heaven: “It is for your own good that I am going, because unless I go, the Paraclete will not come to you, but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16: 7).

ANDREA DA FIRENZEDescent of the Holy Spirit

1365-68Fresco

Cappella Spagnuolo, Santa Maria Novella, Florence

Main ideasMain ideas

1. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity

The Holy Spirit is the third Person whose divinity we profess in the Creed when we pray: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified”.

Therefore we have to believe in the Holy Spirit.

BALEN, Hendrick vanHoly Trinity1620sOil on panelSint-Jacobskerk, Antwerp

2. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit accomplishes the work of salvation The second Person of the

Blessed Trinity, became man and died for us. Through His passion, death and resurrection we men have been saved.

But the three Divine Persons take part in our salvation: God the Father sending His Son; the Son dying for us; the Holy Spirit coming on the day of Pentecost to be the soul of the Church and to inhabit in each one of us.

BECCAFUMI, DomenicoTrinity (detail)

1513Oil on wood

Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena

3. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us

Since there is only one God, everything that God does is done by the three Divine Persons. However, we attribute some actions to the Father, some to the Son, some to the Holy Spirit.

The sanctification of men is attributed to the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the love of the Father and the Son, though this task is done by the whole Trinity.

WIT, Jacob deHoly Family and Trinity1726Oil on canvas, 140 x 105 cmAmstelkring Museum, Amsterdam

4. The Holy Spirit and the Church

On the day of Pentecost –ten days after His Ascension and fifty days after His resurrection— the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and disciples who were together with the Blessed Virgin.

With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Church opened up to all nations. The Holy Spirit builds, vivifies and sanctifies His Church.

BERNINI, Gian LorenzoThe Throne of Saint Peter

1657-66Marble, bronze, white and golden stucco

San Pietro, Rome

5. The Holy Spirit sanctifies mainly through the sacraments

The sanctification performed in us by the Holy Spirit consists in uniting ourselves more and more with God; but in order that the Holy Spirit may accomplish it, we have to let Him do His job in our soul: By being always in the state of God´s

grace. Receiving the sacraments, especially

of Penance and the Eucharist. We have to listen to what the Holy

Spirit tells us; the Holy Spirit teaches through the pastors of the Church, and interiorly inspires what God wants and expects from us.

WEYDEN, Rogier van derSeven Sacraments (left wing)1445-50Oil on oak panel, 119 x 63 cmKoninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

6. To get acquainted with the Holy Spirit

We know that the Holy Spirit is the “sweet host of the soul” who is within us when are in God’s grace.

In a special way we have to ask the Holy Spirit His seven gifts, which are necessary to live as truly Christians: The gift of wisdom. The gift of intellect. The gift of counsel. The gift of fortitude. The gift of science. The gift of piety. The gift of fear.

SAMACCHINI, OrazioAllegory of Wisdom

Oil on canvas, 137 x 109 cmPrivate collection

7. Some prayers addressed to the Holy Spirit

«Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit».

«In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit».

«Come oh Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithfull and enkindle in them the fire of your love».

«Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created».

MURILLO, Bartolomé EstebanSt Francis of Assisi at Prayer1645-50Oil on canvas, 182 x 129 cmO.-L. Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp

Resolutions for Resolutions for Christian lifeChristian life

Resolutions to move forward

Consider that, when we are in God’s grace, the Holy Spirit lives within us as in a temple. Make the resolution to be always in God’s grace.

Repeat some of the prayers addressed to the Holy Spirit, especially around the feast of Pentecost.