And I myself did not know him, but
the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘The man on whom you see the Spirit
come down and remain is the one
who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
- John 1:33
The Holy Spirit
The Lord, the Giver of Life
“Dominum et Vivificantem”
How do we know the Holy Spirit?
The Existence of the Holy Spirit:
Unknown until Christ unveiled the truth to
us? In the Old Testament? Do we see the
personality of the Holy Spirit even then, or
was He completely hidden?
The prophetic writings talked about the
oneness or unicity of God, in contrast to
the plurality of the gods of the nations
living around the chosen people.
God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in
the Old Testament:
The Word of God and his Breath:
a. “In the beginning… the earth was
without form, and void; and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of
God moved upon the face of the waters”
(Gen 1:2; 2:7).
b. And so, “by the word of the Lord were
the heavens made; and all the host of them
by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6);
“I prophesied as he commanded me, and
the breath came into them, and they lived,
and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding
great army.” (Ezekiel 37:10)
Name of the Holy Spirit:
Proper name: Holy Spirit, most frequently
used in the Acts of the Apostles.
It is a translation of ruah, meaning breath,
air, wind (suggesting transcendent
newness).
Titles:
The Paraclete (or advocatus,“He who is called to
one’s side” (John 14:16).
He is a consoler (Jesus is the first consoler, the
Holy Spirit is the other consoler). He is sent by
God in order to continue in the world through the
Church, the work of the Good news of salvation.
He is the dynamic power of the Church’s renewal.
On Pentecost, when the Church was born, the
Spirit came upon Christ’s disciples to remain with
them forever.
Since then, he dwells in the Church and in
the hearts of the people as in a temple.
“God has poured out his love into
our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has
given us” (Romans 5:5).
He brings the faithful the primary gifts of
truth, grace and fellowship, through the
Church.
More titles:
Spirit of Promise, Spirit of Adoption,
Spirit of Christ, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of
God (see Pauline Epistles).
A Unique title: the Great Unknown?
“No one fully understands the thoughts of
God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor
2:11).
The Spirit makes Christ, his Word, his
living utterance is known to us, but the
Holy Spirit himself does not speak of
himself (cf. John 16:13).
The Spirit has spoken through the
prophets, but we do not hear the Spirit
himself.
It’s a divine self-effacement, such that the
world does not see him nor know him.
Only those who believe in Christ knows
him.
St. Paul discovers Christians living in
Ephesus who believed in Christ’s
teachings but… (see Acts 19:2). What do
we know about Him?
Where is He to be found?
Where do we find the Holy Spirit? See
Catechism 688:
“In the Church, the communion living in
the faith of apostles, is the place where we
know the Holy Spirit; in the Scriptures he
inspires; in the Tradition to which the
Church Fathers were witnesses; in the
Church’s teaching office; in the
sacramental liturgy; in prayer wherein he
intercedes for us (cf. Romans 8)”;
Where do we find the Holy Spirit? See
Catechism 688:
“In the charisms and ministries by which
the Church is built up; in the signs of
apostolic and missionary life; in the lives
of the saints through whom he shows his
holiness, and through whom he continues
the work of salvation.”
Story:
A man asked, “If God is everywhere, why
do I still have to go to Church?”
… The whole atmosphere is filled with
water, but when you want to drink you
have to go to a fountain or a well.
Finally, some Symbols:
Water, anointing, Fire, Cloud and Light)
Appendix 1
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom.
(2 Corinthians 3:17)
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is
in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you
were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies .
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13 )
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to
rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
(Acts 2:3-4)
Appendix 2
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have
said to you
(John 14:26)
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask him!
(Luke 11:13)
And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured
out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
(Romans 5:5)
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption.
(Ephesians 4:30)
Appendix 3
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly.
(Acts 4:31)
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith
and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you
wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
(Jude 1:20-21)
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.”
(Acts 2:38 )
Appendix 4
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—
the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about
me.
(John 15:26)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them.”
(Acts 13:2)
For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets,
though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit.
(2 Peter 1:21)
Appendix 5
But after he had considered
this, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream and
said, “Joseph son of David, do
not be afraid to take Mary
home as your wife, because
what is conceived in her is
from the Holy Spirit.”
(Matthew 1:20)
