16 January 2009

The Holy Spirit


'' I believe in the Holy Spirit''

'' No one understands the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.Now God's spirit,who reveals God also reveals Christ to us and his Word,his living utterance but the spirit does not speak of himself .The Spirit who ''speaks through the prophets'' makes us hear the Father's Word,but we don,t hear the Spirit himself.We know him only in the movement by which he reveals the Word.
He then disposes us to welcome him in faith,but the Spirit who unveils Christ to us will not speak on his own. Such properly divine self-effacement explains why ''the world cannot receive him,because it neither sees him nor knows him '' while those who believe in Christ know the spirit because he dwells in them.'' CCC.

Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity,the one whom the Father has sent into our hearts,the Spirit of his Son.He is truly God, the Lord and Giver of Life.He proceeds from the Father and the Son;with the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified.

What was the roll of the Holy Spirit in Incarnation of the Son?
In the fullness of time the Holy Spirit brought to Mary all the preparations made for the coming of Christ among the people of Israel.Through the work of the Holy Spirit within her the Father gave to the world the Immanuel ''God with us'' mat.1:23.The Son of God is consecrated as the Christ by the anointing of the Holy Spirit at his baptism in the Jordan by John, mar.1:10 .

How was the Holy Spirit first given to the Church?
The Holy Spirit was first given to the Church at Pentecost,when the apostles were ''filled with Holy Spirit''.Since that time,from his place of glory with the Father,Christ continues to pour out the gift of the Holy Spirit on the faithful in many different ways.

In what particular ways is the Holy Spirit given to us?
The Holy Spirit is given to us through the sacraments and in particular through baptism and confirmation.There are also special marks of the presence of the Spirit in our lives called charisms which help us in our christian life for example;teaching,prophesying,caring for those in need,living as a religious and bringing up children.'' Our gifts differ according to the grace given us.''Rom.12:6

In Summary: ''Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts ,crying
Abba Father'' gal.4:6
The Son of God was consecrated as Christ (Messiah) by the anointing of the Holy Spirit at his Incarnation.By his Death and Resurrection,Jesus is constituted in glory as Lord and Christ.From his fullness he poured out the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the Church.The Holy Spirit,whom Christ the head pours out on his members,builds animates and sanctifies the Church,

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