I believe in the Holy Spirit 17 GIAQUINTO, Corrado The Holy Spirit 1750s Oil 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”? 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 FIRENZE Descent of the Holy Spirit Fresco Cappella Spagnuolo, Santa Maria Novella, Florence

Main 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 van Holy Trinity 1620s Oil on panel Sint-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, Domenico Trinity (detail) 1513 Oil 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 de Holy Family and Trinity 1726 Oil on canvas, 140 x 105 cm Amstelkring 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 Lorenzo The Throne of Saint Peter Marble, 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 der Seven Sacraments (left wing) Oil on oak panel, 119 x 63 cm Koninklijk 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, Orazio Allegory of Wisdom Oil on canvas, 137 x 109 cm Private 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 Esteban St Francis of Assisi at Prayer Oil on canvas, 182 x 129 cm O.-L. Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp

Resolutions for Christian 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.