It is sometimes complained that Christians of the West seem apt to neglect the role of the Holy Spirit in their prayer, worship, and reflection. The Catholic emphasis often centers upon Jesus, his mother Mary, and the saints. However, the Holy Spirit is not utterly forgotten and is implicitly invoked every time we make the sign of the cross. The early Church discerned the power of the Holy Spirit in their midst as a personal encounter with God.
When debates arose about the identity of the Holy Spirit, the Church rightly learned from the baptismal formula given her by our Lord. We are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Repeating myself somewhat, a mere creature has no power to save us. Consequently, the Holy Spirit must also be God: he is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity, the one God who saves us.
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Filed under: Catholic, Holy Spirit, Liturgical Year, Pentecost, Redemption, Reflection |
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