The gift of the Holy Spirit

“Announce with a voice of joy, and let it be heard to the end of the earth.” (Is 48.20) As we come towards the end of Eastertide, the Church invites us to ponder the gift of the Holy Spirit Who was given by Christ to the Apostles, and, after them, to all of us.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity, truly God and co-equal with the Father and the Son. We particularly appropriate to the Holy Spirit the wisdom and the love of God. When we are in a state of grace (free from mortal sin) the Holy Spirit dwells in our soul to sanctify us.

In preparation for our Confirmation, we learnt of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit that show His life in us. Over and above the human virtue of prudence, the Holy Spirit assists us with supernatural wisdom, understanding, counsel, and knowledge, leading us to a fitting fortitude, piety and fear of God.

The primary grace of the sacrament of Confirmation is the grace for strengthening (gratia ad robur). This applies not only to our interior life of grace but especially to the witness that we give to others. This witness may often require fortitude as well as wisdom and right judgement.

We should know the traditional prayer to the Holy Spirit and use it often. Faced with an important decision or even something as mundane as a meeting, we do well to call upon the Holy Spirit to make us truly wise, to enlighten us, to kindle in us the fire of His love, and to send us His holy consolation.

Fr Tim Finigan The hermeneutic of continuity