Holy Spirit Encyclical (cont'd) - Part I -paragraphs 9 and 10

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, I’m posting paragraphs 9 and 10 which conclude section 2 of Part 1 of the Holy Spirit Encyclical. “Dominum et vivificantem” (Lord and Giver of Life) by St. JPII:

1. Thus in the farewell discourse at the Last Supper, we can say that the highest point of the revelation of the Trinity is reached. At the same time, we are on the threshold of definitive events and final words which in the end will be translated into the great missionary mandate addressed to the Apostles and through them to the Church: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” a mandate which contains, in a certain sense, the Trinitarian formula of baptism: "baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."35 The formula reflects the intimate mystery of God, of the divine life, which is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the divine unity of the Trinity. **The farewell discourse can be read as a special preparation for this Trinitarian formula, in which is expressed the life-giving power of the Sacrament which brings about sharing in the life of the Triune God, for it gives sanctifying grace as a supernatural gift to man. Through grace, man is called and made “capable” of sharing in the inscrutable life of God. **

1. In his intimate life, God "is love,"36 the essential love shared by the three divine Persons: personal love is the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of the Father and the Son. Therefore he "searches even the depths of God,"37 as uncreated Love-Gift. It can be said that in the Holy Spirit the intimate life of the Triune God becomes totally gift, an exchange of mutual love between the divine Persons and that through the Holy Spirit God exists in the mode of gift. It is the Holy Spirit who is the personal expression of this self-giving, of this being-love.38 He is Person- Love. He is Person-Gift. Here we have an inexhaustible treasure of the reality and an inexpressible deepening of the concept of person in God, which only divine Revelation makes known to us.

At the same time, the Holy Spirit, being consubstantial with the Father and the Son in divinity, is love and uncreated gift from which derives as from its source (fons vivus) all giving of gifts vis-a-vis creatures (created gift): the gift of existence to all things through creation; the gift of grace to human beings through the whole economy of salvation. As the Apostle Paul writes: "God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to US."39

Let us prayerfully hold these words in our minds and hearts, and ask the intercession of our Mother Mary especially. By God’s Grace, may we come to appreciate what Pope St. John Paul is sharing with us in this Encyclical on the Holy Spirit. How the Church needs to keep and to ponder in her heart as Mary did, all God has revealed! If anyone has not read this Encyclical, I encourage you to read it prayerfully and if you are led to enter any of the threads on it to ask questions or discuss any part of it, I’ll be happy to pray with you and try to help in any discussion or question. There is such a need for all of us to pray to and cooperate with the Holy Spirit given to us in Baptism and strengthened by Confirmation. The Church is in such need of the Fire of His Love for a world growing darker.