Holy Spirit Encyclical (cont'd) - Part I -Section 7, paragraph 26

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we conclude Part 1, with section 7, paragraph 26 of the Holy Spirit Encyclical:

1. These passages quoted from the Conciliar Constitution Lumen Gentium tell us that the era of the Church began with the coming of the Holy Spirit. They also tell us that this era, the era of the Church, continues. It continues down the centuries and generations. In our own century, when humanity is already close to the end of the second Millennium after Christ, this era of the Church expressed itself in a special way through the Second Vatican Council, as the Council of our century. For we know that it was in a special way an “ecclesiological” Council: a Council on the theme of the Church. At the same time, the teaching of this Council is essentially “pneumatological”: it is permeated by the truth about the Holy Spirit, as the soul of the Church. We can say that in its rich variety of teaching the Second Vatican Council contains precisely all that "the Spirit says to the Churches"97 with regard to the present phase of the history of salvation.

Following the guidance of the Spirit of truth and bearing witness together with him, the Council has given a special confirmation of the presence of the Holy Spirit-the Counselor. In a certain sense, the Council has made the Spirit newly “present” in our difficult age. In the light of this conviction one grasps more clearly the great importance of all the initiatives aimed at implementing the Second Vatican Council, its teaching and its pastoral and ecumenical thrust. In this sense also the subsequent Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops are to be carefully studied and evaluated, aiming as they do to ensure that the fruits of truth and love-the authentic fruits of the Holy Spirit-become a lasting treasure for the People of God in its earthly pilgrimage down the centuries. This work being done by the Church for the testing and bringing together of the salvific fruits of the Spirit bestowed in the Council is something indispensable. For this purpose one must learn how to “discern” them carefully from everything that may instead come originally from the "prince of this world."98 This discernment in implementing the Council’s work is especially necessary in view of the fact that the Council opened itself widely to the contemporary world, as is clearly seen from the important Conciliar Constitutions Gaudium et Spes and Lumen Gentium.

We read in the Pastoral Constitution: "For theirs (i.e., of the disciples of Christ) is a community composed of men. United in Christ, they are led by the Holy Spirit in their journey to the kingdom of their Father and they have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man. That is why this community realizes that it is truly and intimately linked with mankind and its history."99 "The Church truly knows that only God, whom she serves, meets the deepest longings of the human heart, which is never fully satisfied by what the world has to offer."100 **“God 's Spirit. . . with a marvelous providence directs the unfolding of time and renews the face of the earth.”**101

I emphasized in bold, words from the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, “Gaudium et Spes”, n. 1, at the end of this quote, because it is important to remind ourselves in the confusion of today’s world, that the Holy Spirit is still “alive and well”, and at work in the disciples of Christ who are truly remaining in Christ and listening to Him (cf Jn 8: 31; Mt 17: 5). Pope St. John Paul II was a participating Bishop at Vatican II and I’ve read that he was very influential in the writing of “Gaudium et Spes” (document from Vatican II on the Church in the Modern World). Perhaps at another time, it would be good to study both those documents in other threads. For today we have much to ponder already .

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Enlighten our minds and open our hearts to receive all the Truth You have been sent to bring us into. Enable us to discern Your Truth from the lies of the evil one.