Holy Spirit Encyclical (cont'd) - Part III -Section 2, paragraph 53

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. All this may be said to fall within the scope of the great Jubilee mentioned above. For we must go beyond the historical dimension of the event considered in its surface value. Through the Christological content of the event we have to reach the pneumatological dimension, seeing with the eyes of faith the two thousand years of the action of the Spirit of truth, who down the centuries has drawn from the treasures of the Redemption achieved by Christ and given new life to human beings, bringing about in them adoption in the only-begotten Son, sanctifying them, so that they can repeat with St. Paul: "We have received …the Spirit which is from God."221

But as we follow this reason for the Jubilee, we cannot limit ourselves to the two thousand years which have passed since the birth of Christ. We need to go further back, to embrace the whole of the action of the Holy Spirit even before Christ-from the beginning, throughout the world, and especially in the economy of the Old Covenant. For this action has been exercised, in every place and at every time, indeed in every individual, according to the eternal plan of salvation, whereby this action was to be closely linked with the mystery of the Incarnation and Redemption, which in its turn exercised its influence on those who believed in the future coming of Christ. This is attested to especially in the Letter to the Ephesians.222 Grace, therefore, bears within iitself both a Christological aspect and a pneumatological one, which becomes evident above all in those who expressly accept Christ: "In him [in Christ] you…were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance, until we acquire possession of it."223

But, still within the perspective of the great Jubilee, we need to look further and go further afield, knowing that “the wind blows where it wills,” according to the image used by Jesus in his conversation with Nicodemus.224 The Second Vatican Council, centered primarily on the theme of the Church, reminds us of the Holy Spirit’s activity also “outside the visible body of the Church.” The council speaks precisely of "all people of good will in whose hearts grace works in an unseen way. For, since Christ died for all, and since the ultimate vocation of man is in fact one, and divine, we ought to believe that the Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this Paschal Mystery."225

“Pneumatological” is that branch of Christian theology concerned with the Holy Spirit. This study of the Holy Spirit by the Church needs to continue developing even more, perhaps, in the western Church. The eastern Catholics seem to have a deeper appreciation of both Mary and the Holy Spirit than those in the west. The desire for the reunification of the Eastern Orthodox Church with the Roman Catholic Church has been a constant effort for the recent Popes especially. Pope St. John Paul II spoke of the need for the Universal Church to be breathing with both lungs (East and West). That seems a perfect analogy, considering the scripture JPII refers to above from John’s Gospel: “the wind blows where it wills,” – by God’s grace may we be blessed by hearing His Truth today, and living the Truth we hear.

 

[Vico]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“Pneumatological” is that branch of Christian theology concerned with the Holy Spirit. This study of the Holy Spirit by the Church needs to continue developing even more, perhaps, in the western Church. The eastern Catholics seem to have a deeper appreciation of both Mary and the Holy Spirit than those in the west. The desire for the reunification of the Eastern Orthodox Church with the Roman Catholic Church has been a constant effort for the recent Popes especially. Pope St. John Paul II spoke of the need for the Universal Church to be breathing with both lungs (East and West). That seems a perfect analogy, considering the scripture JPII refers to above from John’s Gospel: “the wind blows where it wills,” – by God’s grace may we be blessed by hearing His Truth today, and living the Truth we hear.

Revelations 3 18-22

I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. “‘“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

 

[MariaChristi]

Revelations 3 18-22

I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. “‘“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. “‘“Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

Dear Vico,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, Rev. 3, repeats Jesus’ words to his disciples while He walked the earth: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (cf Mt 11:13 and Mt 13:9). After Jesus ascended to His Father, He and the Father sent the Holy Spirit to the Church to continue the mission of Jesus. How very important it is for the Church to listen to the Holy Spirit!

Recently, I posted a link to my husband’s blog HERE in which he writes about this great need for the Holy Spirit. It is a brief blog entry but he also includes a link to his article: “The Church Needs the Holy Spirit!” published in Homiletic and Pastoral Review online, which gives a longer explanation.

If you’d like to comment on the blog, or at the end of the article at the website of HPR, please do! Thanks, again.