How Did the Church Fathers and Early Saints View the Holy Spirit?

[TrueLight]

Someone mentioned in another thread how the Holy Spirit seems to be just a footnote for most Catholics. We have God the Father, God the Son and the Blessed Mother. There is scarcely any mention of the Holy Spirit except for in the Creed.

Now, I know that Charismatics pay particular attention to the Holy Spirit, but the charismatic renewal is fairly recent.

I would like to understand how the Church Fathers and Saints spoke of the Holy Spirit and how they have welcomed the Holy Spirit in their lives.

All references would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Wesley7]

How Did the Church Fathers and Early Saints View the Holy Spirit?

*A non-heretic Trinitarian View as proceeding from the Fountain/Godhead of the Father. *

 

[TrueLight]

*A non-heretic Trinitarian View as proceeding from the Fountain/Godhead of the Father. *

Off topic: Wesley, since you joined this site, were you always Orthodox or did you just convert? I thought I saw Catholic at one point, but I could be wrong.

 

[TrueLight]

*A non-heretic Trinitarian View as proceeding from the Fountain/Godhead of the Father. *

What I’m asking is what role did the Fathers/Saints see the Holy Spirit as having in the average Catholic’s daily life.

Were there any special devotions to the Holy Spirit, for example?

 

[Wesley7]

Off topic: Wesley, since you joined this site, were you always Orthodox or did you just convert? I thought I saw Catholic at one point, but I could be wrong.

*I completed instruction from an Orthodox priest.

Further instruction in Catholicism would be at the College level. *

 

[TrueLight]

More clarification on my question:

I know the Holy Spirit’s role in justification and sanctification as well as the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

When I was a Protestant, we were constantly singing, “Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place” and “Come Holy Spirit” and I would often ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in making certain decisions.

I am not finding any of this language use among most Catholics I talk to.

I’m curious as to how the Church Father’s related to or thought of the third person of the Trinity.

 

[Wesley7]

The Third Person of the Trinity is given attributes like Comforter,Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, Sanctifier,Veni Creator Spiritus, Spiritus Sanctus and other names.

 

[azcards]

The main thing we should not do is this; blasphemy against the Holy****Spirit.
Mat 12:31"So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the HolySpirit, which will never be forgiven. Jhn 14:16-18 "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Jhn 14:26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative–that is, the HolySpirit–he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. Jhn 15:26 "But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. Jhn 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.1Jo 2:27But you have received the HolySpirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Please read the following: LUMEN GENTIUM
**III. On the Blessed Virgin and the Church ***
62. (15)Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix, and Mediatrix
**CHAPTER III ****ON THE HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH **
*AND IN PARTICULAR ON THE EPISCOPATE **
And this infallibility with which the Divine Redeemer willed His Church to be endowed in defining doctrine of faith and morals, extends as far as the deposit of Revelation extends, which must be religiously guarded and faithfully expounded. And this is the infallibility which the Roman Pontiff, the head of the college of bishops, enjoys in virtue of his office, when, as the supreme shepherd and teacher of all the faithful, who confirms his brethren in their faith,(166) by a definitive act he proclaims a doctrine of faith or morals.(42) For then the Roman Pontiff is not pronouncing judgment as a private person, but as the supreme teacher of the universal Church, in whom the charism of infallibility of the Church itself is individually present, he is expounding or defending a doctrine of Catholic faith.
Notice: supreme shepherd and teacher: supreme teacher – Titles of Jesus
One way to blasphemy is to declare ones self as the Holy Spirit - Vicarius Filii Dei
Interpretation? or Contradiction?

 

[vardaquinn]

Interpretation? or Contradiction?

I take it you’re implying that according to the Church here, the Blessed Mother usurps the role of the Holy Spirit. To say that the Holy Spirit is the Advocate is not to say that He is the only Advocate. The thing about God’s relationship to humanity is this: He likes using instruments. I am an advocate as well - I intercede before God and advocate on the behalf of many people that I pray for. That fact that Mary is called Advocate demonstrates her role as the supreme servant of the supreme Advocate. Nobody else aided the Holy Spirit in His work (by acting as His instrument) anywhere close to the perfect manner in which the Blessed Mother did. There is no contradiction. We cooperate with the work of God the Holy Spirit - in this case, to be “advocates”, intermediaries between God and man, bringing about their union. That’s what this is all about.

The Pope is called supreme teacher, supreme shepherd, because he is the vicar of Christ Himself. He is that bridge builder (the meaning of the word “Pontiff”) between God and Man, not in a way that usurps the role from Christ, but is rather a participation in that role, in persona Christi. The Pope carries out Christ’s command to “feed my sheep”, acting in imitation of Christ. Our Lord calls Peter the Rock, identifying him as participating in the identity of Himself (who is called the rock, the foundation, cornerstone of the Church throughout Scripture).

This is a good question, sorry I don’t have much time to dig out all the teachings of the Church Fathers on God the Holy Spirit. But they certainly viewed Him as God! I will come back to this thread.

I know the Holy Spirit’s role in justification and sanctification as well as the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

When I was a Protestant, we were constantly singing, “Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place” and “Come Holy Spirit” and I would often ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in making certain decisions.

I am not finding any of this language use among most Catholics I talk to.

It’s a shame, in many Catholics He is the “Forgotten Person of the Holy Trinity”.

 

[hazcompat]

Originally printed in 1885, the ten-volume set, Ante-Nicene Fathers,
brings together the work of early Christian thinkers. In particular, it
Description:
brings together the writings of the early Church fathers prior to the
fourth century Nicene Creed. These volumes are noteworthy for their
inclusion of entire texts, and not simply fragments or excerpts from
these great writings. The translations are fairly literal, providing both
readers and scholars with a good approximation of the originals. This
particular volume contains works by St. Clement, Mathetes, St.
Polycarp, St. Ignatius, Barnabas, St. Papias, St. Justin Martyr, and
St. Irenaeus. These writings were heavily influential on the early
Church, and for good reason, as they are inspirational and
encouraging. These volumes also come with many useful notes,
providing the reader with new levels of understanding. Overall,
Ante-Nicene Fathers, or any part of it, is a welcome addition to one’s
reading list.
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer

ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.html

 

[jmj1984]

More clarification on my question:

I know the Holy Spirit’s role in justification and sanctification as well as the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

When I was a Protestant, we were constantly singing, “Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place” and “Come Holy Spirit” and I would often ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in making certain decisions.

I am not finding any of this language use among most Catholics I talk to.

I’m curious as to how the Church Father’s related to or thought of the third person of the Trinity.

From the little I know the holy spirit is thought to have a particular effect when it comes to vocations and deciding a state of life, there are quite a few prayers to the holy spirit when it comes to these things. There is of course also the famous prayer/sequence of mass Veni Sancte Spiritus. And then of course the holy spirit is key to sacramental theology.

 

[TrueLight]

This is a good question, sorry I don’t have much time to dig out all the teachings of the Church Fathers on God the Holy Spirit. But they certainly viewed Him as God! I will come back to this thread.

Please do!

 

[MikeDunphy]

The Catholic Encyclopedia article on the Holy Ghost includes some references to teachings of the Church Fathers. (Sorry I can’t track them down for you).

You may also be interested in what Saint Thomas had to say in his Catechism.

The effects of the of the Holy Spirit in an average Christian’s life can be seen in the fruits of the Holy Ghost displayed in that life (Galatians 5:22-23) and in every grace that moves the heart towards God.

I hope you keep on asking the Holy Spirit for help. Congratulations on your full reception into the Church.

I know the Holy Spirit’s role in justification and sanctification as well as the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

When I was a Protestant, we were constantly singing, “Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place” and “Come Holy Spirit” and I would often ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in making certain decisions.

I am not finding any of this language use among most Catholics I talk to.

I’m curious as to how the Church Father’s related to or thought of the third person of the Trinity.

 

[TrueLight]

From the little I know the holy spirit is thought to have a particular effect when it comes to vocations and deciding a state of life, there are quite a few prayers to the holy spirit when it comes to these things. There is of course also the famous prayer/sequence of mass Veni Sancte Spiritus. And then of course the holy spirit is key to sacramental theology.

Thanks JMJ and everyone who responded so far.

I found some references from [
"We have said elsewhere that those things are predicated Specially in the Trinity as belonging severally to each person, which are predicated relatively the one to the other, as Father and Son, and the gift of both, the Holy Spirit; for the Father is not the Trinity, nor the Son the Trinity, nor the gift the Trinity: but what whenever each is singly spoken of in respect to themselves, then they are not spoken of as three in the plural number, but one, the Trinity itself, as the Father God, the Son God, and the Holy Spirit God.” Augustine, On the Trinity, (A.D. 419).

](http://www.scripturecatholic.com/the_holy_spirit.html)

" ‘I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,’ that is, Another like unto Me.’ Let those be ashamed who have the disease of Sabellius, who hold not the fitting opinion concerning the Spirit. For the marvel of this discourse is this, that it hath stricken down contradictory heresies with the same blow. For by saying ‘another,’ He showeth the difference of Person, and by “Paraclete,” the connection of Substance." John Chrysostom, Homily on John, 75 (A.D. 391).

How many of us think upon this statement:

“*n the Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of Life, proceeding from the Father through the Son.” Council of Nicea II (A.D. 787). *

The Holy Spirit is the giver of life. If we really pause and think on those words, I believe it will keep the Spirit of God at the forefront of our thoughts,

 

[TrueLight]

Originally printed in 1885, the ten-volume set, Ante-Nicene Fathers,
brings together the work of early Christian thinkers. In particular, it
Description:
brings together the writings of the early Church fathers prior to the
fourth century Nicene Creed. These volumes are noteworthy for their
inclusion of entire texts, and not simply fragments or excerpts from
these great writings. The translations are fairly literal, providing both
readers and scholars with a good approximation of the originals. This
particular volume contains works by St. Clement, Mathetes, St.
Polycarp, St. Ignatius, Barnabas, St. Papias, St. Justin Martyr, and
St. Irenaeus. These writings were heavily influential on the early
Church, and for good reason, as they are inspirational and
encouraging. These volumes also come with many useful notes,
providing the reader with new levels of understanding. Overall,
Ante-Nicene Fathers, or any part of it, is a welcome addition to one’s
reading list.
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer

ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.html

This is a great resource. Thanks!

 

[Ophoe]

Hi!

I’m a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville (actually not a Catholic myself, although a Christian). As you know, this college was one of the centers of the Catholic charismatic renewal, but it also grounds its theological teachings in the Church Fathers. I’m a theology major and have been taking a class on the Holy Spirit this semester.

One book you might enjoy is by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, On the Song of Songs, a series of sermons he gave on Christ and the Holy Spirit, with particular emphasis on His effects in personal spiritual life.

I would also recommend Your Life in the Holy Spirit: What Every Catholic Needs to Know and Experience, by Dr. Alan Schreck (my professor), as it provides a lot of very solid insights on the Holy Spirit firmly rooted in Scripture and Church teaching, as well as teachings and sayings from saints. It’s very well-written and engaging, certainly no fluff. Dr. Schreck is a scholar in this area and knows his stuff! He’s written some other books on the Spirit as well. Also, the preacher to the Papal household (both to JPII and Benedict XVI), Fr. Raniero Cantalemessa, is an incredible man of God who has written some phenomenal books on the Faith, and particularly on the Holy Spirit. Especially wonderful is Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator, as well as Sober Intoxication of the Spirit, and especially the little book The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus, a real gem. Finally, I definitely recommend The Holy Spirit in the Writings of Pope John Paul II, compiled by Fr. Bill McCarthy. All of the JPII writings you can also find for free on the Vatican website.

Though I’m not Catholic, I’ve been around a lot of serious Catholics for a while now, who most certainly see the Holy Spirit as central to their lives. Mary is not lifted up instead of Him (cf. my professor, Dr. Schreck - “If we’re talking about the three pillars of the Christian faith and two of them are the Father and the Son, the third has to be the Holy Spirit, and not Mary or anyone else.” This is a man who has profound respect for and devotion to Mary, as far as I know, a very devout Catholic.) Anyway, I think that, even if in a lot of popular teaching and devotion there’s not a lot of prevalent talk about Him, it’s more of a lack than anything. I hope you can raise awareness in the hearts of your fellow Catholics of the precious and constant work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the “Friend closest to our hearts”!

 

[TrueLight]

Hi!

I’m a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville (actually not a Catholic myself, although a Christian). As you know, this college was one of the centers of the Catholic charismatic renewal, but it also grounds its theological teachings in the Church Fathers. I’m a theology major and have been taking a class on the Holy Spirit this semester.

One book you might enjoy is by St. Bernard of Clairvaux, On the Song of Songs, a series of sermons he gave on Christ and the Holy Spirit, with particular emphasis on His effects in personal spiritual life.

I would also recommend Your Life in the Holy Spirit: What Every Catholic Needs to Know and Experience, by Dr. Alan Schreck (my professor), as it provides a lot of very solid insights on the Holy Spirit firmly rooted in Scripture and Church teaching, as well as teachings and sayings from saints. It’s very well-written and engaging, certainly no fluff. Dr. Schreck is a scholar in this area and knows his stuff! He’s written some other books on the Spirit as well. Also, the preacher to the Papal household (both to JPII and Benedict XVI), Fr. Raniero Cantalemessa, is an incredible man of God who has written some phenomenal books on the Faith, and particularly on the Holy Spirit. Especially wonderful is Come, Creator Spirit: Meditations on the Veni Creator, as well as Sober Intoxication of the Spirit, and especially the little book The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus, a real gem. Finally, I definitely recommend The Holy Spirit in the Writings of Pope John Paul II, compiled by Fr. Bill McCarthy. All of the JPII writings you can also find for free on the Vatican website.

Though I’m not Catholic, I’ve been around a lot of serious Catholics for a while now, who most certainly see the Holy Spirit as central to their lives. Mary is not lifted up instead of Him (cf. my professor, Dr. Schreck - “If we’re talking about the three pillars of the Christian faith and two of them are the Father and the Son, the third has to be the Holy Spirit, and not Mary or anyone else.” This is a man who has profound respect for and devotion to Mary, as far as I know, a very devout Catholic.) Anyway, I think that, even if in a lot of popular teaching and devotion there’s not a lot of prevalent talk about Him, it’s more of a lack than anything. I hope you can raise awareness in the hearts of your fellow Catholics of the precious and constant work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, the “Friend closest to our hearts”!

What an inspiring post! Thanks for the book suggestion!