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pcordero
Guest
I’ve asked my priest about this and he would describe it as the effect of God on the world. I’m not completely satisfied with this answer and can’t completely figure out how it would be fully defined as.
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Y
You
Guest
Is it the love between the Father and the Son, of the same substance as they, and so, is a person in the Trinity.
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Patrick_Cox
Guest
I think to define the Holy Spirit in one simple sentence is tricky, but perhaps one could say that the Holy Spirit is the (invisible) Hand of God directing us down the road to salvation, healing and truth.I’ve asked my priest about this and he would describe it as the effect of God on the world. I’m not completely satisfied with this answer and can’t completely figure out how it would be fully defined as.
Remember that Jesus healed many by laying hands on them. And also relevant here is that in Acts 8, it is the Apostles who heal others and pass on the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hands. So there is an oft-referred to connection between “hands” and the Holy Spirit in Scriptures… Of course, that said, Jesus also “breathes” the Holy Spirit on his disciples in John 20.
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hazcompat
Guest
The Holy Spirit Is the Living Memory of the Church.
peace
peace
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OvrlapnMagstria
Guest
According to an eye witness that actually saw the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit can be described as “blue.”
This is from the book “Heaven is for Real.”
This is from the book “Heaven is for Real.”
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promethius
Guest
I have to disagree with your priest and decry that none of the answers so far seem sufficient. In fact, the only sufficient answer is that of the catechism, particularly because the catechism makes the CRITICAL distinction that the Holy Spirit is, in fact, a seperate person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit is not the “effect of God” in the world, He is not “the Love between the Father and the Son”, He is not the “Memory of the Church”.I’ve asked my priest about this and he would describe it as the effect of God on the world. I’m not completely satisfied with this answer and can’t completely figure out how it would be fully defined as.
He is the paraclete: the one who provides the memory and authority of the church. He EXPRESSES the Love of Christ and the Father. He CAUSES the effects of God acting in the world.
He is a person, not merely a characteristic of another person.
Y
You
Guest
The Holy Spirit, as His name indicates, is Holy in virtue of His origin, His spiration; He comes therefore from a holy principle; now holiness resides in the will, as wisdom is in the intellect. That is also the reason why He is so often called par excellence, in the writings of the Fathers, Love and Charity. The Father and the Son love one another from all eternity, with a perfect ineffable love; the term of this infinite fruitful mutual love is Their Spirit Who is co-eternal and con-substantial with Them. Only, the Holy Ghost is not indebted to the manner of His Procession precisely for this perfect resemblance to His principle, in other words for His consubstantiality; for to will or love an object does not formally imply the production of its immanent image in the soul that loves, but rather a tendency, a movement of the will towards the thing loved, to be united to it and enjoy it. So, making every allowance for the feebleness of our intellects in knowing, and the unsuitability of our words for expressing the mysteries of the Divine life, if we can grasp how the word generation, freed from all the imperfections of the material order may be applied by analogy to the Procession of the Word, so we may see that the term can in no way befittingly applied to the Procession of the Holy Ghost.I have to disagree with your priest and decry that none of the answers so far seem sufficient. In fact, the only sufficient answer is that of the catechism, particularly because the catechism makes the CRITICAL distinction that the Holy Spirit is, in fact, a seperate person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit is not the “effect of God” in the world, He is not “the Love between the Father and the Son”, He is not the “Memory of the Church”.
He is the paraclete: the one who provides the memory and authority of the church. He EXPRESSES the Love of Christ and the Father. He CAUSES the effects of God acting in the world.
He is a person, not merely a characteristic of another person.
newadvent.org/cathen/07409a.htm
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hazcompat
Guest
CCC
1099 The Spirit and the Church cooperate to manifest Christ and his work of salvation in the liturgy. Primarily in the Eucharist, and by analogy in the other sacraments, the liturgy is the memorial of the mystery of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the Church’s living memory.19
scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1c1a1.htm
peace
1099 The Spirit and the Church cooperate to manifest Christ and his work of salvation in the liturgy. Primarily in the Eucharist, and by analogy in the other sacraments, the liturgy is the memorial of the mystery of salvation. The Holy Spirit is the Church’s living memory.19
scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s1c1a1.htm
peace
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hazcompat
Guest
The Holy Spirit Is God.
peace
peace
J
jochoa
Guest
I would like to offer an extension to your priest and a personal understanding:I’ve asked my priest about this and he would describe it as the effect of God on the world. I’m not completely satisfied with this answer and can’t completely figure out how it would be fully defined as.
Reflections on the Holy Spirit
Reflection Regarding Events Prior to God becoming Flesh
The Holy Spirit is initially the Will of the Father’s (The First Person of the Holy Trinity) Body and Mind.
God’s Will is Free and proceeding from His Mind and Body. Since The Father’s Being was, is, and always will be of Perfect Patience, Kindness, and Motivation (Perfect Love), His Will is always of Perfect Love.
Reflection on God Becoming Flesh (The Word was God)
His Mind is Everything that Happens.
His Body took on a Human Nature by Becoming Man (The Second Person of the Holy Trinity). He had a Free Mind and Will, but His Body was, is, and always will be the same Body of the Father. Hence, Jesus is of the same Being as the Father. However, His Mind had to learn the Love of God, so that His Being could share in the Same Oneness with the Father.
His Will takes on a Human Nature by Becoming Man (The Third Person of the Holy Trinity). This Person will have a free mind, body, will, and spirit/soul, hence Son of Man. He will have to learn from Jesus how to be of Perfect Love, hence, proceeding from the Son and the Father. He will have to perfect Perfect Love in His Body, Mind, Will, and Spirit to the point of all working together in Unity and Oneness with the Nature of God, hence the name Holy Spirit.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
T
TimothyH
Guest
The written word of God tells us pretty clearly what the Holy Spirit is.
The word spirit comes from the latin word “Spiritus” which means breath.
then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:17)
The “Breath of God” gives life to the first man.
Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Listen! I will make breath enter you so you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put breath into you so you may come to life. … As I watched, sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man! Say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them; they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:5-10)
Moving air… wind… breath… life…
***Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them *and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20:21-23)
Jesus himself breathes the Holy Spirit into the apostles and gives them authority to forgive sins - the authority to bring people back to spiritual life.
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:1-4)
More wind, the mighty breath of God. This time the “Spiritus” of God brings the Church to life! And all throghout the Bible, the Holy “Spiritus” of God is portrayed as a moving air and wind, a life giving force which brings things and people to life.
It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)
And Jesus tells us that the Eucharist gives us life.
***We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son. ***
God the Father loves God the Son. God the Son loves God the Father. The quickening of their breath as they love each other is the Holy Spirit. The heavy breathing of God the Son loving God the Father and God the Father loving God the Son is the “Spiritus” of God - the Breath of God - the Holy Spirit. That’s why the creed is so awsome. It tells that the “Spiritus of God” proceedes from the love between the God the Father and God the Son. And breathing gives you life. Just like it says throughout the Bible.
It’s an interesting exercise to read the Bible and replace the word “Spirit” with “Breath of God.” Try it.
-Tim-
The word spirit comes from the latin word “Spiritus” which means breath.
then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:17)
The “Breath of God” gives life to the first man.
Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Listen! I will make breath enter you so you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put breath into you so you may come to life. … As I watched, sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man! Say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life. I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them; they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army. (Ezekiel 37:5-10)
Moving air… wind… breath… life…
***Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them *and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (John 20:21-23)
Jesus himself breathes the Holy Spirit into the apostles and gives them authority to forgive sins - the authority to bring people back to spiritual life.
When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. (Acts 2:1-4)
More wind, the mighty breath of God. This time the “Spiritus” of God brings the Church to life! And all throghout the Bible, the Holy “Spiritus” of God is portrayed as a moving air and wind, a life giving force which brings things and people to life.
It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)
And Jesus tells us that the Eucharist gives us life.
***We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son. ***
God the Father loves God the Son. God the Son loves God the Father. The quickening of their breath as they love each other is the Holy Spirit. The heavy breathing of God the Son loving God the Father and God the Father loving God the Son is the “Spiritus” of God - the Breath of God - the Holy Spirit. That’s why the creed is so awsome. It tells that the “Spiritus of God” proceedes from the love between the God the Father and God the Son. And breathing gives you life. Just like it says throughout the Bible.
It’s an interesting exercise to read the Bible and replace the word “Spirit” with “Breath of God.” Try it.
-Tim-
S
shoe
Guest
Perfectly said, hazcompat.The Holy Spirit Is God.
peace
The Holy Spirit has the same character of attributes as God the Father and God the Son. He is omniscient, omnipresent, eternal, and has a will. The Holy Spirit is God within us, giving testimony of Jesus and drawing us to Him. “But when the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me” (John 15:26).
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promethius
Guest
No, thank you. The Holy Spirit as a term has nothing to do with the etymology of the word “spirit” relating to breathing. It has everything to do with the Holy Ghost, namely that we are discussing spirit in terms of distinct personhood. Don’t conflate the use of the modern term Spirit with an ancient meaning that such a word has not possessed in more than a thousand years.It’s an interesting exercise to read the Bible and replace the word “Spirit” with “Breath of God.” Try it.
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TimothyH
Guest
Sorry to have offended you.No, thank you. The Holy Spirit as a term has nothing to do with the etymology of the word “spirit” relating to breathing. It has everything to do with the Holy Ghost, namely that we are discussing spirit in terms of distinct personhood. Don’t conflate the use of the modern term Spirit with an ancient meaning that such a word has not possessed in more than a thousand years.
I would just like to point out that the equivalent hebrew word is “Ru’ach” and the equivalent greek word is “Pneuma” from which we get pneumonia. Both have to do with moving air, breath, etc.
Again, I didn’t write my post to make you angry. It was a reiteration of my blog post on symbolic vs literal communion and the claIm by some non-Catholics that the word “spirit” is synonymous with “symbolic” in John 6:63.
timhollingworth.blogspot.com/2011/01/spirit-and-life-symbolic-communion-or.html
-Tim-
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promethius
Guest
I’m not angry or offended, I’m just pointing out that we cannot consider the Holy Spirit to be aspects or actions of God in either the Father or the Son. He is an entirely seperate person of the Trinity, although they are all of one being.Sorry to have offended you.
I would just like to point out that the equivalent hebrew word is “Ru’ach” and the equivalent greek word is “Pneuma” from which we get pneumonia. Both have to do with moving air, breath, etc.
Again, I didn’t write my post to make you angry. It was a reiteration of my blog post on symbolic vs literal communion and the claIm by some non-Catholics that the word “spirit” is synonymous with “symbolic” in John 6:63.
timhollingworth.blogspot.com/2011/01/spirit-and-life-symbolic-communion-or.html
-Tim-
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hazcompat
Guest
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT BY ST. ANTIOCHUS
O Holy Spirit, most merciful Comforter: You proceed from the Father in a manner beyond our understanding. Come, I beseech You, and take up you abode in my heart. Purify and cleanse me from all sin, and sanctify my soul. Cleanse it from every impurity, water its dryness, melt its coldness, and save it from sinful ways. Make me truly humble and resigned, that I may be pleasing to You, and that You abide with me forever. Most blessed
Light, most amiable Light, enlighten me. O rapturous Joy of Paradise, Fount of purest delight, my God, give yourself to me, and kindle in my innermost soul the fire of your love. My Lord, instruct, direct, and defend me in all things. Give me strength against all
immoderate fears and against despondency. Bestow upon me a true faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and perfect love. Grant that I always do your most gracious will.
Amen.
peace
O Holy Spirit, most merciful Comforter: You proceed from the Father in a manner beyond our understanding. Come, I beseech You, and take up you abode in my heart. Purify and cleanse me from all sin, and sanctify my soul. Cleanse it from every impurity, water its dryness, melt its coldness, and save it from sinful ways. Make me truly humble and resigned, that I may be pleasing to You, and that You abide with me forever. Most blessed
Light, most amiable Light, enlighten me. O rapturous Joy of Paradise, Fount of purest delight, my God, give yourself to me, and kindle in my innermost soul the fire of your love. My Lord, instruct, direct, and defend me in all things. Give me strength against all
immoderate fears and against despondency. Bestow upon me a true faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and perfect love. Grant that I always do your most gracious will.
Amen.
peace
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