Apologetics 101: The Holy Spirit
On the great feast of Pentecost, we consider the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
The Holy Spirit has been called the “forgotten God.” We talk a lot about the Father and the Son. But there is so much left to explore about the Spirit.
What if that is on purpose? It seems the Holy Spirit prefers to operate in an unappreciated and unrecognized way.
The Holy Spirit, in a certain sense, represents the hiddenness, mystery and humility of God.
The Holy Spirit is the love shared between the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is a Person, not a vague entity or being.
In the history of the Church, the Holy Spirit has been primarily represented by two symbols: a dove and fire.
Sometimes in our lives, we need a cheerleader and sometimes we need a football coach. The Holy Spirit knows how and when to be which.
Through the Sacrament of Confirmation, the Holy Spirit gives us the customized, personalized gifts and encouragement we need to live the Christian life.
The Holy Spirit has a unique relationship with Mary, which is related to her humility.
In the Gospel, when the angel announces God wants her to become the mother of His Son, Mary admits that she does not know how this can be.
Admitting that we don’t know is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of humility. Whenever we humble ourselves before the Lord, the Spirit rushes to shower us with His seven gifts.