1. The Holy Spirit and the Catholic Church Chapter 7 and Chapter 8

2. The Holy Spirit

3. John 14:16-17, 26

4. The Holy Spirit’s Mission  Third person of the Holy Trinity.  Also known as the Holy Ghost – changed due to a change in the use of language.  Some Key Scriptural References:  Genesis 1:1-2 – the “wind/spirit of God swept over the face of the waters.” (wind – ruah – from the Hebrew which means breath or spirit.)  Old Testament – “spirit of God” associated with prophecy, or God speaking through the prophets.  New Testament  Gospel of Luke – sometimes referred to as the Gospel of the Holy Spirit, contains many references to the Holy Spirit.  Some examples -- Baptism of Jesus (3:22), Annunciation (1:35)  Mission of the Holy Spirit – sent by God the Father and the Son to continue Christ’s work of salvation and transforming the world. He is the Advocate – who guides and transforms us.

5. Acts 2:1-8

6. The Holy Spirit and Pentecost  This event is called Pentecost – is celebrated 50 days after Easter; referred as the “birthday of the church” – when the disciples were given the gift the Holy Spirit to live-out and preach the Gospel.  The Holy Spirit works through the Church to reveal Christ and His mission to the world.  Therefore, the work of the Spirit and the work of the Church are fused together. Without the Spirit, the Church would simply become just another social agency.

7. Filioque Controversy  “the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father is adored and glorified…”  “the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with Father and the Son is adored and glorified…”

8. Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 737 and 741 The mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church, which is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. This joint mission henceforth brings Christ's faithful to share in his communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit prepares men and goes out to them with his grace, in order to draw them to Christ. The Spirit manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his word to them and opens their minds to the understanding of his Death and Resurrection. He makes present the mystery of Christ, supremely in the Eucharist, in order to reconcile them, to bring them into communion with God, that they may "bear much fruit.“ "The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words." The Holy Spirit, the artisan of God's works, is the master of prayer.

9. Titles and Symbols of the Holy Spirit  The titles and symbols can help us understand the work of the Spirit in the Church.  Paraclete (Παρακλετοσ) – means Advocate, Helper, Comforter – who “stands by our side”, to help us defend and live out or faith in Christ.  Other titles and descriptions found in Scriptures – Spirit of Christ, Promise of the Spirit, Spirit of Adoption.  Symbols associated with the Holy Spirit:  Water – HS’s action in Baptism  Fire – signifies the transforming energy of the HS (ex: tongues of fire).  Cloud and light – Symbolizes the glory God revealed and hidden.  Dove – In all four Gospels, the HS spirit is portrayed descending on Jesus at his Baptism in a form of a dove.  Anointing – symbolizes the power of the Spirit being poured out on the person.  Laying on of hands – people received the HS when the apostles laid hands on then.

10. What are some ways the Holy Spirit is active and present among us?

11. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit  The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are seven gifts given by God to Christians, especially at Confirmation, to help them lead a good and holy life. See Luke 11:2-3.  The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit:  Wisdom – we see God’s work in the events of our lives and the world.  Understanding – we recognize the right way to live as disciples of the Lord.  Right Judgment – we know what is right and wrong, and we are able to choose good.  Courage – someone who is willing to stand up for what is right even if it means rejection, abuse, harm, and death.  Knowledge – we understand what God has revealed to us in Christ and Scripture.  Reverence – a person who possesses a deep sense of respect for God and his Church.  Wonder and Awe – we are aware of the glory and majesty of God.

12. What gift of the Holy Spirit resonates with you the most? Why?

13. The Mission of the Catholic Church

14.  Mass – Also known as the Sunday “Eucharist”; comes from the Latin word missa, meaning “to be sent”.  Magisterium – the teaching authority of the Catholic Church, whose task is to preserve and interpret the truths of salvation as revealed in Sacred Scriptures and Sacred Tradition.  Body of Christ – the Eucharist; also means the Church, the People of God, as the Mystical Body of Christ.  Catholic Church –Universal group of Christian communities who are in union with the Pope. It is established by Christ Himself on the Apostles. It is the original Christian Church. The Catholic Church -- Vocabulary

15.  Scriptures itself attests that Jesus intended to establish the Catholic Church (with a hierarchical structure) and for his followers to continue his mission after he was gone. Founded by Christ

16.  Jesus established a visible Church on the foundation of the St. Peter and the Apostles:  "You are Rock and on this rock I will build my Church." (Matthew 16: 18) “  “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven."(Matthew 16:19; 18:18)  "Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven, whose sins you retain, they are retained."(John 20:23)

17.  Jesus intended his disciples to continue His mission.  "Do this in memory of Me." (Luke 22:19)  "Make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19),  "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

18.  The Catholic Church is the only church that can claim to have been founded by Christ personally.  Every other Christian denomination traces its lineage back to a mere human person such as Martin Luther or John Wesley.  The Catholic Church can trace its lineage back to Jesus Christ who appointed St. Peter as the first pope. This line of popes has continued unbroken for almost 2,000 years. Founded by Christ con’t

19.  The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means an assembly or a gathering of people.  The Church is a gathering of people called together by Jesus Christ to continue His mission  Mission  proclaim the Good News that through Christ, sin and death has been defeated and our broken relationship with God has been restored.  The Church fulfills Christ’s mission and its calling, when Christians practice their love for one another, show compassion for one another, and speak out on moral issues and injustice. The Mission of the Church

20. Images of the Church  The Church as the Sacrament of Salvation  The Church as Communion  The Church as the People of God  The Church as the Mystical Body of Christ  The Church as the Bride of Christ  The Church as the Family of God  The Church as Priests, Prophets, and Kings  The Church as the Kingdom of God  The Church as the Pilgrim Church  The Church as our Mother  The Church as a Sheepfold or Flock  The Church as Fertile Land, Branches of the Vine  The Church as a Temple or Building

21.  A Sacrament is both a sign and a cause of God’s grace.  Example: Eucharist  A sign of Jesus and it makes Jesus truly present to us.  The Church is a “sacrament” because is it both a sign of God’s saving power and it is a cause of for making God’s grace present in the world.  The Church is both human and divine in origin. The Church as a “Sacrament”

22.  People of God  Chosen people who share in Christ’s mission  Not limited to a particular race, culture, or politics  We are born into this family by our Baptism Scriptural Images of the Church

23.  The Body of Christ  St. Paul wrote – “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is Christ” (1 Cor. 12:12)  In Ephesians 4:15, St. Paul referred to Christ as the head of the Body, the Church.  Salvation comes through the Church because Christ is the Head of the Church.

24.  The imagery used in the bible presumes an intimate and inseparable relationship with Christ (Head) and the Church (Body).  St. Paul also points out that within diversity, there is unity. Every person in the Church is needed and brings a gift needed by the community (1 Cor. 12:15-17).  The Church like a husband and wife (Eph. 5:25). Christ as the Groom and the Church as the Bride. That’s why the Church is sometimes referred to as a “she” our “Holy Mother Church.”

25.  “Don’t you know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and that God dwells in you, and that you are not your own?” ~ 1 Cor. 3:16-17  Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit is what gives life, unity, gifts, and charisms to the Church.  Charisms -- special grace of the Holy Spirit given to members of the Church for the good of the Church and of the world. Often given to people who play a special role or office in the Church. The Temple of the Holy Spirit

26. What articles of Faith are essential for identification as members of the Church?  There is one supreme, eternal, infinite God  The good will be rewarded  There are three Persons in one God  Jesus Christ became man  Doctrinal Statements  The Commandments and the Precepts of the Church  Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture  All that the Church teaches

27. Precepts of the Church  Attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation  Confess grave sins at least once a year  Receive communion during Easter time  Fast and abstain from appointed days  Contribute to the support of the Church

28. ONE HOLY CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC – each describes something essential about the Church and her mission. These are the “genuine trademarks” of the Church of Jesus Christ.

29. The Church Is ONE because it has…  One Lord  One Baptism  One profession of faith  One leadership under the Pope – a visible sign of unity, despite of cultures, race, gender, and economics  One Body  One life given by the Holy Spirit  One worship  Taken from the Catechism – official summary of Catholic doctrine on faith and morals.

30. The Church is Holy because…  With Christ as the Head of the Church, she strives to be holy and free from all sin and evil.  Even though there are members of the Church whose personal sin have affected the Church, Christ assured that the “gates of hell will not prevail” against the Church (Mt. 16:18).  No matter how dark the times may have been for the Church, there have always been those great saints through whom the light of Christ has radiated. © Gene Plaisted

31. The Church is Holy… “Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25–27). Image in public domain

32.  She is founded directly by God in Jesus Christ – faithfully passed on from the Apostles through the unbroken line of bishops.  The Church possesses the fullness of Christ and has received from him the fullness of the means of salvation.  The Church has been sent on a mission by Christ to all people in the world to gather all into the People of God.  The Church exists for all people and is the means of salvation for all people. The Church is Catholic (universal) because…

33.  Founded on the Apostles – who were closest to Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Led by the Apostles through their successors, the Pope and the bishops (Apostolic Succession)  When speaking on matters of faith and morality, the Pope and the bishops in union with him speaks without error (infallible). The Church is Apostolic because…

34. Apostolic How do we know that the Apostles have the power and authority to pass on to others what they had received from Christ?  “As the Father sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21)  “Whoever listens to you listens to me” (Luke 10:16). Image in public domain