We, Catholics, believe that God is only one and at the same time is three different persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Probably, we have heard very much about the Father and the Son, but a little bit about the Holy Spirit. So, who is the Holy Spirit?
The Church, after receiving the Holy Spirit in the day of Pentecost, started to believe in the Holy Spirit as a member of the Holy Trinity, and it is present in the Creed of the Apostles, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” However, this is not enough to try to understand who really the Holy Spirit is. In 325 AD, the Church talks about Jesus in the Council of Nicaea, and in 385 AD, the Church in the First Council of Constantinople talks about the third person of the Trinity. Both councils made the Creed that all of us profess every Sunday and in Solemnities. This creed is called the Nicaea Constantinople creed, better called as the Nicaea Creed. The third part of this creed says about the Holy Spirit, “I believe
in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.”
If we study only the third part of the Creed, we probably could talk for hours about this. However, I want to highlight this first part that says, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.” The Holy Spirit gives the reason of our existence. Without the Holy Spirit, probably you and I would not be here. The Holy Spirit transforms our reality and helps us to listen better to God’s voice. The Holy Spirit sustains the Church; therefore, regardless of all the problems that the Church has had, she continues working for the Kingdom of God.
My brothers and sisters, it is more important to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives than to know a lot of theology about Him. Let us say not only in Pentecost, but every day of our lives, “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth” (cf. Psalm 104).
God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always.
Fr. Jorge Ramirez
