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“But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” – John 16:13a
The Holy Spirit is the third divine Person of the Holy Trinity forming One God with the Father and the Son. He is also described as the love that flows back and forth between the Father and the Son as well as the avenue of love poured out from God into us (Romans 5:5). After the Holy Spirit is sealed in the human soul at Baptism each Christian becomes a dwelling place or temple where God resides.
The Holy Spirit has a mission to:
• Bring us into closer friendship with God
• Transform and heal our lifestyles with His power
• Strengthen and guide us in our God given mission in this life
The Sacrament of Baptism: Born Again the Bible Way
“Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” – John 3:5
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38 (NIV)
In the sacrament of Baptism we use water and consecrated oil as signs of the very real spiritual reality that takes place in the human soul. The sacrament of Baptism not only cleanses us of the inherited original sin of Adam and Eve, it makes us “new creatures” who share in God’s very own nature. Baptism is the first installment of our inheritance in the Kingdom of God and eternal salvation as we become His adopted children. This is where we first become temples of the Holy Spirit and a part of the Body of Christ (1).
“But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.” - 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” – 1 Corinthians 6:19
“He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” – 2 Corinthians 5:15
When the Holy Spirit is sealed in the human soul at Baptism He brings a communion with God through sanctifying grace into the soul, allowing for the infusion of the theological virtues (Faith, Hope & Charity) as well as the many gifts and charisms of the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that these theological virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit do not automatically manifest on their own. They are like newly planted seeds that must be nurtured and cultivated by the newly baptized person’s parents, godparents and Christian family to allow for maturity of these gifts and the spiritual maturity of the baptized person.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
The sacrament of Confirmation is a deepening of the graces of Baptism with the effect being a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the apostles received at Pentecost. The grace received in the sacrament of confirmation brings us into a deeper communion with God through the Holy Spirit, unites us more firmly to Christ and strengthens the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us. Confirmation is often identified as the sacrament of martyrdom as it gives us a new power through the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the Faith as true witnesses to Christ and to profess the name of Jesus boldly, never being ashamed of the Cross (2). Since the time of the Apostles the gesture of extending hands over the Christians receiving the sacrament of confirmation has signified the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Roman Rite, the Bishop extends his hands over those receiving the sacrament of confirmation and invokes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the following words:
“All-powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send Your Holy Spirit upon them to be their helper and guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgement and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in Your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord” (3).