The Abiding Presence of the Holy Ghost in the Soul — John Shaqi
The Abiding Presence of the Holy Ghost in the SoulJarrett, Bede
Religion
The Abiding Presence of the Holy Ghost in the Soul
Jarrett, Bede
Holy Spirit; Presence of God
for He came to His baptism without sin, and therefore not without
the Holy Ghost. At this time, then (that is, at His baptism), He
was pleased to prefigure His Church, in which those especially who
are baptized receive the Holy Ghost" (_De Trin_., 1. xv, c. 26).
Therefore, by the conspicuous apparition of the Holy Ghost over
Christ and by His invisible power in His soul, the twofold mission
of the Spirit is foreshadowed, namely, His outward and visible
mission in the Church, and His secret indwelling in the souls of
the just.
THE HOLY GHOST AND THE CHURCH
The Church which, already conceived, came forth from the side of
the second Adam in His sleep on the Cross, first showed herself
before the eyes of men on the great day of Pentecost. On that day
the Holy Ghost began to manifest His gifts in the mystic body of
Christ, by that miraculous outpouring already foreseen by the
prophet Joel (2.28-29), for the Paraclete "sat upon the apostles
as though new spiritual crowns were placed upon their heads in
tongues of fire" (S. Cyril Hier. _Catech_. 17). Then the apostles
"descended from the mountain," as St. John Chrysostom writes, "not
bearing in their hands tables of stone like Moses, but carrying
the Spirit in their mind, and pouring forth the treasure and the
fountain of doctrines and graces" (_In Matt_. Hom. I, 2 Cor. 3.3).
Thus was fully accomplished that last promise of Christ to His
apostles of sending the Holy Ghost, who was to complete and, as it
were, to seal the deposit of doctrine committed to them under His
inspiration. "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot
bear them now; but when He, the Spirit of Truth, shall come, He
will teach you all truth" (John 16.12-13). For He who is the
Spirit of Truth, inasmuch as He proceedeth both from the Father,
who is the eternally True, and from the Son, who is the
substantial Truth, receiveth from each both His essence and the
fullness of all truth. This truth He communicates to His Church,
guarding her by His all powerful help from ever falling into
error, and aiding her to foster daily more and more the germs of
divine doctrine and to make them fruitful for the welfare of the
peoples. And since the welfare of the peoples, for which the
Church was established, absolutely requires that this office
should be continued for all time, the Holy Ghost perpetually
supplies life and strength to preserve and increase the Church. "I
will ask the Father, and He will give you another Paraclete, that
He may abide with you for ever, the Spirit of Truth" (John 16. 16,
17).
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