Here are a few quotes from our Fathers about The Holy Spirit:
“Of course Jesus entrusts this work to human beings: to the apostles, to the Church. Nevertheless, in and through them the Holy Spirit remains the transcendent and principal agent for the accomplishment of this work in the human spirit and in the history of the world.”
{Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem (May 18, 1986), 42: AAS 78 (1986), 857.}
“…The Holy Spirit is indeed the principal agent of the whole of the Church’s mission. His action is preeminent in the mission ad gentes, as can clearly be seen in the early Church: in the conversion of Cornelius (cf. Acts 10), in the decisions made about emerging problems (cf. Acts 15) and in the choice of regions and peoples to be evangelized (cf. Acts 16:6ff). The Spirit worked through the apostles, but at the same time he was also at work in those who heard them: “Through his action the Good News takes shape in human minds and hearts and extends through history. In all of this it is the Holy Spirit who gives life.”” {Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Missio #21)
If the Holy Spirit is the Principle Agent for our conversion,
then why is there so little focus on the Holy Spirit in our catechetical material?
Of course, there is plenty said of the Spirit’s reception both in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. But once those sacraments are received, the material (and the Church’s focus) appears to go elsewhere. The perception is that once you receive these sacraments, you magically receive the Holy Spirit and nothing else is needed.
Everywhere I go, I am asking adults at parish missions when the last time was that they received any serious catechesis on how to grow in their relationship with the Holy Spirit. Silently, they nod their heads in agreement when I declare that the Spirit is the best-kept secret of the Catholic Church.
They are hungry to understand the Holy Spirit, but they are getting very little information in the course of their “normal parish experience.” I am struggling to understand how we, the Catholic Church, hope to accomplish our mission if we don’t educate our faithful on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of disciples of Christ.
Until the average Catholic participating in the pews rises up and requests from the leadership effective information on growing in the Spirit and begins to grow with Him, we will not develop fruitful disciples. The power comes from the Holy Spirit!
May I humbly offer just a couple of simple things we can do to help the church accomplish this mission?
- Ask the leadership of your church/diocese why they have so little focus on the Holy Spirit, who is the principle agent in the conversion of humanity.
- As a parishioner, ask your pastor and parish formation staff when they are going to offer material for everyone on how to grow in relationship with the third Person of the Trinity.
- Bishops, priests, and parish faith formation staff can ask the major publishers to provide material within their content on living in the life and power of the Holy Spirit after one encounters Jesus (conversion).
Lord Jesus, send your Holy Spirit to the hearts of our leadership, that they may be struck with the awesome need for a greater emphasis and teaching on the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Amen to that, Deacon Ralph! You make a critically important point. Unfortunately, I would be concerned that if parishioners ask their pastors or formation staffs for catechetical formation classes on the Holy Spirit they would probably say there aren’t any. However, I am aware of two. (1) The Life in the Spirit Seminar! They could ask folks in their parish who have a charismatic prayer meeting to make sure they provide a seminar once or twice a year. But then the pastor and staff need to get behind it and promote it!
Another resource is the ChristLife ministry. They provide clear teaching on the Holy Spirit and an opportunity to pray to receive more of the Spirit during the first session’s retreat.
God bless you, Deacon Ralph and keep up the great work!