Prayer Before Studying
Incomprehensible
Creator, the true Fountain of light and only Author of all knowledge:
vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, to enlighten our understandings, and to remove from
us all darkness of sin and ignorance. Thou, who makest
eloquent the tongues of those that want utterance, direct our tongues, and pour
on our lips the grace of Thy blessing. Give us a diligent and obedient spirit,
quickness of apprehension, capacity of retaining, and the powerful assistance
of Thy holy grace; that what we hear or learn we may apply to Thy honor and the
eternal salvation of our own souls.
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Holy
Spirit, giver of all good gifts, enter into my mind and heart. Give me the gift
of knowledge, wisdom, understanding and the grace to use it wisely. Help me in
all my endeavors. Give me perseverance and fortitude. Help my memory, that I
may remember what I learn and recall it when necessary. Guide me in my studies.
You who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, let me not be deceived by false
teaching. Our Lady of Good Studies, pray for me. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
The Prayer Ablaze with the Fire of Your Spirit
O Lord, You have mercy on all,
take away from me my sins,
and mercifully set me ablaze
with the fire of Your Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,
and give me a human heart,
a heart to love and adore You,
a heart to delight in You,
to follow and enjoy You. Amen.
Come Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
The Prayer Ablaze with the Fire of Your Spirit
O Lord, You have mercy on all,
take away from me my sins,
and mercifully set me ablaze
with the fire of Your Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,
and give me a human heart,
a heart to love and adore You,
a heart to delight in You,
to follow and enjoy You. Amen.
Topic/Agenda:
1.
To explain more about
Holy Spirit & what took place during Pentecost.
2.
To explain the gifts
of Holy Spirit.
3.
To explain the relationship
of the seven Sacraments to Holy Spirit.
4.
To explain on how to
receive the Holy Spirit.
1What are these words
represent to you?
Wind
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Fire
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Dove
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Strong
Unseen
Present
everywhere
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Warm
Gives Light
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Gentle
Peaceful
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Symbolism of the Holy Trinity
God the Son
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God the Father
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God the Holy Spirit
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Cross or Crucifix
Lamb
Good Shepherd
Anchor - a cryptic way of displaying a cross.
(Righteous) Branch
Child holding a scroll
The cross & orb
The crown
The Door
FISH
(Ichthus) - Greek word for fish; “I” = Jesus, “ch” = Christ, “th” = God, “u”
= Son, “s” = Savior.
Hand with wound
Lion (of
Judah)
Ox - used
also for sacrifices
Pelican --
sacrifices itself for the young to live
Rock --
massive rock (petras); chief cornerstone;
The Sun (of
Righteousness)
The Vine
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Face of God
Father image
Father's name -- Jehova, YHWH (sacred name), Adonai
(Lord), El Shaddai (the Almighty)
Hand of God (variety)
Triangle or
Triangle with Yod
Star of David with YHWH
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Dove
Flame of Fire
Wind
Seven Gifts of Holy Spirit
Nine Gifts of Holy Spirit
Seven-branch Candlestick
Seven Burning Lamps
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The Spirit within us
Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ
The Pentecost (Coming of
Holy Spirit)
After the Ascension the apostles stayed in a house with Mary. They prayed together for nine days. Then, all
at once, the sound of a great wind filled the house. Little flames of fire came
and rested on each of them. The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. They
were not afraid anymore. They left the house and began to teach about Jesus.
The Holy Spirit had given them many gifts. One was that people from all over
the world could understand what the apostles were saying. And the Holy Spirit
helped them to preach so well that many people believed in Jesus. Three thousand people were baptized that day!
(a total of 5 thousand people were baptized after Peter healed a lame man).
The Holy Spirit that came to
the apostles is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit came to
us at Baptism. He helps us to pray and to love.
He gives us the grace to win the fight against sin. He helps us
understand the things we learn about God. The day the Holy Spirit came to the
apostles is called Pentecost Sunday. We celebrate this day in church each year.
We also call Pentecost Sunday the
"Birthday of the Church". Those who were baptized on Pentecost were
first members.
The Holy Spirit
- What
role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of Jesus?
> Without the Holy Spirit, we
cannot understand Jesus.
In
his life the presence of God’s Spirit,
whom we call the Holy Spirit, was manifest in a unique way. [CCC 689 – 691, 702
- 731]
- Under
what names and signs does the Holy Spirit appear?
> The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus in a
form of a dove.
> The first Christians experienced the Holy
Spirit as a healing ointment, living
water, a raging
storm, or
a flaming fire.
> Jesus Christ himself speaks about the Counselor, Comforter, Teacher, and the Spirit
of Truth.
> In the sacraments of the Church, the Holy
Spirit is bestowed through the imposition of hands and anointing with
oil [CCC
691-693]
- What
happened on Pentecost?
> Fifty days after his Resurrection, the
Lord sent the Holy Spirit down from heaven upon his disciples. The
age of the à
Church began.
[CCC 731-733]
Human
Experience:
Jesus
and the Seven Sacraments:
A sacrament is an outward efficacious
sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Jesus Christ himself is the sacrament,
as he gave his life to save mankind. His humanity is the
outward sign or the instrument of his Divinity. It is through his humanity that
the life of the Trinity comes to us as grace through the sacraments. It is
Jesus Christ alone who mediates the sacraments to allow grace to flow to
mankind.
Christ
sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to inspire his Apostles and his Church to
shepherd his flock after his Ascension into heaven. "As the Father has
sent me, even so I send you" (John 17:18, 20:21). Jesus is the Head of his
Body the Church (Colossians 1:18). The Church itself is a sacrament instituted
by Christ to give grace. Jesus gave us his Body the Church to continue the
works he performed during his earthly life. Grace given to us through the
sacraments will help us lead a good life in this world and help save us for the
Kingdom of Heaven.
The sacraments were instituted by Christ and
were part of the Liturgical Tradition of the early Christian Church. The Church
celebrates in her liturgy the Paschal mystery of Christ, his Sacrifice on the Cross, Death
and Resurrection. The
Greek word μυστήριον or mystery in the Greek New Testament is translated into
sacramentum in the Latin Vulgate Bible, from which we derive our English word
sacrament (examples: Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:27). The
saving effects of Christ's Redemption on the Cross are communicated through the
sacraments, especially in the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist. The
sacraments to this day are called mysteries in the Eastern Churches.
1. Baptism is a Sacrament which cleanses
us from original sin, makes us Christians, children of God, and heirs of
heaven. Baptism is necessary to salvation, because without it we cannot enter
into the kingdom of heaven. The priest is the ordinary minister of
Baptism; but in case of necessity any one who has the use of reason may
baptize. Whoever baptizes should pour water on the head of the person to be
baptized, and say, while pouring the water: I baptize thee in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Biblical references: Acts 2:38-39; Acts
22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5; Matt 19:14; Luke 18:15-16; Col 2:11-12; Rom
6:13; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Cor 1:16; Mark 16:16; Rom 5:18-19; Mark
10:14; Jos 24:15; Matt 8:5; Matt 15:21
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2. Reconciliation (also known as Confession and Penance): Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed
after Baptism are forgiven. Penance remits sins and restores the friendship
of God to the soul by means of the absolution of the priest. I know
that the priest has the power of absolving from the sins committed after
Baptism, because Jesus Christ granted that power to the priests of His Church
when He said: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive,
they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained."
To receive the Sacrament of Penance worthily we must do five things:
We must examine our conscience.
We must have sorrow for our sins. We must make a firm resolution never more to offend God. We must confess our sins to the priest. We must accept the penance which the priest gives us.
The examination of conscience is an earnest
effort to recall to mind all the sins we have committed since our last worthy
confession. Before beginning the examination of conscience we should pray to
God to give us light to know our sins and grace to detest them. We can make a
good examination of conscience by calling to memory the commandments of God,
the precepts of the Church, the seven capital sins, and the particular duties
of our state in life, to find out the sins we have committed.
Biblical references: Matt 9:2-8; Jn
20:22-23; 2 Cor 5:17-20; James 5:13-16; Matt 18:18; 1 Jn 5:16
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3. Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist): The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament which
contains the body and blood, soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ under
the appearances of bread and wine. Christ instituted the Holy
Eucharist at the Last Supper, the night before He died. When our Lord
instituted the Holy Eucharist the twelve Apostles were present. Our Lord
instituted the Holy Eucharist by taking bread, blessing, breaking, and giving
to His Apostles, saying: Take ye and eat. This is My body; and then by taking
the cup of wine, blessing and giving it, saying to them: Drink ye all of
this. This is My blood which shall be shed for the remission of Sins. Do this
for a commemoration of Me. When our Lord said, This is My body, the substance
of the bread was changed into the substance of His body; when He said, This
is My blood, the substance of the wine was changed into the substance of His
blood. Jesus Christ is whole and entire both under the form of bread and
under the form of wine. After the substance of the bread and wine had been
changed into the substance of the body and blood of our Lord there remained
only the appearances of bread and wine, which means that visibly, and to all
our senses, the bread and wine looked and tasted the same as before it was
consecrated. The substance of the bread and wine was changed into the
substance of the body and blood of Christ by His almighty power. This change
of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ continues to be made in
the Church by Jesus Christ through the ministry of His priests. Christ gave
His priests the power to change bread and wine into His body and blood when
He said to the Apostles, Do this in commemoration of Me. The priests exercise
this power of changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ
through the words of consecration in the Mass, which are the words of Christ:
This is My body; this is My blood.
Biblical references: Jn 6:35-71; Mt
26:26ff; 1 Cor 10:16; 1 Cor 11:23-29; Ex 12:8,46; Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; Jn
4:31-34; Matt 16:5-12; 1 Cor 2:14-3:4; Ps 27:2; Is 9:18-20; Is 49:26; Mic
3:3; 2 Sam 23:15-17; Rev 17:6,16
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4. Confirmation is a Sacrament through which
we receive the Holy Ghost to make us strong and perfect Christians and
soldiers of Jesus Christ. The bishop is the ordinary minister of
Confirmation. The bishop extends his hands over those who are to be
confirmed, prays that they may receive the Holy Ghost, and anoints the forehead
of each with holy chrism in the form of a cross. Holy chrism is a mixture of
olive-oil and balm, consecrated by the bishop. In anointing the person he
confirms the bishop says: I sign thee with the sign of the cross, and I
confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. By anointing the forehead with chrism in the
form of a cross is meant, that the Christian who is confirmed must openly
profess and practice his faith, never be ashamed of it, and rather die than
deny it. Persons of an age to learn should know the chief mysteries of
faith and the duties of a Christian, and be instructed in the nature and
effects of this Sacrament.
Biblical references: Acts 19:5-6; Acts
8:14-17; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph 1:13; Heb 6:2
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5. The Sacrament of
Matrimony is the Sacrament which unites a Christian man and woman in
lawful marriage. A Christian man and woman cannot be united in lawful
marriage in any other way than by the Sacrament of Matrimony, because Christ
raised marriage to the dignity of a Sacrament. The bond of Christian marriage cannot be dissolved by
any human power. The effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony are:
To sanctify the love of husband and wife;
To give them grace to bear with each other´s weaknesses; To enable them to bring up their children in the fear and love of God.
To receive the Sacrament of Matrimony
worthily it is necessary to be in the state of grace, and it is necessary
also to comply with the laws of the Church. The Church alone has the right to
make laws concerning the Sacrament of marriage, though the state also has the
right to make laws concerning the civil effects of the marriage contract.
Christians should prepare for a holy and happy marriage by receiving the
Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist; by begging God to grant them a pure
intention and to direct their choice; and by seeking the advice of their
parents and the blessing of their pastors.
Biblical references: Matt 19:5; Mark
10:7-12; Eph 5:22-32; 1 Thess 4:4; Mal 2:14-16; Matt 5:32-33; Matt 19:4-6,9;
Mark 10:11-12; Lk 16:18; Rom 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:10-11
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6. Holy Orders is a Sacrament by which
bishops, priests, and other ministers of the Church are ordained and receive
the power and grace to perform their sacred duties. To receive Holy
Orders worthily it is necessary to be in the state of grace, to have the
necessary knowledge and a divine call to this sacred office. Christians
should look upon the priests of the Church as the messengers of God and the
dispensers of His mysteries. Only bishops can confer the Sacrament of Holy
Orders.
Biblical references: Acts 20:28; Lk 22:19;
Jn 20:22; Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3; Acts 14:22; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6; Tit 1:5
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7. Anointing of the Sick (formerly known as Extreme Unction or Last Rites): Extreme Unction
is the Sacrament which, through
the anointing and prayer of the priest, gives health and strength to the
soul, and sometimes to the body, when we are in danger of death from sickness.
We should receive Extreme Unction when we are in danger of death from
sickness, or from a wound or accident. We should not wait until we are in
extreme danger before we receive Extreme Unction, but if possible we should
receive it whilst we have the use of our senses. The effects of Extreme
Unction are:
To comfort us in the pains of sickness and to strengthen us against
temptation;
To remit venial sins and to cleanse our soul from the remains of sin; To restore us to health, when God sees fit.
By the remains of sin I mean the
inclination to evil and the weakness of the will which are the result of our
sins, and which remain after our sins have been forgiven. We should receive
the Sacrament of Extreme Unction in the state of grace, and with lively faith
and resignation to the will of God.
Biblical references: Mk 6:12-13; Jm 5:14
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Life
Application:
Why do
we need Holy Spirit? What are the benefits or gifts of Holy Spirit?:
1. Confirm prophet speaking from God: (Heb 2:3,4)
2. Edify/uplift church: (1 Cor 12:7)
What
does the Holy Spirit do in the Church?
Ø The Holy Spirit builds up the à CHURCH and impels her. He reminds her of her à MISSION. He calls people into her service and
sends them the necessary gifts.
Ø He lead us ever deeper into communion
with the Triune God. [CCC
689 – 691, 702 - 731]
7
Gifts according to Isaiah 11:2-3
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9
Gifts according to 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
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1. Wisdom (Sapientia) -- It is the capacity to love
spiritual things more than material ones. Wisdom is the first and
highest gift of the Holy Spirit, because it is the perfection of faith.
Through wisdom, we come to value properly those things which we believe
through faith. The
truths of Christian belief are more important than the things of this world,
and wisdom helps us to order our relationship to the created world properly,
loving Creation for the sake of God, rather than for its own sake.
2. Understanding
(intellectus) -- In understanding, we comprehend how we need to
live as followers of Christ. A person with understanding is not confused by
the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. The gift of understanding
perfects a person's speculative reason in the apprehension of truth.
It is the gift whereby self-evident principles are known, Aquinas writes. Understanding
is the second gift of the Holy Spirit, and people sometimes have a hard time
understanding (no pun intended) how it differs from wisdom. While wisdom is
the desire to contemplate the things of God, understanding allows us grasp,
at least in a limited way, the very essence of the truths of the Catholic
Faith. Through understanding, we gain a certitude about our beliefs that
moves beyond faith.
3. Counsel / Right
Judgment -- With the gift of counsel/right judgment, we know the difference between
right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with
right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus. Counsel,
the third gift of the Holy Spirit, is the perfection of the cardinal virtue of
prudence. Prudence
(caution with regard to practical matters) can be practiced by anyone, but
counsel is supernatural. Through this gift of the Holy Spirit, we are
able to judge how best to act almost by intuition. Because of the gift of
counsel, Christians need not fear to stand up for the truths of the Faith,
because the Holy Spirit will guide us in defending those truths. Cardinal means -- of prime
importance; chief; principal
4. Fortitude / Strength / Courage (fortitudo) --
With the gift of fortitude/courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a
follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what
is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal
abuse, or physical harm. The gift of courage allows people the
firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring
evil. While counsel is the perfection
of a cardinal virtue, fortitude is both a gift of the Holy Spirit and a
cardinal virtue. Fortitude is ranked as the fourth gift of the Holy Spirit
because it gives us the
strength to follow through on the actions suggested by the gift of counsel.
While fortitude is sometimes called courage, it goes beyond what we normally
think of as courage. Fortitude is the virtue of the martyrs that allows them
to suffer death rather than to renounce the Christian Faith.
5. Knowledge (Scientia) -- With the gift of
knowledge, we understand
the meaning of God. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of
facts. The fifth gift of the Holy Spirit, knowledge, is often confused
with both wisdom and understanding. Like wisdom, knowledge is the perfection
of faith, but whereas wisdom gives us the desire to judge all things according to the truths of
the Catholic Faith, knowledge is the actual ability to
do so. Like counsel, it is aimed at our actions in this life. In a
limited way, knowledge allows us to see the circumstances of our life the way
that God sees them. Through this gift of the Holy Spirit, we can determine
God's purpose for our lives and live them accordingly.
6. Piety / Reverence
(Pietas) -- With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety,
we have a deep sense of
respect for God and the Church. A person with reverence recognizes our total
reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love.
Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit's instigation, we pay worship
and duty to God as our Father, Aquinas writes. Piety, the sixth gift of the
Holy Spirit, is the perfection of the virtue of religion. While we tend to
think of religion today as the external elements of our faith, it really
means the willingness to
worship and to serve God. Piety takes that willingness beyond a sense of duty, so that we
desire to worship God and to serve Him out of love, the way that we
desire to honor our parents and do what they wish.
7. Fear of the Lord /
Wonder & Awe (Timor Domini) -- With the gift of fear of the Lord we are aware of the glory and
majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection
of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and
perfect love. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of
separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear
of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a
fear of punishment. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov
1:7) because it puts our mindset in correct location with respect to God: we
are the finite, dependent creatures, and He is the infinite, all-powerful
Creator. The seventh and final gift of the Holy Spirit is the fear of the
Lord, and perhaps no other gift of the Holy Spirit is so misunderstood. We
think of fear and hope as opposites, but the fear of the Lord confirms the
theological virtue of hope. This gift of the Holy Spirit gives us the desire
not to offend God, as well as the certainty that God will supply us the grace
that we need in order to keep from offending Him. Our desire not to offend
God is more than simply a sense of duty; like piety, the fear of the Lord
arises out of love.
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1. Wisdom (Sapientia)
-- The supernatural
application of knowledge. "Wisdom" is "skill, cleverness, the
right application of knowledge." The Word of Wisdom gives us the skill
in knowing how and when to minister accurately by the Holy Spirit into
peoples' lives. It makes the timing right and enables the other Gifts
to make a significant impact. Wisdom
is clearly taught in the Word of God and “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all
who follow his precepts have good understanding” (Psalm 11:10). This
is the precious gift that Solomon asked for and received from God to be able
to rightly rule God‘s nation (I Kings 3:12). With this wisdom, Solomon could
understand what do in difficult decisions. Wisdom is also associated with
fearing the Lord.
2. Knowledge (Scientia) -- The revelation of facts past, present or future
which were not learned through the efforts of the natural mind. God-given
disclosures. Some people have such a gift of remembering scriptures.
They have knowledge of God and His ways. They seem to be able to quickly
distinguish which is biblical and which is not. Some translations say it is
the “Word” of knowledge
while others say that it is the “utterance” of knowledge. The Word is
most certainly the Word of God. The “utterance” of knowledge could indicate
that those with the gift of knowledge know when to speak particular words,
when not to, and what words to speak with. Both words seem to fulfill what true
knowledge is. These with this gift make excellent teachers, deacons, elders,
or pastors.
3. Faith
-- The mysterious surge
of confidence which sometimes arises within a person faced with a specific
situation or need. Those with this gift are truly amazing in how they
see things. They tend to exude
confidence in all situations. For example, our church deacon has said
about our church growth “when” it grows we will need more Sunday school
books, while others say “if” we grow we will need additional books. I met an
evangelist once that spoke about things as if they already had existed or had
come to pass. He spoke about finances that God would provide while
simultaneously have nothing to show for it in the church’s bank account. He
would always later prove to be right. This is a person more like God. He sees things that aren’t as
if they already are!
4. Gifts of Healing
-- To supernaturally
bring cure for the sick, physical, spiritual and emotional; to make whole in
the fullest sense of the word; saving from disease and its effects. Some
“faith healers” claim to have this gift yet have often been exposed to be
frauds by undercover reporters. Many of those “healed” have been interviewed
prior to their supposed healing. Some tap the power of positive thinking to
convince them that they are healed. Others have even used “scam artists” or
actors to portray someone that has been healed from an infirmity that they
never actually had.
5. Working Miracles
-- A remarkable or
surprising event that happens by the direct intervention of God, not
following the general known laws of nature.
Examples:
Peter walking on the water
(Matthew 14:25-33 ). Joshua
commanding the sun to stand still (Joshua 10:12-14 )
6. Prophecy (Speak out) --
The Gift of Prophecy is
the special ability that God gives to members of the Body of Christ to
receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His gathered people, a
group among them, or any one of His people individually, through a divinely
anointed utterance. The Greek word for prophecy, "propheteia,"
implies that one is
speaking for another; speaking on behalf of God. We are exhorted to
specifically desire to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1,31).
7. Discerning of
Spirits -- The Gift that gives the Christian insight into the supernatural
world. The Gift
is to enable the person to know the motivation behind a situation or person.
The Apostle Paul discerned a spirit of divination in a girl (Acts 16:16-40 )
- This Gift is for the discerning
of good spirits more than the evil spirits. Being aware of good people and the good spirit
that motivates them, i.e. gentle, sweet, loving, faithful, etc. Counselling situations:
discerning the genuine from the dishonest (truth from lies). Revealing error in individuals
or ministries, e.g. when Peter spoke to Jesus and then was rebuked
(Matthew 16:21-23 ). Evaluating the operation of
Spiritual Gifts.
8. Divers (or
different) kinds of Tongues -- The Gift of Tongues is the supernatural ability
to speak to others and/or to God in a language or utterance never learned by
the speaker. Foreign or Known Languages: The
ability to speak in different tongues came on Pentecost, there were many
speaking in tongues. Unknown
Language: "The man who speaks in a 'tongue' addresses not men
(for no one understands a word he says) but God: and only in his spirit is he
speaking spiritual secrets" (1 Corinthians 14:2). "For one who
speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one
understands or catches his meaning, because in the (Holy) Spirit he utters
secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].
9.
Interpretation
of (different) Tongues -- The Gift by which God made intelligible what was hidden
from all. It is
the ability through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to bring
understandable meaning to an inspired public message in tongues. If
one accepts that The Gift of Tongues is directed toward God in the form of
prayer, or praise, or thanksgiving, or exaltation of the Name and Majesty of
God, then The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues will be of the same
character.
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What does the Holy Spirit do in my life?
Ø The Holy Spirit makes me receptive
to God; He teaches
me to pray and helps
me to be there for others. [CCC
738 - 741]
Ø St. Augustine calls the Holy Spirit “The quiet guest of our soul”. Anyone who wants to sense his presence
must be quiet.
Often this Guest
speaks very softly within us and with us,
for instance, in the voice of our conscience or through other interior and
exterior promptings.
Ø Being a “temple of the Holy Spirit” means being there, body and soul, for
this Guest, for God in us. Our body is therefore God’s living
room, so to speak.
Ø The more receptive we are to the Holy
Spirit in us, the more He becomes the master of our life ==> CHARISMS for the upbuilding of the Church. And
so, instead of the ==> WORKS OF THE FLESH, the ==> FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT grow in us.
Receiving
the Holy Spirit is life changing Experience:
The really valuable contribution of the Charismatic
renewal is their relentless emphasis on the truth that receiving the gift of
the Holy Spirit is a real, life-changing experience. Christianity is not merely
an array of glorious ideas. It is not merely the performance of rituals and
sacraments. It is the life-changing experience of the Holy Spirit through faith
in Jesus Christ the Lord of the universe.
Do
we have it now?
Two
Things That Characterize This Holy Spirit Experience:
- A Heart of Praise or Gift of
Prophecy (Speak out)
- Obedience or Fortitude
How
to Receive the Holy Spirit?
- The Word of God Must Be Heard -- God's plan must be heard
that Jesus was crucified, raised, and exalted as Lord over all the
universe and that forgiveness of sin and spiritual renewal can be had from
him.
2.
The Sovereign God Must Call Men and Women -- No one comes to faith in Christ unless the Father draws him (John
6:44, 65). . The preached Word is heard with conviction and power only when the
effectual call of God lays hold on the hearers.
3.
We Must
Receive the Word -- "So those who received his word
were baptized." Receiving
the Word means that it becomes part of you so that you trust the Christ it
presents. You trust his provision for your forgiveness. You trust his
path for your life. You trust his power to help you obey. And you trust his
promises for your future. And that radical commitment to Christ always involves repentance—a turning away
from your own self-wrought provisions and paths and powers and promises. And
when you really turn to Christ for new paths and new power, you open yourself
to the Holy Spirit, because it is by his Spirit that Christ guides and empowers.
4.
We Must
Express Faith Through Water Baptism -- Finally, we must
give an open expression of faith in the act of water baptism in obedience to
Jesus Christ.
5.
Ask for the gifts, have faith and expect it to happen -- in
Acts 19:2-5, shows that Paul asking people if they have received and
experienced the Holy Spirit. Christianity is not merely an array of glorious
ideas. It is not merely the performance of rituals and sacraments. It is the
life-changing experience of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ the
Lord of the universe.
Fruits of the Holy Spirit
• Love
(Charity) ==>
Love
is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices
with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are
prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled;
where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
• Joy
/ Gladness ==> The joy referred to here is deeper
than mere happiness,
is rooted
in God and comes from Him.
Since it comes from God, it is more serene and stable than worldly happiness,
which is merely emotional and lasts only for a time.
• Peace
(Shalom) ==> expresses
the idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility
in the soul
that is unaffected by the outward circumstances or pressures. Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, who brings peace to the hearts of those
who desire it.
• Patience ==> applied
this word to a man who could avenge himself but did
not.
This word is often used in the Greek Scriptures in reference to God and his
attitude to man. Exodus 34:6 describes the Lord as "slow to anger and rich
in kindness and fidelity." Patience is "longsuffering" or
"endurance";
"With
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love".
• Kindness
(Benignity) ==>
mellow or smooth. Christ used this word in Matthew 11:30,
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.“ Is
acting for the good of people regardless of what they do; kindness that is also serviceable. To show kindness or to be friendly
to others; Kindness is doing
something and not expecting anything in return. Kindness is respect
and helping others
without waiting for someone to help one back.
• Goodness ==>
–The state or quality of being good
–Moral excellence; virtue;
–Kindly feeling, kindness, generosity, joy
in being good
–The best part of anything; Essence;
Strength;
–General character recognized in quality
or conduct.
• Faithfulness ==> the core-meaning of faith as being "divine
persuasion", received from God, and never generated by man. It is defined as the following:
objectively, trustworthy; subjectively, trustful:—believe(-ing,
-r), faithful(-ly), sure, true.
–trusty, faithful --> of
persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the
execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties; one who kept his
plighted faith, worthy of trust
–easily persuaded -->
believing, confiding, trusting
–living
our life in accordance with God's will at all times.
• Gentleness
(Mildness) ==> commonly known as meekness, which is "a
divinely-balanced virtue that
can only operate through faith. “A disposition that is even-tempered,
tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions
under control.
The word is best translated 'meekness,' not as an indication of weakness, but
of power and strength under control. The person who possesses this
quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well”.
• Self-control
(Continence) ==> meaning "strong, having mastery,
able to control one's thoughts and actions. It is the exercise of moderation in all
things.
• Chastity ==> means indulging our physical desires only
within the appropriate contexts—for instance, engaging in sexual activity only
within marriage.
• Modesty ==> Being modest means humbling
yourself,
acknowledging that any of your successes, achievements, talents, or merits are
not truly your own but gifts from God.
• Longanimity
(or Long-Suffering) è is
patience under provocation.
While patience is properly directed at other's faults, to be long-suffering is
to endure quietly the attacks of others.
"...make every effort to add to your
faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and
to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to
godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love".
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit, one with the Father and Son, Purifier and Comforter of all, fill the hearts of your servants. You are the gift of God most high, Wellspring of Life, spiritual Unction, Fire and Love. You are the promise of the Father and the owner of the Seven Gifts. Enrich us with your gifts and fruits. Grant us purity of thought, humility of speech and prudence of action. Grant us perseverance in the midst of sufferings, faith to clear our doubts, hope in the midst of disappointments in life and love to see you in others. May all praise, glory and thanks be to you, who lives and dwells with the Almighty Father and his only Son, Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for the Help of the Holy Spirit
O God, I thank you for this day and the lessons that we have learned today. May You send forth your Holy Spirit and stay forever into my heart that I may perceive and understand You more, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak and behave with patience, piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. By Your grace, we may live and preach on the Words that You spoke to us today. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with love and wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.
O God, I thank you for this day and the lessons that we have learned today. May You send forth your Holy Spirit and stay forever into my heart that I may perceive and understand You more, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak and behave with patience, piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. By Your grace, we may live and preach on the Words that You spoke to us today. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with love and wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.
References:
- Holy Bible (New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church
- Wikipedia
- New Advent (www.newadvent.org)
- www.vatican.va
- http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/how-to-receive-the
- http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/flow_gifts
