Dear Family of St Luke,

“Come Holy Spirit,” You may ask why do I need the Holy Spirit, I pray to Jesus, isn’t Jesus all I need? I do not understand when people say to pray to Jesus, others to the Holy Spirit, and others to the Father. I am confused!
First, let us remember that the Trinity is one God, but three distinct persons, and we can think of God as a Family. In our individual families, we have relationships with each person. We spend time with each one getting to know them and realizing that each member of our family enriches our life and helps us to grow. That can be the same with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Since today is the Feast of Pentecost, let us talk first of the Holy Spirit. If we listen to the readings over the past few weeks, Jesus was going back to the Father but it was important to Him, to not leave the disciples alone in a hostile world. Jesus knew that shortly many of those who would follow His teachings, would be killed. Jesus promises the disciples and all of us the Advocate the Holy Spirit, who the Father would send to guide us and teach us all we needed to learn.

We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. God’s spirit begins to live not outside of us but within us. Helping us to learn about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and guiding us through our lives if we open ourselves up to Him. The Holy Spirit can be as powerful as we saw with Peter proclaiming Jesus and winning 3000 souls for Christ after Pentecost, or he can be as quiet as a church mouse because we do not acknowledge or open ourselves to His guidance and love.

When we realize the Holy Spirit was sent to teach us all the Jesus taught and more, we begin to understand why and even how we can pray to the Holy Spirit. First, we need to invite the Spirit to be an active part of our lives. The Spirit needs us to invite Him. Thus, “Come Holy Spirit” invites the Spirit to become more active in our lives. Remember the apostles with Mary were in the upper room praying for the Holy Spirit before Pentecost.
So, how does He teach us? One of the ways I ask the Spirit to help me is when I am reading Holy Scripture or spiritual books often from the saints. Before I begin reading, I ask the Holy Spirit to teach me what the writing is trying to tell me. Often these writings are hard to understand but I find with the help of the Holy Spirit, I often see what this passage is trying to tell me about my relationship with God and how I can grow closer.
When I do not understand the teachings of the Church on certain items, I ask for the gift of wisdom from the Spirit to help me have an appreciation for what the Church is teaching. I am also aware that the Holy Spirit was sent to guide the Church and its teachings. Jesus sent the Spirit upon the apostles at Pentecost and that Spirit still guides our church today.

Clearly, I am not able to begin to cover all the works of the Holy Spirit but I hope I have helped to peak your interest to learn more about the Holy Spirit and also want to build a relationship with the Holy Spirit in your prayer and spiritual reading.

To learn more about the Holy Spirit we can go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Another source that I find helpful is St John Paul II encyclical “The Holy Spirit in the Life of the church and the World. St John Paul II tells us the Holy Spirit is the gift from the Son for the apostles and His Church and through them is the gift to humanity. Why not take some time to understand more about the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus left us. I am including a prayer to get you started for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
I will continue with Part two and Three in coming articles as we explore our relationship with the three persons of the Blessed Trinity.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit
O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who before ascending into Heaven, did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish the work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the gift of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the gift of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth; the gift of Counsel, that I may always choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the gift of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that are opposed to my salvation; the gift of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the way of the Saints; the gift of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the gift of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the Sign of your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

You remain in my daily prayer as we journey together towards God’s kingdom.

Deacon Pete