COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME

June 3 , 2007

The Acts of the Apostles records in 19:1 2 that when the Apostle Paul came to Ephesus, he found some disciples there and put the question to them: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They answered, "We have not so much as heard that there is a Holy Spirit."

Perhaps there are persons today who have heard little or nothing about the Holy Spirit, and perhaps we in the Church need to speak more about him. We do acknowledge him in the Nicene Creed, which we recite every Sunday. In that profession of faith, we say, "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets."

This is a very brief expression of the Church's faith in the person and activity of the Holy Spirit, but there is much more to say about him, and this is a good moment to do so, because the Church marked the solemn feast of Pentecost on May 27. The feast celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus' disciples fifty days after his resurrection. As the Acts of the Apostles 2:1ff describes it, "Suddenly from up in the sky there came a noise like a strong, driving wind which was heard all through the house where they were seated. Tongues as of fire appeared, which parted and came to rest on each of them. All were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to express themselves in foreign tongues and make bold proclamation as the Spirit prompted them."

We can see how amazing the effects of the Holy Spirit were on those first disciples. The phenomenal growth of the Church then, and her resilience and continued growth through the ages, give powerful testimony of the Spirit's continuing activity in the Church, sustaining and guiding her.

The effects of the Holy Spirit today are as wonderful as they were on the day the Church was born. The Holy Spirit is God, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, and he is constantly active in the Church and in the world. He was sent by the God the Father and God the Son to sanctify men and women by conforming them to the mind and heart of Christ, so that they might form a perfect communion of truth and charity in him. So important is the Holy Spirit that Jesus, in bidding farewell to his disciples at the Last Supper, was moved to say these mysterious words, "It is much better for you that I go. If I fail to go, the Paraclete will never come to you, whereas if I go, I will send him to you" (Jn 16:7).

On the feast of Pentecost, the Church prays for the Holy Spirit to come, even though he has already come, and, once "poured out" on the Church, dwells permanently in her. Nonetheless, the Church incessantly prays for a fresh outpouring of his grace, because our faith tells us that without his help, nothing is possible. Without his light and strength, we cannot come to faith, persevere in faith, or be renewed in faith.

There is an especially beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit which for centuries the Church has offered every year, on the Feast of Pentecost. It is called the Sequence of Pentecost and it captures so much of the Church's faith in his action that I want to close by quoting its inspiring words in their entirety. I invite you not only to read these words, but, if the Spirit himself moves you, to join me in praying them. This is a timely prayer for us because it so expressively asks for the kind of divine aid we need for ourselves, our families and our loved ones, our communities, and our world.

"Come, Holy Spirit, and from heaven direct on man the rays of your light. Come, Father of the poor; come, giver of God's gifts; come, light of men's hearts.

"Kindly Paraclete, in your gracious visits to man's soul you bring relief and consolation. If it is weary with toil, you bring it ease; in the heat of temptation, your grace cools it; if sorrowful, your words console it.

"Light most blessed, shine on the hearts of your faithful even into their darkest corners; for without your aid man can do nothing good, and everything is sinful.

"Wash clean the sinful soul, rain down your grace on the parched soul and heal the injured soul. Soften the hard heart, cherish and warm the ice cold heart, and give direction to the wayward.

"Give your seven holy gifts to your faithful, for their trust is in you. Give them reward for their virtuous acts; give them a death that ensures salvation; give them unending bliss. Amen. Alleluia."

+Bishop Raymundo J. Peña

last updated 19-Sep-2008 13:30 sitemap