COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME

May 29, 2009

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 those today who likewise have heard little or nothing about the Holy Spirit. We do acknowledge him in the Sunday Profession of Faith, when 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 let us say more about him now, because this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, when the Church annually celebrates the original 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 Jesus' first disciples. The phenomenal growth of the Church then, and her resilience and continued growth through the ages are 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 Pentecost. 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 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, said 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). When Jesus called the Holy Spirit “Paraclete”, he meant he would be the Church’s advocate, defender, guide, and counselor.

Since the Holy Spirit was "poured out" on the Church 2000 years ago, his indwelling in the Church has been, and will remain, permanent. 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 or be renewed in faith, or be powerful in our witness of our faith before the world.

There is a prayer to the Holy Spirit which for centuries the Church has prayed every year on the Solemnity of Pentecost. It captures so much of the Church's faith in his action that I want to quote it in its entirety. I invite you to join me in praying this prayer, because it so movingly asks for the kind of divine aid we need today for ourselves, our families and loved ones, our communities, and our nation and 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."

I have one more prayer request. Last Saturday, May 23, two young men, Alejandro Flores and Miguel Ortega, were ordained to the priesthood to serve the people of God in the Diocese of Brownsville, the Church in the Valley. In their ordination, I imposed my hands on each of them in silence, praying for the Holy Spirit to descend on them. All the priests then did the same, one by one. I ask you to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for these two gifts of Christ to his Church. Pray, too, that the Holy Spirit strengthen, enlighten, and continually sanctify them, so that they may be good and holy priests all the days of their lives.

+Bishop Raymundo J. Peña

last updated 11-Jan-2010 8:22 sitemap