I believe in the Holy Spirit

Without awareness I was sanctified at baptism. With growing awareness, I was sanctified at confirmation. With full awareness, dedication, and openness, I was sanctified at my ordination to the priesthood. Through it all, the Holy Spirit sanctified me.

He has been guarding me in my struggle against evil, directing my desires toward goodness, helping me discern my choices, guiding me through the countries and cultures I have encountered, and granting me the gift of wisdom in pastoral ministry. He has been my consoler in my trials, and my advocate in my yearning for divine life.

The Creed of Nicaea (A.D. 325) concludes with "And in the Holy Spirit."  When the Creed was being developed, the concept of the Holy Spirit's consubstantiality was still under dispute. Consequently, the authors chose to remain neutral on the matter.

However, the Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381) expanded this article of Faith by including further attributes of the Holy Spirit.

There are created spirits that are angels. They are ‘all ministering spirits.’ But the Holy Spirit is not a created spirit: The Holy Spirit is Divine. 

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, consubstantial with the Father and the Son. Jesus gave this name. The Hebrew word Ruah means wind, like the Spirit, it is invisible, free, and felt though unseen.

‘Spirit’ and ‘Holy’ are divine attributes common to the three divine persons. The Spirit is called the Paraclete, which means consoler and advocate.

From creation, the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. It empowered patriarchs, judges, kings, and prophets. In the fullness of time, the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, and John the Baptist leapt in the womb for joy.

Today, as temples of the Spirit, we receive help in prayer, adoption as God's children, and baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the plan for our salvation.

It is impossible to see God's Son without the Spirit, and no one can approach the Father without the Son, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son, and the knowledge of God's Son is obtained through the Holy Spirit.

At his Incarnation, God's Son was made Christ (Messiah) by the Holy Spirit. Through his Death and Resurrection, Jesus became glorified as Lord and Christ.

From his abundant grace, Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to his apostles and the Church. This same Holy Spirit builds, animates, and makes the Church holy.

We know the Spirit only in the movement by which he reveals to us the Word. It is Christ who is seen, the visible image of the invisible God, but it is the Spirit who reveals the Son.

The many symbols of the Holy Spirit illustrate the depth of His presence among us:

Water signifies both birth and the fruitfulness of the new life given to us through the Spirit.

Anointing, a symbol of the Spirit, consecrated Jesus as the Christ, empowering him to heal and save.

Just as the Spirit anointed Old Testament kings and prophets, He now confers His power through the sacraments of Confirmation, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick.

FIRE symbolizes the Holy Spirit's transforming power. John the Baptist announced a baptism of "Holy Spirit and fire," and at Pentecost, the Spirit descended as tongues of fire.

CLOUD and LIGHT signify the Spirit's presence. The cloud veiled God's glory on Mount Sinai, in the tent of meeting, and during Israel's desert journey. At the Transfiguration, the Spirit appeared in a cloud overshadowing Jesus, and a cloud also took Jesus from sight at the Ascension.

The SEAL is a symbol of the indelible mark of the Holy Spirit, impressed upon the soul through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

THE LAYING OF THE HANDS, used by Jesus for healing, was continued by the Apostles. This imposition of hands, still used today, signifies the giving of the Holy Spirit.

The FINGER OF GOD enabled Jesus to cast out demons, just as it wrote the Old Law on stone. Now, the "letter of Christ" is similarly written by the Spirit upon human hearts.

The DOVE symbolizes the Spirit. A dove brought an olive branch to Noah, signaling the new life after the flood. At Jesus' baptism, the Holy Spirit descended and remained with Him as a dove.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

His gifts are Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

Within the Church, we come to know the Holy Spirit through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, the Magisterium, the liturgy, prayer, ministries, missionary life, and the witness of the saints. From the beginning of creation to the fulfillment of God's plan, the Holy Spirit works inseparably with the Father and the Son to bring about our salvation.

In this Holy Spirit, I believe – my consoler and my advocate.