At our Baptisms, we became the temples of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants us to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18; see also Acts 2:4). Paul taught that those filled with the Holy Spirit do the following four things. They:

1. address "one another in psalms and hymns and inspired songs" (Eph 5:19),
2. "sing praise to the Lord" (Eph 5:19) in their hearts,
3. "give thanks to God the Father always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph 5:20), and
4. "submit to one another out of fear of the Lord" (Eph 5:21, our transl).

Those filled with the Holy Spirit have set their hearts on higher realms (Col 3:1). In spirit, they inhabit the throne room of God. They have entered "His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise" (Ps 100:4). Those filled with the Spirit upbuild, encourage, and submit to those around them. They can love their neighbor in this way because they love themselves (Lk 10:27). They love themselves because the Holy Spirit cries out in their hearts "Abba!" ("Father") (Gal 4:6) Secure in their Father's love, those filled with the Spirit are a people of praise, thanksgiving, submission, and love. In this year of the Great Jubilee, accept the grace to be filled and stay filled with the Holy Spirit.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, March 8, 2000

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 9, 2000