THE HOLY SPIRIT

"THE PRESENCE AND ACTION OF THE SPIRIT"

The deepest dynamics of the Church's history have been imbued with the presence and action of the Spirit, "given not by measure" to those who believe in Christ (cf. Jn 3:34).

"THE ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST"

The encounter with Christ involves the gift of the Holy Spirit Who, in the words of Basil, the great Father of the Church, "is poured out on everyone without being diminished in any way, is present to each one of those who is capable of receiving it as if it were for him alone, and on all, He pours out sufficient and complete grace."

BAPTISM AND THE SPIRIT

It is precisely in Baptism that through the Spirit we become children of God: "because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba! Father!' "(Gal 4:6).

"AT THE VERY SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE"

At the very source of Christian life, when we are born as new creatures, is the breath of the Spirit Who makes us children in the Son and enables us to "walk" on the paths of justice and salvation (cf. Gal 5:16).

THE SPIRIT IS A "MUST"

All the events of the Christian life must ... take place under the influence of the Spirit.

"AT THE ROOT OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM"

The Spirit is at the root of Christian freedom, which is removal from the yoke of sin. The Apostle Paul clearly says so: "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom 8:2).

"IRRADIATED BY THE SPIRIT"

Precisely because moral life is irradiated by the Spirit ..., it produces fruits of "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal 5:22).

"UNDER THE BANNER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT"

The whole of the Christian's life, from its origins to its final goal, is under the banner of the Holy Spirit and is His work.

THE SPIRIT AND THE GREAT JUBILEE

"The Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 thus contains a message of liberation by the power of the Spirit, Who alone can help individuals and communities to free themselves from the old and new determinisms, by guiding them with the 'law of the Spirit, which gives life in Christ Jesus', and thereby discovering and accomplishing the full measure of man's true freedom. For as St. Paul writes, 'where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom' " (Dominum et vivificantem, n. 60).

ABANDONMENT TO THE SPIRIT

Let us therefore abandon ourselves to the liberating action of the Spirit.

(Source: General Audience, September 13, 2000)