6 June 2012: The Father and the Son revealed by the Spirit

Before his Passover, Jesus announced the sending of ‘another Paraclete’ (Advocate), the Holy Spirit. At work since creation, having previously ‘spoken through the prophets’, the Spirit will now be with and in the disciples, to teach them and guide them ‘into all the truth’. The Holy Spirit is thus revealed as another divine person with Jesus and the Father. The eternal origin of the Holy Spirit is revealed in his mission in time. The Spirit is sent to the apostles and to the Church both by the Father in the name of the Son, and by the Son in person, once he had returned to the Father. The sending of the person of the Spirit after Jesus’ glorification reveals in its fulness the mystery of the Holy Trinity. The apostolic faith concerning the Spirit was confessed by the second ecumenical council at Constantinople (381): ‘We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father.’ By this confession, the Church recognizes the Father as ‘the source and origin of the whole divinity’. The eternal origin of the Spirit is connected with the Son’s origin: ‘The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is God, one and equal with the Father and the Son, of the same substance and also of the same nature ... Yet he is not called the Spirit of the Father alone, ... but the Spirit of both the Father and the Son.’ The Church Creed from the Council of Constantinople confesses: ‘With the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified.’ The Latin tradition of the Creed confesses that the Spirit “proceeds from the Father ‘and the Son (filioque)’”. The Council of Florence in 1438 explains: The Holy Spirit is eternally from Father and Son; he has his nature and subsistence at once (‘simul’) from the Father and the Son. He proceeds eternally from both as from one principle and through one spiration ... And, since the Father has through generation given to the only-begotten Son everything that belongs to the Father, except being Father, the Son has also eternally from the Father, from whom he is eternally born, that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Son. Ref: “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, Nos. 243, 244, 245, 246 The Christian’s relations with the Holy Trinity ‘Our relations with God the Father’ What is a Christian? A person who enjoys a special relationship to God the Father, whose child he or she became in holy Baptism. What Jesus Christ is by ‘nature’, the Christian is by ‘adoption’. He receives by spiritual regeneration, according to his capacity, what the Word received in his eternal generation. “You have received”, says St Paul, “the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). The son of a poor man adopted by a powerful monarch and invested with all the privileges of a legitimate son, would be conferred a great honor! Yet this is but a faint image of our adoption by God in Baptism. What are our obligations towards so generous and loving a Father? Surely, to love him with all our hearts, and to prove our love -- first, by avoiding all that could displease him, even the most trivial faults or failure in our norms; second, by trying to please him more and more by the practice of virtue; and third, by striving diligently in the perfection of our state, in the words of Jesus Christ: “Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48) Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p311 The Christian’s relations with God the Son A Christian has many special relationships with God the Incarnate Son. He is Jesus Christ’s brother by his very nature; and by baptism, a member of his mystical body. “Now you are the body of Christ”, says St Paul, “and member of member” (1 Cor 12:27). But this is not all. In Holy Communion we become incorporated with him, in his own words: “He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him.” (Jn 6:57) Living with his life, we are, says St Peter, “made partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4). What can be more blessed and glorious! What must we do in return for these great privileges? St John tells us in very memorable words: “He that said he abides in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked.” (Jn 6:57) Thus, we shall live St Cyprian’s meaningful words: ‘The Christian is another Christ.’ Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp311-2 Our relations with God the Holy Spirit Through baptism a Christian becomes the ‘living temple’ of the Holy Spirit, a truth which St Paul always refers to: “Know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you?” (1 Cor 6:19) It is worthy to note that the ceremonies used in baptism are the same as those for consecration of churches. St Paul draws the practical conclusion from this great truth. After saying the above, he immediately adds, “Glorify and bear God in your body” (1 Cor 6:20). Make your body an instrument for the glory of God; keep it free from all stain, adorn it with virtue and good works, as an altar is dressed and tended. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp312-3 Our Lady “Be Mary’s, and you will be ours.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 494) “Sweet Mother, lead us to that madness that will make others fall madly in love with our Christ. “Sweet Lady Mary, may Love not be in us a flash in the pan, or a will-o’-the-wisp, such as decomposing corpses sometimes produce. May it be a true devouring fire, which sets alight and burns everything it touches.” Ref: St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 57 Struggle “Humility and obedience are the indispensable conditions for acquiring good doctrine.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Forge”, 132) • Institution of the nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady, founded at Annecy in Savoy, in the year 1610 by St Francis of Sales, Bishop of Geneva, and St Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, who was the first nun. — Henri de Maupas du Tour, 2' partie, cn. 1. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Institution of the Nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady, by St Francis de Sales (1610). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Founding of the Nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady by St. Francis de Sales 1610. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) • St. Francis de Sales founds the Nuns of the Visitation of Our Lady. 1610. www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm