Dear Parishioners,

Today is Pentecost when the Church celebrates the birth of the Church and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. So, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the Holy Spirit and His role in our Catholic prayer lives.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Most Holy Trinity and therefore God. As it says in our Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.” There are many references in scripture to the Holy Spirit including the Virgin conception of Christ, Jesus’s baptism and baptism. In all these cases, the Holy Spirit descends upon someone. Mary became the mother of Jesus. The disciples became empowered with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And Christ showed that He is God at His baptism.

The Holy Spirit is usually attributed the role of sanctifier and He makes us ready to listen to and worship God. That is why it is very important that we pray to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help in our struggles to pray. If you have never tried praying to the Holy Spirit, I invite you now to recite the following prayer:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy his consolations. Through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

I pray that you all may grow in holiness and bear spiritual fruits. If you ever struggle to pray, asking the Holy Spirit for help is a good start.

God Bless!

Fr. Carter