Catholic Bible 101

The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person of the Blessed Trinity, and the one most active in the world today.  The Bible says that the Holy Spirit created the world (Genesis 1:2), led Jesus into the desert (Matthew 4:1), comes to us at Confirmation (Acts 8:18), and intercedes for us in sighs that we cannot understand (Romans 8:26). Always remember that The Church teaches that The Holy Spirit is a person, like Jesus, and like God the Father. The Holy Spirit is not some kind of generic force, like lightning or love. The Holy Spirit IS A PERSON.

So why then do most people not seek out the Holy Spirit ?  It's because most people think that we received the Holy Spirit once at Confirmation, and that's that.  Big mistake. Our sins chase the Holy Spirit away from our bodies, which are temples to the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).  Confession along with a firm purpose of amendment to never sin again restores that relationship, but it certainly doesn't hurt to personally invite the PERSON of the Holy Spirit back in occasionally. The Catholic Church sponsors "Life in the Spirit" seminars, where people learn how to praise God, and where the Holy Spirit is invoked to change our lives. This involves the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6) by ministers at the end of the seminar. The laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit is very biblical.  Acts 9:17 says "So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."

Most Catholics cringe when they think of this, as if it were foreign to the faith. When asked about attending something Charismatic, most people act like Dracula when shown the crucifix.  Catholics never think twice about receiving Jesus over and over again in Holy Communion, but they rebel at the thought of receiving the Holy Spirit more than once!  This is totally baseless. Peter received the Holy Spirit when he was baptized, and again when Jesus gave him the power to forgive sins, and again at Pentecost.  Mary received the Holy Spirit at the Incarnation, and again at Pentecost.  It is a good and holy thing to have the Holy Spirit come into our lives as often as we can. The Bible says in Luke 11:13 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"  So ask already ! Most people never do. Acts 1:8 says:  "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama'ria and to the end of the earth." St. Peter knew Jesus, received His Body and Blood at the Last Supper, believed in Jesus, and tried to follow Jesus. But he still denied Jesus later on, in a fit of weakness. However, when St. Peter received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he changed into a powerful evangelist, who did many great things.  That same power awaits us all in the person of the Holy Spirit, and all we have to do is ask for it !

The Holy Spirit has great gifts to give you for the asking, like Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Fear (of offending) the Lord, and Piety, from Isaiah 11.  And Paul talks about other gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12: ecstatic utterances, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul outlines the fruits of the Holy Spirit-  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, & self-control.  Who wouldn't want these gifts, which, by the way, are sorely lacking in today's world. 

But didn't all of this charismatic stuff end at Pentecost and with the death of the Apostles?  NO.  The Bible says in Acts 2:17-18 - "And in the last days it shall be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,  and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my men servants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy."  Well, we are a lot closer to the last day than when these words were spoken, so now is the time! 

Mother Angelica of EWTN is a charismatic, and look at how she changed the world.  A charismatic healer healed her crippled foot through prayer.  Jeff Cavins of "The Great Adventure - A Journey Through the Bible" series is charismatic, and he is also changing the world through his bible CDs and DVD seminars.  Claretian Priest Father John Hampsch is charismatic, and heals people all the time. 

Don't be put off  by the "speaking in tongues" gift. This rarely happens at a Life in the Spirit Seminar.  What does happen is that people leave with a new sense of praising God, which is not only very biblical, but very beneficial to one's soul. Most people just ask God for favors, as if he some kind of celestial Santa Claus, and never think twice about praising Him. The more one praises God, the less influence the devil has over your life. The Archangel Raphael says in

Tobit 12:6,17:  "Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them: "Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks.  But he said to them, "Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever. "

Another great thing that happens after you recharge your spiritual batteries with the infilling of the Holy Spirit at a Life in the Spirit Seminar is that you come away with a love of scripture that you never had before. Scripture verses that were so "ho-hum" to you in the past now come alive with new meaning. You will start to connect the dots between different scripture passages that you never even thought of before.  And you will also come away with an evangelistic fervor you never had before.

If you have the Holy Spirit living in you, many bad things that satan has planned for your future now won't happen.  And when bad things do happen to you, you will now have the spiritual strength to shake them off for what they are - God's testing of your faith to see if you really love him, or if you just say you do.  Another great spinoff of attending a Life in the Spirit Seminar is that you may be inspired to change your life and evangelize total strangers around the world.  The worldwide website you are looking at right now is a direct result of attending a Life in the Spirit Seminar.   

Below are some links to the School of the Holy Spirit, from Holy Spirit Interactive. If you're not quite ready to attend a Life in the Spirit Seminar in your area, at least check out this great School of the Holy Spirit.  Inviting the Holy Spirit into your life, your body, and your house will change your life in ways you can't imagine.  This is a great thing to have happen, especially if you are tired of the world beating down on you all the time. Without warning, you will start gaining insights and solutions to problems that you have.  All of a sudden, things that you never saw before your very eyes become plain as day.  Answers to your biggest problems pop into your head when you least expect them.

Can't lose that weight?  Invoke the Holy Spirit. Can't pay off those bills?  Invoke the Holy Spirit.  Can't get along with your spouse? Invoke the Holy Spirit.  Can't get a good job?  Invoke the Holy Spirit. Can't stop looking at pornography?  Invoke the Holy spirit. Need healing of mind/body/soul/tongue/emotions?  Invoke the Holy Spirit.  Inviting the Holy Spirit to take over your life is strength for the journey of the rest of your life !  Just look at how  Peter's life (he went from being a weak Jesus-denying coward to become a totally fearless evangelist) was changed when the Holy Spirit took over his life.  The same thing can happen to each and every one of us !  All of these changes may not happen overnight, but in God's good time.  After all, an acorn takes a long time to become an 80 foot tall mighty oak. Always trusting in God to do the right thing no matter what is the key for prayer to be answered (James 1:6).

John 16:13:When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Induction to the School of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit School of Prayer

The Holy Spirit School of Repentance

The Holy Spirit School of Purification

The Holy Spirit School of Faith

The Holy Spirit School of Forgiveness

The Holy Spirit School of Love

The Holy Spirit School - Graduation

Holy Spirit Prayers

Prayer of St. Augustine

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, be with me today. Be my teacher, my guide, my counselor, my friend. Fill me with your gifts, especially the gifts of wisdom, discernment, knowledge, understanding, compassion, love, and awe in God's presence. In all that I think, say, and do, let it be in accordance with your most holy and perfect will. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN. 

Prayer for Enlightenment

O Holy Ghost, divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, my heart and my will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my understanding be always obedient to Thy heavenly inspirations and the teachings of the holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a faithful following of the life and virtues of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory for ever. Amen.

Novena to the Holy Ghost
Pray anytime during the year, but especially starting on the day after Ascension Thursday, ending on Pentecost.

First Day:
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all our sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Second Day:
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Third Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Fourth Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in times of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Fifth Day:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thy eternal rewards. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Sixth Day:
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Seventh Day:
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Eighth Day:
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all passing joys and satisfactions of the earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's

Ninth Day:
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration, may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's