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Archive for the Holy Spirit Category
Ash Wednesday – Little Black Mark on Your Head Today
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, Holy Spirit, In a nutshell, Lent with tags Ash Wednesday, ashes, Catholic, Culture, Lent, Religion, Spiritual, Video on February 22, 2012 by JoannaNew Day Dawning
Posted in Advent, Art, Catholic, Christian, Faith, Holy Spirit, Poetry, Prose & Prayer, Religion with tags Catholic, Christian, Faith, Morning Star, Poetry, Sabbath on December 16, 2011 by JoannaO Lord, I have no doubt
Of Faith’s fulfillment.
I no longer ask "when,"
For passing days,
But flavor and add splendor,
To my Sabbath Rest,
My dream of Love unending.
If weary of this wasteland
Spring returns with leaf and bud.
Birds’ refrain and cricket chirp
Pull back the curtain,
Time and Sin descended,
To light on promise
Dawning of New Day.
Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander
Holy Trinity Prayer
Posted in Holy Spirit with tags Elizabeth of the Trinity, Prayer on October 29, 2011 by Joanna“O my God, Trinity whom I adore… grant my soul peace; make it your heaven, your beloved dwelling, and the place of your rest. May I never abandon you there, but may I be there, whole and entire, completely vigilant in my faith, entirely adoring, and wholly given over to your creative action.” (Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity)
One Solitary Prayer
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Faith, Holy Spirit, Imitation of Christ, My Journal with tags God, Poetry, Prayer on October 18, 2011 by JoannaMy night and day have become one,
One solitary thought emblazoned on my heart.
You dance before me in miriad faces.
All are Yours
And plead Your touch.
All throw my prayer upon Your back.
All fall as stripes
Imploring You,
Become all.
The edges disappear as You, Lord, come into view.
You take the lead upon my stage, my time, my life.
I “Yes” You into being,
Although You have always been ,
But now You be in me.
The thorns of Your crown touch me first,
And I begin to bleed with You.
In agony, my body weeps for all loss,
Which I now gather in my prayer.
With beggarly steps, I offer my feet for Your bath,
First of water, then of Blood,
Your Becoming in me by grace.
“I live now, not I, but Christ, and Him crucified,”
Now content,
Sweet strength and consolation.
My soul and Your Spirit enlivening my spirit.
O, come Holy Spirit, eternally
By Joann Nelander
Copyright 2011
All rights reserved
Evangelize Without Yielding to Secularization
Posted in Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, Holy Spirit, Just Thinking Out Loud, Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican with tags Benedict XVI, Catholic, Christ, Christian, christianity, Church, Culture, evangelize, Faith, God, Holy See, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Just Thinking Out Loud, Pope, Pope Benedict, Pope Benedict XVI, truth, Vatican on September 19, 2009 by JoannaPentecost -Come Holy Spirit!
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, grace, Holy Spirit, novena, Peace Place, Pentecost, Prayer, Prayer Intentions, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on May 31, 2009 by Joanna
“John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.” Acts 1:5
- When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome,both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.” Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.
- And I will work wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord,and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 2:1-21
God my creator
Breathe on me again
Renew me-Refresh me
Extend my abilities-Give me your gifts
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Flow through every fiber of my being
Keep me well
Oh Holy Spirit use me.
Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…
Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 9
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, novena, Peace Place, Pentecost, Prayer, Prayer Intentions, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on May 30, 2009 by Joanna
Day 9
For those beginning this novena late, fear not! St. Teresa of Avila gives us this prayer for Lost Time:
O my God! Source of all mercy. I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in “wedding garments.” Amen
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which, He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4,5).
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and suupplication, with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethern.” (Acts 1:14).
God my creator
Breathe on me again
Renew me-Refresh me
Extend my abilities-Give me your gifts
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Flow through every fiber of my being
Keep me well
Oh Holy Spirit use me.
Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…
Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 8
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, novena, Peace Place, Pentecost, Prayer, Prayer Intentions, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on May 29, 2009 by Joanna
Day 8
For those beginning this novena late, fear not! St. Teresa of Avila gives us this prayer for Lost Time:
O my God! Source of all mercy. I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in “wedding garments.” Amen
“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.” (Acts 19:1-7).
God my creator
Breathe on me again
Renew me-Refresh me
Extend my abilities-Give me your gifts
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Flow through every fiber of my being
Keep me well
Oh Holy Spirit use me.
Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…
Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 6
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, novena, Peace Place, Pentecost, Prayer, Prayer Intentions, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on May 27, 2009 by JoannaDay 6
For those beginning this novena late, fear not! St. Teresa of Avila gives us this prayer for Lost Time:
O my God! Source of all mercy. I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in “wedding garments.” Amen
“John answered and said to them all, ‘As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16
God my creator
Breathe on me again
Renew me-Refresh me
Extend my abilities-Give me your gifts
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Flow through every fiber of my being
Keep me well
Oh Holy Spirit use me.
Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…
Into the Hands of Foreigners
Posted in American, Anti-abortion, Catholic, Christ, Defending Life, Faith, Holy Spirit, My Journal, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags abortion, abortion mills, American, Anti-abortion, Catholic, choice, Christ, Defending Life, Faith, Holy Spirit, meditation, My Journal, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, truth on May 23, 2009 by JoannaSave us, Lord, collect us together from among the nations. Alleluia.
Psalm 105 (106)
They mingled themselves with the peoples,and learned to do as they did.They served the same idolsuntil it became their undoing.They sacrificed their own sonsand their daughters to demons.They poured out innocent blood.The blood of their own sons and daughterswas sacrificed to the idols of Canaan.Their blood polluted the land,and their actions defiled them.They devoted themselves to whoring.The Lord blazed out in anger against his own people,He detested his own chosen race.He gave them into the hands of foreigners.They were conquered by those who hated them.
These words from today’s Office of Readings, I find frightening in light of our society. We are blessed by the knowledge that God, who is near to us, has blessed us, giving us His Son and sending us His Holy Spirit. Sinners get to live as saints should they so desire. What does our society reveal about our desires.
What does our society testify about us as a people? Gifts, even gifts of God, can be squandered by prodigal sons and daughters. His greatest gift, life, we subject to pluralistic debate and countermand by man-made law. ‘Choice’ is elevated above conscience and morality and enshrined as a god to be fed by money-making mills. Is this license the best we can do with the gift of life in a land of freedom and liberty?
Facts about fetal pain.
More facts about fetal pain.
Facts about maternal pain.
Novena to the Holy Spirit – Day 2
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Church, Culture, Holy Spirit, novena, Peace Place, Pentecost, Prayer, Prayer Intentions, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on May 23, 2009 by Joanna
Day 2
For those beginning this novena late, fear not! St. Teresa of Avila gives us this prayer for Lost Time:
O my God! Source of all mercy. I acknowledge Your sovereign power. While recalling the wasted years that are past, I believe that You, Lord, can in an instant turn this loss to gain. Miserable as I am, yet I firmly believe that You can do all things. Please restore to me the time lost, giving me Your grace, both now and in the future, that I may appear before You in “wedding garments.” Amen
- On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’” He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was, of course, no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39
God my creator
Breathe on me again.
Renew me. Refresh me.
Extend my abilities. Give me your gifts.
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Flow through every fiber of my being.
Keep me well.
Oh Holy Spirit use me.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…Amen
Holy Joy – Revisited
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Divine Office, Holy Spirit, Just Thinking Out Loud, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Divine Office, Holy Spirit, Just Thinking Out Loud, Peace Place, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on May 4, 2009 by Joanna“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength”
Nehemiah 8:10
Headlines got you down? Propagandizing press infuriating you? I’ll leave off questions of finance, lest you cry. “Good grief, Charlie Brown!” …(long pause……….). Was Charles Schultz, actually, onto something? Good grief? Could there be such a thing?
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
Highly enigmatic, as I said in the previous post, and I really do believe the word of God spoken through his prophet, Habakkuk. So, how do I get to faith from here?
For starters, I must recover my holy joy, not the jolly-jump-about-goin’-drinkin’- joy, but the joy that only the Lord can give. Here’s how it came to me today sometime after my posting. When I ride my bike for mental as well as physical health, I plug in my ear buds and head off with something sounding in my ears. Today, I had a choice, all of them were actually good. One, however, didn’t quite appeal because of my fightin’ mood, but I asked myself which of my choices had a likely hood of touching my soul. So, pugnaciousness aside,I chose Mediations from Carmel and rode off on my peace quest.
It worked! Or rather, God, the Holy Spirit, worked. The hard shell around my heart cracked when the word’s of St. Teresa of Avila struck a chord:
“One might understand the great good God does for a soul that willingly disposes itself for the practice of prayer, even though it is not as disposed as is necessary. If the soul perseveres in prayer, in the midst of the sins, temptations, and failures of a thousand kinds that the devil places in its path, in the end, I hold as certain, the Lord will draw it forth to the harbor of salvation”
And these words, too, hit home; addressed by St. Teresa to Son of the eternal Father,Jesus Christ our Lord,true King of the universe!
What did you leave behind in the world?
What could your inheritors receive from you?What did you possess, my God,other than pain, sorrow and dishonour,so that at the endyour only help layin the trunk of a treeas you drank the bitter cup of death?And so, my God,if we truly seek to be your children by adoptionand not renounce your inheritance,we must not flee from suffering.The sign of your familyis your five wounds.
From the Office of Readings, “O God, the world had fallen flat in the dust but your Son’s humility stood it upright once more.”
Holy Joy Must Be Your Strength
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Divine Office, Holy Spirit, Just Thinking Out Loud, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Christian, Divine Office, Holy Spirit, Just Thinking Out Loud, Peace Place, Prayer, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual on May 4, 2009 by Joanna
Nehemiah 8:10 “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Highly enigmatic, I say, but I believe it. So, I do my best to recover the joy that only the Lord can give….. again and again.
In the closing prayer of today’s Divine Office, I read:
O God, the world had fallen flat in the dust but your Son’s humility stood it upright once more.
Fill your faithful people with a holy joy:
take those whom you have torn away from slavery to sin
and make them rejoice eternally.
Speaking of Dreams
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Spiritual with tags bride, Catholic, Christ, Christian, dream, Esther, From My Solitude, God, God in the Ordinary, Holy Spirit, husband, lion, lioness, nurse, Peace Place, Reflections, Religion, Scripture, Spiritual, Stimulus Bill, story on April 2, 2009 by JoannaI’ll get to the dream, but here’s how I got to it. I’m on a religious bent this morning. Always happens after mass. Something got me thinking of what “Lioness” means to me,during the sermon. You know how sermons go, you hear the sermon and the Holy Spirit at the same time. Sometimes the Spirit goes beyond the sermon and so today I ended up recalling a dream. When I got home and read the Anchoress’ dream appeal from Nice Deb, I thought more about that dream I had years ago. Nothing, by the way, like Nice Deb’s flash-tastic graphic.
By profession, I’m a registered nurse. Working the wards as a student at night was always a cause for anxiety. Later on, working sprawling hospital wards as charge nurse also made me feel a bit insecure, too many patients, too many rooms. IV’s could be running out or someone in trouble. We didn’t have all the fancy monitors they do nowadays. At night my anxieties would speak up in dreams.
The dream I remembered today went like this: I was on a hospital ward, and the ward was immense (though in my dream the ward looked more like a castle) and the halls seemed endless. Suddenly, I was aware of a great lion roaming the passage ways. Now, in my dream, the ward/castle became even bigger, extending to several floors above and below.The lion prowled like a monitor. His appearance seemed threatening, but instead of fear, I was flooded with a profound sense of security. End of dream!
In those days my life was in a bit of flux, with husband in school, me , with two children to care for, living with my in-laws, and working nights in a newborn intensive care unit. Waking from the dream I wanted to know who the lion was. I prayed and them opened the bible to a page with the phrase, “Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of my husband the lion” Esther C: 24. I was ecstatic! That day, I took it to mean my husband Jim would take care of us with God’s help. In other words, “Not to worry.”
Since the Lord speaks on many levels, and with multiple meanings, in this day I think the Lord is saying, “I am your Husband the Lion who guards and protects the passages of your life. You are my bride, my castle.”
An Urgent Appeal-Fr. Groeschel
Posted in American, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Culture of Death, Defending Life, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Religion, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, The Cross, Tradition, United States with tags American, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Culture of Death, Defending Life, Faith, Gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, Lent, Religion, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, The Cross, Tradition, United States on March 31, 2009 by JoannaPurifying the Church is a work of the Spirit in all ages. The Church is the home of sinners working on being saints. Like the disciples that needed Jesus to wash their feet although they had already been cleansed by Christ, Christians in contact with the world do find that the dust and dirt does stick.
Here I want to repeat a message and spread an appeal made by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. He says, some of the very liberal Catholic are calling for all kinds of changes that will leave the Catholic Church no longer the Catholic Church. Fr. Groeschel says, that the Church has be humiliated. It has been demoralized. We are asking what will happen. He says, “Pray! Pray! Pray!………Pray for the Church, pray for the victims and pray for our enemies?”
In an urgent appeal Fr. Groeschel joins EWTN in asking, “What can we do as Catholics and Christians to bring something good out to these most vicious attacks on the Church in the media and society?……Otherwise, we will have what Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen calls ‘wasted suffering’.”
Fr. Groeschel calls for reform; vigilance and reform to carry us forward from this point of humiliation, betrayal and defamation. Here are some areas which need reformation:
1. Liturgy and prayer
It should be reverent devout and worthy. Worship of God is a serious business. Prepare for it! Dress for it!
2. Eucharistic celebration and Reconciliation
Mass should be presented in a manner that supports prayer with appropriate music for all ages that lifts the heart and spirit. It should be prayerful.
3. Catholic education
Many Catholic schools of higher education should not be called Catholic. Many are simply trying to make money – greed!
4. Catholic Social Service and Hospitals
Many Catholic Hospital and Social Services are lacking in areas of Catholic sexual morality and catholic medical ethics. How do you make changes? Write letters!… Begin your letter to schools and hospitals the need change in these areas like this: “Before we do anything else, we thought it was only fair to contact you.”
5. Religious life
According to Fr. Benedict, Catholics can be very stupid. They don’t know how to deal with a theory. They let themselves be influenced by every passing fad. This is what has destroyed people; taking too much from psychology and not enough from the Gospel and from the Tradition of the Found. Give them a theory and they think they have to believe it. Something comes along, call it psychology, call it the ennegram and Catholics have to pick it up and play with it. For His part, Father Groeschel knows what he believes. He believes in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t need to believe in psychology or the creations of pop-culture. Psychology or things masquerading as modern thought have have far too much influence on Catholic thinking. Many Catholic communities are completely lacking in prayer life, in witness to the Gospel. They are openly open disloyalty to Catholic teaching and especially to the Holy Father.
Speak up! Cause trouble! Do not accept the false and mediocre. Resurrect the wonderful spirit of your community’s founder or foundress. Read the Gospel. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Watch out for the influence of psychology. Some things are effective as tools but not as Creed.
6. Issues of Life
Finally, Fr. Groseschel says, “Speak out for Life.” We are not a loud voice. There are millions of Catholics and so far our voice is still a whisper. Get with it. Discover your Catholic heart and passion!
Don’t be surprised that the Church is being crucified. The Church is the Body of Christ. It is going to the Cross. As you call it on it’s sinfulness, don’t exempt yourself. Don’t be afraid of a Crucified Christ. Turn to Christ! Where Satan reigns; the Crucified Conquers! Christ conqueror! Christ captain! Christ command! The Church will come forth purified and one with its Lord.
A New Age of the Spirit
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Holy Spirit, Obama, Religion, Spiritual, Spiritual Things with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Holy Spirit, Lent, lenten, Lenten Reading, moral, Obama, Reflections, Religion, revelation, Spiritual, Spiritual Things, St. gregory, testament, Trinity, truth on March 30, 2009 by JoannaPresident Obama seems a man flying in the face of the Holy Spirit and not prone to be moved the Spirit, especially in areas of life, morality and the Natural Law…unless by “natural law” we mean survival of the most well-positioned, power-hungry and powerful.
Modern Medieval writes: “It appears that Joachim of Fiore is still around and voting for Obama.” “From the annals of strange stuff, I ran across this Italian article that has the mayor San Giovanni of Fiore inviting Barack Obama to his town in order to become an honorary citizen. Apparently, according to this article, Obama has invoked the 12th-century mystic and theologian Joachim of Fiore on no fewer than 3 occasions.”
In a Lenten sermon by P. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFMCAP – delivered in the presence of Benedict XVI 3-29-2009 Joachim of Fiore comes up again with regard to Obama and what this Presisent could possibly be doing in Joachim’s corner:
The fact that the recently elected president of the United States referenced Joachim of Fiore three times during his electoral campaign has renewed interest in medieval monk’s teachings. Few of the people who talk about him, especially on the internet, know or care to know just what exactly this author said. Every idea of church or world renewal is offhandedly attributed to him, even the idea of a new Pentecost for the Church, which was invoked by John XXIII.
One thing is certain: whether or not it should be attributed to Joachim of Fiore, the idea of a third era of the Spirit that would follow on the era of the Old Testament Father and the New Testament Christ is false and heretical because it affects the very heart of the Trinitarian dogma. St. Gregory Nazianzen’s statement is entirely different. He makes a distinction between three phases in the revelation of the Trinity: in the Old Testament the Father fully revealed himself and the Son is promised and announced; in the New Testament the Son fully revealed himself and the Holy Spirit is promised and announced; in the time of the Church, the Holy Spirit is finally fully known and we rejoice in his presence.
The Church speaks with the voice of the Holy Spirit teaching and guiding through its Magisterium. In speaking of the Holy Spirit Cantalamessa says:
St. Ignatius suggested practical means to apply these criteria. One is this: when we are faced with two possible choices, it is useful to first consider one of them, as if we must follow it, and to stay in that state for a day or more; then we should evaluate how our heart reacts to that choice: is there peace, harmony with the rest of our own decisions; is there something inside of you that encourages you in that direction, or on the contrary has it left a haze of restlessness… Then repeat the process with the second hypothesis. All this should be done in an atmosphere of prayer, abandonment to God’s will, and openness to the Holy Spirit.
And in closing he says:
When everything is reduced to just the personal, private listening to the Spirit, the path is opened to a unstoppable process of division and subdivision, because everyone believe they are right. And the very division and multiplication of denominations and sects, often contrasting each other in their essential points, demonstrates that the same Spirit of truth in speaking cannot be in all, because otherwise he would be contradicting himself.
It is well known that this is the danger to which the protestant world is most exposed, having built the “interior testimony” of the Holy Spirit as the only criteria of truth, against every exterior, ecclesial testimony, other than that of the written Word.[10] Some extreme fringes will even go as far as to separate the interior guidance of the Spirit even from word of the Scriptures. We then have the various movements of “enthusiasts” or “enlightened” who have punctuated the history of the Church, whether catholic, orthodox or protestant. The most frequent result of this tendency, which concentrates all attention on the internal testimony of the Spirit, is that the Spirit slowly looses the capital letter and comes to coincide with the simple human spirit. That is what happened with rationalism.
