We are pilgrims on a journey through a strange land, but we do not go it alone. Our Lord did not leave us orphans, nor did he leave us without divine benefit of a true and abiding friend, our soul’s guest, the Holy Spirit.

I experienced this heavenly friendship in a profound way when I wrote Animals in Heaven? Catholics Want to Know! I continue today to marvel at some of the pages in my book, knowing full well that the words came by His divine inspiration.

Who is this Holy Spirit?

He, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity and is for us if we allow Him to be the Preserver and Perfecter of our human souls. St. Augustine says:

• “The entire Trinity: that is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, come to us when we come to them: They come helping, we obeying; They come filling us, we to be filled in order that They may accord us not merely an external but an interior perception of Themselves, and that They may not merely bow to us in passing but that They may tarry with us eternally.” ~ St. Augustine, In Joan. Tract. 76, N. 4)

Through the operating of the Holy Spirit in our soul, He gives to us the spiritual life ( to love that which is from heaven) which is full of mystery. This same Spirit descends from Heaven to endow our hearts with His gifts. The Church teaches us the 7 gifts: Wisdom, understanding, counsel (right judgement), fortitude (courage), knowledge, piety (reverence) and fear of the Lord (reverent awe).

Jesus descended from Heaven only once, but He continues to send down the Holy Spirit so that humankind may have the supernatural life and have it abundantly! So this coming Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost…a feast which commemorates the Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the birth of the Church.

And when the days of Pentecost were drawing to a close, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a violent wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, which settled upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak. ~Acts 2:1-4

From the Light of the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit proceeds as a Fire of Love and as a Divine Person and fills our hearts with supernatural love. May all of you be blessed by the Holy Spirit today and always!

The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? ~ Psalms 26:1

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