The Holy Spirit

By Liz Wiskowski

      A priest once told me that none of us pray to the Holy Spirit enough. Why is this? When we pray the “Our Father” we are praying to God, the creator of all things. We pray to Jesus when we think of His gospels and His passion. But we rarely think of the Holy Spirit and he has so much to offer us. He is ready to give us joy, consolation, peace and love. Every soul in the state of grace is a home for the Holy Spirit. He is put into our souls at baptism, and remains with us forever unless we chase Him out with mortal sin. If this happens, repent, get on your knees and go to confession, and he will return.

      Speaking of confession: When I was a child I was taught a little prayer that I still say over and over when I am preparing to go to confession. It goes like this: Come Holy Spirit, give me light to know my sins, the grace to be truly sorry for them and never more to commit them. I know that I am going to make a good confession and will receive the peace and joy that comes with it.

      The Holy Spirit gives us seven gifts. They are called gifts because we don’t merit them. They are given to us freely. The gift of wisdom helps us to think less of worldly things and more of God. The gift of understanding helps us to realize heavenly truths. The gift of council or prudence enables us to choose what is good. The gift of fortitude or courage gives us strength. The gift of knowledge helps us to avoid dangers to our soul. The gift of piety helps us to do everything lovingly for God. The gift of fear of the Lord inspires us with a fear of giving Him offense.

      Each time we make the sign of the cross we are reminded that the Holy spirit is the third person in one God. He lives in us and sees everything we do and knows everything we think. Let’s try not to offend Him and pray often to Him and ask for His help.