118. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person.

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 118

Ave Maria series

118  What happened on Pentecost?

Forty days after his Resurrection, the Lord sent the Holy Spirit down from heaven upon his disciples.  The age of the Church began.  [731-733]

The Holy Spirit descends upon Our Lady and the Apostles. …..118

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit transformed fearful apostles into courageous witnesses to Christ.  In a very short time, thousands had themselves baptized: it was the birthday of the Church.  The miracles of the languages on Pentecost shows that the Church is there for all peoples from the very beginning: She is universal (= the Latin term for the Greek: kat’ holon[ catholic]) and missionary.  She speaks to all men, overcomes the ethnic and linguistic barriers, and can be understood by all.  To this day the Holy Spirit is the “soul” of the Church, the essential principle of her life.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  …Each one heard them speaking in his own language.  Acts of the Apostles 2:4b, 6

[731-733]

THE SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS

Pentecost

731 On the day of Pentecost when the seven weeks of Easter had come to an end, Christ's Passover is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, manifested, given, and communicated as a divine person: of his fullness, Christ, the Lord, pours out the Spirit in abundance. (compare Acts of the Apostles 2:33-36)¹²² –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

732 On that day, the Holy Trinity is fully revealed. Since that day, the Kingdom announced by Christ has been open to those who believe in him: in the humility of the flesh and in faith, they already share in the communion of the Holy Trinity. By his coming, which never ceases, the Holy Spirit causes the world to enter into the "last days," the time of the Church, the Kingdom already inherited though not yet consummated. –CCC

We have seen the true Light, we have received the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith: we adore the indivisible Trinity, who has saved us. (Byzantine liturgy, Pentecost Vespers, Troparion, repeated after communion)¹²³   –CCC

The Holy Spirit - God's gift

733 "God is Love" (1 John 4:8,1)¹²⁴ and love is his first gift, containing all others. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:5)¹²⁵  –CCC