Association Of Catholic Bloggers

This Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost, the birth of Christ’s Church, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and confirmed them in the faith. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit graced them with the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Awe. These gifts enabled them to go out and preach the Gospel. To be effective in fulfilling Christ’s mission, they needed: Wisdom, to know and aspire for the things of eternal life Understanding of the Divine truths Counsel of the Holy Spirit, to know the ways of God, so that we may fulfill God’s plan Fortitude, to bear their own crosses and fate awaiting them Knowledge, to know God, as well as themselves; to grow in perfection and saintly ways Piety, to find honor in serving God Awe, to be filled with reverence for God Get Ready to Receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit We are just like that scraggly group of men who became the first leaders of Christ’s Church on earth.  Read more...

 Jesus promised us that he would not leave us orphans when His body left the earth but he would still  love, guide, comfort and counsel us by sending the Holy Spirit to each believer. This is not an allegory, a nice bedtime story. This relationship is not just for the saints. A vital relationship with God is the normal Christian life. But if you are wired like me,this sort of intimacy with God takes decades. read more>

At the request of Jesus, the Holy Spirit has been given to us. Do we really know what that means? What does a life lived in the spirit look like? “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.” ~John 16:7 The Holy Spirit is supposed to be so significant in our lives that it is better than if Jesus were to be here, right now! A life lived in the spirit is radically different. It is imbued with wisdom, grace, and virtue. It longs to do God’s will and live in accordance with His edicts—and is able to do so because it is under control of the Holy Spirit and does not follow selfish desires. “And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation.” ~John 16:8 The Holy Spirit is a bit like electricity or gravity—you may not be able to understand or explain either of them but that doesn’t change their reality. The truth is not subjective—it is objective. At the heart of the Holy Spiri...

I posted this on my own blog a few days ago. My usual readers found it powerful. I have to be honest~ this is one of those posts that felt like it wrote itself so all the credit goes to the Holy Spirit. It must have been something He wanted said. I thought I would share it here with all of you. God Is the Lord The fear of the Lord is honor, and glory, and gladness, and a crown of joy.    The fear of the Lord shall delight the heart, and shall give joy, and gladness, and length of days.    With him that feareth the Lord, it shall go well in the latter end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed.     The love of God is honorable wisdom.    And they to whom she shall show herself love her by the sight, and by the knowledge of her great works.  ~Sirach 1:11~15 My morning prayer and meditation today was focused on Fear of the Lord, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I began meditating and reflecting on this gift after reading what...