Basic Catholic Q and A's

The numbers in parenthese that follow the questions refer to related paragraphs in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?
2. Is the Holy Spirit God?
3. What are some other names for the Holy Spirit?
4. What does "Paraclete" mean?
5. What does the Holy Spirit do for  us?
6. What does the Holy Spirit do for the Church?
7. When didthe Holy Spirit First make himself known to Jesus' followers?
8. What special gift does the Holy Spirit give us?

1. Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. (685)

In Christ you who heard the word of truth...and believed it were sealed by the promised Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13).(See also Rom 8:14, 17; Acts 1:8)

2. Is the Holy Spirit God?
The Holy Spirit is God, as is the Father and the Son. (691)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor 13:13).

3. What are some other names for the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is also called Paraclete, Spirit of God, Gift of God, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Adoption and Giver of Life. (691-693)

But when he comes-the Spirit of truth-he will lead you to the whole truth (Jn 16:13).

4. What does "Paraclete" mean?
Paraclete means "someone called upon for help" (advocate, intercessor). The term also means "consoler." (692)

And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Intercessor to be with you forever (Jn 14:16).

5. What does the Holy Spirit do for  us?
The Holy Spirit transforms us through sanctifying grace, the virtues, his gifts and actual graces. He helps us to know Jesus, our Savior, and our Father in heaven; the Spirit also helps us to pray and to evangelize. (733-736)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit (Gal 5:25).

6. What does the Holy Spirit do for the Church?
The Holy Spirit unites God's people, the Church, in faith and love, and gives us the grace Jesus won for us by his death on the cross. The Spirit guides the Church's chief teachers, the Pope and bishops united with him, so that they will faithfully hand on the truth Christ taught. (737)

So the church was at peace...; it was being built up and proceeded in the fear of the Lord and it grew in numbers with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31).

7. When did the Holy Spirit First make himself known to Jesus' followers?
Although the Holy Spirit was active in the world before Jesus' resurrection, on Pentecost the Spirit descended on Jesus' disciples with great power. He gave the apostles courage, a deeper understanding of Jesus' teachings, and a spirit of sacrifice. He strengthened them with grace and united them more closely. (739-741)

Tongues as if of fire appeared to them, parting and coming to rest on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues according to how the Spirit inspired them to speak (Acts 2:3-4).

8. What special gift does the Holy Spirit give us?
The Holy Spirit gives us grace, a participation in the life of God, which Jesus won for us by his death on the cross. (1996-1997)

Thus he has bestowed on us the great and precious promises so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature... (2 Pt 1:4).

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