Pontifical Council
for the Family

Preparatory Catecheses
for the
Fifth World Meetings
of Families


Archbishop
of Valencia

 

Fourth Catechesis: The Holy Spirit and the Church

1. Opening hymn.

2. Recitation of the "Our Father".

3. A reading from the Bible: Ac 2, 1-12.

4. A reading from the Teaching of the Church:

1. Once the task of redemption was completed, the Father sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to sanctify believers and given them access to Him through Christ in the one same Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple, and he works in them and gives witness to their adoption as children of the Father.

2. The Holy Spirit guides the Church to the full truth, governs it with different gifts, and embellishes it with his fruits. Through the power of the Gospel, he rejuvenates the Church and leads it to complete unity with Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church. In this way the whole Church appears to be one People assembled together by virtue of the unity of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The condition of this People is the dignity and freedom of the children of God; it has as its law the new commandment to love as Christ loved us, and as its end, to expand the kingdom of God. This is destined to all men, and even though it may appear at times to be a small flock, it is a lasting and sure seed of unity, hope and salvation for all humankind.

3. The Holy Spirit prepares men and reaches out to them with his grace in order to draw them to Christ. He manifests the risen Lord to them, recalls his Word to them, and opens their minds to understanding his death and Resurrection. He makes present the mystery of Christ, supremely in the Eucharist, in order to reconcile them, to bring them into communion with God, that they may bear much fruit. (Cf. CCC, 737).

4. Moreover, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with signs too deep for words. His grace arouses faith in us, the conversion of heart and adherence to the Father's will.

5. Parents transmit faith in the Holy Spirit to their children from their first moments of existence when they live according to the Spirit. When the children are capable of understanding, an adequate explanation is needed in addition to a coherent life. Some fundamental moments for this are: the preparation and celebration of the Sacraments of Christian initiation, especially Confirmation; listening to the Word of God and reflection on its requirements, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church. An especially effective moment is when they are helped to translate the requirements of their incorporation into Christ into ordinary life and get interested in transmitting the joy of Jesus' message to their friends and peers.

5. Reflections of the reader.

6. Dialogue:

  • Can it be said that Christian families know the Spirit? How is this knowledge manifested?
  • What are the main functions carried out by the Holy Spirit in the Church and in the family, the "domestic church"?
  • What role does the Holy Spirit play in the Sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion, and how can children discover this?

7. Commitments.

8. Recitation of the "Hail Mary" and invocation: "Regina familiae. Ora pro nobis".

9. Prayer for the family: Almighty and eternal God, you sent your Spirit to the Apostles. Lavish this Spirit of love upon us too so that we will give faithful witness to the love you wanted as the distinctive mark of the your Son's disciples. You who live and reign forever and ever.

10. Closing hymn.

Index

© Pontifical Council for the Family and Archdiocese of Valencia 2005. Reproduction is authorized for the intended purposes of these catecheses.