The Advocate
May 11, 2021
Dear Family of Mary!
“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. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7)
In the Gospel today, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Advocate! In the Revised Standard Version it is translated the Counselor. Both titles are helpful. Jesus wanted the Apostles to understand that He was not going to leave them like orphans. His departure would be followed by the coming of the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who would dwell in them and with them for the rest of their earthly lives. Jesus would never abandon His own. Nor does He abandon us. We receive the Holy Spirit at Baptism and Confirmation in a powerful way, but we also receive Him in every prayer we say. He comes to dwell in all who call upon Him in their hearts!!
Isn’t our God incredibly beautiful!!!
Our Lady advised us:
May 25, 2000 “Dear children! I rejoice with you and in this time of grace I call you to spiritual renewal. Pray, little children, that the Holy Spirit may come to dwell in you in fullness, so that you may be able to witness in joy to all those who are far from faith. Especially, little children, pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that in the spirit of love, every day and in each situation, you may be closer to your fellow-man; and that in wisdom and love you may overcome every difficulty. I am with you and I intercede for each of you before Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
She too tells us that if we pray the Holy Spirit will come to dwell in us in fullness! The Spirit wants to live in us, to take up His abode in us, so that He can guide and console and bless us, so that He can show us how best we can serve Jesus. The Spirit wants to dwell in us!!
St. John Paul II wrote about the Holy Spirit dwelling in us in His Catechesis on the Holy Spirit with these words:
7. Jesus announces that the Holy Spirit will come to “remain” with us: “I will pray to the Father and he will give you another Comforter that he may remain with you forever” (Jn 14, 16); he himself will remain, not only his power, his wisdom, his action; but he himself as a Person.
And again: he himself will remain not only “with us”, but “by us” and “in us”. “You know him” – says Jesus “because he dwells close to you and will be in you (Jn 14, 17). These words express the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as inner guest in people’s hearts: in the heart of anyone among all the souls belonging to Christ who welcomes the Spirit. The Father and Son too come to “take up residence” in these souls (Jn 14:23). Therefore the whole Trinity is present in them, but, since this is a spiritual presence, that presence refers in a most direct way to the Person of the Holy Spirit.
8. Through this presence at work in the soul, a person can become that “true worshipper” of God who “is spirit” (Jn 4:24), as Jesus said in the meeting with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (cf. Jn 4:23). The hour of those who “adore the Father in spirit and truth” arrived with Christ and becomes a reality in every person who accepts the Holy Spirit and lives according to the Spirit’s inspiration and under the Spirit’s personal direction. That is the greatest and holiest element in Christian spirituality.”
(An Advocate who dwells in us – Catechesis by Pope John Paul II on the Holy Spirit – General Audience, Wednesday 26 September 1990)
Well, I am very excited to begin the Novena to the Holy Spirit that we will pray before Pentecost!! It starts on this Friday, May 14!! Let’s stay close to Our Lady in these next days, for she is the spouse of the Holy Spirit!! Who better to help us receive Him!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
(c)Mary TV 2021
