THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE LIVING MEMORY OF THE CHURCH

Vatican City, 8 June 2014 (VIS) – On the Solemnity of Pentecost, Pope Francis presided at a Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, concelebrated with the cardinals, archbishops and bishops present in the city of Rome.

“Speaking to the Apostles at the Last Supper, Jesus said that, after leaving this world, he would have sent them the gift from the Father, that is the Holy Spirit. This promise was powerfully fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended onto the disciples gathered in the Cenacle”, said the Pope in his homily.

The Holy Spirit “teaches us: it is the inner Master. It guides us along the right path, through the situations of life. … More than a master of doctrine”, he observed, “the Spirit is a master of life. And knowledge is part of life, but within the wider, harmonic horizon of Christian existence”.

The Holy Spirit “reminds us, reminds us of all that Jesus said. It is the living memory of the Church. And while it makes us remember, it enables us to understand the words of the Lord. … The Spirit of truth and charity that recalls to us what Christ said, allows us to enter more fully into the meaning of His words. … In substance, the Spirit reminds us of the commandment to love, and calls us to fulfil this”.

“A Christian without memory is not a true Christian: he is halfway along the road, he is a man or a woman imprisoned in the moment, who does not know how to value his or he r history, who does not know how to read it or live it as a history of salvation. Instead, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to interpret the inner inspirations and events of life in the light of Jesus' words. And thus our knowledge of memory, the knowledge of the heart, that is a gift from the Spirit, grows in us”.

The Holy Spirit “makes us speak, with God and with men. There are no mute Christians, those who are mute in the soul; no, there is no place for this. It enables us to speak with God in prayer. … It allows us to speak in the act of faith. It helps us to speak with men in fraternal dialogue. It helps us to speak with others recognising them as brothers and sisters”.

“But there is more: the Holy Spirit also makes us speak to men in prophecy, making us humble and docile 'channels' of the Word of God. Prophecy is made with frankness, to show openly contradictions and injustice, but always with meekness and constructive intent. Penetrated by the Spirit of love, we can be signs and instruments of God Who loves, serves and gives life”.

“The day of Pentecost,when the disciples were 'filled with the Holy Spirit', was the baptism of the Church, who was born 'reaching out', 'going out' to proclaim the Good News to all. The Mother Church, who goes out to serve and, who recalls our other Mother, who went out promptly, to serve. The Mother Church and the Mother Mary: both virgin, both mothers, and both women”.