Pope at Regina Coeli: ‘Holy
Spirit teaches and animates the Church’
Ahead of the Regina Coeli prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis
reflects on how the Holy Spirit guides us and the Church in bearing witness to
the Risen Christ.
By Devin Watkins
Taking his cue from the Gospel for the 6th Sunday
of Easter (John 14:23-29), Pope Francis says Jesus promised never to leave the
Apostles alone, as he prepared to face his Passion and the Cross.
“The Paraclete, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in
my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you,”
were the words of that promise, the Pope said.
The term “Paraclete” – in the original Greek – means “one
who stands beside another, in order to support and console."
Listen to our report
Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus’ teachings
In this way, the Pope said, Jesus continues to instruct and
animate his disciples through the action of the Paraclete, who helps us in our
mission of proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world.
The Holy Spirit does not add anything to divine Revelation,
said Pope Francis, because “Jesus had already transmitted all that he wanted to
entrust to the Apostles.”
“The Holy Spirit’s task is to make people remember, in other
words, to make them fully understand and encourage them to concretely implement
the teachings of Jesus.”
Paraclete guides Church’s mission
Pope Francis said this is also the Church’s mission, which
she carries out through a precise way of life.
It is characterized, he said, by “faith in the Lord and the
observance of his Word; docility to the action of the Spirit, who continually
makes the Risen Lord alive and present; the acceptance of his peace and the
witness we bear to him through an attitude of openness and encounter with
others.”
He said the Church cannot remain stationary but relies on
the active participation of each baptized person.
We are called, said Pope Francis, to free ourselves from our
views, strategies, and objectives which often impede the journey of faith, and
to listen with docility to the Word of God.
“It is the Spirit of God who guides us and guides the
Church, so that her authentic face, beautiful and luminous, willed by Christ,
may shine forth.”
Follow Mary’s example
Finally, Pope Francis invited the faithful to ask the Virgin
Mary to protect the Church and all humanity, especially during the month of
May, when we pray to Our Lady with special devotion.
“May she, who with humble and courageous faith cooperated
fully with the Holy Spirit in the Incarnation of the Son of God, also help us
to let ourselves be instructed and guided by the Paraclete, so that we can
accept the Word of God and bear witness to it with our lives.”
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