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The Gift: Discovering the Holy Spirit in Catholic Tradition
Who is the Holy Spirit? What role does the Spirit play in the life of the Church and of the individual Christian? Beginning with the belief in the Holy Spirit as a Person of God, and not just a “force,” this book reveals the Catholic understanding of the presence and influence of the Spirit God in every aspect of the Christian life. The book focuses on the unique aspects and development of Catholic devotion to the Holy Spirit from antiquity to the present, culminating in a look at Catholic theology of the Holy Spirit today and the new and exciting ways the Spirit is working among Catholics and all Christians in the 20th and 21st centuries.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
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September 5, 2013
As the publishing arm of the ecumenical Community of Jesus, Paraclete has published a number of books from a range of theological traditions. Their Holy Spirit series boasts books from the Jewish, Orthodox, Protestant and Pentecostal traditions. I have reviewed a number of these books here before and have found them immensely helpful. A few of these books are downright fabulous! Jack Levison’s Fresh Air and Amos Yong’s Who is the Holy Spirit? are standout volumes but every single volume is good. Each book manages to illuminate the Spirit in a way that honors their peculiar denominational tradition. These are lay-friendly books, but they are theologically astute.
The Gift: Discovering the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Tradition lives up to the quality of other books in this series. Alan Schreck, professor of theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville is a specialist in Catholic doctrine, church history and the teachings of Vatican II; however this is not just a book about Catholic dogma. Schreck has an eye for how we can deepen our spiritual experience by praying for the Spirit to do his work in our lives.
In seven chapters, Schreck synthesizes the wisdom of the Catholic understanding of the the Spirit. In chapter one he describes the person of the Holy Spirit as presented in Holy Scripture and in the Tradition. He describes what the Old and New Testament say about the Spirit, what the Councils and Creeds came to declare about the personhood of the Spirit and the Augustinian understanding which was most influential in the Western Church. Chapter two examines the history of Catholic devotion to the Spirit. Schreck describes various orthodox movements which sought to emphasize the Spirit.
Chapters three though five describe the ministry of the Spirit. Chapter three focuses on truth, chapter four focuses on holiness and sanctification and chapter five expounds on gifts of the Holy Spirit. While every Christian would agree that the Spirit leads us into all truth, convicts us of sin and leads us to be transformed in the image of Christ and gifts us for ministry and mission. Schreck illuminates a Catholic understanding of the Spirit’s role in each of these. The Spirit leads us into truth and empowers us to speak it boldly, but ecumenism that denies or downplays truth revealed to the church should be questioned. Holiness is the goal of the Christian life, but in the Catholic understanding, this is described by our cooperation with God in the grace he has given us through the Spirit. The Spirit gives gifts to individuals and orders of the church, but Schreck demonstrates how we are to understand this in relationship to the institutional church.
In chapter six, Schreck describes the relationship between the Spirit, the church and Mary. Church was birthed at Pentecost and is constituted by the Spirit and his work. Mary is the first disciple and member of the church. In the Catholic tradition, Mary intercedes for us to the Father, but whatever grace is in her is derivative. She is the recipient of God’s grace and exemplary for her fiat to the incarnation (her ‘yes’ to God). Like the Spirit, Mary points us to Jesus, the Divine Son of God. Mary is not to be understood as the Third person of the Trinity or someone who usurps the Spirit’s role, but as the prime example of someone who cooperates with God and reveals the maternal aspects of God’s character.
In the final chapter Schreck discusses the Spirit in the Catholic church today. He focuses on the Catholic charismatic movement and the emphasis of Vatican II on the Spirit’s work. Schreck gives a generous and a positive assessment of these while acknowledging that many Catholics will not feel called to join up with movements devoted to the Spirit’s work. Nevertheless all Catholics should appreciate how the Spirit enables, enlivens and empowers the Christian life.
An appendix collects several prayers and reflections on the Holy Spirit which can be incorporated into your daily prayer time.
I appreciate Schreck’s articulation of Catholic teaching. Throughout this book Schreck comments on the Catechism, Vatican II and Catholic theologians live Hans Urs von Balthasar, Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) , Yves Conger, John Paul II, and Vatican II. He gives a careful and reasoned defense of Catholic teaching on the Spirit and draws out the implications for our lives.
As a non-Catholic reading this book, there are areas where I disagree with Schreck rather sharply. However I appreciated Schreck’s description of Catholic teaching and practice. In addition to having a good grasp on Catholic dogma, he seems to also be an apt apologist, anticipating many of the difficulties protestants like me face. I found Schreck generous and evenhanded in his presentation and do not hesitate to commend this book to you. Catholics will obviously benefit most directly from this book. As a non-Catholic I gained a greater appreciation for Catholic teaching and the insights of the theologians that Schreck culls together. This is a great short book on the Spirit in Catholicism. I give it four-and-a-half stars.
Thank you to Paraclete Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Gift: Discovering the Holy Spirit in the Catholic Tradition lives up to the quality of other books in this series. Alan Schreck, professor of theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville is a specialist in Catholic doctrine, church history and the teachings of Vatican II; however this is not just a book about Catholic dogma. Schreck has an eye for how we can deepen our spiritual experience by praying for the Spirit to do his work in our lives.
In seven chapters, Schreck synthesizes the wisdom of the Catholic understanding of the the Spirit. In chapter one he describes the person of the Holy Spirit as presented in Holy Scripture and in the Tradition. He describes what the Old and New Testament say about the Spirit, what the Councils and Creeds came to declare about the personhood of the Spirit and the Augustinian understanding which was most influential in the Western Church. Chapter two examines the history of Catholic devotion to the Spirit. Schreck describes various orthodox movements which sought to emphasize the Spirit.
Chapters three though five describe the ministry of the Spirit. Chapter three focuses on truth, chapter four focuses on holiness and sanctification and chapter five expounds on gifts of the Holy Spirit. While every Christian would agree that the Spirit leads us into all truth, convicts us of sin and leads us to be transformed in the image of Christ and gifts us for ministry and mission. Schreck illuminates a Catholic understanding of the Spirit’s role in each of these. The Spirit leads us into truth and empowers us to speak it boldly, but ecumenism that denies or downplays truth revealed to the church should be questioned. Holiness is the goal of the Christian life, but in the Catholic understanding, this is described by our cooperation with God in the grace he has given us through the Spirit. The Spirit gives gifts to individuals and orders of the church, but Schreck demonstrates how we are to understand this in relationship to the institutional church.
In chapter six, Schreck describes the relationship between the Spirit, the church and Mary. Church was birthed at Pentecost and is constituted by the Spirit and his work. Mary is the first disciple and member of the church. In the Catholic tradition, Mary intercedes for us to the Father, but whatever grace is in her is derivative. She is the recipient of God’s grace and exemplary for her fiat to the incarnation (her ‘yes’ to God). Like the Spirit, Mary points us to Jesus, the Divine Son of God. Mary is not to be understood as the Third person of the Trinity or someone who usurps the Spirit’s role, but as the prime example of someone who cooperates with God and reveals the maternal aspects of God’s character.
In the final chapter Schreck discusses the Spirit in the Catholic church today. He focuses on the Catholic charismatic movement and the emphasis of Vatican II on the Spirit’s work. Schreck gives a generous and a positive assessment of these while acknowledging that many Catholics will not feel called to join up with movements devoted to the Spirit’s work. Nevertheless all Catholics should appreciate how the Spirit enables, enlivens and empowers the Christian life.
An appendix collects several prayers and reflections on the Holy Spirit which can be incorporated into your daily prayer time.
I appreciate Schreck’s articulation of Catholic teaching. Throughout this book Schreck comments on the Catechism, Vatican II and Catholic theologians live Hans Urs von Balthasar, Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) , Yves Conger, John Paul II, and Vatican II. He gives a careful and reasoned defense of Catholic teaching on the Spirit and draws out the implications for our lives.
As a non-Catholic reading this book, there are areas where I disagree with Schreck rather sharply. However I appreciated Schreck’s description of Catholic teaching and practice. In addition to having a good grasp on Catholic dogma, he seems to also be an apt apologist, anticipating many of the difficulties protestants like me face. I found Schreck generous and evenhanded in his presentation and do not hesitate to commend this book to you. Catholics will obviously benefit most directly from this book. As a non-Catholic I gained a greater appreciation for Catholic teaching and the insights of the theologians that Schreck culls together. This is a great short book on the Spirit in Catholicism. I give it four-and-a-half stars.
Thank you to Paraclete Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
June 13, 2013
In an era in which the spirit that seems to be dominant is the one whom Jesus called the "prince of this world" (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), Alan Schreck has happily given us a book on the antidote: "the Spirit that is from God" (1 Cor 2:12).
It is only in the last chapter that the author gives us his primary reason for writing the book. It is to answer the questions: "How do we as Catholics understand the Holy Spirit today? What role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of our Church in the twenty-first century?" In order to do this, Schreck provides plenty of historical and theological background (but always in a way accessible to all) beginning with explicating the Holy Spirit in the Bible (in the New Testament as well as the Old, where the Spirit is not often thought of as appearing explicitly). This approach welcomes all Christians to the conversation as the author explains that "the Catholic understanding of the Holy Spirit is essentially biblical." Then, a number of early Church Fathers are appealed to leading up to the important Trinitarian dogma in the creed that came out of the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.
Chapter Two provides a history of devotion to the Holy Spirit that is fascinating in its fluctuations throughout Church history. Prayer for, in, and to the Holy Spirit is explained as well.
Chapter Three delves into the Spirit as Truth. The Holy Spirit guides the Church in truth as promised in the Bible (see Matt 16:17, Acts 10, and Acts 15:7-11). This truth is necessary for effective evangelization, empowering Catholics to "proclaim the truth with boldness and clarity." Truth must ultimately lead to unity. There is to be no compromise in telling the truth in ecumenical efforts. This is truly the love that is the hallmark of Christians because our hope for Christian unity rests in the fact that "God's love has been poured into our hearts thru the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Rom 5:5).
Chapter Four deals with the holiness of the Holy Spirit and how He makes us holy through the gift of sanctifying grace. His greatest act was the conception of Jesus, but He is also active in us when we are not in mortal sin.
Chapter Five gives us the gifts (Is 11:1-2) and charisms (1 Cor 12:7-10, 28; Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11-12) of the Holy Spirit and the renewed emphasis on these in the Vatican II documents. Three influential men of the Council are provided a forum here: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Yves Congar. Council documents and a fruit of the Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, also help to explain these gifts and charisms. Additionally, sections on Baptism and Confirmation provide a short catechesis on the sacraments most closely associated with the Holy Spirit.
Chapter Six begins by talking about the Holy Spirit and the Church. The Holy Spirit animates the Church. He makes it one, holy, catholic and apostolic (all these aspects are attested to in Scripture). The Holy Spirit birthed the Church at Pentecost and continues to animate, renew, and guide her. John Paul II is quoted: "The Holy Spirit is the vital principle of the Church, intimate, yet transcendent."
The chapter continues by drawing out the connection between the Holy Spirit and Mary (from fiat to Pentecost, Mary has a special relationship as spouse of the Holy Spirit) by clarifying misconceptions about their affiliation: Some Christians think Catholics confuse Mary and the Holy Spirit, but the Church is clear that grace is not originated by Mary - rather, she says "yes" to all of it and pleads that it be given to mankind; the union between Mary and the Holy Spirit is unique, but she is not the personification of the Holy Spirit; both lead people to Christ, but Mary by prayer and example and the Holy Spirit by the grace of revelation and the gifts that come from Him; Mary does not replace the Holy Spirit -- rather devotion to Mary must lead to worship and praise of and devotion and openness to the Holy Spirit.
Chapter Seven focuses on the charismatic movement in the Church beginning with Vatican II, a new phase of the Catholic theology of the Holy Spirit. While the Catholic Church came late to the Pentecostal movement which began at the start of the twentieth century, the latest popes have strongly emphasized the Holy Spirit and encouraged the charismatic movement and openness to that same Spirit.
This review began contrasting the evil one and the Holy Spirit. The last chapter addresses this through the words of John Paul II: "Whereas sin, by rejecting love, has caused the 'suffering' of men which in some way has affected the whole of creation, the Holy Spirit will enter into human and cosmic suffering with a new outpouring of love, which will redeem the world" (Dominum et Vivificantem, 39). Regarding how this is lived for each of us individually, the author notes that the charisms of the Holy Spirit are available to every Christian in order to enable us "to know God personally in Jesus Christ and to receive greater power to live as a Christian daily, in service and witness, prayer and action."
The Appendix contains six prayers (four ancient) to the Holy Spirit. This may be where the reader will want to start, invoking the Holy Spirit throughout for openness to His gifts and enlightenment to the message meant for the reader in his reading. Finally, the closing Notes section is chock full of references to excellent resources for the person who wants to take a deeper dive into general or specific matters touched on in the book.
Highly recommended for a deeper appreciation of our Advocate and Comforter.
It is only in the last chapter that the author gives us his primary reason for writing the book. It is to answer the questions: "How do we as Catholics understand the Holy Spirit today? What role does the Holy Spirit play in the life of our Church in the twenty-first century?" In order to do this, Schreck provides plenty of historical and theological background (but always in a way accessible to all) beginning with explicating the Holy Spirit in the Bible (in the New Testament as well as the Old, where the Spirit is not often thought of as appearing explicitly). This approach welcomes all Christians to the conversation as the author explains that "the Catholic understanding of the Holy Spirit is essentially biblical." Then, a number of early Church Fathers are appealed to leading up to the important Trinitarian dogma in the creed that came out of the Council of Constantinople in AD 381.
Chapter Two provides a history of devotion to the Holy Spirit that is fascinating in its fluctuations throughout Church history. Prayer for, in, and to the Holy Spirit is explained as well.
Chapter Three delves into the Spirit as Truth. The Holy Spirit guides the Church in truth as promised in the Bible (see Matt 16:17, Acts 10, and Acts 15:7-11). This truth is necessary for effective evangelization, empowering Catholics to "proclaim the truth with boldness and clarity." Truth must ultimately lead to unity. There is to be no compromise in telling the truth in ecumenical efforts. This is truly the love that is the hallmark of Christians because our hope for Christian unity rests in the fact that "God's love has been poured into our hearts thru the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Rom 5:5).
Chapter Four deals with the holiness of the Holy Spirit and how He makes us holy through the gift of sanctifying grace. His greatest act was the conception of Jesus, but He is also active in us when we are not in mortal sin.
Chapter Five gives us the gifts (Is 11:1-2) and charisms (1 Cor 12:7-10, 28; Rom 12:6-8; Eph 4:11-12) of the Holy Spirit and the renewed emphasis on these in the Vatican II documents. Three influential men of the Council are provided a forum here: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Yves Congar. Council documents and a fruit of the Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, also help to explain these gifts and charisms. Additionally, sections on Baptism and Confirmation provide a short catechesis on the sacraments most closely associated with the Holy Spirit.
Chapter Six begins by talking about the Holy Spirit and the Church. The Holy Spirit animates the Church. He makes it one, holy, catholic and apostolic (all these aspects are attested to in Scripture). The Holy Spirit birthed the Church at Pentecost and continues to animate, renew, and guide her. John Paul II is quoted: "The Holy Spirit is the vital principle of the Church, intimate, yet transcendent."
The chapter continues by drawing out the connection between the Holy Spirit and Mary (from fiat to Pentecost, Mary has a special relationship as spouse of the Holy Spirit) by clarifying misconceptions about their affiliation: Some Christians think Catholics confuse Mary and the Holy Spirit, but the Church is clear that grace is not originated by Mary - rather, she says "yes" to all of it and pleads that it be given to mankind; the union between Mary and the Holy Spirit is unique, but she is not the personification of the Holy Spirit; both lead people to Christ, but Mary by prayer and example and the Holy Spirit by the grace of revelation and the gifts that come from Him; Mary does not replace the Holy Spirit -- rather devotion to Mary must lead to worship and praise of and devotion and openness to the Holy Spirit.
Chapter Seven focuses on the charismatic movement in the Church beginning with Vatican II, a new phase of the Catholic theology of the Holy Spirit. While the Catholic Church came late to the Pentecostal movement which began at the start of the twentieth century, the latest popes have strongly emphasized the Holy Spirit and encouraged the charismatic movement and openness to that same Spirit.
This review began contrasting the evil one and the Holy Spirit. The last chapter addresses this through the words of John Paul II: "Whereas sin, by rejecting love, has caused the 'suffering' of men which in some way has affected the whole of creation, the Holy Spirit will enter into human and cosmic suffering with a new outpouring of love, which will redeem the world" (Dominum et Vivificantem, 39). Regarding how this is lived for each of us individually, the author notes that the charisms of the Holy Spirit are available to every Christian in order to enable us "to know God personally in Jesus Christ and to receive greater power to live as a Christian daily, in service and witness, prayer and action."
The Appendix contains six prayers (four ancient) to the Holy Spirit. This may be where the reader will want to start, invoking the Holy Spirit throughout for openness to His gifts and enlightenment to the message meant for the reader in his reading. Finally, the closing Notes section is chock full of references to excellent resources for the person who wants to take a deeper dive into general or specific matters touched on in the book.
Highly recommended for a deeper appreciation of our Advocate and Comforter.
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