The Holy Ghost, Our Greatest Friend: He Who Loves Us Best

by Paul O'Sullivan

The author of All About the ‬Angels, How to be Happy – How to be Holy, and An Easy Way to Become a Saint has given us here a beautiful little book “all about the Holy Ghost." Quoting many famous Saints and holy authors, he presents the reader with the very best of the Church’s understanding about “Our Greatest Friend," God the Spirit of true life, who dwells daily in our hearts – if we are in the state of grace. Again and again, he shows us how we are the living temples of the Holy Ghost and how our souls are God's greatest masterpiece—because they are made in His own Image and Likeness. Of the Divine Tenant we possess within us, Fr. O'Sullivan says, “The Holy Ghost does not only give His wonderful help to Apostles, to martyrs, to missionaries, but to all Christians without exception, if only they will ask Him as they should." (Page 39). The greatest tragedy, he points out, is that many Christians never pray to this Divine Guest within their souls. Therefore, it is to help us understand, at least a little, the Incomparable Treasure we Christians possess within ourselves as a result of Baptism that the author has written this book – but also to teach us how to help ourselves in the most unfailing way by praying often and fervently to the Holy Ghost for assistance in all our needs.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Theology, Spirituality, Christianity, Faith

82 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1952

About the author

Father Paul O'Sullivan, O.P., was born on February 7, 1871. After studying in Dublin, he went on to Rome, where he was ordained a Dominican. He then pursued a Lectorate degree for theology, which in turn prepared him for his future career in writing simple, profound books and preaching to the faithful. Father O'Sullivan also founded the "Catholic Printing Press" and established the Rosary Association, one of several associations he created with the Church's permission. He wrote on and had a great devotion to St. Philomena as well. He died in 1958, on the Feast of the Presentation.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name on GR

Reviews

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and short read about our often forgotten greatest friend, the Holy Ghost. Read for Pentecost.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up because it was promoted by TAN books in an email blast. They were promoting a bundle of books by Father Paul O'Sullivan. I know I have seen the covers before. And based on when the books were first published maybe even back to the Catholic Book Stores of my youth. I looked at the 6 title sin the bundle and picked this one as my starting point. It did not disappoint, and before I even finished it, I had picked up a couple of the other titles. For those not familiar as I was not:

“Fr. Paul Henry O'Sullivan, O.P., S.T.L., P.G., E.D.M., was born in Tralee, Ireland in 1871 and died in Lisbon, Portugal in 1958.”

The description of this volume is:

“A beautiful little book "all about the Holy Ghost," including prayers to Him. Shows He really and truly dwells in every soul that is in the state of grace. He aids all Christians without exception, if only we will ask His help. Enlightening and encouraging!”

The chapters in the book are:

Letter from His Excellency Monsignor Pietro Ciriaci, Papal Nuncio
Foreword
1. The Importance of Devotion to The Holy Ghost
2. The Holy Ghost and What He Does for Us
3. The Holy Ghost Comes into Our Souls in Baptism
4. The Exceeding Beauty of Our Souls, Made Worthy to Receive The Holy Ghost
5. The Holy Ghost Is Personally in Our Souls
6. How Are We to Honor the Holy Ghost in Our Souls?
7. With the Holy Ghost We Can Do All Things
8. The Wonderful Graces We Receive From the Holy Ghost
9. What We Lose By Not Loving the Holy Ghost
10. The Three Sacraments of the Holy Ghost
11. Sins Against the Holy Ghost
Appendix: Prayers to the Holy Ghost

The forward encourages us to read, to learn and to experience the Holy spirit in a new way. Father Paul draws from many and varied sources in this little work. In the first chapter alone, he quotes from: Cardinal Manning, Cardinal John Henry Newman, and Cardinal Gibbons. And in the second Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Origen, St. Cyril, Saint basil, Saint Angela, Cornelius a Lapide, Blessed Henry Suso, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Jesus, St. Philip Neri, the holy Curé d’Ars and a few others. And the book concludes with 10 prayers to the Holy Spirit. There are a also a few prayers and poems throughout the book as well.

When I was in university, I was involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, there was a series of booklets by the founder Bill Bright, and by reading them many times you could almost memorize them and the message so that you could share it. This volume reminds me a lot of those books, but specifically geared for Catholics. And a quick look at some of his other titles look the same.

This is a volume that can easily be read in an afternoon. But one you could read repeatedly during your lifetime and benefit from with every reading. I know that I have plans to pursue his other works that are available in English and will likely return to this one and read it again, maybe even several times. The book is clearly written, easily accessible. And a wonderful volume for any Catholic to pick up and read.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2021 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

This beautiful little book inspired me to have a devotion to the Holy Spirit which I had never even thought of.This author is one of my favorites because he speaks so beautifully to the reader about God more like a teacher who is telling you his life secrets.One of his writing styles is to include stories and anecdotes of the saints which pertain to the subject he is teaching about which makes it come alive.I highly recommend!

[Samantha’s Little Library♡✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without the Holy Spirit, I often wonder where I would be in my life. ♥️It gives me a strong pause for contemplation and the desire to deeply connect with God. Though it is hard to sometimes put into words, God (and the Holy Spirit within me) has brought me so much profound understanding, love, and peace into areas of my life where I was once empty and lost… and I didn’t even realize those facts, at the time.

Reading this beautiful little book, The Holy Ghost, Our Greatest Friend by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, was a beautiful pleasure and wonderful reassurance to my soul as she tries growing closer to God every day. I am so in love with more traditional Christian teachings because they are full of so much reverence and depth for the God of the Universe, our all-loving and infinite Creator; this is perhaps why I am so taken by Catholic theology. I admire the spirituality of this book and I would love to better call upon the Holy Spirit in my daily life. It is so awe-inspiring that it fills me with fear to think that the spirit of God is present within my soul, which is something that Father Paul emphasized through these pages. ♥️

[Mayra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening, Quick Read

A deeply edifying read; it encouraged me to practice greater devotion to the Holy Spirit, and in mere days I have noticed a tremendous difference in my mood and state of mind. This reading and the subsequent inspiration to be determined and disciplined in prayer has granted me unbelievable insights upon reflection of scripture and prayer, all which I credit to the Holy Spirit. Easy to read, not too "wordy" straightforward, insightful... I encourage everyone to read this excellent and inspired book.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good stuff except the section on Charismata that falsely claims that the Holy Spirit still gives the gift of tongues. St. Augustine tells us that speaking in tongues was for a time only and that time is over. Check out Ten Homilies on the first Epistle of John VI, 10. St. Thomas Aquinas taught the same.

[Bryan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and simple book on the Holy Spirit. Fr. O'Sullivan does a wonderful job of helping us remember the third person of the Holy Trinity. "Our Greatest Friend" is a brilliant title, as this book shows us that we need to be more engaged with the Holy Spirit and be mindful that He is always there for us.

[Richard D · Rating 5 out of 5]

People need to know the Holy Spirit

This is an excellent, simple, yet profound work leading the reader to longer their relationship (or lack thereof) with the Holy Spirit. I love Fr O'Sullivan's straightforward style. Such clarity and simplicity brings the truth right to our hearts.

[Sandra K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Closeness of the Spirit

I read this little book in 2 short sessions. It was a refreshing review of topics I probably learned in elementary school. Now in my eighties, so it's been awhile.
Thank you Dr O'Sullivan, I will try more of your books.

[Judy July · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prayers that provide inspiration and awe.

I was shocked how little that I knew about the holy spirit. The prayers are different in the many categories.

[thomas ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Ireland

I love this book and the prayers you could never pray a noft to the holy spirit thank you for writing this book

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but sweet. 👍😊

[Hyapatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving Father Paul O Sullivan's writings. This knowledge is essential for every Christian.

[Kennon Elliott Wallis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Catholic Overview & Introduction

I found many spiritual jewels in this concise book regarding the person, glory, divinity, and work of the Holy Ghost (Spirit).

[Irma Cardenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Ghost


Like most religious books it does require thinking. I enjoyed remembering some of the lessons from the nuns at my elementary school and learning new thoughts

[Thomas Brunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Holy Spirit somehow manages to simultaneously be both the most well known, yet and while I don't want to universally accuse all Christians of a general true mistake, it is definitely still true, the most (in some cases) neglected divine "person" or divine entity or presence. You often hear a lot of talking about the Holy Spirit, but sometimes unfortunately, not enough depending on and praying to the Spirit and His guidance. I like that the book is a swift, yet thorough read. It is 82 pages, total, though a little less of actual book. Although the book itself is quite short, even in a quick length of 75-82 pages, it is, all things considered, packed with a copious amount of useful, spiritually inspirational knowledge, highlightable quotables, but more importantly to the point, information that we can use to apply to our lives in knowing God
better! The Holy Spirit helps reveal truth, transform our minds, strengthens us, and sanctifies us as believers. I think, too, while this book is targeted mainly towards Catholics, it can certainly work for both Protestants and Catholics as well as Eastern Orthodox Christians. He encourages us in grace, while challenging us with the truth in love that we don't seek the Spirit as we ought too. The Holy Spirit, don't forget, is just as much divinely God as God the Father and God the Son. There is either to little focus, or in some cases, say in Pentecostal circles, where some may believe and even act as though the Holy Spirit were alone, both are unhelpful approaches to understanding the Spirit and Trinity's true roles and existence. The author of several great little Catholic books, Spiritual writer and religious priest, Fr. Paul O'Sullivan (1871-1958) in this 1952, classic, "The Holy Ghost, our Greatest Friend: He Who Loves Us Best." published, originally by TAN Books, here, O'Sullivan, specifically wants Catholics, as well as all Christians, to know the Spirit's power, presence and blessed companionship, because God wants for us to have full fellowship with him and to know him in all his fullness as much as we can know him, better and that he's not just some mere idea, or even as necessary as this is for us, a doctrine. But indeed, the Christian's greatest ally, without which we couldn't turn the information we know doctrinally into practice. It's encouraging to know the Spirit's power when we reflect on what Jesus said about His power in our lives when we depend on him. Do you know that Jesus said, in John 14? That, " Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." That is an astonishing statement. Granted, the time in which Jesus said that is an important contextual key to understanding things, of course the Bible wasn't written directly to us, but for us, so keep that in mind, but don't discount the necessary power and presence of the Spirit, which remains available to all who believe and rely on Him. This book is a classic, and timeless book, one to regularly re-visit, If there is a book you can regularly read with the Bible and the Catechism, let it be this one. If there is one Catholic book on the Holy Spirit, this is the one.
My Personal Rating: *****/***** (5-5 stars)
Date Started Reading: 12/25/2023

Date Finished Reading: 1/2/24

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, concise, excellent little introduction to the Holy Spirit aka Holy Ghost. An absolute must read, and re-read. Keep this one handy.

[Dolores Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read and ponder this book!!!

[ShepherdsDelight · Rating 5 out of 5]

88/100 (= 5.2/6) ≈ 5 Stars

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A must-read. So little understood by us. Helpful to at least begin to adore the Holy Ghost as we ought.