Holy Spirit corrects and defends us

May 26, 2023

VATICAN: The Holy Spirit consoles, defends and tenderly corrects those who turn to and listen to Him, Pope Francis said.

The Holy Spirit “is not a passing guest who comes to pay us a courtesy visit. He is a companion for life, a stable presence” who “desires to dwell in our spirits.” “He is patient and stays with us even when we fall,” the Pope said.

“He does not pretend to love us and then leave us alone when things get difficult. No. He is faithful, He is transparent, He is authentic.”

Before reciting the midday Regina Coeli prayer with about 25,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square, May 14, Pope Francis spoke about the day’s Gospel reading, John 14:15-21, in which Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit as an advocate and consoler.

“The Holy Spirit never leaves us alone, He is near to us, like an advocate who assists the accused person, standing by his or her side,” the Pope said.

“And He suggests to us how to defend ourselves from those who accuse us.” “Let us recall that the great accuser is always the devil, who puts sin inside of you, the desire to sin, wickedness,” he added.

During times of trouble, he said, “the Holy Spirit consoles us, bringing us God’s pardon and strength. And when He places our errors before us and corrects us, He does so gently” with the warmth of love that speaks to the heart.

Like a true friend, the Spirit does not hide the truth and He “suggests what needs to change and where growth needs to take place,” the Pope said. “But when He corrects us, He never humiliates us and never instills distrust. Rather, He conveys the certainty that with God, we can always make it.”

The Holy Spirit “defends us from those who accuse us: from ourselves when we do not appreciate and forgive ourselves” and from the devil who accuses, divides and “does everything to make us feel incapable and unhappy,” Pope Francis said.

“If we call on the Spirit, we will learn to embrace and recall the most important truth of life that protects us from the accusations of the evil one,” he said. “What is the most important truth in life? That we are beloved children of God,” and “the Spirit reminds us of this.”

The Holy Father concluded by encouraging the faithful to consider our relationship with the Holy Spirit. “Do we call on the Holy Spirit? Do we pray to Him often? Let us not forget about the One who is close to us, or rather, is within us! Then: Do we listen to His voice, both when He encourages us and when He corrects us? Do we respond with Jesus’s words to the accusations from the evil one, to the “tribunals” of life? Do we remember that we are beloved children of God?”

The Pope then invoked the intercession of Our Lady saying, “May Mary make us docile to the voice of the Holy Spirit and sensitive to His presence.” —Agencies

Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and
enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.
And You shall renew the face of the earth.
Let us pray O God, who by the light of the
Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful.
Grant that in the same Spirit they may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.