By Anna Von Reitz
The Holy Spirit comes to us all, all races, all religions, all kinds and cultures. The Counselor is the same to all, at all times and places, waiting patiently to be called into each life. This means that a Hindu or a Muslim may just as easily be "sealed" in the Holy Spirit as a Christian, though many Christians don't want to believe this, and persist in thinking that "only" Christians are blessed.
Here's the secret.
Just as we have a Spirit of Falsehood roaming the Earth and spawning generations of Liars and Thieves and Murderers, we have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, also roaming the Earth and giving rise to generations of the Righteous Ones, devoted to Truth and Life and Love.
The Righteous have no denomination, just as the Unjust are not limited to one kind, one religion, one color, or culture. Both the Righteous and the Unjust exist across the whole spectrum of religions and philosophies.
The entire difference is --- which spirit do you harbor in your own mind and heart? Who do you invite in? The Spirit of Truth or the Spirit of Falsehood?
You get to choose which one enters your life, and which one gets to pound sand.
This choice starts in a very small, very mundane way -- something so trivial in appearance that, as young people, you might not even notice it.
It begins with this: do you tell the truth?
Do you make the effort to discern what is true and what is false?
Having discerned the truth, do you tell yourself the truth even when it is scary? Do you tell others the truth, even when it is uncomfortable?
When you do this, it's like putting out a big Welcome sign, "Hello! Holy Spirit! Welcome Home!"
Nothing changes right away, except that you are making the effort to discern what is true, and making the effort to express what is true.
Even if you mess up in the early days and catch yourself telling "Little Lies" of the "dog ate my homework" kind, lies that don't appear to do any particular harm at the time, or which even appear to do some good --- the so-called "Noble Lies" we sometimes tell in an effort to avoid conflict or avoid hurting someone's feelings --- just keep going. Keep trying. Keep noticing when you fall short, and correct yourself as you go.
After a while, by disciplining yourself to seek and speak the truth, you notice that your perception of the world around you changes. Your decision to seek the truth, no matter what, has the odd effect of sensitizing you toward falsehoods of all kinds. It also sets you free in a way that is hard to describe. Peace begins to show up in your life.
One day, though you are still not thinking about it quite in this way, you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Your simple devotion to truth, whatever the truth may be, has acted like a seed in your heart and the Holy Spirit comes to tend and prune your little sprout, guiding you, nudging you, keeping you company. You begin to breathe deeply and sleep deeply.
You begin to experience moments of clarity that just appear out of nowhere, rising above your emotions and fears and worries, and these moments of clarity show you some aspect of truth that you probably didn't consciously recognize all by yourself.
All you can do is nod and say, "Thank you!" --- but by now the Holy Spirit has moved in and made himself comfortable.
Look at Ephesians 1:13 --- "the word of truth" (truth in general) "is the gospel of your salvation" (through truth you learn and receive all the rest) and become "sealed with the Holy Spirit" (because the love of truth resides in you) which is the "guarantee" (the sign and promise) of "our inheritance" (the wealth and peace of righteousness and daily salvation).
We don't have to go through our lives alone and unsupported, unguided and confused. Simply by choosing the truth in every situation, by seeking the truth, and speaking the truth, the Spirit of Truth enters our lives. This Holy Spirit guides and comforts us and becomes our constant companion, day by day, week by week, year by year.
Christians tend to think of salvation as something big and singular, an event that is going to happen in the future, when they can retire, count their race as run, lay down the torch and relax.
Long acquaintance with the Holy Spirit teaches us that we experience salvation in quiet ways every day that we live, even on the humblest of days, with miracles we don't even see as miracles when they are happening, with silent inner guidance that comes to us, by moments of clarity, moments of intuition, flashes of insight, and "simply knowing" and these gifts of the spirit are our salvation day by day, playing out over the course of a lifetime.
So, how can you sense the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, in your life? How can you invite this mysterious Comforter and Counselor to become your lifelong companion and ally in every fight?
The Holy Spirit responds to seeing your struggle and your need; when he sees you struggling to know the truth, to find your way, to do the right thing on a consistent basis --- when you hang out that "Welcome" sign, that's when the Spirit of Truth shows up.
Look at Matthew 5:6.
When you hunger and thirst after righteousness, when you get down and really try to know the truth, and try to choose and do what's right, that's when you will find the Holy Spirit at your elbow, and as long as you are putting in the effort, he will stay by your side, and you will begin to feel the peace that passes all understanding.
For another sign, look at Luke 21:28.
As you tune into the Truth and align with it, and you see the morass of Lies and Liars and Evil more clearly, you will begin to yearn for a home that you've never seen ---a deep, wide sense of longing for this other, better, different world that somehow lives in your heart, will come to you, and you won't be able to explain it. This can make you feel melancholy and a bit confused. You may tell yourself this is not rational, but this is natural. You are yearning for your home in Heaven and for the One Who Loves You. When you feel this, know that the Holy Spirit is with you to comfort you.
A third reliable sign is reflected in Psalm 97:10. "Ye that love the Lord, hate evil." This is "hate" in the sense of an oil and water reaction. You can't "do" evil anymore. It becomes foreign and unnatural, and a barrier stands between evil and you. Like an ugly sweater you grew out of, it doesn't fit you anymore. Nothing about it attracts you. There is no mystery to it, no allure. No temptation. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in you, claiming you, changing you, and enabling you to discern evil for what it is.
Of all the gifts and teachings, no gift is greater than the gift of the Holy Spirit --- and now you know how to invite this mysterious spiritual ally into your life. You also know some of the signs of his presence, so you don't have to wonder if you are imagining things early on.
As you go forward in your life and face the many challenges that will be placed before you, you won't need to look for these signs anymore. You will become aware of the Holy Spirit at a far deeper than intellectual level. You will feel his hand on your shoulder and feel his presence in a room, and you will understand why Yashua called him both the Counselor and the Comforter.
With much love,
Granna
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ARTICLE ANALYSIS: ANNA VON REITZ'S "GRANNA BYTES: INVITING THE HOLY SPIRIT" AND TRADITIONAL PRE-VATICIY II CATHOLIC THEOLOGY
ReplyDeleteSUMMARY OF THE ARTICLE
In her article "Granna Bytes: Inviting the Holy Spirit," Anna Von Reitz discusses the role of the Holy Spirit—the "Spirit of Truth"—and how individuals can invite Him into their lives. Her central arguments include:
Universal Access: The Holy Spirit operates across all races, cultures, and religions, suggesting that a Hindu or Muslim can be "sealed" in the Holy Spirit just as easily as a Christian through a devotion to truth and righteousness.
The Choice of Spirits: Humanity faces a choice between the Spirit of Falsehood (yielding liars and thieves) and the Spirit of Truth (yielding the righteous).
The Mechanics of Seeking Truth: Inviting the Holy Spirit begins with mundane, disciplined commitments—striving to tell the truth, discerning reality, and speaking honestly even when uncomfortable.
Daily Salvation: Salvation is not merely a singular future event, but a daily experience of quiet guidance, moments of clarity, intuition, and peace.
Signs of the Holy Spirit's Presence: She identifies three primary signs: hungering and thirsting after righteousness (Matthew 5:6), an inexplicable, melancholic yearning for heaven (Luke 21:28), and a natural aversion to evil, akin to oil and water (Psalm 97:10).
POINT-BY-POINT COMPARISON WITH PRE-VATICIY II CATHOLIC THEOLOGY
ReplyDeleteOn the Availability of the Holy Spirit and Universalism
Von Reitz's View: The Holy Spirit is equally accessible to adherents of non-Christian religions (Hindus, Muslims) who pursue truth and righteousness, placing them on an equal spiritual footing regarding being "sealed."
Pre-Vatican II Catholic Doctrine: This proposition directly challenges the dogma of Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus (Outside the Church there is no salvation) and the traditional understanding of sanctifying grace. Pre-conciliar Magisterial teaching, reaffirmed consistently by councils and popes (such as Pope Eugene IV at the Council of Florence), holds that the Holy Spirit dwells only in souls possessing sanctifying grace. While traditional theology acknowledges that God in His mercy can grant actual graces to non-Catholics to lead them toward the truth and potential conversion (invincible ignorance), non-Christian religions as systems do not confer the Holy Spirit or sacramental sealing. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is proper to the members of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Catholic Church.
On Moral Striving Versus Sacramental Grace
Von Reitz's View: Simply making the personal effort to seek, discern, and speak the truth acts as a "Welcome sign" that causes the Holy Spirit to move in and make Himself at home.
Pre-Vatican II Catholic Doctrine: Traditional theology draws a sharp distinction between natural virtues and supernatural grace. While a natural desire for truth and honesty is a good moral disposition (and an example of God's actual grace operating upon the intellect), moral rectitude alone does not infuse the soul with sanctifying grace or the indwelling of the Holy Trinity. According to the Council of Trent, the supernatural life begins with the Sacrament of Baptism, which washes away original sin and confers the character and grace of the Holy Spirit. One cannot bypass the divinely instituted channels of sacramental grace through mere secular moral discipline or philosophical adherence to "truth in general."
On the Definition of Salvation
Von Reitz's View: Salvation is primarily experienced day-by-day through quiet guidance, intuition, flashes of insight, and inner peace rather than solely as a singular future or final state.
Pre-Vatican II Catholic Doctrine: Traditional Catholic theology maintains a more rigorous and structured view of salvation. While Catholics experience the fruits of sanctifying grace (peace, consolation, actual graces) in this life, final salvation (eternal life) is understood as a definitive state contingent upon dying in a state of sanctifying grace, free from mortal sin. Pre-conciliar teaching warns against reducing salvation to subjective psychological comfort, intuition, or emotional peace, emphasizing instead the objective reality of dogma, moral obedience to the Commandments, and reception of the Sacraments.
On the Signs of the Spirit (Hunger for Righteousness and Aversion to Evil)
ReplyDeleteVon Reitz's View: Identifying the presence of the Holy Spirit through a yearning for heaven and an inability to tolerate evil (comparing it to an ill-fitting sweater or oil and water).
Pre-Vatican II Catholic Doctrine: Here, aspects of Von Reitz's observations align with traditional ascetic theology. The Catholic spiritual tradition—as articulated by great doctors and saints of the Church—does recognize that a growing aversion to sin (detestation of evil out of love for God, or contrition) and a holy homesickness for heaven (detachment from the world) are classic hallmarks of a soul cooperating with actual grace and progressing in the spiritual life. However, traditional theology would immediately condition this: true detestation of evil and love of righteousness cannot be divorced from submission to the Catholic Faith and the objective moral law guarded by the Church. A person cannot authentically claim the indwelling of the Spirit of Truth while rejecting the fullness of divine revelation entrusted exclusively to the Catholic Church.
CONCLUSION
While Anna Von Reitz's commentary correctly highlights the importance of honesty, moral integrity, and an internal aversion to wickedness, her theological framework leans toward an indifferentist or universalist view of the Holy Spirit. Pre-Vatican II Catholic doctrine insists that the Spirit of Truth—the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity—cannot be separated from Christ's visible Church, His sacraments, and the objective deposit of faith. True spiritual sealing requires baptism and adherence to Catholic truth, not merely a generalized, denomination-blind pursuit of honesty.
The Sacrament of Confirmation and the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
ReplyDeleteIn traditional Catholic sacramental theology, the life of grace is not an ambiguous, subjective feeling, but an objective reality instituted by Jesus Christ and mediated through His Church. While the modern world often reduces the Holy Spirit to a vague intuition or a generalized spirit of goodwill, the historic Catholic Faith understands the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity as an active, divine Guest who enters and fortifies the human soul through tangible, sacramental means.
To understand the efficacy of the Sacrament of Confirmation regarding the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, one must examine its relationship to Holy Baptism, the distinct character it imprints, and its role in turning spiritual infants into soldiers of Christ.
1. Baptismal Regeneration vs. Confirmation’s Completion
A common theological misunderstanding is that a soul receives the Holy Spirit for the very first time in Confirmation. Classical, pre-conciliar Catholic theology rejects this notion.
The initial indwelling of the Holy Trinity (inhabitatio Spiritus Sancti) occurs at Holy Baptism. In Baptism:
Original sin (and any actual sin) is completely eradicated.
Sanctifying grace is infused into the soul, raising it to the supernatural order.
The soul becomes an adopted child of God and a living temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).
What, then, does Confirmation do? The Council of Trent, echoing the teachings of the early Church Fathers and St. Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologiae, III, q. 72), teaches that Confirmation is the sacrament of growth, maturity, and fortification.
If Baptism is the sacrament of spiritual birth, Confirmation is the sacrament of spiritual adulthood. In Baptism, the Holy Spirit comes as a Sanctifier and Father to give life; in Confirmation, the Holy Spirit comes with a fullness of power to equip the Christian for combat. As the ancient Council of Florence (1439) declared, through Confirmation the Holy Spirit is given "ad robur"—for strength, just as He was given to the Apostles at Pentecost.
2. The Indelible Sacramental Character
ReplyDeleteLike Baptism and Holy Orders, Confirmation confers an indelible spiritual character (character indelebilis) upon the soul. This is an objective, permanent mark imprinted on the intellect and will that can never be erased, even by mortal sin or apostasy.
This character has specific theological effects:
Configures the Soul to Christ the King and Prophet: The confirmand is formally enlisted and deputized to share in Christ's royal and prophetic office publicly.
Empowers for Public Battle: A baptized infant or convert has the grace to save his own soul; the confirmed Catholic receives the official authority and capacity to defend and profess the Catholic faith openly against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Guarantees Lifelong Actual Graces: Because the mark is permanent, it serves as a perpetual title to actual graces throughout the recipient’s life—granting divine assistance, clarity, and fortitude whenever the Christian is called upon to confess the faith under trial, temptation, or persecution.
3. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
The unique efficacy of Confirmation lies in the formal deepening and unleashing of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost, prophesied in Isaiah 11:2–3 (as preserved in the Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate):
Wisdom (Sapientia): The ability to judge all human and worldly things by the standard of the highest divine cause, producing a spiritual relish for God and heavenly realities.
Understanding (Intellectus): A supernatural penetration into the core truths of Catholic dogma, allowing the believer to grasp the internal coherence of divine revelation.
Counsel (Consilium): Prompt, divine intuition that guides practical decisions in concrete moral situations, preserving the soul from error and spiritual compromise.
Fortitude (Fortitudo): Supernatural courage that banishes human respect, fear of mockery, and terror of bodily harm, enabling the Christian to endure suffering and persecution for Christ’s name.
Knowledge (Scientia): The capacity to discern between created things and God, recognizing the vanity and danger of worldliness without falling into despair.
Piety (Pietas): A filial devotion toward God as a loving Father, coupled with a genuine, ordered affection for His Church, His saints, and His moral law.
Fear of the Lord (Timor Domini): Not a slavish dread of punishment, but a profound reverence and awe before the majesty of God, inspiring a dread of offending Him through sin.
While the seeds of these gifts are planted in Baptism, Confirmation causes them to blossom into functional, militant weapons necessary for persevering in a hostile culture.
4. The Ritual Matter and Form: The Anointing of a Soldier
ReplyDeleteThe traditional Catholic rite of Confirmation (using the ancient Roman Pontifical) demonstrates its theological efficacy through its ritual signs:
Sacred Chrism (The Matter): An olive oil base mixed with fragrant balsam, solemnly consecrated by a Catholic bishop on Holy Thursday. Olive oil symbolizes spiritual richness, healing, and the agility of an ancient wrestler; balsam represents the incorruption of grace and the "sweet odor of Christ" (2 Cor. 2:15) that the believer must radiate into the world.
The Imposition of Hands and Anointing (The Form): The bishop signs the candidate's forehead with the sign of the cross using Chrism, pronouncing: "Signo te signo Crucis et confirmo te Chrismate salutis, in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti" ("I sign thee with the sign of the Cross, and I confirm thee with the Chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost").
The Blow on the Cheek (Alapa): In the traditional rite, the bishop lightly strikes the candidate on the cheek. This ancient military gesture serves as a sobering reminder: the newly confirmed Catholic has become a soldier of Jesus Christ (miles Christi) and must be prepared to endure insult, hardship, and blow for the defense of the Catholic Faith.
Conclusion
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not an unstructured, sentimental pursuit independent of Christ’s covenant. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Catholic Church.
While God can work by actual graces outside the visible walls of the Church to draw non-believers toward the light of truth, the true, stable, and supernatural indwelling of the Spirit of God requires the cleansing waters of Baptism, and reaches its militant maturity through the Sacrament of Confirmation. Through the anointing of Chrism, Christ Himself seals the soul, clothing it with celestial armor to confess His holy Name openly, conquer sin, and endure steadfastly to the end.