The Holy Spirit is the Gift of God to the People of God. Mysteriously foreshadowed in the Old Testament, revealed and poured out to Christian believers at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is given to each of us at Baptism. In the Nicene Creed we acknowledge our belief in this Person, sent to us from the Father and the Son, sent to the Church to heal and sanctify the world. United to the Father and the Son in a circle of love, the Holy Spirit joins all the members of the church to Christ and consecrates the Church for mission.

Catholic Teaching on the Holy Spirit examines how the Holy Spirit is revealed in Scripture, how understanding of the Holy Spirit has developed and been clarified in Church doctrine, and how significant the role of the Holy Spirit is in Church life and sacraments. Discussion questions and references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church assist the reader to clarify difficulties and to focus on the role of the Holy Spirit in our spiritual lives. Some sample questions are, “Do you pray to the Holy Spirit? Why or why not?”, “Why would we need to receive the Holy Spirit at Confirmation if we have done so in Baptism?”, and “How do you see the presence of the Spirit at work in the events of history, or in your own life?”