The following text is an excerpt from Notes on the Holy Spirit written by Father Servant of God, Father Isaac T. Hecker:

The Holy Spirit renews us 

In the last analysis, we must look for all progress, elevation and happiness to the Holy Spirit. From no other quarter can real help, permanent good and solid happiness come. This is indisputable. “You shall renew the face of the earth.” The only question is, how can this truth be brought to bear on the soul, on society and on the state? He who has brought this knowledge to one soul, if it answers a universal necessity, will teach other souls in the same way and thus it will spread and find expression in many places and eventually become universal and find expression in words and acts. 

“Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth.” We cannot repeat too often the fact that the redemption of the human race is primarily the work of God and depends on God’s action for its accomplishment. We are but his ambassadors, his ministers and co-operators. The aim of the Church is to establish the kingdom of God in the soul and upon the earth. How? By imparting the Holy Spirit to the faithful and through them to the world. The Church was instituted by Christ to repair the defects of our human nature and to deify it. But how do we gain this increase of the Holy Spirit?

From whom can we derive light but from him who is Light? Let us place our souls in nearer relation to the Source of Light and of Life, and we shall be enlightened and strengthened.

Response from Father Paul Robichaud, CSP

Servant of God Isaac Hecker writes that all spiritual growth, “all progress, elevation and happiness” comes from the action of the Holy Spirit both in the Church and in the individual soul. Both the soul and the Church serve as agents of the Spirit and, in fact, are one in the one Spirit for they nurture each other. We have been given a great mission by the risen and ascended Christ, for we are to go forth and bring the good news to the whole world. Father Hecker reminds us that this can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit. We do this Hecker writes, “as ambassadors, ministers and co-operators” in the Holy Spirit, for the redemption of humanity is only possible in Christ. As Christians this begins by placing ourselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Ideas for reflection

• When you pray, do you pray to the Holy Spirit? We live in the age of the Spirit. So when we pray it is to the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. How many prayers do you know that address the Holy Spirit? How can you speak to the Spirit who lies within you and how does that Spirit speak to you?

• Try looking at your parish library or on the Internet for the prayers to the Holy Spirit. You may be surprised how many there are. Here is one by St. Augustine:

Breathe into me Holy Spirit that all my thoughts may be holy.

Move in me Holy Spirit that all my work may be holy

Call to my heart Holy Spirit that I may love what is holy

Strengthen me Holy Spirit that I might defend all that is holy

Protect me Holy Spirit that I may be holy as You are holy.