The Holy Spirit and Pentecost

Question 94

Who is the Holy Ghost?

The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Question 95

From whom does the Holy Ghost proceed?

The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.

Question 96

Is the Holy Ghost equal to the Father and the Son?

The Holy Ghost is equal to the Father and the Son, being the same Lord and God as They are.

Question 97

On what day did the Holy Ghost come down upon the Apostles?

The Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles ten days after the Ascension of our Lord; and the day on which He came down upon the Apostles is called Whitsunday, or Pentecost.

Question 98

How did the Holy Ghost come down upon the Apostles?

The Holy Ghost came down upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire.

Question 99

Who sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles?

Our Lord Jesus Christ sent the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles.

Question 100

Why did Christ send the Holy Ghost?

Christ sent the Holy Ghost to sanctify His Church, to enlighten and strengthen the Apostles, and to enable them to preach the Gospel.

Question 101

Will the Holy Ghost abide with the Church forever?

The Holy Ghost will abide with the Church forever, and guide it in the way of holiness and truth.

The Spirit within the Trinity

Questions 94, 95, 96

The lesson returns to the distinctions learned in Lesson 3: one God, three persons. The Holy Spirit is not a lesser divine being or simply another name for the Father. Question 95 uses the Western Catholic formulation of procession from the Father and the Son. In reading it, distinguish the Spirit's eternal relationship within God from the later event of being sent to the apostles. Pentecost is not the moment when the Spirit begins to exist.

What Acts describes

Questions 97, 98

Whitsunday is a traditional English name for Pentecost. Acts 2 presents the disciples gathered together, the signs accompanying the Spirit's coming, and speech understood across languages. The crowd's varied origins matter: the narrative quickly moves beyond a private experience to public witness. Read the passage to its question about what the event means. The imagery should lead toward that purpose rather than invite speculation about fire as the Spirit's physical substance.

A gift for witness and holiness

Questions 99, 100, 101

In John's Gospel, Jesus promises the Advocate in connection with teaching, remembrance, and witness. Catechism 731–741 places Pentecost within Christ's mission and the Church's life, including forgiveness, charity, and prayer. Sanctify means to make holy. The lesson's promise of the Spirit's abiding presence does not mean every action by a Christian is therefore holy. The gift calls people to a transformed life, visible in love and faithful service.

Acts 2:1–13

The Pentecost account includes the signs, many languages, and the response of the gathered crowd.

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

John 14:15–26

Jesus promises the Spirit within teaching about love, obedience, and abiding presence.

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Galatians 5:22–26

The fruit of the Spirit connects this lesson's teaching about holiness with ordinary conduct.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.