In college, I had the pleasure of taking a sacraments course with Dr. Scott Hahn, which was equal parts awe-inspiring and overwhelming. For starters, the man is practically a living encyclopedia when it comes to the Catholic faith, so notetaking in his class was basically like trying to drink water from a fire hydrant.
Even though I’ve been a practicing Catholic all my life, I was shocked to realize that there was so much about my Catholic faith that I didn’t know, especially when it came to the Holy Spirit.
I did a little digging on the third person of the Trinity and came up with seven names for the Holy Spirit that you may not have known either:
7 Names of the Holy Spirit
The WIld Goose
This is a term that the Celts used for the Holy Spirit during ancient times. They referred to Him by this name because they correctly understood this “wild”, unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit who always seems to call us out of our comfort zone. Turns out there’s an entire series dedicated to the Holy Spirit under this title.
Spiritual Unction
(1 John 2:20) This is a term used for the Holy Spirit by the apostle John who is telling the early Christians that they are receiving the anointing from the same Holy Spirit that anointed Jesus.
Consuming Fire
(Deuteronomy 4:24, Acts 2:3) This title is partly a throwback to the Old Testament where God is referred to as a “consuming fire.” Later in the new testament, St. Luke recounts how at pentecost the Apostles saw tongues of fire descend and rest above each one of them. Either way, there’s a rich tradition of the Holy Spirit being depicted with fire-related imagery.
Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
This title is given to the Holy Spirit because of his role of enabling us to have a vivid understanding of God’s infinite power and greatness (a.k.a. “Fear of the Lord).
Paraclete
(John 14:16, 26) This is the Greek term that translates into advocate or counselor. When Christ left this earth he promised to send His advocate or paraclete so that His followers would not be left alone. He is the advocate for the entire mystical body of Christ. This title of the Holy Spirit is used in the Divine Praises, said during
Convictor of Sin
(John 16:7-11) In the Gospel according to St. John, Christ talks about how He would send the Holy Spirit to convict men of their sinfulness. This conviction of sin would then lead man to recognize his own need for God’s mercy.
Indweller of Believers
(Romans 8:9-11, Ephesians 2:21-22) When we are in the state of grace, the Holy Spirit dwells within us. St. Paul talks about this is his letters to both Romans and Ephesians which is where we get this title.
The key to remember is that the Holy Spirit is actively looking for a relationship with you. If you don’t know how to invite Him into your life, start by finding a quiet place (preferably in front of the tabernacle) and pray this litany to the Holy Spirit. Be careful though. When you invite the Holy Spirit to enter your life, He always comes in abundance.
Did you know that each month has a traditional Catholic devotion associated with it? This year, let’s focus on each devotion month by month to grow in our faith and traditions! Make a note of it, write it in your calendar, and pray a specific prayer each day of the...
October is full of some powerhouse saints. Can you guess these saints? Tip: All of the answers are listed as "St.", not "Saint." You'll get the answer wrong if you type out the word saint so be sure to abbreviate it for the sake of winning this fun game. Challenge a...
Jesus said to his disciples:"The person who is trustworthy in very small mattersis also trustworthy in great ones;and the person who is dishonest in very small mattersis also dishonest in great ones.If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,who will...
The drama of this saint’s story arrives to U.S. cinemas September 28 and 29. Every live theater lover longs for a remarkable and spellbinding connection during the show. Bernadette of Lourdes: The Musical offers exactly that—a spectacular work for both the faithful...
These family-friendly pilgrimage destinations offer faith, beauty, and hands-on experiences for young hearts. Living less than an hour away from the only approved Marian Apparition Site in the United States–the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion–I grew up...
Finding Creative Hope In The Heart of Hell - In Theaters September 26 Some movies simply captivate you, not just for their technical brilliance but for their ability to tell a story that feels both authentic and universally relatable. These are the kind of films that...
“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels”. — St. Augustine My first memories of mature confessions, not centered around fights with my sisters and forgetting my bedtime prayers, are not very interesting. I was a...
It can be easy to see some pious images of saints and think that you have nothing in common. The truth is though, that the saints were people just like us–with a variety of talents, flaws, and interests. If you have a daughter or girl in your life, you may be...
Greed, or the older term avarice, is an excessive or disordered love of riches. To be clear up front; money, or any material good, is exactly that. Good. That’s why we desire them. Wanting to secure your physical well-being through financial assets is good. Greed...
Women's Catholic Study: The Chosen Season 2 Begins October 8th | 8:00 PM (EST) | Via Zoom Step into the world of The Chosen Season 2 and experience Jesus’ ministry like never before. This women’s Catholic study is...
The work our priests perform in “shepherding the flock” is extensive and often taken for granted. The vocation extends far beyond Sunday and daily Mass, weddings, baptisms, spiritual direction, funerals, and myriad blessings, among other things. The church we visit...
Steven Duran lives in the sleepy town of Sycamore, IL with his wife and their daughter. In his free time he likes to get together with his friends to drink bourbon and talk about the Lord. He’s a tattooed cradle Catholic who loves watching English Premier League soccer on Saturday mornings and occasionally cries while listening to Penny & Sparrow.