STUDY MATERIALS FOR CONFIRMATION

CHAPTER: 4
THE NAME, TITLES AND SYMBOLS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. From where have we received the name “Holy spirit”?
   
   The Church has received this name from the Lord Jesus.
   
    
2. How did the Virgin Mary conceive Jesus?
   
   The Virgin Mary conceived Christ by the Holy spirit.
   
    
3. What are the various titles given to the Holy Spirit?
   
   a. “Paraclete”/ “ad-vocatus” which means ‘he who is called to one’s side / ‘advocate’. (Jn; 14:16, 26; 15:26;16:7)
   
   b. “Paraclete” is commonly translated as “Consoler”, and Jesus is the first consoler. (1 Jn; 2:1)
   
   c. The Lord also called the Holy Spirit, “the spirit of Truth”. (Jn; 15:13)
   
   d. St. Paul uses the names,
   
   i. “the Spirit of Promise” (Gal; 3:14)
   
   ii. “The Spirit of adoption” (Rom; 8:15; Gal; 4:6)
   
   iii. The Spirit of Christ” (Rom; 8:90
   
   iv. “The Spirit of the Lord” (II Cor; 3:17)
   
   v. “The spirit of God” (Rom;8:9, 14; 15:19, 1 Cor; 6:11;7:40) e. St. Peter calls the Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of Glory” (1 Peter 4:14)
   
    
4. In what manner Water can be considered a symbol of the Holy Spirit?
   
   The symbolism of water signifies the Holy Spirit because it purifies everything, like the spirit. St. Paul says, “by one spirit we were all baptized”, so we are also ‘made to drink of one Spirit”. The water that flowed out from the side of Jesus represents the flow of the spirit into this world.
   
    
5. How does the Holy Oil become a sign of the Holy Spirit?
   
   The symbolism of anointing with oil also signifies the Holy Spirit, (1Jn; 2:20:27; 2 Cor; 1:21) and it is considered a synonym for the Holy Spirit because of its anointing and sanctifying character.
   
    
6. How does fire symbolize the Spirit?
   
   Fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit’s actions by which it transforms the creation as a whole and each of the human persons as individuals. Jesus speaks of the spirit when he says: “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it was already kindled!” (Lk; 12:49.) In the form of tongues” as of fire.” The Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost and fills them with himself. (Acts; 2:3-4)
   
    
7. How do the cloud and the Light symbolize the Spirit?
   
   These two images occur together in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes upon the Virgin Mary and “overshadows” her, like a cloud that covers the earth and she conceived Jesus. On the mountain of Transfiguration, the Spirit in the “cloud took Jesus out of the sight of the disciples on the day of his ascension, and on the final day, in the clouds, Jesus will reveal himself as Son of man in glory.
   
    
8. How dopes the Hand become a symbol of the Holy Spirit?
   
   Jesus heals the sick and blesses little children by laying hands on them. (Mk 6:5; 8:23; 10:16). It is by the apostles’ imposition of hands that the Holy Spirit is given. (Acts 8:17-19; 13:3; 19:6.) The Church has kept this sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
   
    
9. How does the Dove become a symbol of the Holy Spirit?
   
   The dove symbolizes peace, simplicity and divinity. When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him.(Mt 3:16) The symbol of the dove is used in the Church today, to symbolize the Holy Spirit.
   
    
10. In the life of Noah, how did the dove act the role of the Holy Spirit?
    
    At the end of the flood, whose symbolism refers to baptism, a dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit, released by Noah returns with a fresh olive-tree branch in its beak as a sign that the earth was again habitable.(Gen 8:8-12.)