It is the Holy Spirit who is given to us in baptism. At that time, we are made adopted children of the Father, we are made one in Jesus the Son, and we are filled with the Holy Spirit to live out our new Christian calling as sons and daughters of God in Christ Jesus.

Every time we pray it is from a prompting of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit also has the unique role of animating the Church in our day and age. The “Church” here means everyone who is alive in Christ.

The Catechism  outlines how we can come to know the Holy Spirit:

—in the Scriptures he inspired;

—in the Tradition, to which the Church Fathers are always timely witnesses;

—in the Church’s Magisterium (official church teaching), which he assists;

—in the sacramental liturgy, in which the Holy Spirit puts us into communion with Christ;

—in prayer, wherein he intercedes for us;

—in the charisms and ministries by which the Church is built up;

—in the signs of apostolic and missionary life;

—in the witness of saints.

Drawing closer to Him

The Holy Spirit being the animator of both the Church and the individual Christian gives us all the Grace necessary to become Saints, to become better Christians. He gives us seven gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. It is important then for us to always draw close to the Holy Spirit, yet of course through the sure ways we know of His action above, but also personally. We should have a profound intimacy with the Holy Spirit who was united to us at Baptism. Do you ever pray to the Holy Spirit directly? Asking Him to help us to pray is a good way to start. We would invoke the Holy Spirit to direct us in all major decisions of life.

[The Holy Spirit] is present as a whole to each and wholly present everywhere. He is portioned out impassably and participated in as a whole. He is like a sunbeam whose grace is present to the one who enjoys him as if he were present to such a one alone, and still he illuminates land and sea and is mixed with the air…”

St Basil

Prayers to the Holy Spirit