Ask the Holy Spirit for Guidance
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Who is the Holy Spirit? The answer is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, beginning with Article 683† "No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit." "God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!"' This knowledge of faith is possible only in the Holy Spirit: to be in touch with Christ, we must first have been touched by the Holy Spirit. He comes to meet us and kindles faith in us. By virtue of our Baptism, the first sacrament of the faith, the Holy Spirit in the Church communicates to us, intimately and personally, the life that originates in the Father and is offered to us in the Son.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity, said to be the love expressed between the Father and Son (the first and second person of the Holy Trinity). It is something we Catholics believe by Faith. There is ONE God in THREE persons, and to understand anything about the Faith (because Faith is a Gift of God) we have to listen to the Holy Spirit.
Article 686 †: "The Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the plan for our salvation. But in these "end times," ushered in by the Son's redeeming Incarnation, the Spirit is revealed and given, recognized, and welcomed as a person. Now can this divine plan, accomplished in Christ, the firstborn and head of the new creation, be embodied in mankind by the outpouring of the Spirit: as the Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."
For a long time, I was involved in the Charismatic Prayer Group of my parish, and was always involved (in my prayer life) with the H. Spirit. When I became a Franciscan Secular (OFS), about 32 years ago, my interests began to change, mostly because of lack of time. The OFS took all of my time, particularly when I became Fraternity Minister (four terms, two consecutive) in a fraternity and got more involved. My prayer life, however, did not slow. Prayer is a big part of Franciscan life. Then I was much younger than I am now, and still had a car. Life without a car is inconvenient. Sometimes getting to church is complicated but I’ve missed only a couple of Sunday Masses because I couldn’t get a ride.
The Holy Spirit is a wonderful guide. Ask Him for guidance in anything spiritual, involve Him in your prayer life. We do everything in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (make the Sign of the Cross often, and do so with full attention and devotion). “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.”
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
August 2, 2026
†Catholic Church. (1997). Catechism of the Catholic Church: Revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II (2nd ed.). Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference.