1.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED: ARTICLE 8

The book is a complete explanation of
the 12 Articles of the Apostles’ Creed.

ARTICLE 8:
I BELIEVE
IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

To purchase the Book, or for theological

inquiries (e-mails only), contact the author:
AUTHOR Rev. Fr. Paolo O. Pirlo, SHMI
EDITION 1st Edition, Manila, May 19, 2013
PUBLISHER Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate
Quality Catholic Publications
Isabella De Rosis St., Multinational
1708 Parañaque City, Philippines
Telefax (02) 828-2338
Tel. (02) 828-9509
sonsmaryphil@yahoo.com

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2. A CATECHIST’S PRAYER
Loving Father, giver of all that is,
help me to remember that every gift
I have comes from you. Expand my
vision so that I can appreciate your
goodness in the world around me.
Jesus, our Redeemer, you are
the path to the treasures of my
heart and soul. Strengthen my
commitment to be a catechist and
deepen my capacity to share your
truth with those in my care.
Holy Spirit, Love Divine, all life
and energy flows from you.
Illuminate my thoughts and
intensify my desire to grow ever
deeper in my faith.
I lift up my prayer to you, God—
Father, Son, and Spirit—in humility
and hope. Amen.
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 3. WHAT ARE THE
THREE PARTS OF THE
8TH ARTICLE?

The 8TH Article of the

Creed is divided into
three parts:

1. The Third Person of

the Trinity
2. The Manifestations
of the Holy Spirit
3. The Gifts of the
Holy Spirit

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4. THE THIRD PERSON
OF THE TRINITY:
Who is the
Holy Spirit?
 The Holy Spirit is the
Third Person of the
Blessed Trinity; he is
God, like the Father and
the Son.
 This truth was revealed
by Jesus, who said: “Go
and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them
in the name of the
Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit”
(Matthew 28:19).
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 5. THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY:
How do we prove that the Holy Spirit is God?
1) The incarnation of 2) The Baptism of 3) The Pentecost.
Christ. If the Holy Spirit Jesus. If the Holy Fifty days after the
were not God, Mary Spirit were not God, to resurrection The
would have conceived say that he came down Holy Spirit appeared
Jesus on her own, but like a dove would be as tongues of fire.
this is impossible. senseless.

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6. THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY:
Why is the Third Person called Holy Spirit?
 The Holy Spirit is the breath
of God, which is called ruah
in Hebrew, pneuma in
Greek, and spiritus in Latin.
 The breath of God gives
life: God gave life to Adam
by breathing into his nostrils;
and Jesus gave the Holy
Spirit to the Apostles by
breathing
 The attribute Holy was added
to avoid any equivocation
with souls of the departed
(spirits of the dead) or the
angels (pure spirits).

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 7. THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY:
Why is the Holy Spirit called the Paraclete?
The Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete, a Greek word which means
“consoler” or “advocate,” for two reasons:
1. Because in time of trial and suffering, the Holy Spirit is on our side
to console and bring us peace.
2. Because when we are brought to trial before men or God, the Holy
Spirit will be on our side as a defense lawyer.

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 8. THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY:
Why is the Holy Spirit “proceeding” from
the Father and the Son?
 To say that the Holy
Spirit proceeds from the
Father and the Son
means to profess that
he is of their same
divine substance.
 Since the Holy Spirit is
eternal, without
beginning or end, he
was not created but
proceeded from the
Father and the Son
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 9. THE THIRD PERSON OF THE TRINITY:
What are the heresies against the Holy Spirit?
 Macedonianism: This heresy denies the divinity of the Holy
Spirit, who is considered as a creation of the Son, and a
servant of the Father and of the Son.
 Unitarianism: This heresy claims that only the Father is
God; that Jesus Christ was prophet created by God; and that
the Holy Spirit is simply an abstract idea of the love of God.

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 10. THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
What are the major manifestations of the Holy Spirit?

1) The inspiration 2) The virginal 3) The baptism 4) The Pentecost.

of the Bible. The conception. The of Jesus. The The Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit inspired Virgin Mary Holy Spirit came descended upon
the sacred writers conceived by the upon Jesus at the the Apostles on
of the Scriptures (2 Holy Spirit (Luke Jordan River Pentecost day (Acts
Peter 1:20-21). 1:35). (Matthew 3:16). 2:1-4).

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 11. THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
What are the four symbols of the Holy Spirit?
1) Water: The Holy 2) Oil: The Holy 3) Fire: The Holy 4) Dove: The Holy
Spirit is represented Spirit is Spirit is Spirit is
by water because it represented by represented by represented by a
represents the new oil because it fire because the dove because it
life we receive in signifies love of God is like signifies purity and
Baptism. consecration a fire. holiness.

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 12. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
 The gifts, or charisms, of
the Holy Spirit are the
spiritual graces bestowed
upon humans for the good of
the Church and of the world.
 Each person is entrusted
with a particular charism;
for instance, St. Francis was
given the charism of poverty;
while St. Dominic that of
preaching.
 The Seven Gifts of the Holy
Spirit are the most important
charisms bestowed by God.
(Isaiah 11:2-3).

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13. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

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14. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
the First Gift: WISDOM
 It is the predisposition to
judge and order all
things according to
God’s will; and its
contrary is foolishness.
 The model of wisdom is
King Solomon (970-931
BC). The Lord told him to
ask for any gift whatsoever
– such as riches, power,
and glory; but instead
Solomon requested for
wisdom to be able to guide
his people. (cf. 2 Chronicles
1:7-12).
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 15. THE GIFTS OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT:
The Second Gift:
UNDERSTANDING
 It is the predisposition to
comprehend the truths
of our faith in an easy
and profound way; its
contrary is unawareness.
 The model of understanding
is St. Thomas Aquinas
(1225-1274), who was
given the finest intellect to
be able to understand and
explain the truths of the
Christian faith.

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16. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Third Gift: COUNSEL
 It is the predisposition
to discern correctly and
immediately the will of
God in the different
circumstances of our life.
It is also called
discernment or right
judgment, and its contrary
is stubbornness.
 The model of counsel is
St. Padre Pio of
Pietrelcina (1887-1968),
who was bestowed with
the gift of reading the
people’s mind and of
foreseeing the future.
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 17. THE GIFTS OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT:
The Fourth Gift:
STRENGTH
 It is the
predisposition to
persevere in fulfilling
God’s will in moments
of trials. It is also called
fortitude, and its
contrary is weakness.
 The model of strength is
the Blessed Virgin
Mary, because she
persevered in her faith
against all odds.
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18. THE GIFTS OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT:
The Fifth Gift:
KNOWLEDGE
 It is the predisposition
to discover the truths
of the spiritual and
material world, and to
relate them to the
Creator; its contrary is
ignorance.
 The model of knowledge is
St. Francis of Assisi
(111-1226), because he
was able to see in every
creature the manifestation
of the love of God.
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19. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Sixth Gift: PIETY
 It is the predisposition
to worship God with all
our heart, and to love
our neighbor as
ourselves. It is also called
reverence, and its contrary
is wickedness.
 The model of piety is St.
Maximillian Kolbe (1894-
1941), because he spent
all of his life praying to
God; and he died offering
his life for the salvation of
a fellow prisoner in
Auschwitz.
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20. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Seventh Gift: FEAR OF THE LORD
 It is the predisposition
to respect the majesty
of God and to be
scared of sin. Fear is
not terror, but the filial
respect for God, and its
contrary is disrespect.
 The model of the fear of
the Lord is Abel, because
he offered his best lambs
to the Lord as a token of
respect and love (cf.
Genesis 4:3-5).

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21. THE GIFTS OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT:
How can we receive the
gifts of the Holy Spirit?
 The gifts of the Holy Spirit are
given through Baptism,
Confirmation, and prayer, as
Jesus said: “Your Father in
Heaven gives the Holy Spirit to
those who ask him” (Luke
11:13).
 St. Philip Neri used to ask
daily for the Holy Spirit. On the
vigil of Pentecost of 1544, he
became so inflamed with divine
love that he shouted: “Enough,
O Lord! I am unable to bear
such excessive happiness!”
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