Bible Verses About The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Blessed Trinity — co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. The Catechism (§687) notes a paradox: "The Spirit is last in the order of our knowing him" yet has been at work since the creation, brooding over the waters in Genesis 1:2. In the New Testament, the Spirit comes in fullness at Pentecost, and Catholic theology identifies him as the soul of the Church, the interior principle of Christian life, the giver of the seven gifts listed in Isaiah 11:2.
Two sacraments are particularly associated with the Holy Spirit: Baptism, in which the Spirit effects rebirth, and Confirmation, in which the Spirit strengthens the baptized for witness. Both build on the New Testament texts below, which show the Spirit as advocate, sanctifier, teacher, consoler, and the one who prays in us when we cannot find words.
8 verses — Douay-Rheims Bible (1899 Challoner revision) — Public domain
But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you.John 14:26 — Douay-Rheims
Jesus promises the Paraclete — Advocate, Counselor — who will teach, remind, and guide the Church into all truth.
And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place: and suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.Acts 2:1-4 — Douay-Rheims
The descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost — the birthday of the Church and the fulfillment of Christ's promise.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings.Romans 8:26 — Douay-Rheims
The Spirit as the interior principle of prayer, interceding within us with a depth beyond words.
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord.Isaiah 11:2-3 — Douay-Rheims
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit — applied to Christ in Isaiah, and given to the faithful in Confirmation.
But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law.Galatians 5:22-23 — Douay-Rheims
The twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit — the visible effects of the Spirit's presence in a soul.
Know you not, that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?1 Corinthians 3:16 — Douay-Rheims
Paul's radical claim: the baptized Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit — the Spirit dwells within the person.
And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in the midst of you: and I will cause you to walk in my commandments, and to keep my judgments, and do them.Ezekiel 36:26-27 — Douay-Rheims
Ezekiel's prophecy of the new covenant — the Spirit transforms the heart from stone to flesh, making obedience possible from within.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. For he shall not speak of himself; but what things soever he shall hear, he shall speak; and the things that are to come, he shall shew you.John 16:13 — Douay-Rheims
Jesus promises the Spirit of Truth will guide the Church into all truth — the foundation for the doctrine of infallibility.
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Related Catholic Prayers
Source
All verse texts from the Douay-Rheims Bible (1899 Challoner revision), public domain. The Douay-Rheims is the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate.