Our Lord Jesus Christ told the Apostles that he had to leave so that the “Paraclete” could arrive. By what other names do we know God the Holy Spirit?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies how the Holy Spirit works in us:
“No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord!’ but by the influence of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 12, 3). “God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son who criesAbba, Father!” (Gal 4, 6). This knowledge of faith is not possible except in the Holy Spirit. To come into contact with Christ, it is necessary to first have been attracted by the Holy Spirit. He is the one who precedes us and awakens faith in us (CIC 683).
And describe how it is communicated to us:
Through Baptism, the first sacrament of faith, life, which has its source in the Father and is offered to us through the Son, is communicated to us intimately and personally by the Holy Spirit in the Church (CIC 683).
But why do we call him the Holy Spirit, does he have other names?
Names of the Holy Spirit
The same Catechism clarifies to us: “’Holy Spirit’, such is the proper name of Him whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. The Church has received this name from the Lord and professes it in the Baptism of her new children (cf. Mt 28, 19)” ( CIC 691 ).
He adds that “the term ‘Spirit’ translates the Hebrew term Ruah , which in its first meaning means breath, air, wind” ( CCC 691 ).
And Jesus calls him in different ways:
1 PARACLETE
Jesus, when he announces and promises the Coming of the Holy Spirit, calls him the “Paraclete”, literally “he who is called to one’s side”, advocatus ( Jn 14, 16, 26; 15, 26; 16, 7) ( CIC 692 ).
2 DILDO
“Paraclete” is usually translated as “comforter,” Jesus being the first comforter (cf. 1 Jn 2:1). The Lord himself calls the Holy Spirit “Spirit of Truth” ( Jn 16, 13) ( CIC 692 ).
3 SPIRIT OF PROMISE
In addition to his proper name, which is the most used in the book of Acts and in the letters of the Apostles, in Saint Paul there are several appellations such as “Spirit of promise” ( CIC 693 ):
And this, so that Abraham’s blessing would reach all pagans in Christ Jesus, and we would receive the promised Spirit by faith (Gal 3, 14).
In him, you, who heard the Word of truth, the Good News of salvation, and believed in it, have also been marked with a seal by the promised Holy Spirit. (Eph 1:13)
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4 SPIRIT OF ADOPTION
We are recognized as adopted children of God through the Spirit that has been infused into us:
And you have not received a spirit of slaves to fall back into fear, but the spirit of adopted children, which makes us call to God. (Rom 8:15)
And the proof that you are children is that God infused into our hearts the Spirit of his Son, who cries out to God calling him “Abba!”, that is, Father! (Ga 4, 6)
5 SPIRIT OF CHRIST
Saint Paul recognizes the relationship of the Holy Trinity that intervenes in our lives:
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus will also give life to your mortal bodies, through the same Spirit who dwells in you.
He who does not have the Spirit of Christ cannot be Christ’s (Rom 8:9).
6 SPIRIT OF THE LORD
Again Saint Paul explains to the Corinthians that it is not possible to live without the Holy Spirit, who is God.
For the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor 3:17).
7 GOD’S SPIRIT
The Romans and Corinthians understood the Apostle’s words through his explanations:
But you are not animated by the flesh but by the spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you (Rom 8:9).
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Rom 8:14).
Some of you were like this, but now you have been purified, sanctified, and righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6:11).
8 SPIRIT OF GLORY
Saint Peter also clearly dealt with the intervention of the Holy Spirit on those who bore witness to Christ:
Blessed are you if you are insulted for the name of Christ, because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests on you (1 Pet 4:14).