Most of us have heard about the Holy Spirit and most of us have learned about the Holy Spirit, but many times that
is as far as our experience has gone. The Holy Spirit is a real person, a part of the Blessed Trinity just like Jesus and the
Father. We receive the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Through what is called the baptism
in the Holy Spirit, a personal conversion experience, the power that is the Holy Spirit is released within us.
One illustration that helps some people understand this concept is through the image of a candle. It is designed
with a wick that, when lit, creates or releases its light. Only at that time does the candle completely fulfill the purpose for
which it was created. Until then it may be pleasant to look at, but it does not fulfill its purpose of emanating light. The candle's
ability to be a source of light is always within it due to its design and the way it is made, but until something happens
to "empower" that candle, until the wick is lit, it lies "dormant'" it does not fully become what it was designed to be. So it is
with all of us. We have been designed by God and empowered with the power of the Holy Spirit. But until that power is released,
it lays dormant as does the light of the candle.
A Life-in-the-Spirit Seminar is designed to help us yield to the action, empowerment and the power of the Holy Spirit
in our own lives just as He empowered the early church on the day of Pentecost. The seven talks given during a LSS are
designed to lead attendees through the basic message of salvation, to understand their inner desire for the release of the
power of the Holy Spirit allowing them to yield their lives to a life of joy and peace using His many Gifts. The format is simple,
informal and presented with balanced, Catholic teaching based upon Scripture, the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
Church documents, personal testimony and prayer. Opportunities are given in each session for discussion of how the topic
may relate to each person's life, but no one is required to share more than he or she feels comfortable doing.
Many who have attended a Life-in-the-Spirit Seminar have experienced God and the Holy Spirit in a way they had
never done before. It is not unusual for people to fall more deeply in love with the Eucharist, with Jesus Christ and the Trinity,
with the Mass, and with the Bible, and many receive the charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit just as the Apostles did in
the upper room on Pentecost. Those gifts are given to improve our lives and the lives of our family, church and community.
Most of us have a relationship with God; some of these relationships are closer than those with others.
It doesn't matter how close you are to Him or how far away He may seem, He is calling every one of us to deepen
that relationship and He has nothing but LOVE waiting for us as we accept His call. THERE'S ALWAYS MORE of His love
for everyone; all we have to do is yield ourselves more deeply to it and receive it. If you are at least open to the possibility
that you can deepen your personal relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, why not attend a Life-in-the-Spirit
Seminar? It may change your life!! It has for millions and millions of Catholics, including priests, religious and laity, who
are living a holier, Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered life today because of it.
