How does the Holy Spirit guide and influence the church?

The Holy Spirit influences the church by guiding the leaders of the church like the priests and the Pope. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for leaders of the church to teach and evangelize the good news of the Lord. "The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of the gospel." (Holy Ghost). “

"The Spirit continues to be present in Sacred Scripture; Sacred Tradition; the Magisterium, which he assists; the liturgy; prayer, wherein he intercedes, The gifts and ministries by which the Church is built up; the signs of apostolic and missionary life; andthe witness of saints through whom he shows his holiness and continues the work of Salvation." (Ave Maria Press) These are the ways that the Holy Spirit is there to guide and influence the church and its leaders. By being present in the Liturgy and prayers, the Holy Spirit has a presence in everything the church leaders use to teach the word of God to others.

(CCC 678) "Now God's Spirit, who reveals God, makes known to us Christ, his Word, his living Utterance, but the Spirit does not speak of himself. The Spirit who "has spoken through the prophets" makes us hear the Father's Word, but we do not hear the Spirit himself. We know him only in the movement by which he reveals the Word to us and disposes us to welcome him in faith. The Spirit of truth who "unveils" Christ to us "will not speak on his own.""

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. read more.

Another way the Holy Spirit guides and influences the church is by being with the people of the church and guiding them through their lives. "God’s grace is still the unifying force that holds our church together. There is no other explanation on how the Catholic church could have continued to exist and flourish for over 2,000 years." ("The Holy Spirit Guides the Catholic Church.")

“Catholics believe that their eternal destiny has been accomplished through Jesus. But in order to accept this Good News, the Church must try to live the truth that Jesus came to teach. The Holy Spirit, dwelling in the Church, facilitates this task." (Ave Maria Press) The Holy Spirit is present in the church. People are faithful to God through Jesus and The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit "facilitates" the task of living the truth for us in our lives.

(CCC 689) The One whom the Father has sent into our hearts, the Spirit of his Son, is truly God.10 Consubstantial with the Father and the Son, the Spirit is inseparable from them, in both the inner life of the Trinity and his gift of love for the world. In adoring the Holy Trinity, life-giving, consubstantial, and indivisible, the Church's faith also professes the distinction of persons.

John 6:13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

A contemporary example of how the Holy Spirit works in the Church.

1. The Gospel. (CCC 687) "The Spirit who "has spoken through the prophets" makes us hear the Father's Word, but we do not hear the Spirit himself. We know him only in the movement by which he reveals the Word to us and disposes us to welcome him in faith. The Spirit of truth who "unveils" Christ to us "will not speak on his own."8 Such properly divine self-effacement explains why "the world cannot receive [him], because it neither sees him nor knows him," while those who believe in Christ know the Spirit because he dwells with them. " Through the gospels we hear at mass, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the message.

2. Through the Good Works of the Church. "A faith without works, a faith that doesn't get you involved, isn't faith," he said. "It's words and nothing more than words." ("Pope: Professing the Faith without Good Works Is Just Spouting Hot Air.")

3. Through Prayer. (CCC 1988) "Through the power of the Holy Spirit we take part in Christ's Passion by dying to sin, and in his Resurrection by being born to a new life; we are members of his Body which is the Church, branches grafted onto the vine which is himself."

Ephesians 2:21-22 "in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."

How does the Holy Spirit continue the work of Jesus and his ministry?

Acts 2:1-5 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven."

The Holy Spirit went to Jesus' Apostles and helped them continue his work and ministry. The Apostles after that, were to travel about, spreading God's word for Jesus with the help the Holy Spirit provided them. Today, this can be seen in the Pope, Bishops, Priests, and Missionaries who spend the word of God like Jesus and the Apostles did.

Reflection

This relates to me because the Holy Spirit is a part of my daily life and a part of the church and prayers. Through sources from the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with various other sources, it is possible to see how the Holy Spirit fits into our daily life and in our faith. The Holy Spirit pays a key role in the Church and its leaders and gospel. It influences leaders of the church to help spread the word of God and teach others. It went to the Apostles on Pentecost and now it is part of the lives of others to help them spread the word of Jesus.

James (2:14-24). "A faith without bearing fruit in life, a faith that doesn't bear fruit in works is not faith," James (2:14-24).

"The Holy Spirit Guides the Catholic Church." A Catholic Moment. N.p., 27 Jan. 14. Web. 23 Jan. 16. <http://www.acatholic.org/holy-spirit-guides-catholic-church/>.

"Pope: Professing the Faith without Good Works Is Just Spouting Hot Air." National Catholic Reporter. N.p., 21 Feb. 14. Web. 23 Jan. 2017. <https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/francis-chronicles/pope-professing-faith-without-good-works-just-spouting-hot-air>.

"Holy Ghost." N.p., 1 Sept. 16. Web. 24 Jan. 2017. <https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng>.