On Sunday, Pope Francis led pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square through the Eastertide Marian prayer of the Regina Coeli.
The Pope emphasized in his sermon on the Gospel for the Sixth Sunday of Easter that Jesus addresses the Holy Spirit the "Paraclete," which signifies both consoler and advocate. According to him, this signifies that the Holy Spirit does not abandon us and is always present with us, much like an advocate who stands by the side of the accused.
Holy Spirit: A Trustworthy Friend
Addressing the Paraclete's "closeness" first, Pope Francis declared that the Spirit is a constant friend who never leaves us. He continued by saying that the Spirit stays with us simply because he genuinely loves us, as opposed to just acting as though he does.
And because God's Spirit loves us, He serves as a true and trustworthy friend, bringing us God's strength and forgiveness while also teaching us when we do wrong. When he does correct us, he does it with such gentleness that we can sense his tenderness and his love. The corrections are never delivered in a way that makes us feel bad or fosters mistrust. Instead, He displays confidence in the fact that God is always able to help us succeed.
Holy Spirit: A Shield Against Accuses
The Holy Spirit's role as our "advocate," according to the Pope, is the second element of the Holy Spirit. The Paraclete shields us against those who accuse us, as well as from ourselves when we fail to recognize and forgive ourselves. When the world attempts to ignore us or when Satan tries to make us feel worthless and unhappy, the Spirit is there to support us.
The Holy Spirit, according to Pope Francis, instructs us on how to respond to such allegations by reminding us of what Jesus said, i.e., The Father has been revealed to us, along with his love for his children.
Always Call Upon The Holy Spirit
In closing, Pope Francis encouraged Christians to invoke the Holy Spirit and pray to Him frequently, as He is always present within us. He also hoped that Mother Mary would help us become receptive to the Holy Spirit's presence and docile to His voice.