The pneumatological dimension in the celebration of the sacraments of initiation

Abstract

Jesus did not want his disciples to feel alone and go astray. Therefore, He asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to them. The story of Pentecost narrates the fulfilling of Jesus’ promise in all its beauty. The Holy Spirit is ever present in the Church today and His work is especially felt in and through the sacraments as well as the liturgical celebrations. The research leading to the composition of this dissertation entails an examination of the pneumatological dimension in the celebration of the sacraments of initiation. It seeks to analyse the liturgical texts of the sacraments of initiation, while carrying out a review of the existing literature. After close examination of the liturgical rites of the sacraments of initiation, the researcher selected the different passages that discuss the symbols of the Holy Spirit, the virtues bestowed by the third person of the Holy Trinity, the gifts that are conferred by the Holy Spirit and the fruits that the Holy Spirit imparts in the sacraments of Initiation. This study could not have been accomplished without an in-depth inquiry into the vast literature on the topic, with special focus on the symbols, virtues, fruits and gifts as established in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Holy Bible (NRSV) (New York: Harper Collins, 1999) and Catechism of the Catholic Church (Ireland: Veritas, 1995) are being used as the basis of this dissertation. Paul VI, The Rites of the Catholic Church (New York: Puebla Publishing Co, 1983) is also being used throughout this dissertation. All references made to this work indicate the numeration of the left hand side of the page rather than page numbers.