139. What symbols are used to represent the Holy Spirit? (part 3) (continuation)

139. What symbols are used to represent the Holy Spirit? (part 3) (continuation)

(Comp 139 repetition) There are many symbols of the Holy Spirit: living water which springs from the wounded Heart of Christ and which quenches the thirst of the baptized; anointing with oil, which is the sacramental sign of Confirmation; fire which transforms what it touches; the cloud, dark or luminous, in which the divine glory is revealed; the imposition of hands by which the Holy Spirit is given; the dove which descended on Christ at his baptism and remained with him.

“In brief”

(CCC 742) "Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!"' (Gal 4:6).

To deepen and explain

(CCC 698) The seal is a symbol close to that of anointing. "The Father has set his seal" on Christ and also seals us in him (Jn 6:27; cf. 2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; 4:30). Because this seal indicates the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, the image of the seal (sphragis) has been used in some theological traditions to express the indelible "character" imprinted by these three unrepeatable sacraments.

On reflection

(CCC 699) The hand. Jesus heals the sick and blesses little children by laying hands on them (Cf. Mk 6:5; 8:23; 10:16). In his name the apostles will do the same (Cf. Mk 16:18; Acts 5:12; 14:3). Even more pointedly, it is by the Apostles' imposition of hands that the Holy Spirit is given (Cf. Acts 8:17-19; 13:3; 19:6). The Letter to the Hebrews lists the imposition of hands among the "fundamental elements" of its teaching (Cf. Heb 6:2). The Church has kept this sign of the all-powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit in its sacramental epicleses.). [IT CONTINUES]

(The question: “What symbols are used to represent the Holy Spirit?” continues)