Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 128 - Part III.

YOUCAT Question n. 128 - Part III. What does it mean to say that the Church is the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”?

(Youcat answer - repeated) The Church is the place in the world where the Holy Spirit is completely present.        

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 799) Whether extraordinary or simple and humble, charisms are graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world.     

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) The people of Israel worshipped God in the Temple of Jerusalem. This temple no longer exists. It has been replaced by the Church, which is not limited to a particular place.”Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). What makes her alive is the Spirit of Christ: He lives in the Word of Sacred Scripture and is present in the sacred signs of the sacraments. He loves in the hearts of believers and speaks in their prayers. He leads them and bestows charisms on them—simple gifts as well as extraordinary ones. Anyone who enters into a relationship with the Holy Spirit can experience true miracles even today.    

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 800) Charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person who receives them and by all members of the Church as well. They are a wonderfully rich grace for the apostolic vitality and for the holiness of the entire Body of Christ, provided they really are genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit and are used in full conformity with authentic promptings of this same Spirit, that is, in keeping with charity, the true measure of all charisms (Cf. 1 Cor 13).     

(This question: What does it mean to say that the Church is the “Temple of the Holy Spirit”? is continued)