The Relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit: Towards a Pneumatological Ecclesiology

Abstract

The relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit is very important in the study of theology. This is because of the established union from the event of Pentecost that reveals the nature, mission, vision and the destiny of the Church. Through the history of the Church there has been heretical teachings that denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Also there has been the upsurge of theologies or theologoumenon that presented a poor or non-existent of any relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit, thereby ascribing either to the Virgin Mary or to Popes the place of the Holy Spirit in the Church. This has resulted in an ecclesiology without the place of the Holy Spirit or a poor Pneumatological Ecclesiology. This article tried to establish the fact of true and indispensable relationship between the Church and the Holy Spirit as expressed in the Bible, Tradition and Magisterium. This brings the reality of the Church seen as the temple of the Holy Spirit and the activity of the Holy Spirit in the Church likened to that of the soul to the human body. The Holy Spirit assures an effective evangelization in the Church, He makes the sacraments efficacious, every liturgical celebration becomes fruitful, charisms, ministries and apostolates are visibly effective and the marks of the Church-One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic become realistic through the Holy Spirit. Hence, it can be said that without the Holy Spirit there is no true Church, the Church of Christ. With the help of secondary sourcesbooks, articles, the author employed historical investigation, analytic, comparative and synthetic research methods for this work. Also, Modern Language Association (MLA) referencing style was used. The author has recommended an intense study of Pneumatology and Pneumatological Ecclesiology during formation to the priesthood. The celebrations of the sacraments and liturgy should be opened to the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The liturgical celebration of Pentecost should be prepared through novena and be the celebration of the entire Church. Charisms should be appreciated and used for the growth of the entire Church.