Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Health Vailankanni

Christ, who "gave up his spirit" on the Cross (Jn 19:30) as the Son of Man and the Lamb of God, once risen goes to the Apostles 'to breathe on them" (Jn 20:22)... The Lord's coming fills those present with joy: "Your sorrow will turn into joy," (cf. Jn 16:20) as he had already promised them before his Passion. And above all there is fulfilled the principal prediction of the farewell discourse: the Risen Christ, as it were beginning a new creation, "brings" to the Apostles the Holy Spirit. He brings him at the price of his own "departure": he gives them this Spirit as it were through the wounds of his crucifixion: "He showed them his hands and his side" (Jn 20:20). It is in the power of this crucifixion that he says to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit" (v.22). Thus there is established a close link between the sending of the Son and the sending of the Holy Spirit. There is no sending of the Holy Spirit (after original sin) without the Cross and the Resurrection: "If I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you." (Jn 16:7). There is also established a close link between the mission of the Holy Spirit and that of the Son in the Redemption. The mission of the Son, in a certain sense, finds its "fulfillment" in the Redemption. The mission of the Holy Spirit "draws from" the Redemption: "He will take what is mine and declare it to you" (Jn 16:15). The Redemption is totally carried out by the Son as the Anointed One, who came and acted in the power of the Holy Spirit, offering himself finally in sacrifice on the wood of the Cross. And this Redemption is, at the same time, constantly carried out in human hearts and minds-in the history of the world-by the Holy Spirit, who is the "other Counselor" (Jn 14:16).

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Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit... will remind you of all that I told you"

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