THE EIGHTH ARTICLE: "I Believe in the Holy Ghost."

As we have said, the Word of God is the Son of God just as in a way the

word of man is the concept of his intellect.¹ But sometimes man has a word

which is dead. This is when, for instance, he conceives what he ought to

do, but he has not the will to do it; or when one believes but does not

practise; then his faith is said to be dead, as St. James points out.² The

word of God, however, is alive: "For the word of God is living."³ It is

necessary, therefore, that in God there be will and love. Thus, St.

Augustine says: "The word of God which we plan to speak is knowledge with

love."⁴ Now, as the Word of God is the Son of God, God's love is the Holy

Ghost. Hence, it is that one possesses the Holy Ghost when he loves God:

"The charity of God is poured forth in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost who is

given to us."⁵