44.
1998, the second year of the
preparatory phase, will be dedicated in a particular way to the Holy Spirit and
to his sanctifying presence within the Community of Christ's disciples.
"The great Jubilee at the close of the second Millennium ...",
I wrote in the Encyclical Dominum
et Vivificantem, "has a pneumatological aspect, since the
mystery of the Incarnation was accomplished 'by the power of the Holy Spirit'.
It was ?brought about' by that Spirit—consubstantial with the Father and the
Son—who, in the absolute mystery of the Triune God, is the Person-love, the
uncreated gift, who is the eternal source of every gift that comes from God in
the order of creation, the direct principle and, in a certain sense, the
subject of God's self- communication in the order of grace. The mystery of
the Incarnation constitutes the climax of this giving, this divine
self-communication".(30)
The Church cannot prepare for the new
millennium "in any other way than in the Holy Spirit. What was
accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit 'in the fullness of time' can only
through the Spirit's power now emerge from the memory of the Church".(31)
The Spirit, in fact, makes present in the
Church of every time and place the unique Revelation brought by Christ to
humanity, making it alive and active in the soul of each individual: "The
Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will
teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to
you" (Jn 14:26).
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