Hello dear father Angelo,

it has been a year since I have come closer to God, completely changing my life from one day to the next: now I pray constantly, I attend Mass, sacraments, I have truly found peace despite the ever-growing difficulties.

I always pray also to ask for the Holy Spirit: but a doubt arises within me; what is the unmistakable sign that makes us understand that the Holy Spirit is upon us and that we are really doing God’s will?! 

Thank you for your answer in advance, I always enjoy reading it! 

M.Sole

The priest’s answer

Dear friend,

  1. I am glad for what the Lord has done in you: from one day to the next He has completely changed you.

It was a conversion similar to St. Paul’s, which was totally unexpected because he was doing the whole opposite of that sudden conversion.

I think many must have rejoiced at your revival.

  1. I am also glad for the particular invocation you are making to the Lord: to give you his Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

I am sure that the Lord is fulfilling it day by day. And not only because he himself is inspiring it (cf. Phil. 2,13), but also because he himself said:”If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke, 11,13).

  1. You ask what is the unmistakable sign by which we can be certain that we are doing God’s will.

This is a very important question because some people think that the unmistakable sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit is speaking or singing in tongues or the enjoyment of some charism.

Of course, charisms are indeed a beautiful gift from God, but they are not essentially related to the state of grace. They can be given to everyone, even sinners.

St. Peter says that even a mute beast prophesied : (cf. 2 Pet. 2:16).

  1. The most unmistakable sign is very humble and the Lord pointed it out to us in John 14,21 and 14,23.

In John 14,21 Jesus said: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me”.

And in John 14,23: “Whoever loves me will keep my word”.

  1. I might say that from these two statements St. Thomas took his cue to say that although no one can have apodictic certainty that they are in a state of grace and have the Holy Spirit in their heart, nevertheless they can have some clues that give moral certainty.

Moral certainty, unlike the mathematical or apodictic one, is the certainty whereby we know that ordinarily this is the case, although in some few cases it may be otherwise.

  1. Therefore, exact observance of the commandments accompanied by a commitment to put his word into practice, is a good sign that the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
  1. To this is also added a certain relish, jubilation and complacency in what Jesus has done and what Jesus has said. 

St. Thomas speaks of a certain savoring of divine wisdom, a certain deliciousness of future bliss, according to what Psalm 34:9 says: “Taste and see how good is the Lord.” “Good because of his grace in us” (Opusc. LX, De Humanitate Christi, 24).

This is why everyone had the feeling that St. Thomas was always full of the Holy Spirit because he was always glad because of what he tasted within himself through divine grace.

I heartily wish this for you as well. 

In the Christian life, perseverance, as you have begun to do for the past year, and the contentment you feel in going after Jesus are a sign that the Holy Spirit dwells in you.

I bless you and remember you in my prayer.

Father Angelo

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