Holy Spirit Season

It’s the time of year when Confirmations abound. Kate Taliaferro considers the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

I love how well Jesus knows us. We hear in the Gospel of John that Jesus promises to send an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will “teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you” (John  14:26).I don’t know about you, but I can barely remember what I had for breakfast yesterday. What a relief it must have been for the disciples to hear they would have help recalling three solid years of teaching from Jesus!

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

As it is Confirmation season, it seems wise to spend some time reflecting on the incredible gift we have received in the Person of the Holy Spirit. For those who have been confirmed, be it 60 years ago or just a few days, the fullness of the Holy Spirit is dwelling in you right now. The Holy Spirit is with you all the time, gently reminding you of what Jesus has already taught you.

Many might call the voice of the Holy Spirit their conscience. But the Holy Spirit is so much more than just your conscience. You conscience can definitely be formed and informed by the Holy Spirit, but if we have not disciplined it with Truth and the teachings of the Church, even our conscience can lead us astray. This is why we have to examine our conscience prior to receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We are not examining the Holy Spirit for fault, but our own inclinations, attitudes and choices. The Holy Spirit can help us properly examine our conscience and then, along with the grace received in the sacrament, continue to form it according to God’s Will.

Reflecting on the role of the Holy Spirit reminded me of another passage of Scripture, this one from the Old Testament. In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses is exhorting the people that the Word of God isn’t far away to reach, to wondrous to behold, or beyond their grasp. Rather, “it is something very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14). In some translations, it reads, “you have only to carry it out.”

Walking with the Holy Spirit

By the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God is already dwelling within you, waiting for you to have the courage to act upon it. The Holy Spirit is continually speaking to you, pointing you in the direction you ought to travel. I felt the conviction of these Deuteronomy words so strongly I actually now have the Scripture reference as a tattoo on my wrist. They are a daily reminder that I need to pause to listen to the Holy Spirit’s whisperings and then act upon them with boldness and courage.

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Copyright 2026 Kate Taliaferro
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