COMFORTER, THE
The Spirit of Joy

COMFORTER, THE
The Spirit of Joy

The joy which comes from God, like His peace, is a joy which the world cannot give. It has its source in a loving relationship with the Spirit of God and produces in the soul a unique delight in the things of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Joy enabling us to taste the sweetness of the Lord. He comes to us as a Gift of God at the time of our baptism and abides with us throughout our life, directing our spiritual growth in the Lord from mere beginners to full-fledged saints. He is the Comforter of our souls in time of distress, the One Who helps us bear our crosses courageously through the Purgative, Illuminative and Unitive stages of our spiritual growth. His activity is illustrated in this volume through the examples of Jesus, Mary, the Apostles and the saints who experienced in their own lives the paradox of the Cross where sorrow and joy intermingle, where weakness is manifested as power, and life is born of suffering and death. As this work illustrates, the Holy Spirit brings us a joy that gives meaning and enthusiasm to life, and comfort and strength in the face of life’s difficulties.

About the Author: Andrew Apostoli, CFR, is the Community Servant of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Ordained in 1967, he has taught in the New York Archdiocesan Institute for Religious Studies and has served as an adjunct faculty member at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York. He has preached countless retreats and parish missions, and has a very popular television series on the Holy Spirit for EWTN. The other two volumes in his trilogy on the Holy Spirit are The Advocate: The Spirit of Truth and The Gift of God: The Holy Spirit.