Vatican to focus on Paul and the Holy Spirit this Lent

Vatican City, Mar 6, 2009 / 09:05 am

In keeping with tradition, the members of the Roman Curia will hear a series of Lenten sermons by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa. This year’s series will focus on St. Paul’s understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit.

The first sermon will take place in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace on Friday, March 13 with Pope Benedict in attendance.

Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher to the Pontifical Household, will reflect on the theme "The law of the Spirit of Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:2).

Since the Church is celebrating the Year of St. Paul, the series will focus on the Apostle's view of the work of the Holy Spirit. "In particular," says a note from the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household, "the reflections will concentrate on the Holy Spirit as a new law operating through love, as an inner master guiding us through conscience, the Word of God and the Magisterium of the Church, as a force that creates and transforms the cosmos, as the soul of Christian eschatology that drives history to fulfillment."

Three other sermons will be preached in the same vein on March 20, 27 and April 3.